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2012-10-30 Science & Technology

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Posted by Fred 2012-10-30 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

#1 What, exactly, does the average or even above average person need from an OS? The ones that exist now are capable of so much. Other than the fact that as other software, particularly browsers, became slower due to their size and complexity, I could use my version of Windows until they plant me and be very satisfied.

I'm guessing that way over 95% of people will never, ever use the bulk of the features that exist in the operating systems we already have. The only changes that would be in demand are ones that make an OS speedier.

Posted by no mo uro 2012-10-30 05:37|| 2012-10-30 05:37|| Front Page Top

#2 I know "8" was only recently released but has anyone had any experience with System 8 at this time that would indicate a change from "7"?

Posted by JohnQC 2012-10-30 09:17|| 2012-10-30 09:17|| Front Page Top

#3 This is a pretty vacuous article. Most people with existing computers won't upgrade their OS's. However, people who want to run the latest software will buy a new computer because of more stringent HW requirements, and that new computer will come with Windows 8.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2012-10-30 09:34|| 2012-10-30 09:34|| Front Page Top

#4 New Coke.

As Zhang Fi says, it'll be a new computer upgrade. However, most computers outside of gaming rigs and number crunchers are already adequate for day to day operations. Given how the economy is running, I suspect most business customers with volume purchases are going to hold off as long as possible before thinking of any new upgrades in hardware or software.

Posted by Procopius2k 2012-10-30 10:38|| 2012-10-30 10:38|| Front Page Top

#5 Hey, Microsoft - I'll buy Win 8 when you make Win 7 drivers that work with HP printers (including the 'universal driver) that don't hang in the middle of a print run. Deal?

Posted by Raj 2012-10-30 10:40|| 2012-10-30 10:40|| Front Page Top

#6 I got a Surface RT and I actually really like it. Much more immersive than iPad which I also own. It's enjoyable whipping those big tiles around.

Who knows, in a few years it may be considered a rare collectible.

Posted by Glinesh Craling7938 2012-10-30 10:55|| 2012-10-30 10:55|| Front Page Top

#7 I've been using "8" for a month or so now (MSDN Subscription). There really doesn't seem to be much change from 7 except for the new user interface with Metro. I say new because the old 'desktop' is still there, and you can write and run apps on it (Microsoft isn't that stupid) and you can run with the desktop and even (I've heard) restore the old start menu (unlike, for example, some other OSes which insist that everyone use their new tablet-like interface with HUGE icons, sliding and flicking.)
Metro is the 'tablet-like' user interface and can be handy - if you have a multi-touch screen or a tablet where you can slide and flick things around.
If you have a tablet or a slate you might be tempted to get windows 8. Or if you want to get one of the new web-applications which are designed to work with metro - much like a facebook 'app' works with android.
One of the problems I see for Microsoft is that Windows 7 works well. When 7 came out it was well tested, had very good reviews, and well working - people jumped to switch from Vista or the 'old' XP. Also most people don't need what 8 offers - windows 7 works just fine.

Posted by CrazyFool 2012-10-30 11:13|| 2012-10-30 11:13|| Front Page Top

#8 So I should buy a new computer now, to avoid getting stuck with Windoze 8?

Posted by Bobby 2012-10-30 13:08|| 2012-10-30 13:08|| Front Page Top

#9 I'm not switching to Windows 8 until some concerns are addressed. Among them the security increase that seems to keep track of users just like outside threats.

Posted by Charles 2012-10-30 14:02|| 2012-10-30 14:02|| Front Page Top

#10 Win 8 is designed to support both tablets and desktops. Can't speak about tablets, but the user interface on the desktop is horrible. Very inconsistent, counter-intuitive, and slow.

Posted by Cincinnatus Chili 2012-10-30 14:42|| 2012-10-30 14:42|| Front Page Top

#11 I thought Metro was dropped from windows 8 release...

In any case I also heard Metro didn't like to play nice with other non-metro apps.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2012-10-30 15:10|| 2012-10-30 15:10|| Front Page Top

#12 Most non-Metro applications seem to work ok under the 'Desktop' - they just don't benefit from the newfangled metro interface.
I've heard you can configure it with the Desktop as the 'standard' - lifehacker.com has some articles on it (but their servers are down right now due to Sandy).

Posted by CrazyFool 2012-10-30 16:01|| 2012-10-30 16:01|| Front Page Top

#13 We are migrating 20K computers to Win7 after 2014.
Windows 8 is not spoken of except for current toyage and a general deployment no sooner than 2020.

Posted by Shipman 2012-10-30 16:17|| 2012-10-30 16:17|| Front Page Top

#14 I understand Stardock has some suitable start-menu substitutes, but I haven't researched it further.

If I had to buy a computer tomorrow (and believe it or not, I do, because both of my parents' computers broke this week) I'd probably scrounge until I found a refurbished one with Windows 7. Although getting Kindle Fires until Things Are Better is looking both cheaper and better at the moment.

On my personal machine I'm currently running xfce on linux, it gets out of the damn way.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-10-30 16:38|| 2012-10-30 16:38|| Front Page Top

#15 What does a Kindle (Fire or otherwise) do besides download books from Amazon, Thing?

Sound like you can use it as a computer - is that true?

Posted by Barbara 2012-10-30 19:09|| 2012-10-30 19:09|| Front Page Top

#16 I have a regular Kindle - it's a good ebook reader. The Fire (which I do not have, but have seen) can act like a tablet with Wi-Fi

Posted by Frank G 2012-10-30 21:03|| 2012-10-30 21:03|| Front Page Top

#17 Barbara: I was hoping to spend less than $ 200.00 and have something relatively durable that my mom can use to browse the web.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-10-30 23:41|| 2012-10-30 23:41|| Front Page Top

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