Weekend Open Forum: Will Windows 8 be worth buying?

If these are the only changes being made, then no.

I might just switch permanently to Linux if Windows OSes stay at their ridiculous prices that they're at right now. I also hate the whole multi-tiering of the OS (Home, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise, etc.). I'll always go for the 'complete and full' version and that means I am shelling out $$$ for it. If they just release just one version of Windows 8, I may consider it.

Most likely not worth it for Windows 7 users, probably a decent enough upgrade to warrant the purchase for users still on Vista, and obviously worthwhile for those still clinging to XP.

There's nothing wrong with more frequent and less dramatic updates, it's how the rest of the software market works and it's how Windows releases worked prior to XP. No-one is forcing consumers to buy each and every one.

<-- I'll probably install it somewhere just to play with it, but for a real, usable OS, you're generally better off skipping a version. Example:
Win 98
skip ME
XP
skip vista
Win 7 -->

You mean
Windows 95
Try Mac OS 8 but return to Windows 95
Skip Windows 98
Windows 98 SE
Skip Windows ME
Try out Debian 2.2 but return to Windows 98 SE
Wait a couple years before migrating to Windows XP
Try out various versions of Linux randomly throughout nearly seven years but always return to Windows XP
Skip Vista
Try out Windows 7 expecting it to suck and fall in love with it.
Try out the Ubuntu 11.04 and realize they destroyed the OS with Unity.
Go back to Windows 7
Skip Windows 8 because there is nothing it can offer(that I can think of) to justify upgrading.
Live happily ever after with Windows 7.

Given that I just upgraded to Windows 7 last year and am perfectly happy with it, I don't see myself jumping onto Windows 8 if released next year. I may look at the possibility of an upgrade depending on what 'must-have' features are offered and if I'm upgrading my system at the time, but still prefer not too this soon.

Thats good....they're not releasing it right now. Maybe they will be have a hungry appetite to devour a new OS next year

I just wish the software companies would get with the program...

So many apps I have will not run on 64 bit OS...

The companies, 3rd party, are slow to recompile, to use 64 bit addressing and multithreading support...

Great Win 7 stuff, its the Other Software companies need to get off there lazy duffs and upgrade the software to compete with Win 7 and Win8...


What use is on OS when programs will not run on the OS's due to compatability..

Example : I have a telescope, and use a star mapping program, great program, will not run on 64 bit Win 7.... And do u think they would recompile to so it would run on win 7 ... no ...

Lazy companies...

boot up time

My machine does it in less than a Minute, time enough to turn it on go get a cup of coffee and come back and its up and running.

If it took more than 5 minutes to boot up then it would kindas be a nusaunce,

I remember the Amiga days it took an hour for the computer to boot up... 20 meg of ram, 32 megahertz processor...

Wow boot up in less than 5 minutes that is fast compared to 20 yrs ago...

It's the other way round for gamers. If you look at the Steam survey, only 23% of gamers (who participated) us XP. The rest have Vista or 7 (even Vista has more users than XP, though just slightly).

Regarding 8, I think there's one feature I'll find compelling in a Microsoft OS, but I don't know if 8 has it, and that's no reboots. I don't want to ever have to reboot my PC, and Windows still wants that on many updates.

Still, I think that if I end up getting 8 it will be because I buy a laptop (or other such device, like a tablet) that comes with it. I haven't yet upgraded my desktop from Vista, even though I have several 7 licenses. Just never felt a great need.

Windows 7 have very nice and positive name from the perspective of marketing. Windows 8 they will destroy this advantage without replace it with a similar advantage. Windows 8 as a name is neutral.

Microsoft I think is better choose a solution like PLUS for sell (if they don’t want give it for free as sp) the new code than a whole new version of windows.

The advantage in time line from the hype of a new windows version is much smaller than the advantage of the windows 7 name.

ps: Intel has keep the 7 for their cpus too.

...
Windows 98 they had a name connected in a year. So that name was easy outdated. And the millennium (ME) was really a big hype so then at those days the new version was correct move.
But now the 7 has the strong and stability and the 8 isn’t anything special.

Too soon for another Windows. Five years is a reasonable cycle for both home consumers, gamers, and businesses.

And the ribbon is horrible to use.

I think that the major reason for Windows 8's existence is ARM support. For this feature only it's worth releasing this version of Windows.

The reason i state boot up and shut down times as important is because my gf's 1 year old Mac destroys my freshly restored and updated windows PC which cost 1400 and has a fast drive in it. It shuts down in 2 seconds, and boots up in 5-6, my windows PC should do that same and that fact that it doesn't is sad.

Let the tears of all the die hard XP'ians begin. This is a XP 'End of support countdown' gadget
It can be had here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...=53a27766-0168-4617-b44e-74b2886cec6d&pf=true

But then...three years should be more than enough to mourn the demise of the most bestest OS in the history of mankind... it is after all...'42' :rolleyes:

And here is a gander at the reminder tool.
http://www.techspot.com/gallery/member-galleries/p4330-xp-countdown-gadget.html

For anyone interested in '8's' progression, this site seems to be on top of all things 8 leaked and otherwise.
http://www.windows8update.com/2011/04/22/updated-windows-8-task-manager-screenshots/

i love torrents i download them all the time. i download one for beta and i download one for launch if i had a hundred torrents i would seed them all at once. (gonna get a non legit copy and later buy if i like)

i think people are forgetting the reason why "software" companies exist and to profit. They have to continually develop products, find new innovative things to do with it, and answer to their customers/shareholders. It is not in their best interest to keep an OS exactly the same for 10yrs at a time. 5yrs between releases is perfectly fine. Remember 5yrs in technology is an eternity. It is in their best interest to have some form of touch UI for windows8, the next generation of x86 or ARm tablets. Now that Intel has 3D lithography ready, and Intel atom is getting faster and smaller, the x86 will eventually move to the smartphone/table platform dominated by ARM.

If you have the equipment to utilize the features being touted, absolutely. Also if I can grab a free/cheap copy through work or a convention like I did with 7, you bet I will.

I don't think Windows 8 will ship next year despite Microsoft's claims to a three-year release cycle. It feels too soon for a refresh and Windows 7 still has a lot of life left in it. Besides, there's been no release candidate or mention of one this year and it's too early for a beta to be available.

Then again, stranger things have happened in the world of technology.