Windows 8 interface

[minestrone]

Don't you just hit Windows key and select/type desktop?

Aye, but there is no start key so from what I seen you cannot browse applications and run them from there.

I don't actually mind the tile screen being there as a kind of splash screen, a new addition to the OS, but they have set it up so that it hinders you I think.

[woohoo]

You got shares in MS?

Took me two mins to learn a couple of things which makes the software more usuable. How does that make me a shareholder?

This is quite helpful so im told... The Missing Windows 8 Instructional Video - Scott Hanselman

[d000hg]

Aye, but there is no start key so from what I seen you cannot browse applications and run them from there.

I don't actually mind the tile screen being there as a kind of splash screen, a new addition to the OS, but they have set it up so that it hinders you I think.

From my brief trials and reading online, you need to get in the mindset of hitting windows-key and they simply typing the app name. Lots of people report search actually works (!) properly and is fast... so in fact this is quicker than delving into menus.

I haven't tried enough to confirm if it is better than W7, but refusing to change your old way of doing things is generally a rod for your own back - see AtW and his refusal to learn how to use Ribbon

[minestrone]

Only used it for a few hours so I am still in the leaning curve but on first impressions it is the devils work. ill report back in a week.

I don't think you should have to google to find out how to do basic stuff though.

Oh, and the guy in the shop ( john Lewis ) said that lots of PCs had been returned due to people not being able to use 8.

(the laptop is lovely though, samsung series 9 i7)

[stevejohnson]

Thanks for this guys, Mr C has just bought a Win 8 upgrade and I don't think he's going to be too impressed when he puts it on.

Still, I can tell him that it was CUK to the rescue once I've reset it for him

Oh cojak, I can hardly keep myself from posting dirty jokes whenever i read your posts.

[Sysman]

Took me two mins to learn a couple of things which makes the software more usuable. How does that make me a shareholder?

This is quite helpful so im told... The Missing Windows 8 Instructional Video - Scott Hanselman

25 minutes - life's too short: the shorter version is Learn Windows 8 in 3 minutes (OK, it's really 4:17)

And a couple of others:

• Part 1: Windows 8 - Beginners Guide Part 1 - Start Screen & Charm Bar [Tutorial] - YouTube
• Part 2: Windows 8 - Beginners Guide Part 2 - Quick Access Menu [Tutorial] - YouTube

[Sysman]

Only used it for a few hours so I am still in the leaning curve but on first impressions it is the devils work. ill report back in a week.

Please do.

I don't think you should have to google to find out how to do basic stuff though.

Winding it back to Win3 or Win95 days when many folks were buying their first computer, Microsoft had some excellent tutorials about using the mouse and keyboard.

Why not for Windows 8? They could have easily averted much of the pain by providing clear instructions about the new interface.

Oh, and the guy in the shop ( john Lewis ) said that lots of PCs had been returned due to people not being able to use 8.

Another Plan B presents itself.

Yes, seriously.

[Sysman]

It's all about a fckup on MS's part and a complete fail, they even have that crap on their latest server ffs.

Yes, I have tried it. I actually think that they have gone in the right direction here, for after so many years of encouraging point, drool and click, they have finally recognised that proper sysadmins want to do stuff from the CLI.

I have only had a dabble with Powershell, but it is a whole lot better than the hostile DOS interface (yet the twats still don't enable QuickEdit mode by default).

I'll stick to a Linux / Unix CLI for work. For desktop a mix of Win7 and Linux Mint (Win7 only cos I need it for some music software).

Win7 only because I needed it for a course on Windows Server a couple of years ago. Bleed me effing dry Microsoft - the retail price for Win7 Ultimate was about 600 Swiss Francs at the time, which was more than I needed to pay for a reasonably capable tower system.

Needless to say, I found an OEM copy for about 200 Francs, but it was essentially blackmail.

Win8 because I see a Plan B supplement, even if it's only beer money.

P.S. currently running WHS 2011, Win7, Win8 and some other Windows server stuff all in VMs hosted by Scientific Linux, openSUSE and OS X, not necessarily in that order.

[cojak]

From my brief trials and reading online, you need to get in the mindset of hitting windows-key and they simply typing the app name. Lots of people report search actually works (!) properly and is fast... so in fact this is quicker than delving into menus.

I haven't tried enough to confirm if it is better than W7, but refusing to change your old way of doing things is generally a rod for your own back - see AtW and his refusal to learn how to use Ribbon

I like the Ribbon, I'm concerned that the jump to Win 8 may be too great a step for Mr C. We shall have to see.

[Support Monkey]

Only used it for a few hours so I am still in the leaning curve but on first impressions it is the devils work. ill report back in a week.

I don't think you should have to google to find out how to do basic stuff though.

Oh, and the guy in the shop ( john Lewis ) said that lots of PCs had been returned due to people not being able to use 8. (the laptop is lovely though, samsung series 9 i7)

My son aquired a new Nokia from 02 and the sales man told him the same thing, people bring them back cos they cannot work windows, having said that my son as no issues and it looks realy good and works well on the phone