Acer CEO: Microsoft is coming back down to earth with Windows 8.1

[captaincranky]

Commenting purely on the picture, because it is a stupid one.

So, that doesn't make it a stupid picture, just an old one.

Painters who utilize this kind of technology also use much bigger screens, so you can see clearly every line you are drawing.

BTW, that's what the "Zoom Tool" is for. So, since we're bandying the term "stupid" about, it's really "stupid" to say you have to have a 30" monitor, when you can simply zoom in on the tiniest detail.

Today it would be at least a 30" monitor with precise color reproduction, like the new DELL U3014. Anything less, and benefits of the technology are gone, he would be better off with the usual canvas.

Guess what, unless you have a grand laying around, I'm pretty sure you'll make the best of what you have.

A "digital artist" isn't going to pick up a paint and canvas, just because he has a small monitor. That's like saying I'm going to give up sex because I have a small ****. How many times do you think that has happened?

In either case, you wouldn't be able to do this type of work, by waving your index finger all over an iPad. And those mutts, are what Windows 8 is all about.

 

[spectrenad]

I'm using Win8 and I'm happy with it. I'm a heavy multitasker. When I work, I can have Autocad, SketchUp, WoodWorkshop, Gimp, Firefox, Calculator, Word as well as my music running at the same time. All fine. It's like win7 but with an extra, alternative and FACULTATIVE shell. And it boots faster.

 

[spectrenad]

And who needs a Start Menu or a Start Screen? Pin what you need to the taskbar and TADAM. Nothing faster to access your programs.

 

[Darth Shiv]

It's amazing how much has been written in these two comments, and yet so little has been said.

None of you have answered my inquiry. And trust me, I'll wait.

Tell me how the UI suites a development company where productivity is key? IDE, databases, web servers etc. Win8 desktop experience is rubbish next to Win7 and all the way back to Win95 for people who want to use a mouse and keyboard. I.e. people who aren't using twitter and facebook for a living.

 

[Arris]

I'm using it on my laptop. Do Photoshop, Lightroom work, some javascript dev and games. Now that I'm used to the start screen I don't mind it so much. My desktop is clear of files and links most of the time. When I'm accessing the start menu in Windows 7 I don't actually need to see my current running apps and desktop background, so feel the start screen is a better use of real estate. Just a shame it is so much more focussed on touch interface than normal desktop users. I really don't want a touch screen on my desktop/laptop as I find myself cleaning my smartphones screen all the time and wouldn't appreciate that experience on a bigger screened device. One of the reasons I've held off buying any sort of tablet device yet. It's a form factor I don't required. Smartphone, desktop and laptop are all I need.

 

[Saintnsinner]

If you all don't mind me interrupting your bickering can I ask a question? If you already own windows 8 will you be charged for windows 8.1?

 

[Guest]

Forget J.T Wang.

I want J.J Abrams to make the next version of Windows!

 

[Arris]

Forget J.T Wang.

I want J.J Abrams to make the next version of Windows!

Lots of lens flare and explosions on my desktop, no thanks

 

[Capaill]

"Most people just don't want to sit 12" from their screen all day and swipe it to get things done."

I like that statement. My shoulders can hurt me after stretching to use a mouse all day. I don't want to put the mouse away and start swiping a massive screen a further 12 to 24" away from me. My arms would fall off!

Touch screen cannot replace the mouse. It just can't. A mouse pointer is precise, it can accurately and quickly click a precise point on the screen. How many times have I struggled to get a touch screen to put the cursor exactly where I wanted it .. or clicked 2 links at the same time and have the browser zoom in waiting for me to pick the right one. A large problem here, besides the size of my finger on a high resolution screen, is that my finger is on top of the screen and thus blocking my view.

Combining keyboard, mouse and screen is not going to happen either. I've only got 2 hands.

Touch screen technology is fine for casual use. Or big fancy Minority Report screens that you are standing in front of, flicking large objects around. But the keyboard/mouse combination is unbeatable for precision and speed in most office environments. We have enough to do at work without struggling with inaccurate input controls. Also I haven't yet found a 24" touch screen monitor.

What were you thinking Microsoft? How hard would it have been to have 2 OSs for a while, while people and hardware/prices transition to touch screen, if that is where the market will go?

 

[yukka]

The people commenting on this topic are not representative of the masses. The masses are the ones who have not upgraded to Windows 8. The businesses who don't want to retrain staff, who want to have the choice. That choice was taken away. Businesses didn't buy the product. Now the choices come back. We will see if it improves sales or if the damage is done until Windows 9.

 

[R3DP3NGUIN]

Windows 8 was all about tablets right!! now they say start menu and boot to desktop! So now all the people complaining about how Windows 8 isn't the same as Windows 7 get a breath of fresh air. And now all the people with Windows 8 tablets get to complain as it wont be tablet friendly anymore. You cant win!!!! This statement is all gobbledygook as Microsoft needed to have two versions of 8 upon release.

 

[Jim$ter]

I work in IT at a bank. I am a power user. The current form of Windows 8 Blows. I have to test it out so I installed it at home..Used it a few weeks (But I knew within a day) and its current form is so much slower to do the same tasks. People saying that Windows 8 is just as easy or hit the start button obviously are newbs. Yes for newbs Windows 8 might be ok or great or the same as Windows 7. But us people in the know..or people who actually do a few more thanks than surf the internet know its not as user friendly. One difference...which I hear they are fixing...where its 100% not working the same is search..In windows 7...I could click start and type what Iwanted...In windows 8 it defaults to APPS and you have to click another category if you want to search anything else...Well as a power user I want everything but apps...So search is basically broken... But since installing Start8 search is back...the nice easy access start button is back..Not full screen start screen wasting my 24" screen with crap... I pinned many things to my start menu....I can see everything in a 2 inch space... Not my whole freaking screen...That is the difference you newbs.... Us power users see this...and so do most of the masses and companies.... That is the reason Microsoft is making a change.... Not because we just like to complain about change...but because we expect at least if not better functionally as before. And being able to learn a OS without having to be trained is a plus!!

 

[R3DP3NGUIN]

Hen

I work in IT at a bank. I am a power user. The current form of Windows 8 Blows. I have to test it out so I installed it at home..Used it a few weeks (But I knew within a day) and its current form is so much slower to do the same tasks. People saying that Windows 8 is just as easy or hit the start button obviously are newbs. Yes for newbs Windows 8 might be ok or great or the same as Windows 7. But us people in the know..or people who actually do a few more thanks than surf the internet know its not as user friendly. One difference...which I hear they are fixing...where its 100% not working the same is search..In windows 7...I could click start and type what Iwanted...In windows 8 it defaults to APPS and you have to click another category if you want to search anything else...Well as a power user I want everything but apps...So search is basically broken... But since installing Start8 search is back...the nice easy access start button is back..Not full screen start screen wasting my 24" screen with crap... I pinned many things to my start menu....I can see everything in a 2 inch space... Not my whole freaking screen...That is the difference you newbs.... Us power users see this...and so do most of the masses and companies.... That is the reason Microsoft is making a change.... Not because we just like to complain about change...but because we expect at least if not better functionally as before. And being able to learn a OS without having to be trained is a plus!!

Hence Microsoft should of made two versions. A power user in the tablet world didn't own an iPad or an Android, so to speak. As they are restrictive in what they can do. Just as Windows 8 is restrictive on the desktop compared to Windows 7. As I work for an ISP I seem to get a lot of angry customers in regards to the inconvenience of having to learn a new operating system when they didn't have the choice to not have 8 on there computer. Change is bad in the IT industry, as the risk of failure is high and success an innovation is kept to a minimum. (some sarcasm there haha)

 

[spectrenad]

I work in IT at a bank. I am a power user. The current form of Windows 8 Blows. I have to test it out so I installed it at home..Used it a few weeks (But I knew within a day) and its current form is so much slower to do the same tasks. People saying that Windows 8 is just as easy or hit the start button obviously are newbs. Yes for newbs Windows 8 might be ok or great or the same as Windows 7. But us people in the know..or people who actually do a few more thanks than surf the internet know its not as user friendly. One difference...which I hear they are fixing...where its 100% not working the same is search..In windows 7...I could click start and type what Iwanted...In windows 8 it defaults to APPS and you have to click another category if you want to search anything else...Well as a power user I want everything but apps...So search is basically broken... But since installing Start8 search is back...the nice easy access start button is back..Not full screen start screen wasting my 24" screen with crap... I pinned many things to my start menu....I can see everything in a 2 inch space... Not my whole freaking screen...That is the difference you newbs.... Us power users see this...and so do most of the masses and companies.... That is the reason Microsoft is making a change.... Not because we just like to complain about change...but because we expect at least if not better functionally as before. And being able to learn a OS without having to be trained is a plus!!

The search will be fixed in Windows Blue. Thats the only thing I miss from Win7. And the start menu vs start screen... Couldn't care. I don't care if it's full screen or not. Why would you need to see your programs when you are searching for something? Your mouse and your attention is already given to the start menu when you open it. Why fullscreen is that bad? People complain about that, but not many actually give a reason.

 

[tipstir]

Windows 7 I still use because all what I have support it. I am sure Windows 8 well be accepted but those that have issue just have to wait on Microsoft to fix them.

 

[cliffordcooley]

This statement is all gobbledygook as Microsoft needed to have two versions of 8 upon release.

I've been saying this ever since the introduction of Windows 8. It wouldn't be that difficult to get either version within one install package.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

I work in IT at a bank. I am a power user. The current form of Windows 8 Blows. I have to test it out so I installed it at home..Used it a few weeks (But I knew within a day) and its current form is so much slower to do the same tasks. People saying that Windows 8 is just as easy or hit the start button obviously are newbs. Yes for newbs Windows 8 might be ok or great or the same as Windows 7. But us people in the know..or people who actually do a few more thanks than surf the internet know its not as user friendly. One difference...which I hear they are fixing...where its 100% not working the same is search..In windows 7...I could click start and type what Iwanted...In windows 8 it defaults to APPS and you have to click another category if you want to search anything else...Well as a power user I want everything but apps...So search is basically broken... But since installing Start8 search is back...the nice easy access start button is back..Not full screen start screen wasting my 24" screen with crap... I pinned many things to my start menu....I can see everything in a 2 inch space... Not my whole freaking screen...That is the difference you newbs.... Us power users see this...and so do most of the masses and companies.... That is the reason Microsoft is making a change.... Not because we just like to complain about change...but because we expect at least if not better functionally as before. And being able to learn a OS without having to be trained is a plus!!

The search will be fixed in Windows Blue. Thats the only thing I miss from Win7. And the start menu vs start screen... Couldn't care. I don't care if it's full screen or not. Why would you need to see your programs when you are searching for something? Your mouse and your attention is already given to the start menu when you open it. Why fullscreen is that bad? People complain about that, but not many actually give a reason.

Why a fullscreen right-in-your-face start menu is bad is because it defetats the enitre idea behind the "Windows"(<---see that word) operating system exists in the first place. To do multiple things simultaneously. I am not a ******* cow. I don't feel like I need to prodded from behind to go where I need to go. If I wanted to focus on one task at a time I would re-install my DOS(disk operating system).
That's just one of the many reasons Windows 8 sucks. Windows 8 is too linear. Choices are gone, freedom is gone, flexibility is gone. How long will it take Microsoft to realize they made a huge mistake.
Touch should have been an "option" in Windows 8 not a damn replacement for the mouse and keyboard. Unless, as cliffordcooley states and I myself have stated many times, they had released two versions of Windows 8 at launch.
Windows 8 Desktop and Windows 8 Mobile. Then tablet users could have a simplified UI where they can swipe to their hearts content all day long wiping their snotty noses and swiping their dirty screens, sharing there germ filled tablets with friends all day long. And desktop users could still be enjoying the choice, flexibility, power, precision-control, and productivity that Windows 7 has already brought to the table. 2 versions of the next Windows, Ballmer(you *******), 2 versions.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

Or at the very least incorporate the dynamic ability to determine the hardware Windows 8 is running on and load an appropriate UI for that hardware. Or even better offer your customers(the people who made you rich) the "choice" to select a custom UI.
Linux excels in this arena. Most versions of Linux come with multiple UIs that can be selected at will. Microsoft needs to take a good hard look at Linux. Choice, choice, choice is what we want Microsoft.

Somebody had a great idea. Running a contest that allows developers to develop UIs for Windows 8. If Microsoft is too damn lazy to make two separate UIs for two distinct groups of people then at least allow somebody else to do it. Still, it's something Microsoft should have done already and should be doing now. Before it's too late. Because I ain't installing Windows 8 in it's current form, ever.

 

[Guest]

As a long time PC user, Windows8 offered me zero. It hindered my ability to use my computer.

Thus, it was horrible. (ie: Win8 sucks)


Even Windows7 is inferior to Windows98 icon based desktop, via windows. Icon based work areas are superior to rooted systems like Microsoft has been trying to deliver over the last 3 iterations.

Windows for PC's are no longer object based.. and using your GUI as a desktop to work on. Windows is now about text.. & links.. Windows OS is now about abstract usage short-cut based & keystroke based... and library based... very odd for people who grew up with actually tangible, usable folders on their desktop and organized their system graphically/virtually... (ie old Windows95~98/Amiga workbench/iOS/Unix/etc..)

Windows 7 suffers from the same thing, how is Win8 going to correct a non-object based OS?

 

[Railman]

I am a long time user of W98 and have only gone over to W7 at work. I am finding the change is not seamless as I miss some of the old features. One thing that I have noticed is that directories take a while to display despite the fact I have moved from a Celeron desktop to a I5 laptop with SSD (data on network drive). Don't get me wrong there are some very usefull features with W7 but at the same time I do prefer the look and feel of W98. There is little chance of me wanting to update to W8.

 

[lawfer]

None of you have answered my inquiry. And trust me, I'll wait.

You are obviously ignoring our comments so why bother explaining once again. But since you missed one of my reasons above, I'll shorten it for you. Loss of mouse control, needing to press keyboard shortcuts equates to less than proper desktop experience, when the majority would probably rather simply use their mouse. Even SNGX1275 mentioned wishing he could mimic touch capabilities with a mouse. The loss or absence of mouse functionality (and yes I do expect you to twist this around to suit your own opinion) is where it fails at at a proper desktop experience. Personally though I have my own hatred with cosmetics as well.

What in the world are you talking about? I'll let you in on a little secret:

Windows 8 behaves exactly like Windows 7 on the desktop.

Now, please, let's try this again.

 

[captaincranky]

What in the world are you talking about? I'll let you in on a little secret:

Windows 8 behaves exactly like Windows 7 on the desktop.

Now, please, let's try this again.

Problem of communication resolved. If windows 8 behaves the same as Windows 7 on the desktop, then there's no need to hand M$ any money for it, is there? (At least certainly not for the desktop user).

 

[cliffordcooley]

Windows 8 behaves exactly like Windows 7 on the desktop.

Now I know you suffer from delusions.

 

[lawfer]

Problem of communication resolved. If windows 8 behaves the same as Windows 7 on the desktop, then there's no need to hand M$ any money for it, is there? (At least certainly not for the desktop user).

Well, that's a lazy way of getting out of it, now isn't it?

What are the main features new version of Windows usually brought? Faster boot times, better efficiency, certain cosmetics changes here and there. Basically the same thing as 8.

Besides an architectural shift from XP to Vista, where for instance only in Vista you could get the latest DirectX, most of the changes in the newest OS weren't incredibly tempting. Hell, ask those still on XP who see no value in the Jumplists, Aero Peek, Aero Snap, etc. introduced in 7. Their OS still works because it is fundamentally the same: programs are in resizable windows, there's a taskbar, there's the start menu (except in Windows 8 of course, but you get the point).

8 & 7 are pretty much the same as far as the desktop is concerned. It feels a little faster here and there, I like the task manager, but I mean, the new changes, while not worth the asking price (I paid nothing for it BTW), are rather similar to the changes from Vista to 7. Remember when people said 7 was essentially Vista's Service Pack 3? They were almost right, because there wasn't that big a change worth the asking price.

Now, I mean, I'm not saying people should love Metro. Some people disable it entirely, like I did, others vote with their wallet. But to say 8's desktop is inferior to 7 when they are virtually the same is just childish fanboy-ism.

Now I know you suffer from delusions.

"When debating any issue, there is an implicit burden of proof on the person asserting a claim."

I challenged a claim you seemingly share, and yet you have provided no proof.

You said "loss of mouse control." What the hell does this even mean?

"Needing to press keyboard shortcuts" Are you kidding me? When, I ask you, do you need to use keyboard shortcuts in the desktop? You don't need to in 7, and, surprise, you don't need to in 8.

These two aforementioned statements are not proof as to how Windows 8's desktop experience is inferior to 7. You say this is my opinion; I don't know how that's possible seeing how the biggest change in 8 is the addition of Metro. Very little changed on the desktop.

So, once again, I'll wait for real, substantiated reply. (Which, let's be honest, I know I'm not gonna get, but it's all part of the fun!)

 

[captaincranky]

Well, that's a lazy way of getting out of it, now isn't it?

No, but I'd have to be an outright imbecile to buy Windows 8 simply because I can or M$ told me to.

What are the main features new version of Windows usually brought? Faster boot times, better efficiency, certain cosmetics changes here and there. Basically the same thing as 8.....{ }......

This is B***S***, as least to a substantial degree.

Installing Windows 7 on a older machine designed for XP will likely net you a slower machine which may not even meet the hardware requirements for Win 7 anyway.

Today's CPUs have throughputs approaching 20X that of the venerable P-4. Memory is orders of multiples faster, not to mention SSD boot times. M$ always seem to suck up on these improvements all the while taking credit for "improvements" in Windows.

My i3-3225 machine boots faster than my i3-530 machine, yet they share the same OS. So, cut the crap, most of the speed improvements are hardware based, with little to none in Windows itself.