Windows 8 or 8.1 on a laptop or PC?

Tringa

Tringa

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What advantages does Windows 8, or 8.1, have over Windows 7?

I can't understand whey anyone would want an OS that requires you to touch the screen of a laptop or PC. There is a keyboard and mouse to input stuff, you need to stretch to do it and it leave smears all over a screen that for many of us here is used to edit and view photos.

If 8 or 8.1 can be used without touch screen then why not just get Windows 7.

What have I missed?

Dave
 
One of the things i prefer about 8.1 over 7 is the much simpler and faster install process - 7 requires multiple reboots and loads of updates, then more reboots whereas w8 can be up and running in about 20 minutes. As long as you remember to right click on the start button instead of left click then you never have to even look at the "modern" interface!
 
Starting applications is easy. Hit the windows key, and just start typing the name of the app you're looking for. Or the document you want to open. Press enter when it hits the top of the list. Works in W7 and W8 and it's much faster than all that mousing around.
 
boliston said:
One of the things i prefer about 8.1 over 7 is the much simpler and faster install process - 7 requires multiple reboots and loads of updates, then more reboots whereas w8 can be up and running in about 20 minutes.
Click to expand...
what version of 7?

the SP1 slipstreamed copy of 7 pro at work has 1 reboot during initial install. obviously you'll need reboots for drivers.

updates, get used to that. obviously 7 has been around for longer so has more updates and MS have said there will be no more service packs (unsure about "rollups" but theyre essentially the same thing). 8/8.1 will be the same over time.

although installing the OS is a bit of a 1 off event, unless you like installing crud to your system in which case consider imaging the clean install with updates already installed.
 
What's wrong with imaging Neil? I usually make an image immediately after installing Windows, and again after programmes are installed.
 
Ah, I see.

Btw, there's a rumour that Windows 9 will be free to existing Win 7 & Win 8 users.
 
interesting. i wonder if thats in response to Apple doing theirs for free.

i guess now MS are entering the hardware market more and more they can underpin OS sales a bit more.
 
I have found that Windows 8 requires less care and feeding than 7 - updates install silently in the background where 7 would have gone "dad! dad! dad! I've got an update! dad! dad! Can we reboot now?! go on! go on! Pleeeeeeease". It definitely requires less memory to be usable than either of Vista, 7 or Ubuntu Linux - I have an elderly Sony VAIO laptop for livingroom use (web and a little email); it only has 2GB RAM and those other operating systems were all dreadfully slow, yet Windows 8 runs like a champ on it.

The "touch screen" element of Windows 8 is massively overplayed in the tech press, who aren't ever happy unless they're moaning about something. There are tools you can get to put the start menu back; the 8.1 update means you can boot straight to the desktop, bypassing the Start screen.

I don't see any of the Metro stuff from one week's end to the next. Unless I'm on eBay, in which case I use the full-screen Metro app because the website is made of snakes and evil.
 
You don't have to have touch screen I have 8.1 on a normal laptop and no touchscreen.
Now I'm used to it I love it :)
 
It's been quick, stable, trouble free for me (famous last words!) on a couple of machines. Biggest weakness is that Microsoft want you to sign up for an account with them, and make the route around that obscure, plus on first boot you are taken to a start screen full of rubbish. The rubbish is easy to remove, but it makes for a very poor first-use experience.
 
Looking forward to Widows 9. May be released in 2015 in time for Christmas.. Start menu will be back.. Loss of charms bar will be welcome. May well be free to present users of 8.1..
Details on TechAdvisor on PC.Advisor....
 
Got 8.1 on the netbook and 8 on this lappy. MUCH prefer this version to the updated one. Both are touchscreens. 8.1 seems to make loads of things behave quite differently and I like the way 8 just gets on with it.
 
8.1 with classic shell, it's OK. It would be great if version is free.
 
Tringa said:
What advantages does Windows 8, or 8.1, have over Windows 7?

I can't understand whey anyone would want an OS that requires you to touch the screen of a laptop or PC. There is a keyboard and mouse to input stuff, you need to stretch to do it and it leave smears all over a screen that for many of us here is used to edit and view photos.

If 8 or 8.1 can be used without touch screen then why not just get Windows 7.

What have I missed?

Dave
Click to expand...

It's designed for touch screen, but you don't have to use it. By Default Windows 8.1 boots to the desktop.

Miss your start menu? No problem. As with all previous versions of windows, you can always customise it. You can install Start8 which not only resolves Window 8.0 booting to Metro problems, but also puts back your start menu. You can still use the new interface if you want, but you now have the choice.

Here's my Windows 8.1 desktop (which it boots straight into). I've only grabbed my main screen or it would be too big to see clearly.

6Bpl0CF.jpg



Notice I have a start menu, just like Windows 7. I also have a dock like Mac OS. This is the beauty of windows. Choice. Something Mac owners don't have.

Win 8 is faster, and has some nice features. I much prefer it now I've got it to do what I want.
 
Pookeyhead said:
It's designed for touch screen, but you don't have to use it. By Default Windows 8.1 boots to the desktop.

Miss your start menu? No problem. As with all previous versions of windows, you can always customise it. You can install Start8 which not only resolves Window 8.0 booting to Metro problems, but also puts back your start menu. You can still use the new interface if you want, but you now have the choice.

Here's my Windows 8.1 desktop (which it boots straight into). I've only grabbed my main screen or it would be too big to see clearly.

6Bpl0CF.jpg



Notice I have a start menu, just like Windows 7. I also have a dock like Mac OS. This is the beauty of windows. Choice. Something Mac owners don't have.

Win 8 is faster, and has some nice features. I much prefer it now I've got it to do what I want.
Click to expand...
How did you get it to look like this?
 
Chaz Photos said:
How did you get it to look like this?
Click to expand...


Like I said in my post... I installed Start8 to get my start menu back. (£4.99) There are other free pieces of software to do this, but nowhere near as good.

The dock is just Stardock's Object Dock... been around for years that. (Free.)

Stardock's Icon Packager and Icon Developer (Not free... forget how much now.. but we're talking a few quid.. nothing major) were used to design my own icons, or modify existing ones. None of them are standard Windows icons though.

[edit]

Oh... I installed a little registry hack that allows the installation of Windows Vista Sidebar gadgets on the desktop for the radio player and internal HDD icons. Forget what that was now, but just Google "installing Vista sidebar gadgets on Windows 8" and you'll probably find it.
 
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I've got all my regularly used apps "pinned" to the taskbar on w8.1 so the lack of "start" menu is not really any issue at all - the only annoyance i have is that the IT gurus at my workplace want to keep w7 for some reason so I sometimes end up right clicking the start button instead of left clicking it.
 
Pookeyhead said:
Like I said in my post... I installed Start8 to get my start menu back. (£4.99) There are other free pieces of software to do this, but nowhere near as good.

The dock is just Stardock's Object Dock... been around for years that. (Free.)

Stardock's Icon Packager and Icon Developer (Not free... forget how much now.. but we're talking a few quid.. nothing major) were used to design my own icons, or modify existing ones. None of them are standard Windows icons though.

[edit]

Oh... I installed a little registry hack that allows the installation of Windows Vista Sidebar gadgets on the desktop for the radio player and internal HDD icons. Forget what that was now, but just Google "installing Vista sidebar gadgets on Windows 8" and you'll probably find it.
Click to expand...
Looks like object dock is not free any more only a 30day trial
 
Chaz Photos said:
Looks like object dock is not free any more only a 30day trial
Click to expand...


That's a downer.. there are others though... Rocket Dock springs to mind.


boliston said:
I've got all my regularly used apps "pinned" to the taskbar on w8.1 so the lack of "start" menu is not really any issue at all - the only annoyance i have is that the IT gurus at my workplace want to keep w7 for some reason so I sometimes end up right clicking the start button instead of left clicking it.
Click to expand...


Same here sort of.... except I use a dock. However... I like the start menu. It's a constant thing that's been there since Win 95 and I'm just used to it.
 
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Chaz Photos said:
Looks like object dock is not free any more only a 30day trial
Click to expand...


Just theme patched my system and installed a dark theme called "Penumbra" for 8.1. Looks awesome!

k61Hu4F.jpg
 
There will be more questions like this when Windows 9 Is realised for sale here in 2015 December ..Just in time for Christmas.

I enjoy Widows 8.1 since having present HP Pavilion Non Touch Screen. Also a wireless free keyboard and mouse.
 
Dave,
to be frank, you're missing nothing.
Like countless millions of other people who are still buying brand new PCs with Windows 7 installed.

The difference between 8 and 8.1? Well, the difference is purely down to cost. If you are offered two completely identical computers, but one has 8 and the other has 8.1, then if the one with 8 is cheaper, that's the one to buy. ALL computers with 8 installed are fully eligible to a completely free of charge upgrade to 8.1, via the internet.

The choice between 8 and 8.1 is soooooo simple.
However, the choice between 7 and 8 is more difficult.

If you want a steep learning curve, have little experience of computers, love your mobile phone, learn how to cope when things happen / pop up / open / close, which you don't understand or didn't want to happen / pop up / open / close, and like to be at the cutting edge, then Windows 8.1 all the way.

If you grew up with computers, Windows 95, XP, 3.1 even, perhaps zx81, then you have two options.
Firstly, if you "just want it to work" in a way in which you are familiar, then forget Windows 8 or 8.1 and go for 7.
Secondly, if you are happy to "tinker", then get Windows 8 / 8.1. If 8, then immediately upgrade it to 8.1 before doing ANYTHHING else. Set 8.1 so that it "boots to desktop". Then, I strongly recommend installing some freeware called "Classic Shell" which will give you a very familiar Start button, complete with access to programs, control panel, My Documents, My Pictures, etc. etc. even a shut down option! When installing any other software, it is helpful if you always allow the installer to "create a desktop shortcut". (Without a desktop shortcut and without Classic Shell, then starting your new software in Windows 8 / 8.1 is a blooming nightmare of searching for a needle in a haystack).
If buying a laptop with 8 / 8.1 ALWAYS buy a mouse. The touchpad becomes possessed by the devil with 8 / 8.1. The touchpads now respond to two finger actions. Such as touching the pad with two fingers, then moving those fingers apart or moving those fingers together. It also opens hidden menus on all four edges and all four corners of the screen if your finger either "swipes" the touchpad from a corner, or an edge. Touchpads are sensitive, so even if you only touch the pad with one finger, but the second finger hovers really close to the pad, or accidentally brushes the pad, then all sorts of silly things happen on screen. The view zooms for no reason, or menus suddenly appear for no reason, or the damn Metro thing appears for no reason. Using a separate mouse DOES avoid all this.

I started with an Atari 520STFM, progressed to Windows 3.1, missed 95 to go straight to 98SE, was appalled by ME, loved XP, didn't see the fuss and was happy with Vista, then bought a laptop with 8. After 2 days of frustration with 8, I ripped 8 off the hard drive and installed Vista with NO regrets at all!! When 8.1 was launched, I decided to give it a spin. Found it was little different to 8, but then decided to install Classic Shell, then connected a mouse and I've been a happy chappy ever since!

Hope that helps
 
Windows 9 is out soon anyway... which brings the start menu back (properly.. not the half assed attempt in 8.1)... so all this is soon to be redundant :)
 
Thanks everyone for your comments.

Very interesting reply, Sion. My computing history is ZX81, ZX Spectrum, PCs with Windows 3.1, 3.11, 95, the ghastly ME, XP (I never understood the probs folks had with XP as it was rock solid for me) and most recently Windows 7. I've found 7 to be very good and couldn't understand the advantages of 8 or 8.1 on a machine where I would never want to touch the screen. Your reply sort of confirms my concerns, but accept 8.1 is the latest OS and eventually support for 7 will end.

Dave
 
For the avoidance of doubt: the advantages of Windows 8 over Windows 7, on a machine where you would never touch the screen, include performance, security, storage, backup, and so on. Systems administrators will enjoy the extra management capabilities exposed via Active Directory.

There's nothing earth-shattering in it - but then why would there be? It's a mature operating system; incremental improvement is what you get until the next paradigm shift.
 
8 and 8.1 are like the ribbon in office.

Microsoft did a lot of research, looked at mobile OSs, looked at how the average computer user uses a computer and built something new.

Our whole office is 8.1 and no one has an issue, most prefer it. However most of them never use an app in the new UI. They just prefer hitting start and having the apps the use a lot sitting there waiting, not having to through layers of start menu to get to the app. Most of us use the keyboard a lot and have done since windows 7. Hit the start key I. windows 7 or 8 and type the first few characters of the software you want and it will find it. If it is at the top of a list, highlighted, push enter.

So to open word, I hit start, type in wor and push enter.

Smart resizing in Remote Desktop. There are lots of advantages, a few oddities and that is about that.

Only those who are stuck in a way of working or doing things hate windows 7 and that is most people it seems. They cannot cope without a Start menu yet can't really give a sensible reason to what is wrong with a start menu. They respond with "designed for touchscreen", yet even with a mouse bigger icons are easier and quicker to use. So what is the issue? Lots of people have said that those who are new to computers can pick up windows 8 quicker than windows 7. It is lots of people who have used PCs for years, consider themselves "power users" and can't change.

If you disagree, please

(a) have used Windows 8 for a week or so with out something to bring back the start menu
(b) do not mention the word touch

;)
 
If the start menu had been called program manager I'm sure people would have felt a lot more comfy. :p
 
Dale_tem said:
If you disagree, please

(a) have used Windows 8 for a week or so with out something to bring back the start menu
(b) do not mention the word touch

;)
Click to expand...

I find the "metro" interface ugly and awkward on a desktop machine.. simple as that. I prefer lesser used applications to be tucked away in the start menu, and the day to day applications on a dock at the bottom of a screen so can launch them with one single click. Even people who don't want to install a dock can pin them, or create shortcuts, or even pin to the start menu in Win7, so that should be a choice for those who are used to that system. If new users want to use the new GUI, fine, but to force long time users to change isn't, and indeed hasn't won Win 8 any friends. Which is why there are so many third party applications to do away with metro and bring the start menu back.

Having used Surface, I like using Metro on that. It just makes sense.

It's called a personal choice, and removing choice is never a good thing.

Thanks to third party apps, I now have Win8 doing what I want it to, instead of IT telling ME how it's going to be.

MS have clearly had such feedback as the majority, as Win9 will bring the start menu back. You think they'd do that if no one wanted it?
 
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Pookeyhead said:
I find the "metro" interface ugly and awkward on a desktop machine.. simple as that.
Click to expand...
Have to say I agree. That and the fact I don't want the whole screen to go blue when I press the Win key. I'm not like most men - I can multitask you know ;)
 
That's another thing that sucks about metro... the way it just takes over the entire desktop just to launch an application. Whoever thought that was a good idea wants a good slap.
 
Pookeyhead said:
That's another thing that sucks about metro... the way it just takes over the entire desktop just to launch an application. Whoever thought that was a good idea wants a good slap.
Click to expand...

What might have helped would be for the OS to have an awareness of the kind of device it's running on, so that for something with a small screen where it makes sense for the app to fill the window then that can happen, but for anything with a display bigger than 8" it would open as a window. It amazes me that a company like Microsoft can make so many fundamentally wrong choices for users.
 
ancient_mariner said:
What might have helped would be for the OS to have an awareness of the kind of device it's running on, so that for something with a small screen where it makes sense for the app to fill the window then that can happen, but for anything with a display bigger than 8" it would open as a window. It amazes me that a company like Microsoft can make so many fundamentally wrong choices for users.
Click to expand...


Exactly. You;ve no idea how ridiculous metro is on a 30" 2560x1600 monitor until you've seen it. What an utter waste of resources.
 
neil_g said:
to be honest the change of interface was always going to be a huge gamble for them.

id be surprised if apple could pull off such a big OS change as well.
Click to expand...

In the world of Apple it would be acclaimed as 'such a brave and exciting thing to do'. :p
 
If Apple had "done a metro", albeit probably with a bit of frosted glass effect, the tech press would be tripping over themselves to explain to us how it's the most radical bestest thing in the universe and how silly old Microsoft should get down with the kids, daddy-o!
 
When they released the new iMac I had to laugh when on the website it said, "If you still want a DVD drive, Grandad... then you can use our slimline thunderbold blah blah". I'm paraphrasing a bit there, but they really did say "Grandad" in the blurb. Basically... reading between the lines... "We've designed this to look cool and slim, but in order to do that, we've had to remove the optical drive. Sorry about that, but as we're Apple, you'll merely believe us when we tell you that no one uses re-writable DVDs any more... even though they're still massively, and widely used because you can get 4.2GB on a disk for 20p each.. however, you're only concerned with being cool so you'll do as we command, and you'll still buy this anyway, so who cares".

I hate the proprietary, closed, dictatorship that is Apple. I'd rather shove bees up my arse than to be told what to do by a company, particularly when I would have to pay a premium to to be told what to do, and still get an inferior product at the end of it... no matter how cool it looks. About looking cool though: I fail to see why having an iMac, that looks exactly like every other iMac is cool. I thought individuality was a pre-requisite of cool. Silly me.

Sorry.... just hate Apple and everything they stand for. Cheap Foxconn sourced hardware, disguised as a premium product. Nothing more.
 
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