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Windows 8 Arrives

microsoft.com

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Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#31

Post by bad_user »

cryptoz wrote: post #10
Iaks wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exacerbating this is the fact that Windows 7 is arguably at full stride right now and has almost no points that I really want changed. Why then do I give myself (actually, pay for) a headache with this new release?

> and has almost no points that I really want changed. Most of the wealthy people in Europe probably felt that way in the 18th century about their society. But it's a good thing that this particular opinion is silly and holds no water, right? Something existing to your level of liking is perhaps the best reason to change it.

Oh wow, you're comparing the industrial revolution to a minor OS upgrade. I guess we feel the need for revolutions in our lives, but this is a bit too much.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#32

Post by ajross »

gabemart wrote: post #26
ajross wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the upgrade price. AFAICT they haven't announced pricing for an installable new copy of the OS.

Upgrade copies of Vista and Win7 can be installed on an empty hard drive with minimal tweaking, but I guess being kosher with the licensing is important for some users.

If you're not willing to honor the license, what possible point would there be to paying for the software in the first place? I'm willing to be a Win8 crack is live on thepiratebay within the week.

The discussion was about whether or not MS has decided to reduce their retail OS price from the ~$100 it is at right now. AFAICT, they have not.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#33

Post by cryptoz »

revscat wrote: post #25
cryptoz wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and has almost no points that I really want changed. Most of the wealthy people in Europe probably felt that way in the 18th century about their society. But it's a good thing that this particular opinion is silly and holds no water, right? Something existing to your level of liking is perhaps the best reason to change it.

> Something existing to your level of liking is perhaps the best reason to change it. This seems... ridiculous to me. Computers are tools enabling us to do certain tasks with greater ease. If the computer does this fluidly and with minimal effort then it is a good tool. On the other hand, if a new version of the tool adds to the effort required to achieve the same or similar tasks then the new tool is not as good as…

> If the computer does this fluidly and with minimal effort then it is a good tool

I strongly disagree that Windows 7 matches this description. I find managing windows to be very difficult, for example: no Always on Top, no Focus Follows Mouse, etc. Multiple monitor support is lacking (no option for second taskbar, etc.) Windows 7 also defaults to Reboot without explicit user permission. Some of this is fixed in 8, some of it is not. The point here is that Windows 7 is most definitely NOT "minimal effort" or "fluid". At least, not for me.

> On the other hand, if a new version of the tool adds to the effort required to achieve the same or similar tasks then the new tool is not as good as the old.

Is there any evidence that Windows 8 adds to the effort required to achieve the same task compared to Windows 7? I don't think so.

Also, huge swathes of the world are starting off their computing experience as Mobile-Only. Kenya has very few desktop computers as compared to cell phones, for example. Microsoft is preparing for the new paradigm while not forcing it on anyone (desktop mode, you could keep using Windows 7, etc).

The point is that just because the Windows-7-using elite of the world are happy right now DOES NOT mean that the product is good to leave as it is. There is huge room for improvement.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#34

Post by gjm11 »

comlag wrote: post #9
Iaks wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exacerbating this is the fact that Windows 7 is arguably at full stride right now and has almost no points that I really want changed. Why then do I give myself (actually, pay for) a headache with this new release?

That is why I found the Win 8 announcement so weird originally. Why let it compete against Windows 7, which is to me the best version of the OS by a wide margin.

What else were they supposed to do? Let it compete against Windows 3.1 instead? Just not release it for another three years?

Well, maybe the second of those would have been a good idea: spend a few more years adding features and polish. But presumably they wanted basically that OS out there competing with iOS and Android. And perhaps they reckon more people will buy Surface and Windows Phone devices when the UI feels more familiar on account of using it on desktop and laptop computers.

And, actually, it's hard to see how Windows 8 would get more users, or make more money for Microsoft, if they wait three years instead of starting to sell it now and gradually improving it over those three years. I can see only one way: if the wait lets them make more radical changes that they can't apply to an OS that's already out there being used. But there's a limit to how much you can change at once without alienating everyone, and Windows 8 may be pushing it already.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#36

Post by bvdbijl »

mbesto wrote: post #30

I'm trying to download it from GB and looks like it only allows from the US. So I hopped on my US-VPN and still redirects me to the GB site. Anyone have any idea how I get around this? (Note - I have a valid US credit card and am prepared to pay in USD)

Clear your cookies maybe?

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#37

Post by subsystem »

mbesto wrote: post #30

I'm trying to download it from GB and looks like it only allows from the US. So I hopped on my US-VPN and still redirects me to the GB site. Anyone have any idea how I get around this? (Note - I have a valid US credit card and am prepared to pay in USD)

Change your language setting to en-US?

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#39

Post by cryptoz »

bad_user wrote: post #31
cryptoz wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and has almost no points that I really want changed. Most of the wealthy people in Europe probably felt that way in the 18th century about their society. But it's a good thing that this particular opinion is silly and holds no water, right? Something existing to your level of liking is perhaps the best reason to change it.

Oh wow, you're comparing the industrial revolution to a minor OS upgrade. I guess we feel the need for revolutions in our lives, but this is a bit too much.

I didn't intend on comparing to the industrial revolution specifically. I more meant it that the wealthy are happy and content with the way things are, the poor are not (and not merely because they are poor, but because there are better ways of doing things for everyone, not just the poor).

The comparison was meant to open the discussion to the idea that many of the world's future computer users are not familiar with, nor care about, the workflow in Windows 7. Windows 8 may be better for them to use.

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