Windows 8

strider · December 15, 2013, 03:37:12 PM

So we now have two computers with windows 8, a desk top that seems ...OK, and a laptop - just updated to Windows 8.1 - that drives me crazy. Things just seem to happen. Pause to read something and you end up somewhere else. Move the pointer down the page and it displays the time and takes an extra click or two to get back to where you were. Programs seem to do crazy things when they behaved under Windows 7 and older. Even fresh downloads. I called Microsoft and got someone who seemed to have more trouble understanding me than I did him and the guy ended up telling me it was every things fault but Windows.

Granted, laptops and me have issues anyway but this is ridiculous (I've thrown a few...). Move the mouse on a spreadsheet and it is suddenly too small to read. Move it again and now two words fill the screen. Start typing and you may end up on the blue screen thing wondering where every thing went. Every fourth letter, the time and tools thing pops up and you lose the next three letters before you realize you have to stop, click on something and then start again.

I know that I actually remember using key punch cards for work, but I have managed to keep up until this....

Comcast e-mail just stopped working in anything but Explorer and then half the time, it is too small to read, try to zoom and then it's too large for the screen and it won't let you move over to read the end of the line or see what you typed. It literally takes twice the keystrokes to type anything on the laptop now. And after the update to 8.1, we also get to see an extra 3rd screen just to turn the thing off.

I read where I could downgrade but when I asked about it, they sent me back to the guy who couldn't understand me.

Any suggestions?

ben says · December 15, 2013, 04:11:42 PM

1) Get a Mac...

or

2) If you're a Windows junkie, uninstall 8 and reinstall a prior version.

I know a few people who had similar issues and happily went with option #2.

spuwho · December 15, 2013, 05:43:06 PM

What brand/model PC do you have? Downgrade options vary.

If you want to keep Win 8.1 but just want the Windows 7 look and feel, download Classic Shell. It's free.

http://www.classicshell.net/

There is also Launch 8 by Stardock which is not free.

http://www.stardock.com/products/launch8/

Win8 works well for tablets and the UI works on Windows Phone, but on traditional desktops or laptops without a touchscreen, it can frustrate and has a high acceptance curve.

Their was word last week that Microsoft was going to bring back more of the Start button features in subsequent releases for desktops.

Windows 7 still has a 46% overall market share on desktop. Win 8 just under 10%. What freaks out Microsoft is that XP still has a 31% overall share. Overall support for XP ends in April 2014.

http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0

Non-RedNeck Westsider · December 15, 2013, 08:56:52 PM

I'm one of those XP %s.

avonjax · December 15, 2013, 09:24:16 PM

Sorry everyone but it's the user. I used 8 as a beta and then installed the full version 8. When 8.1 was released I upgraded and find the few subtle changes nice. Windows 8.1 is by FAR the best Windows I have ever used. Of course I have never had these problems not even with the Beta. I do not have a touch screen and it works great with a mouse on both my laptop and desktop. All the great features of 7 were kept and there are some terrific shortcuts in 8 and 8.1. Try buying a magazine that gives easy tips and you may have better success. The only windows I ever have trouble with is Millennium. I honestly don't understand why so many people have problems with the last few windows versions.

coredumped · December 15, 2013, 11:30:18 PM

Don't get mac, unless you want to refinance your home:)
(I'm prepared for the onslaught of flames....)

spuwho has great advice; classicshell. It's free/open source and will give you the windows 7 feel you're familiar with.

Good luck!

spuwho · December 15, 2013, 11:33:09 PM

Quote from: avonjax on December 15, 2013, 09:24:16 PM
Sorry everyone but it's the user. I used 8 as a beta and then installed the full version 8. When 8.1 was released I upgraded and find the few subtle changes nice. Windows 8.1 is by FAR the best Windows I have ever used. Of course I have never had these problems not even with the Beta. I do not have a touch screen and it works great with a mouse on both my laptop and desktop. All the great features of 7 were kept and there are some terrific shortcuts in 8 and 8.1. Try buying a magazine that gives easy tips and you may have better success. The only windows I ever have trouble with is Millennium. I honestly don't understand why so many people have problems with the last few windows versions.

Because to many people the use of a computer is no different than the use of ones car. They expect the keys to go in the same spot every time no matter what car they buy.

FSBA · December 15, 2013, 11:50:36 PM

This is why I use Ubuntu.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

BridgeTroll · December 16, 2013, 06:51:18 AM

Quote from: avonjax on December 15, 2013, 09:24:16 PM
Sorry everyone but it's the user. I used 8 as a beta and then installed the full version 8. When 8.1 was released I upgraded and find the few subtle changes nice. Windows 8.1 is by FAR the best Windows I have ever used. Of course I have never had these problems not even with the Beta. I do not have a touch screen and it works great with a mouse on both my laptop and desktop. All the great features of 7 were kept and there are some terrific shortcuts in 8 and 8.1. Try buying a magazine that gives easy tips and you may have better success. The only windows I ever have trouble with is Millennium. I honestly don't understand why so many people have problems with the last few windows versions.

Since you were a beta user it is safe to assume you are a windows junkie. And yes... it probably is the users... but that is not their fault. Im an IT guy and Windows 8 is a pain in the ass... It is too big a leap from one style of GUI interface to another... users can cope with gradual, incremental changes to an OS...

thekillingwax · December 16, 2013, 06:59:32 AM

Read a little bit about 8.2, supposedly full start button functionality is coming back? It's not that I love the start button but I absolutely despise Metro. I guess it's fine for tablets or touchscreen devices but it just seemed so big and ugly on my monitor. I went back to seven and I don't really miss anything from 8. I'll be building a new system soon and I might try 8 again. At least I paid almost nothing for it.

Dog Walker · December 16, 2013, 08:00:31 AM

Quote from: FSBA on December 15, 2013, 11:50:36 PM
This is why I use Ubuntu.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Another fan! Ubuntu on the ancient laptop and 7 on the desk. Made a presentation a couple of years ago with the laptop using Open Office and afterwords got critical comments from a retired Microsoft engineer in the audience. His feelings were hurt.

mtraininjax · December 16, 2013, 08:39:39 AM

All Support for XP ends April 2014, Microsoft will not be writing any updates for Malicious code threats. So plan on doing something different, or risk more attacks and hacks in XP.

Windows 7 is the way to go.

sheclown · December 16, 2013, 08:50:20 AM

Quote from: avonjax on December 15, 2013, 09:24:16 PM
Sorry everyone but it's the user. I used 8 as a beta and then installed the full version 8. When 8.1 was released I upgraded and find the few subtle changes nice. Windows 8.1 is by FAR the best Windows I have ever used. Of course I have never had these problems not even with the Beta. I do not have a touch screen and it works great with a mouse on both my laptop and desktop. All the great features of 7 were kept and there are some terrific shortcuts in 8 and 8.1. Try buying a magazine that gives easy tips and you may have better success. The only windows I ever have trouble with is Millennium. I honestly don't understand why so many people have problems with the last few windows versions.

Ease of use would seem to be an important component.

BridgeTroll · December 16, 2013, 09:11:45 AM

Quote from: sheclown on December 16, 2013, 08:50:20 AM
Quote from: avonjax on December 15, 2013, 09:24:16 PM
Sorry everyone but it's the user. I used 8 as a beta and then installed the full version 8. When 8.1 was released I upgraded and find the few subtle changes nice. Windows 8.1 is by FAR the best Windows I have ever used. Of course I have never had these problems not even with the Beta. I do not have a touch screen and it works great with a mouse on both my laptop and desktop. All the great features of 7 were kept and there are some terrific shortcuts in 8 and 8.1. Try buying a magazine that gives easy tips and you may have better success. The only windows I ever have trouble with is Millennium. I honestly don't understand why so many people have problems with the last few windows versions.

Ease of use would seem to be an important component.

You are correct... the developers seem to forget... the rest of us are not developers... or even beta users...

KenFSU · December 16, 2013, 09:12:11 AM

In other words, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. To me, Windows 7 was nearly flawless. It was the culmination of 20 years of iteration and refinement of the Windows experience. Metro was a radical departure that no one asked for, and very few wanted. My work computer is my primary productivity driver, and I don't need it to look like and behave like a child's toy with flashing widgets and redundant apps. If you want to sell more Windows phones or Surface tablets, court more app developers and refine your hardware, don't force the UI onto my desktop computer and strip away core Windows functionality in the process. Personally, I found Windows 8 to be a betrayal of trust by Microsoft. This would be obvious by the fact that one of the most popular downloads for Windows 8 is a fix for the ridiculous start button issue.