maybe I should talk to a therapist, or a self-help Guru...
- Thread starter centerline
- Start date
OK, No Secrets Here...
OK, I am struggling with buying a new box for my wife's XP desktop and it will come with 8 and I was going to upgrade immediately to 8.1 to make life easier for her, and thus for me. So, what have you heard?
Re: maybe I should talk to a therapist, or a self-help Guru.
Man, can I relate to your post. I've been a gadget guy all my life and not long ago I would look forward with great anticipation to unboxing a new item and figuring out all it's secrets. Now, I still look forward to using new "toys" but I find the quality of the instructions has gone OUT THE WINDOW! For example, I purchased a GoPro camera for the boat this summer and it came with zero printed instructions. I went on the web and even the document on their website was cryptic and unintuitive.
I will allow that maybe we're getting old and less adaptable (my worsening eyesight doesn't help) but I truly believe that the instructions that come with today's electronics are not nearly as good as they once were.
Man, can I relate to your post. I've been a gadget guy all my life and not long ago I would look forward with great anticipation to unboxing a new item and figuring out all it's secrets. Now, I still look forward to using new "toys" but I find the quality of the instructions has gone OUT THE WINDOW! For example, I purchased a GoPro camera for the boat this summer and it came with zero printed instructions. I went on the web and even the document on their website was cryptic and unintuitive.
I will allow that maybe we're getting old and less adaptable (my worsening eyesight doesn't help) but I truly believe that the instructions that come with today's electronics are not nearly as good as they once were.
Rick, I have the same challenge. My understanding is that you can find "something" that will "convert" W8 to be able to get the old standard "start" button and menus so you're not trying to mess with a touch screen on a regular computer and screen. Sorry, don't know about the differences between 8 and 8.1.
Good luck, keep us posted.
this depends on your download source.....
a clean download does nothing to the system or the operating principal of the operating system as it was delivered in any way, EXCEPT it gives you an option to work in windows, kinda like we know it in previous versions.... so you can go either way.
keep in mind it is not exactly the same as the older versions, but its easy to pick up and go with it...
no way will they give us what we want, which is the win7 layout, but the fact that they gave us what they did says a lot about the sales drop they had due to win8....
it is my firm belief that the designers must walk thru life with their heads in the sand, or up some other dark hole, and never talking to people in real life... its beyond me how someone could think win8, as it was originally delivered, is an acceptable program... all the newer computers coming out have win8.1 already on it...
Re: maybe I should talk to a therapist, or a self-help Guru.
For me, the big issue is information overload. When I only had a Windows XP computer, it was a pretty straight forward matter to figure out what was possible with it, and how to make it do what I want. Then I got a palm smartphone, and I had to learn what was possible, figure out what I wanted it to do and how to make it do it. Then came the mac laptop. Then the Android phone. Then…. Of course, this is an ongoing process, as new software and new capabilities arise. And of course there are the servers I maintain at work: HP-UX, then Redhat linux, then Ubuntu linux.
It'd be great if all the gadgets we own used the same interface so we'd only have to learn one way of doing something that works across all devices.
I'll still take the time to figure all this stuff out for a new device but now that I've got so many gadgets, it's harder to focus on just one. I've been waffling about buying a ipad or tablet, because I'm not sure it's worth the effort.
For me, the big issue is information overload. When I only had a Windows XP computer, it was a pretty straight forward matter to figure out what was possible with it, and how to make it do what I want. Then I got a palm smartphone, and I had to learn what was possible, figure out what I wanted it to do and how to make it do it. Then came the mac laptop. Then the Android phone. Then…. Of course, this is an ongoing process, as new software and new capabilities arise. And of course there are the servers I maintain at work: HP-UX, then Redhat linux, then Ubuntu linux.
It'd be great if all the gadgets we own used the same interface so we'd only have to learn one way of doing something that works across all devices.
I'll still take the time to figure all this stuff out for a new device but now that I've got so many gadgets, it's harder to focus on just one. I've been waffling about buying a ipad or tablet, because I'm not sure it's worth the effort.
Centerline, Has your First Mate read what you have to say about her in your profile? Seems she makes all of life's little troubles worthwhile. Y'all seem lucky to have each other. Seriously... Prettier than any of your boats and less upkeep. You silver-tongue devil you. ;-)
Re: maybe I should talk to a therapist, or a self-help Guru.
So, if i understand correctly, W8.1 itself "restores" the useability of Windows similar to the older versions before 8?
So, if i understand correctly, W8.1 itself "restores" the useability of Windows similar to the older versions before 8?
Windows XP (and the underlying NT) was the peak for Microsoft. Microsoft should have developed a tablet O/S from scratch instead of creating the hermaphrodite called Windows 8.
I hope Apple doesn't find itself in the same position in five years but I am not optimistic. It's what happens to most technology companies.
I hope Apple doesn't find itself in the same position in five years but I am not optimistic. It's what happens to most technology companies.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 333
No it does not. Out of the box you don't get the start button we are used to. I have just tried to get used to the start screen, eventually it gets familiar.
I'm traveling at the moment, but...
If you'll peruse the tech-news pages online, you'll get more info. As someone (Centerline?) has said, it's nice to have a speedy internet connection, as it's a huge file. Probably take me a day and a half to download.
Got win8 on my new-ish laptop, seems okay, so far. Fat fingers and all.
Re: maybe I should talk to a therapist, or a self-help Guru.
As a very early adopter of digital technology I have since discovered that on most devices some functions really just need a damn knob to turn.
As a very early adopter of digital technology I have since discovered that on most devices some functions really just need a damn knob to turn.
I could never let her know how I really feel about her.... she might get the wrong idea and go all sentimental or something equally as bad
I just keep the whip cracking in the air for effect, and barking orders.... she does alright and is first rate
Stu,
I didnt mean to imply that it would "restore" itself to a previous version, but I meant there is an option to get back the old "windows" format kind of like we are used to.... it isnt the exact same, but as we are familier with the format, its easier to navigate and learn, cuz it looks the almost the same and you have your "desktop" back to work from.... but there are still differences that will have to be dealt with, but they are waaay less of an issue than win8 in is original form.
Re: maybe I should talk to a therapist, or a self-help Guru.
I'm with Rick. I finally figure out where all the functions are that I use in Microsoft Office and I get a new computer that has the latest version of Office. It's completely different with 500 more things that I don't use and the few that I do want to use are nowhere to be found. On my new computer I insisted on Windows 7 rather than 8 so I didn't have to deal with new versions of Windows and Office at the same time. For cell phones I just buy whatever my kids are using so I can ask them how it works.
I'm with Rick. I finally figure out where all the functions are that I use in Microsoft Office and I get a new computer that has the latest version of Office. It's completely different with 500 more things that I don't use and the few that I do want to use are nowhere to be found. On my new computer I insisted on Windows 7 rather than 8 so I didn't have to deal with new versions of Windows and Office at the same time. For cell phones I just buy whatever my kids are using so I can ask them how it works.
I've heard rumors that "Waterloo" is the working codename for the next release of Windows.
For those that prefer to old look and feel of Windows there is Classic Shell.
I haven't gone full darkside yet and graded to 8 or 8.1 but my nerdish friends swear by classic shell
http://www.classicshell.net/
Re: maybe I should talk to a therapist, or a self-help Guru.
How eat up in ads is it Larry? I will go to EXTRAORDINARY lengths to avoid advertisers.
They are on my hate list like gov's, and insurance. I am so anti-ad that when an ad is 'directed at me', I will buy anything on the market at twice the price in defiance..
Oh yeah, I always used to like a DOS shell. Did the same thing as all these 'high-tech' devices, but in an attempt to make it 'user friendly' has created the monster that will likely not be defeated. Remember an old Commodore 64 did color, sound, and true multitasking on 64 KILO's of memory. Gates fatware. Utterly corrupted. Forever. Amen.
How eat up in ads is it Larry? I will go to EXTRAORDINARY lengths to avoid advertisers.
They are on my hate list like gov's, and insurance. I am so anti-ad that when an ad is 'directed at me', I will buy anything on the market at twice the price in defiance..
Oh yeah, I always used to like a DOS shell. Did the same thing as all these 'high-tech' devices, but in an attempt to make it 'user friendly' has created the monster that will likely not be defeated. Remember an old Commodore 64 did color, sound, and true multitasking on 64 KILO's of memory. Gates fatware. Utterly corrupted. Forever. Amen.
Only 2 weeks ? Ohh........ I see your problem - you leave it onI still have a phone that lasts 2 weeks on one charge and guess what? It makes phone calls! NOTHING MORE!!! Not a camera, not a video camera, not a recorder, not a gps, not all that other CRAP, just makes phone calls.
My wife and I have cell phones like the one you describe, but the one and only purpose is for use when we are away from a land line. Make a call - turn it off.... period. No electronic leash. We get Months on a charge