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Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

blogs.windows.com

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Re: Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

#11

Post by lucian1900 »

mscrivo wrote: post #5
daigoba66 wrote: post #2

This may be a bit facetious but it seems like Windows 8 might have been the biggest beta testing project ever. But on a serious note I'm glad they're focusing on improving usability.

I don't understand why people keeping getting up in arms about Windows releases, it's like they keep forgetting their M.O. Microsoft's releases have always been like this, release something that changes things drastically (either under the hood or visually), and often breaks things or makes people mad because they don't like change. Then spend an enormous amount of time refining it in a subsequent release until every…

It's because it costs money. Few things people pay for are so utterly broken every other year.

Re: Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

#14

Post by Samuel_Michon »

daigoba66 wrote: post #2

This may be a bit facetious but it seems like Windows 8 might have been the biggest beta testing project ever. But on a serious note I'm glad they're focusing on improving usability.

“seems like Windows 8 might have been the biggest beta testing project ever”

Gmail, Facebook, iCloud and Siri have way more users than Windows 8 does. The last two are in their entirety beta products. The first two have introduced major changes that didn’t turn out great. Even when Google rolls out a new version of Gmail in phases, it easily covers more users than Windows 8 (which has about 60 million users).

Re: Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

#16

Post by wmeredith »

jpreiland wrote: post #12

Search: "It is the modern version of the command line!" While the search feature they're describing sounds cool, I'm curious as to what they mean by a "modern command line".

This sounds like a "faster-horse" feature to me.

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/15297-if-i-had-asked-people-...

Re: Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

#17

Post by fitzpasd »

xpose2000 wrote: post #15

I've been using Windows 8 for months now and just about every update mentioned I am completely uninterested in. The only exception is IE11.

What are you interested in? I've been using Win8 since launch and I'm looking forward to:

- View all apps by swiping up

- No longer auto-put app tiles on my Start screen

- Improved windows store search

- Different size app multi-screening

- Boot to a different screen

- Change which screen 'Start' gets you to

- Edit functionality of corners

Re: Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

#18

Post by Tomdarkness »

For me, personally, none of these changes interest me, perhaps with the exception of IE11.

I've had Windows 8 installed on my desktop PC since it came out as I took advantage of their cheap upgrade offer from Windows 7 (I'd not of paid full price for it). So here are my thoughts on the improvements in Windows 8.1 as someone who uses it on a desktop, with a keyboard and mouse.

Personalization: The only time I ever see the new start menu is when I quickly press Start and begin typing the name of some application I want to launch. I've never rearranged any of the tiles and my screen is always off when I'm at the lock screen so a slideshow on the lock screen is totally useless for me.

Search: "It is the modern version of the command line" What? How is a integrated desktop and web search a modern version of the command line. That makes no sense. I'd never use this new functionality anyway since I don't use Bing and I can easily access google from my always open web browser.

Apps and Windows Store: Never used any metro apps or installed anything from the Windows Store. I don't really feel that any of the metro apps have taken any thought for those who are not using a touch interface.

Cloud Connectivity: "In Windows 8.1 your files can be saved directly to SkyDrive, so you can always have your files with you." Wait, you could not do this before Windows 8.1? I've never used SkyDrive but it seems silly to me that you can now only just save your files directly to SkyDrive.

PC Settings: I can use the control panel just fine.

Internet Explorer: More frequent versions of IE seems like a good thing, although I'd be more interested in the details of what is new generally rather than just the new features for what seems to be the metro version.

Better Mouse and Keyboard Options: I see two minor tweaks, there is now a windows logo and I can now configure what happens when I place my cursor in different corners. How are these better options for keyboards and mouses?

I don't get it, they seem to be ignoring their whole previous customer base; those who used Windows on their non-touch desktops and laptops. Sure, I understand that these improvements will most likely be useful for those who use Windows on their touch based device but these people are surely in the minority so why focus the content of your "new features" announcement for the minority?

Re: Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

#20

Post by bluedevil2k »

I had to get a new laptop for my wife, and I had no interest in educating her how to use Windows 8 (or figuring it out myself). The only way it's been usable for her was to install Start8. (http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/). It's what MSFT should be adding into 8.1

I have no financial interest in StarDock.

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