I Hate Windows 8.

[Trakar]

I'm sure this had to have been brought up elsewhere. But I hate Windows 8. My wife has a laptop with Windows 8 installed... it's full of spamware (mysearchdial) and I just can't bring myself to fix it for her. Just Navigating around that system is a horrible experience... I can never find a program... I'm constantly get sucked back out to this tile screen... I use it a bit... but I just can't get used to it. I remember when facebook used to change up the site... and everyone would hate it, including myself.... for about a week... and then you wouldn't even remember what the old facebook looked like.... This is different... I can't even begin to see potential advantages.... it's horrible..... Why did they do this?

Personally I love the fully customizable tile interface and consider it one of Win8 strengths. In order to make optimum use of Win8 capabilities, however, you have to actually go in and customize the system for your use. If you are a closet Mac fan, that basically means not changing anything. If you are a traditional Windows/Dos user however, this means wholesale customization of the interface from the root out. The main thing about adapting WIN8 for your use is to spend time actually using the system and tweaking it to the style of your usage. 8.1 is a very useful upgrade (especially for mobile devices and touch screen systems), and 8.2 should bring even more utility to the desktop systems (especially for users that just can't adapt to the benefits of the tile interface).

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

(especially for users that just can't adapt to the benefits of the tile interface).

Could you list what you consider those benefits to be, please? I hear a lot of negativity about the OS, but not much positivity. The most positivity I've heard is people saying that the underlying OS itself is quicker and that you don't have to (and indeed shouldn't) use the tile interface on the desktop. It'd be interesting to hear from someone who considers the tile interface to be superior even on a desktop.

 

[LTC8K6]

There is already a version of the old Start Menu in 8.1, they are supposedly bringing back the full start menu in the fall.

 

[Wowbagger]

There is already a version of the old Start Menu in 8.1, they are supposedly bringing back the full start menu in the fall.

Are you referring to the right-click Quick Access menu?

It's not quite the same thing.

 

[Caper]

I could not imagine what this is like for a senior using this for the 1st time. I'm 35 and adapting to change is tough.

 

[Dancing David]

I'm sure this had to have been brought up elsewhere. But I hate Windows 8. My wife has a laptop with Windows 8 installed... it's full of spamware (mysearchdial) and I just can't bring myself to fix it for her. Just Navigating around that system is a horrible experience... I can never find a program... I'm constantly get sucked back out to this tile screen... I use it a bit... but I just can't get used to it. I remember when facebook used to change up the site... and everyone would hate it, including myself.... for about a week... and then you wouldn't even remember what the old facebook looked like.... This is different... I can't even begin to see potential advantages.... it's horrible..... Why did they do this?

mysearchdialer is not one of Windows8's many faults, this should help:

As IS Program
(author assumes no liability)

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/junkware-removal-tool/

 

[Trakar]

Could you list what you consider those benefits to be, please? I hear a lot of negativity about the OS, but not much positivity. The most positivity I've heard is people saying that the underlying OS itself is quicker and that you don't have to (and indeed shouldn't) use the tile interface on the desktop. It'd be interesting to hear from someone who considers the tile interface to be superior even on a desktop.

I use a touch screen interface on my desktop. So, if I am reading your post correctly, you aren't interested in general OS benefits (e.g. speed, stability, security etc.) and not really interested in touchscreen interface benefits (which are most directly tied to a lot of the benefits of the tile system) but are just looking for why I like the tiles system as opposed to say a desktop system which used the Win8 OS but relied upon mouse/touch-point and a more standard Win7 desktop-type screen interface?

First and foremost, it is important to understand that tiles are not just big shortcut buttons, they are regularly updated status windows for installed files, programs and applications. This dynamic interaction means that I can often get a lot of the use and benefits from the installed applications without regularly launching the programs they reflect (e.g. Calendar, market track, mail, weather, etc.).

Another big advantage that is the more complete integration of Apps or small program applications. For instance I can deep-link mail apps to my outlook which will track and feed to my main screen tiles the flow of messages/mail from a specific folder. So while I'm working on a spreadsheet, I can also track the communications flow and feedback from various team-members working on other aspects of the same project without having to drain system resources by actually opening my Outlook program.

My main reason for going to Win8 were the OS benefits, I was a bit hesitant about the tile interface when I first transitioned, and in fact, relied more on the more familiar desktop interface for the first few months. Once I really began exploring and customizing my system to the way I use it, however, I quickly discovered the utility of the live tile system I get frustrated with my older XP and Win7 OS systems.

 

[Trakar]

I could not imagine what this is like for a senior using this for the 1st time. I'm 35 and adapting to change is tough.

I'm in my late 60's and setting up my first few computers involved soldering irons and component kits from Radio Shack. Adjusting to Win8 was a lot easier than moving from early generation cell phones to the first smart phones!

 

[fuelair]

I could not imagine what this is like for a senior using this for the 1st time. I'm 35 and adapting to change is tough.

It led to this senior using some choice phrases concerning the idiot mother raping ******** at Microsoft who ruined his new laptop with their **** - when he was fine with Vista and Win7 and could use them wonderfully to do his research, downloading etc. Adapting to rationally introduced change is not a problem, adapting to your computer being designed like a smartphone is. Though had the reverse been the case I might well use a smart phone on rare occasion.

 

[a_unique_person]

I could not imagine what this is like for a senior using this for the 1st time. I'm 35 and adapting to change is tough.

I would suspect that for the elderly and disabled, the simplified interface may be of benefit.

 

[fuelair]

I would suspect that for the elderly and disabled, the simplified interface may be of benefit.

Actually, not so much - as noted priorly.....

 

[SezMe]

Presumably because it isn't fullscreen.

Huh? Adobe Reader is any size you set it to.

 

[Trakar]

I would suspect that for the elderly and disabled, the simplified interface may be of benefit.

Much moreso with the touchscreen fixes in 8.1

And I do greatly appreciate having my phone, Laptop/tablet and desktop all sharing a common platform. I don't know that Win8 eases elderly interface any, but touchscreens are addictive. I finally had to upgrade the desktop monitor, because it gets frustrating trying to use a good HD monitor as a touch-screen when it doesn't have that capability.

 

[John Jones]

Much moreso with the touchscreen fixes in 8.1

And I do greatly appreciate having my phone, Laptop/tablet and desktop all sharing a common platform. I don't know that Win8 eases elderly interface any, but touchscreens are addictive. I finally had to upgrade the desktop monitor, because it gets frustrating trying to use a good HD monitor as a touch-screen when it doesn't have that capability.

There you go. Who wants to get gorilla arm even if it's possible?

When Win8 can boot to desktop mode on a desktop, and touch mode on a touch device automagically, I'll give it another look.

So far, WIN8 has been a train-wreck.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm in my 40's. I hated Windows 8 when I loaded in on my laptop. About 2 weeks later, I liked Windows 8.1. Now I can't understand what anyone hates about it.

I got used to surfing the net with a Samsung Galaxy tablet, so even the tiles in Windows 8 were not a big deal.

 

[Trakar]

There you go. Who wants to get gorilla arm even if it's possible?..

The actual point being, why keep trying to use a mouse, when fingers are more effective and direct at accomplishing the interface? It made more sense to equip my desktop with a touch screen than to use touch screens for some things (phones, tablets) and mouse, track-point, etc., for desktop.

I paid ~$250 for a 24" HD touchscreen that works great for my needs.

 

[Hungry81]

I'm in my 40's. I hated Windows 8 when I loaded in on my laptop. About 2 weeks later, I liked Windows 8.1. Now I can't understand what anyone hates about it.

I got used to surfing the net with a Samsung Galaxy tablet, so even the tiles in Windows 8 were not a big deal.

I think there is a certain syndrome that describes your state of mind.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think there is a certain syndrome that describes your state of mind.

I had Vista on my laptop. I hated Vista. I inherited the laptop on the death of my Aunt. I should say, no one else wanted it.

One Christmas, my brother bought me W8. It sat for a year. I had heard it was horrible, so I didn't use it for anything. I had toyed with getting into desktop building again, but never got around to it.

8.1 was released. I finally decided to load the year old 8 on my laptop. I got a bigger, faster hard drive, put it in the laptop, and loaded Windows 8. I still had the old drive with Vista installed, in case 8 was horrible, or wouldn't work.

Well, it worked in 64 bit with 4 gigs of ram, which was great.
It was horrible to figure out, though.

I got over it.

I loaded 8.1, and also in there somewhere I upgraded the processor from 1.7ghz 1M cache to 2.4ghz 3M cache, both dual core.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

I use a touch screen interface on my desktop. So, if I am reading your post correctly, you aren't interested in general OS benefits (e.g. speed, stability, security etc.) and not really interested in touchscreen interface benefits (which are most directly tied to a lot of the benefits of the tile system) but are just looking for why I like the tiles system as opposed to say a desktop system which used the Win8 OS but relied upon mouse/touch-point and a more standard Win7 desktop-type screen interface?

Yup, that's it exactly.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that tiles are not just big shortcut buttons, they are regularly updated status windows for installed files, programs and applications. This dynamic interaction means that I can often get a lot of the use and benefits from the installed applications without regularly launching the programs they reflect (e.g. Calendar, market track, mail, weather, etc.).

Is that new? I'm not sure what version of Windows it is my dad's got installed, but he's got a weather app on his desktop, and has had for longer than Windows 8 has been around.

Another big advantage that is the more complete integration of Apps or small program applications. For instance I can deep-link mail apps to my outlook which will track and feed to my main screen tiles the flow of messages/mail from a specific folder. So while I'm working on a spreadsheet, I can also track the communications flow and feedback from various team-members working on other aspects of the same project without having to drain system resources by actually opening my Outlook program.

I've not seen much about the email in Windows 8, so I'll take your word for it, but I do question how much of a drain on resources an email client is. I'm running Thunderbird and it's using virtually nothing of either my CPU or memory.

Besides, doesn't it essentially mean that rather than having one app running which is draining your resources, you've got a whole bunch of them running, regardless of whether you're currently interested in that particular bit of information or not?

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

The actual point being, why keep trying to use a mouse, when fingers are more effective and direct at accomplishing the interface?

It makes more sense ergonomically for me. I move my pointer around a lot and click on different things a lot, so to constantly have to keep raising my arm would get tiresome quickly. And you can't lean back in your chair, with your face far from the screen with touchscreen, whereas you can with a mouse. In fact, having just done a quick test, I've found that when typing I sit with the screen at just beyond arm's length. Which means that in order to submit this post or do anything at all I'd have to lean forwards.

Besides, I'm yet to be convinced that it's actually a better option. I've got a large trackpad that I use for most general navigating, or with the pen for doing artistic stuff. That works in a similar fashion to touchscreen, and the gestures are often advantageous. But there's stuff that the mouse is a far better fit for. Dragging and dropping is better done with a mouse. Anything which requires precision, such as sound or video editing is much quicker with the mouse. And even using the scroll wheel is usually both quicker and more precise than using my fingers on the pad to scroll up and down. Plus, of course, there's gaming.

I'm not opposed to the idea of touch - I love the interface on my Kobo - I just don't see it as being beneficial for the way that I use my PC, and for the kinds of things I use my PC for. It makes sense on something small on which you use for one thing at a time, but for something large on which you run several things at once and want to make precise, careful selections? No, I can't see it.