Windows 8

[Freedom Kira]

Too bad their software is mediocre and their hardware, with few exceptions, crap.

Their software is fine, just the interface sucks (not because the interface itself is bad, but because it doesn't scale to all the systems that Microsoft so desperately wants it to; rather, it's good on some systems (phone/tablet) and awful on others(desktops)). As for hardware, can't comment on that.

One thing I really hate about Windows 8 is its attitude of not telling you what it's doing or how far along a task is. During the setup process, after the restart, there's a phase where it just says "just setting up a few more things" and the little swirly cursor. It tends to do this with all updates, either not telling you the process it's working on or making the install entirely arbitrary (it likes to install "33%" of an update, restart, and install the other "66%". The numbers clearly have no real value in terms of what it's actually doing.)

I liked Windows 7 telling you how many updates were left to install, that sorta thing. It's minor, the computer is still doing the same stuff, but humans like to know what's going on, even if they aren't influencing it. Designing a UI so that the computer doesn't appear to be doing something is not really an admirable design trait.

It depends. The average Joe usually doesn't give a shit about the nitty-gritty details that we of the BakaBT forums generally care about. Apple and its fanboys have proven that long ago.

[Bob2004]

Too bad their software is mediocre and their hardware, with few exceptions, crap.

Their software is fine, just the interface sucks (not because the interface itself is bad, but because it doesn't scale to all the systems that Microsoft so desperately wants it to; rather, it's good on some systems (phone/tablet) and awful on others(desktops)). As for hardware, can't comment on that.

One thing I really hate about Windows 8 is its attitude of not telling you what it's doing or how far along a task is. During the setup process, after the restart, there's a phase where it just says "just setting up a few more things" and the little swirly cursor. It tends to do this with all updates, either not telling you the process it's working on or making the install entirely arbitrary (it likes to install "33%" of an update, restart, and install the other "66%". The numbers clearly have no real value in terms of what it's actually doing.)

I liked Windows 7 telling you how many updates were left to install, that sorta thing. It's minor, the computer is still doing the same stuff, but humans like to know what's going on, even if they aren't influencing it. Designing a UI so that the computer doesn't appear to be doing something is not really an admirable design trait.

It depends. The average Joe usually doesn't give a shit about the nitty-gritty details that we of the BakaBT forums generally care about. Apple and its fanboys have proven that long ago.

But basically everyone likes to know whether or not the updates they're installing will be done in a few seconds, or will take long enough that they may as well go off, make a cup of tea, and do something else for a while. And going beyond that, and saying which stage of the process it is currently on is incredibly useful for troubleshooting purposes.

[kitamesume]

they should just bring back the progress log.

[JoonasTo]

After ten hours of agonisingly slow download I finally got it.
Managed to install it to have it break my graphics drivers completely.

On the top side, it managed to actually clean itself and free me 10 GB of diskspace, which on an SSD, is always nice.

Now if I can only figure out how to get rid of this fucking live signin...

Funnily after everything sorted out is seems that the win 8.1 driver for the graphics is significantly better in terms of desktop image sharpness. How odd.

[kitamesume]

thats because 8.1 had tweaked it's core files, just by the difference of the system size should give you a hint.
its lean and very efficient, which means they might've tweaked the drivers as well since those are bloated as fuck.

edit: speaking of a tweaked system, if i remember correctly 8.1 had better power management as well, battery life on laptops were boosted by some noticeable margin.

[Tatsujin]

Who installed windows 8.1 while having a pirated version? Did it authentic or something?

[kitamesume]

dunno about a pirate version, but my trial copy runs fine, i tested the trial reset and it works as well.
theoretically i can run the system at an unlimited trial.

[Tanis]

Does Start8 still work with it?

[kitamesume]

Does Start8 still work with it?

haven't tried it myself but it seems like it does - http://www.neowin.net/news/new-start8-beta-compatible-with-windows-81-preview-released

[Honemi]

I forgot to report back to the thread. Download took a minute, but the install is fine. Got more free space which is nice. Now I just have to grapple with download AMD drivers. I'm getting some weird graphical glitches.

Also, Classic Shell is working fine.

[zherok]

Does Start8 still work with it?

Yes. Works mostly the same, though looks like they've disabled some of the options. You used to be able to run the Start Screen in a sort of window. Doesn't appear to be there anymore.

Now I just have to grapple with download AMD drivers. I'm getting some weird graphical glitches.

After I installed it, it turned on Stereoscopic 3D for World of Warcraft. No idea why. Running an nVidia card though.

[JoonasTo]

I forgot to report back to the thread. Download took a minute, but the install is fine. Got more free space which is nice. Now I just have to grapple with download AMD drivers. I'm getting some weird graphical glitches.

Also, Classic Shell is working fine.

I had to resort to running the 13.11 Beta ones to get it working properly.

[megido-rev.M]

Dell Venue 8 Pro Windows 8.1 tablet and refreshed XPS 15 now available online

A pen costs $35 o_O

[Honemi]

After I installed it, it turned on Stereoscopic 3D for World of Warcraft. No idea why. Running an nVidia card though.

Yeah. Goons at SA have been reporting that Stereoscopic 3D is automatically enabled after they upgraded to 8.1. Weird, at least there are no crashes like when Vista came out.

I had to resort to running the 13.11 Beta ones to get it working properly.

Really? Does that mean I already had the Beta drivers installed? Headaches for no reason.

Also, you should always stick with Beta drivers unless you encounter a problem. It takes a minute for Microsoft to validate the drivers, so you'll miss out on bug fixes and performance increases (and decreases  ) if you just stick with the WHQL Drivers.

Dell Venue 8 Pro Windows 8.1 tablet and refreshed XPS 15 now available online

A pen costs $35 o_O

It's a pen designed specifically to work with a digitizer. It'd be more surprising if it was cheaper.

And honestly, the best ink pens cost over $50.

edit: Kidding aside, styluses(stylusi?) can cost a bit of change, but I guess that's the nature of things.

[lololitas]

I wonder wether one of those win8 tablets could be used for VNs...

btw: It's styli. You don't usually add onto the end in latin just for nominative plural.

[Tiffanys]

So what's the word on 8.1, is it all it was hyped up to be?

[JoonasTo]

I don't know what it was hyped to be but it's smoother than 8.

[zherok]

So what's the word on 8.1, is it all it was hyped up to be?

If you've avoided using the Start Screen, I couldn't really tell you the difference. Other than your computer is now specifically referred to as "This Computer," in case you forgot what you named it.

[Honemi]

So what's the word on 8.1, is it all it was hyped up to be?

If you've avoided using the Start Screen, I couldn't really tell you the difference. Other than your computer is now specifically referred to as "This Computer," in case you forgot what you named it.

Yeah. I'm not seeing any particular difference. I guess if I uninstalled Classic Shell, I might. Wait, it's smaller than Windows 8 if that counts for anything.

[Tatsujin]

So what's the word on 8.1, is it all it was hyped up to be?

If you've avoided using the Start Screen, I couldn't really tell you the difference. Other than your computer is now specifically referred to as "This Computer," in case you forgot what you named it.

Yeah. I'm not seeing any particular difference. I guess if I uninstalled Classic Shell, I might. Wait, it's smaller than Windows 8 if that counts for anything.

There's better improvements than 8.0. Faster, better search, more customization, Start Button (duh) and additional boot sets. Not sure if I want to take the risk with with 8.1. I really want the customizations and boot options. The search isn't as smart as Windows 7 so maybe 8.1 fixes those issues?