Earlier quoted context omitted.
I used a Windows 8 machine the other day. I've used OSX the last few years, but used Windows for a couple of decades prior. I was so confused. It was difficult to work out how to open apps. I also got stuck in the full screen start menu replacement (whatever that's called) and I had to ask for help to get back to the desktop. Give me XP over 8 any day. Security issues aside, that was a gem of an OS. Seems like the Mi…
>Give me XP over 8 any day. Security issues aside, that was a gem of an OS. Yeah, security issues aside... Windows 7 is when Microsoft finally got a consumer OS really 'right'.
The Windows Incident – Day 0
61–70 of 108 posts
Re: The Windows Incident – Day 0
#62This may be a stupid question, but is it possible the blog author was given a refurbished device? These all sound like exactly the kind of problems you'd expect from a device that was pre-owned and sloppily reinstalled. Either way, the proper course of action would be to return it to the store right away, especially when it refuses touch input.
Re: The Windows Incident – Day 0
#63The funny thing is, a week ago I bought a 7.5"" 1200x800 tablet with just 2GB of RAM and 32 GB flash (see the similarity?), the difference is that mine is a even cheaper device (~$150) from an unknown Chinese brand, has an apparently slightly weaker Bay Trail CPU, and comes with Windows 8.1 - properly licensed as now Microsoft does it for free for small tablets, but it's by no means a "signature" device. The out-of-t…
Re: The Windows Incident – Day 0
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
I should start an online collection of stories like this, so I could refer people to it when they complain about Apple hardware being overpriced and/or only bought by idiots.
To be fair I've found Asus notebooks to be superb value for money hardware-wise, it's the drivers and software out of the box that are the problem.
Hardware is worthless without the software driving it, and in my experience the hunt/hacking of the problematic drivers comes back at every new major version of windows/linux you'll install on the box. In this respect, superb value hardware with crappy software is only worth it if you are willing to be tinkering on a regular basis.
Re: The Windows Incident – Day 0
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think this is because a lot of people didn't like Win8.
If that was the reason they wouldn't try so hard to give the impression that it is indeed running Windows 8.
Re: The Windows Incident – Day 0
#66I had a similar experience with my Asus Zenbook Prime ultrabook. I noticed that the very loud fan was running a lot faster and more frequently than it should. I checked the power settings and minimum processor state was 100%. I changed it to a more reasonable number and all was good. But 10-15 minutes later the fan would come back on full blast because that setting has been reverted back to 100%! Every time I reset i…
I should start an online collection of stories like this, so I could refer people to it when they complain about Apple hardware being overpriced and/or only bought by idiots.
Re: The Windows Incident – Day 0
#67What did you expect from a $250 device? Or, what did you expect from an 8″ 1200x800 tablet with just 2gb ram and 32gb ssd which comes with a full Windows OS, instead of Win RT? Some phones have more powerful hardware than that. It's not Microsoft's fault that Asus decided to sell a cheap, untested, poorly-built device. It's your fault, as a tech-savvy customer, to buy it.
> It's not Microsoft's fault... In addition to the "Signature" branding, OP bought it in a Microsoft Store . There is really no excuse for being so terrible at taking care of their own ecosystem.
Your solution is effectively "Don't sell non-Microsoft products at your store."
Yes, I know that Apple has managed to do exactly that, build a retail store where there's an expectation that anything you buy there will be at the brand level of quality. Apple can do a lot of things other companies can't. It has the best designers, the best technology platforms, the best infrastructure. Apple's remarkable consistency is the product of the company Jobs built.
Microsoft has to struggle very hard to come up with one half-decent product.
Re: The Windows Incident – Day 0
#68Just get the tablet replaced or call Microsoft support.
It blows my mind such devices are sold, excepting the consumer to finish the installation and polishing that should have been the manufacturer's job in the first place.
Most people won't be able to because it's not their hobby. It's a huge problem, and Windows reputation is really bad because of this, people get awful experiences because of buggy drivers and manufacturers not finishing their jobs.
Re: The Windows Incident – Day 0
#69The funny thing is, a week ago I bought a 7.5"" 1200x800 tablet with just 2GB of RAM and 32 GB flash (see the similarity?), the difference is that mine is a even cheaper device (~$150) from an unknown Chinese brand, has an apparently slightly weaker Bay Trail CPU, and comes with Windows 8.1 - properly licensed as now Microsoft does it for free for small tablets, but it's by no means a "signature" device. The out-of-t…
By my experience on cheap chinese Android smartphones, I don't think it is surprising at all to see a lack of OEM bloatware.
(The stories of them arriving with malware are likely from someone further down the chain of distribution installing it, and not the OEM itself.)