Windows 8's uptake falls behind Vista's pace

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miladesn said:
not really, windows blue is a thing, some details already leaked by some Chinese site too. the point of it to further unify desktop and metro, not the changes you want but it should make the experience better and will be out next year if rumors are to be believed. Windows is going to get annual cheap or free upgrades like OSX from now on, it won't be a 3 year gap and they don't want another xp effect with 7 to happen.


http://www.extremetech.com/computin...-feature-a-more-customizable-version-of-metro
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I don't see companies liking this sort of model. They're super slow to change anyway, why add predictable, yearly releases to just give them another reason not to change "Well a better version will be out next year, we should wait"
 
Pctx said:
I find it funny that people are saying "windows 7 is too good, no reason to upgrade." are exactly the same as the people who used XP and hated Vista. While I won't move to 8 anytime soon, I find it totally ironic.
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Not sure what;s funny about that unless your opinion is that they were wrong in thinking that XP was better than vista.

If so, it's really funny but probably not in the way you are thinking.
 
Vyer said:
I also noticed that some of the metro 'apps' were pretty poor. Navigation (on a normal touchpad laptop) in the 'Photos' app was not very intuitive with almost no visual cues. In the short time we were going through it for the life of me I couldn't find any Print options when viewing a single photo, so I just fell back on the keyboard shortcut. I knew it of course, but it was something the person I was helping had never used.
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the pre installed apps are very basic, after you install windows there are updates for all of them through the store which improves their performance and features. make sure to get that.

Well, in the three hours I was there we never saw the notification. In addition, on the traditional start menu it would give you and icon on the shutdown button to let you know it was pending. Initially she was having all sorts of problems, including none of the shortcuts on her desktop actually opening anything and I eventually figured out the system needed a restart as some updates needed to process.
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It definitely is there maybe not as frequent, the notice on power off button is there as well.

Yeah, I'd imagine with enough time I'd have gotten used to Settings and explored a little more there, just threw off my work flow when all I normally needed to do was hit start and stuff like Computer and CP were options. I would likely customize it using the options you stated, but again, if looking at it from a casual user POV that really isn't a positive.
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yeah, I think you should think of Start Screen as what desktop used to be and all the shortcuts on it rather than start menu. I don't have anything on the desktop anymore because you can customize things much better in the new start screen with tiles than you could in desktop and it looks much better too. As a start menu to be used like before it fails though but it's not it's point.

So, if she wants to run Chrome from the icon on the new metro Start Screen, does the default matter?
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No, if Chrome is default metro apps launch chrome for their urls. a lot of apps use web browsers and IE is the only metro browser currently. Chrome in metro mode just looks like desktop, it only runs in that mode. It doesn't matter if it's default browser or not if you just want to have shortcut in there.

New hardware - especially when the hardware they bought for 7 is not that old - isn't really an acceptable solution for many users, unfortunately.
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yeah, I don't think it's a necessary upgrade right now for average user either. It really needs the hardware to show for it.
 
TUROK said:
Seriously? How about the major one: that the traditional desktop is gone and that it's a tablet OS just slapped onto a PC?
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Don't think I've seen anyone making that claim.

Then again, with Metro being the default screen, Desktop being treated as "an app," and the start menu being gone, I can see how some people would come to that conclusion if they lacked direct experience with the OS.
 
Windows 8 could've been amazing if they took some of their concepts from Metro and applied them to the desktop. Things like the start screen (if they included a control panel and all programs button), live tiles, the charms concept, sandboxing, the new framework, and the app store were all great ideas. It's too bad they had to ruin it by restricting it to full screen touch-optimised apps.
 
AgentP said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WTYet-qf1jo

This summarizes a lot of what is wrong, and no it is not bad press, it is bad design. Sorry if old.
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So.

In my week with Windows 8, I've gotten very used to how to get around metro and the desktop and all the quirks. GAF and other forums (as well as YouTube) have been instrumental in getting me up to speed with how and where things I'm used to accessing quickly and easily (Control Panel, Safe Mode, Administrative Tools, etc.) are and I neither like nor dislike the changes. It's purely a lateral move IMO. I'm a PC user that has been working with Microsoft OSes since the early 90s.

That said, I have to agree completely with the video. A bit hyperbolic early on, but honestly? That was the EXACT same experience I had that many remember me sharing a month or so ago when I went to pick up my WiiU pre-order at Best Buy. The computer was just sitting there at a kiosk so I went to see what the fuss was about. Without any prior knowledge of the charms bar or hot corners (I had none), it's a fucking horrible experience. I spent 2x as much time as the guy who made that video did just standing in the store...but I left feeling aggravated, frustrated and baffled as to how they would have jettisoned so many things Windows users had gotten used to just to accommodate touch.

I'm perfectly fine with Windows 8 at this point, as I know how to get around efficiently enough. I'm not happy with all the changes at all, as some things take more steps or more waiting (if just using a mouse) than they did in Windows 7. Also, it's weird culturally within Windows to go from basically never needing to use the Windows key to damn near everything running through it. Drastic, unexpected changes.

My mom is also fine with Windows 8 now...then again, I installed every app for her and walked her through everything she'd need to do. There are still some quirks that she's learning, but I was able to keep confusion to the barest of minimums.

I really think Windows 8 does a disservice to itself by Microsoft not anticipating the culture shock that comes with Windows 8 and supplying a few training videos that play before you even get to the desktop explaining all the basics (in say, 5 minutes), and leaving a link in metro and on the desktop for if the owner wants to play it again. If I didn't have GAF and the internet to help me figure out how to do certain things, I would have wasted a lot more time than I should have. Sad thing is, we're talking about things that were contextually obvious on Windows 95 --> 7. If you're going to hide shit all over the place and move things to places they've never been or otherwise don't make sense (like fucking SHUTDOWN being hidden under the SETTINGS menu), provide a nice video that explains the change. It's important to not simply leave people to figure it out initially.

Sometimes you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The first impression wasn't bad enough to keep me from installing Windows 8, but it was damn close...and imagine how a computer novice that had my experience at Best Buy (of which I'd think there were many) will or have reacted. Probably like the guy who made the video.
 
I wasn't on GAF during those days but I wonder if Windows Vista had the same rabid defenders that 8 has today. I never upgraded from XP, I skipped Vista and ended up buying 7 at launch.
 
Upgraded to Windows 8 with the $15 promo on both my desktop and laptop. Fine with it, works like Win7 with a new start menu. Plus boot/power/sleep times are better on my laptop which doesn't have a SSD. Only time I wanted to downgrade to Win7 was when I couldn't find an updated BIOS and drivers for my laptop, but its fine now.
 
sca2511 said:
Upgraded to Windows 8 with the $15 promo on both my desktop and laptop. Fine with it, works like Win7 with a new start menu. Plus boot/power/sleep times are better on my laptop which doesn't have a SSD. Only time I wanted to downgrade to Win7 was when I couldn't find an updated BIOS and drivers for my laptop, but its fine now.
Click to expand...
Did the same. No problems for me ether. I like the metro start.
 
Unknown Soldier said:
I wasn't on GAF during those days but I wonder if Windows Vista had the same rabid defenders that 8 has today.
Click to expand...

It did. And, once a SP or two were applied and the hardware matched up it was certainly serviceable. But that kinda missed the point.

miladesn said:
yeah, I don't think it's a necessary upgrade right now for average user either. It really needs the hardware to show for it.
Click to expand...

I agree, and unfortunately I think that's also somewhat a parallel with Vista. Part of Vista's initial problem were OEMs pushing systems out the door that had no real optimization for it (and in many cases no business trying to run it) and that helped kick off the negative outlook. Windows 7 had no such concerns and ran pretty well on everything right from the start.

Windows 8 could have a similar issue as Vista. Not necessarily performanced based this time, but definitely with the right hardware it may leave a better impression.
 
It took me a week to adjust, but I now prefer Windows 8 as a desktop PC OS over Windows 7. I spend almost all my time using desktop programs, and I don't use the new Metro apps very much. Even considering that, I think it is a clear upgrade over Windows 7.

1. The start screen is a better way to organize program shortcuts than the old Windows start menu. Icons are easier to distinguish and are grouped in categories that make sense to me. It is also easier to organize than the old start menu.

2. The start screen is a useful quick heads up display. When I get mail on any of my email accounts, the Mail app live tile shows it. The current local weather is also visible. Same with Calendar. I like that all of this info is out of sight until I hit the Windows key. Compare this with the traditional method of plugins/gadgets/widgets that clutter up the desktop.

3. The ability to sign in with a Microsoft account (instead of a local user account) works great. I am automatically connected to Xbox Live and see friend and game invite notifications. I can play games on my PC with my gamertag and earn achievements. All my Internet Explorer favorites and recent locations are synced across all of my PCs. A bunch of Windows settings also sync across PCs too. Not enough settings, but at least it is a start.

4. Speed. Windows 8 is faster to boot and run than Windows 7 on all of my PCs (desktop, laptop and tablet).

5. New file copy and move dialog is better. The ability to pause is long overdue. Sometimes I have multiple large file copies running and want one to finish first. Now it can do that. The stats are more detailed too.

6. Less frequent mandatory reboots from updates.

7. New Task Manager is much better. The Processes tab has a great heat map showing expensive programs. The Startup tab shows a sorted list of programs that are slowing down boot time so I immediately know which ones to remove.

8. Multimon taskbar support. I was a longtime Ultramon user, but it has occasional bugs where certain types of windows wouldn't switch between taskbars correctly. Windows 8 finally adds a multimon taskbar that just works, so I use it now.
 
Zefah said:
Don't think I've seen anyone making that claim.

Then again, with Metro being the default screen, Desktop being treated as "an app," and the start menu being gone, I can see how some people would come to that conclusion if they lacked direct experience with the OS.
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I saw plenty of them back before it was released.
 
sky said:
I still can't believe they killed the start menu.
I mean what the hell, guys.

Yes I know you can get it back with apps.
I know it's not the only change.

But still, this decision will be forever lol-worthy.
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They haven't killed the start menu? Your post is lol worthy.
 
I've got hands on experience of Modern UI(sance) at work. If Blue brings the possibility to get rid of that piece of crap then, and only then, I'm considering Win 8.
 
-SD- said:
I've got hands on experience of Modern UI(sance) at work. If Blue brings the possibility to get rid of that piece of crap then, and only then, I'm considering Win 8.
Click to expand...

Good news! You can effectively remove it today with a small, easy to install application.

Are you considering Windows 8 now?
 
I would use it when I pick up a laptop pc next year, as long as the performance isn't worse (and seems like it's actually better), I kind of like the idea of it and that new start screen thing even though the implementation might not be perfect.

I do wonder what their next step would be and what changes they are going to make to the UI (the metro switching thing seems standalone, will they unify it or just leave it?) and the new menu. Guessing they might probably do some kind of 0.1 update and release 8.1 and so on?
 
PizzaFarmer said:
It took me a week to adjust, but I now prefer Windows 8 as a desktop PC OS over Windows 7. I spend almost all my time using desktop programs, and I don't use the new Metro apps very much. Even considering that, I think it is a clear upgrade over Windows 7.

1. The start screen is a better way to organize program shortcuts than the old Windows start menu. Icons are easier to distinguish and are grouped in categories that make sense to me. It is also easier to organize than the old start menu.

2. The start screen is a useful quick heads up display. When I get mail on any of my email accounts, the Mail app live tile shows it. The current local weather is also visible. Same with Calendar. I like that all of this info is out of sight until I hit the Windows key. Compare this with the traditional method of plugins/gadgets/widgets that clutter up the desktop.

3. The ability to sign in with a Microsoft account (instead of a local user account) works great. I am automatically connected to Xbox Live and see friend and game invite notifications. I can play games on my PC with my gamertag and earn achievements. All my Internet Explorer favorites and recent locations are synced across all of my PCs. A bunch of Windows settings also sync across PCs too. Not enough settings, but at least it is a start.

4. Speed. Windows 8 is faster to boot and run than Windows 7 on all of my PCs (desktop, laptop and tablet).

5. New file copy and move dialog is better. The ability to pause is long overdue. Sometimes I have multiple large file copies running and want one to finish first. Now it can do that. The stats are more detailed too.

6. Less frequent mandatory reboots from updates.

7. New Task Manager is much better. The Processes tab has a great heat map showing expensive programs. The Startup tab shows a sorted list of programs that are slowing down boot time so I immediately know which ones to remove.

8. Multimon taskbar support. I was a longtime Ultramon user, but it has occasional bugs where certain types of windows wouldn't switch between taskbars correctly. Windows 8 finally adds a multimon taskbar that just works, so I use it now.
Click to expand...

Yes but they moved some stuff, why haven't you got your pitchforks out?
 
tino said:
The fact that they (MS) are still try to make annal /bi-annal release of OS and charge for it means MS will never get the new cloud economic.

MS is still trying to charge $10-15 for a copy of WP8 and around 50-70 for a license for Windows RT. How out of touch is MS, you tell me.
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I think it's unlikely they'll charge for the blue update next year and it's not clear how they'll handle updates thereafter. If they'll charge yearly they won't charge that much, either.

Unlike Apple, Microsoft isn't a hardware company selling hundreds of millions of devices with insane margins. And unlike Google, Microsoft isn't an advertising company getting 97% of their revenue from advertising. They sell software. Building Windows is expensive. Thousands of people working for years on a new version. Building Office is also expensive and that's in Windows RT, too.
Software has value. It's like the most complex (and IMO important) part of a PC. Why should it be free?

If Ballmer decided today that Windows should be free, he'd get fired tomorrow ^^

(besides the license for Windows Phone is probably comparable to the licensing cost Android OEMs have to pay to Microsoft and Apple for their patents)
 
I want metro. I like it. But replacing the start menu with it was a mistake. They should have gone with the dashboard approach of OSX and kept the start menu intact as the first transitional step.
 
when their is a tutorial video on youtube on how to shut down your computer on windows 8 you know their is problems lol
 
Windows 8 is great.
The great thing about it is that it made me explore other OS options like Linux.
I trialed Debian, Fedora and when Steam announced Linux support I decided to settle on Ubuntu.
Which brings up another great thing about W8, Steam for linux.
It took me a while to set up and get Ubuntu to work properly, but now it is perfect for me.
Unless Windows9 is absolutely mindblowingly incredible, I doubt I could ever switch back to Windows OS.
 
It sucks that a good product is becoming a victim of ignorance and as much as I would also like to speak up about my positive experiences with Windows 8, I'm getting better at distinguishing between three classes of animals:
  • parrots
  • trolls
  • sheep
 
Damon Bennet said:
it was? The girl in the ad sings that windows 8 is "everything at once"
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter. Its their responsibility to get their message out in a way that people understand. The entire Win8, Surface-WinRT, WP8, Surface-Pro stuff is being missed by a shitload of common folk. Plenty of people still don't know the difference, and are confused about it. Blaming the audience for being "stupid" and saying "they should have understood" doesn't do or solve anything.

They completely borked the messaging of what those things are.
 
CurlySaysX said:
Windows 8 is great.
The great thing about it is that it made me explore other OS options like Linux.
I trialed Debian, Fedora and when Steam announced Linux support I decided to settle on Ubuntu.
Which brings up another great thing about W8, Steam for linux.
It took me a while to set up and get Ubuntu to work properly, but now it is perfect for me.
Unless Windows9 is absolutely mindblowingly incredible, I doubt I could ever switch back to Windows OS.
Click to expand...
Why would you settle on Ubuntu? Canonical does gross things like sell your search data to Amazon, which even Microsoft probably wouldn't do.
 
News is not suprising, 7 is a great OS and it works really well today. Vista gave a lot more reasons to switch to 7.
edit: I should say I have Win 8 and I really like it. Smooth as hell, Metro is fine and does not get in the way, at least for my purposes.
 
Cipherr said:
Doesn't matter. Its their responsibility to get their message out in a way that people understand. The entire Win8, Surface-WinRT, WP8, Surface-Pro stuff is being missed by a shitload of common folk. Plenty of people still don't know the difference, and are confused about it. Blaming the audience for being "stupid" and saying "they should have understood" doesn't do or solve anything.

They completely borked the messaging of what those things are.
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Surface Pro is so doomed, there is this mindset that it is an overpriced 'thick' tablet with bad battery life already, why just not get an iPad instead etc.

when Macbook Airs are considered a good value at the same time at same and higher prices.

they failed at messaging of the whole launch miserably yeah.
 
yn-neko hates a cat said:
It sucks that a good product is becoming a victim of ignorance and as much as I would also like to speak up about my positive experiences with Windows 8, I'm getting better at distinguishing between three classes of animals:
  • parrots
  • trolls
  • sheep
Click to expand...
There must be something to their argument when even the OEMs are beginning to realise what a clusterfuck of a release Win8 has been: http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/28/3812264/fujitsu-blames-windows-8-for-lackluster-sales

And it's not like the MS's strategy to the tablet market has been working either as WinRT is even more irrelevant now than Android Honeycomb tablets last year.
 
speculawyer said:
Well, instead of bashing Microsoft, I'll say this . . . XP and Windows 7 are such good products that you just don't feel the need to upgrade. Why fix what ain't broke?
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Exactly. Windows 7 is a fucking great OS; those sales were for a reason.
Its marketing was actually true.

I remember getting it when I started Uni and using the split screen for word and powerpoint in a group assignment. Everyone was like 'what did you do there?'; it was great useful features that make it so great. As is the pin bar.


It is however not perfect. Windows 8 should have perfected it. Instead it smashes it over the head with a rock.

yn-neko hates a cat said:
It sucks that a good product is becoming a victim of ignorance and as much as I would also like to speak up about my positive experiences with Windows 8, I'm getting better at distinguishing between three classes of animals:
  • parrots
  • trolls
  • sheep
Click to expand...

Am getting fucking bored of this from people who like it. Really fucking bored. Being called three animals; either a parrot, a troll or a sheep is just plain fucking insulting.
 
tino said:
Guys! Oprah loves Windows 8!
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She sure does!

1a98648c1ff66552389229b6cfcea34d.jpg


Lol.
 
grimshawish said:
Am getting fucking bored of this from people who like it. Really fucking bored. Being called three animals; either a parrot, a troll or a sheep is just plain fucking insulting.
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You're forgetting that other favorite: a cow, because you're too dumb to learn a new OS.
 
I need an honest answer.

I need to install Windows via Bootcamp on my Mac.

I will be using it mostly for visual studio.

Which is better for me - Win7 or Win8?
 
I guess I should clarify my whole "Windows 7 still feels new" opinion. I'm very happy with my current machines and just see no reason to upgrade to 8. If I were to buy a new PC or tablet, I would be happy if it did have W8 on it. I have nothing against it, I just see it as unnecessary unless you're getting a new PC/laptop/tablet.

Windows 8 adoption is probably a lot slower than Vistas simply because people are not purchasing as many PCs or Surface tablets. Everyone is getting Ipads, Kindles and other Android products.
 
pestul said:
Windows 8 adoption is probably a lot slower than Vistas simply because people are not purchasing as many PCs or Surface tablets. Everyone is getting Ipads, Kindles and other Android products.
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This is twice as bad as what the chart shows though then.
People are moving on from Windows entirely; ditching 7 for Android or an iPad.

Windows 8 should have a very high uptake if it were designed to stop this 'shedding'; it was supposed to, but its completely failed to.
 
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