Windows 8 vs Windows 7: Dispelling myths.

It does absolutely nothing for me to need the upgrade. tagyhag

Does Windows 8 support software that work on Win7? Are there compatibility issues? Or is it like Vista/Win7 as in if it works on Vita it will work on Win7?

I'll be sticking with Windows 7, I see no reason to change my OS when it's the best one since XP. Windows 8 is basically what Vista was, it tried a bunch of new things but it wasn't perfect. Windows 7 perfected Vista, just like Windows 9 will more than likely perfect Windows 8.

The problem with searching by typing is that many people remember where things are spatially. I know for sure that I have had trouble finding programs in Windows 8 because I can't remember the exact name of the program (did it have the software makers name in it? Was it spelt with an 'x' or 'ex'? etc). Being able to install the old start bar does alleviate that though. Other than that the only other trouble I've had is drivers not working (which is expected at the start of a new OS life-cycle). Articuno76

The tiles in the start menu for Windows 8 dont jump around or randomly change location. They are in the same places they've always been arranged.

And no, finding them by typing is still your best option. If you cant remember if its 'ex' or 'x'...just ype in 'x' and it will find both. Rarely will you ever need more than 3 or 4 letters of the application, and not even the first 4.

[QUOTE="Articuno76"]The problem with searching by typing is that many people remember where things are spatially. I know for sure that I have had trouble finding programs in Windows 8 because I can't remember the exact name of the program (did it have the software makers name in it? Was it spelt with an 'x' or 'ex'? etc). Being able to install the old start bar does alleviate that though. Other than that the only other trouble I've had is drivers not working (which is expected at the start of a new OS life-cycle). XaosII

The tiles in the start menu for Windows 8 dont jump around or randomly change location. They are in the same places they've always been arranged.

And no, finding them by typing is still your best option. If you cant remember if its 'ex' or 'x'...just ype in 'x' and it will find both. Rarely will you ever need more than 3 or 4 letters of the application, and not even the first 4.

^ I've looked at it again and another thing I've noticed is that it doesn't have folders/sub-folders arranged in a neat way like the Old Start-bar, things are just all over the screen. I am sure could organise things to suit regular navigation tendencies but...well why bother? And why do I have to do it? It's silly. I can't understand why old methods would be removed. It's mind boggling.

Again, for some people navigating by increasingly precise steps through folders in the Start menu was the most intuitive form of navigation. And again, if you don't really 'get it' then there is nothing I can tell those people. This is one of those things you either get or don't. What annoys me is MS telling people that we are wrong if we don't get it...the fact that so many Windows 8 kiosks exist telling us how to use the interface (not just to tell us about the OS but to actively educate on it) goes to show how unintuitive it is to a great majority of people. And for that Windows 8 will suffer. By Windows 9 users will either be given an option or the interoperability between the two interfaces will blend together better. MS can't afford to ignore the significant number of people who 'don't get it'.

Truth be told the problem people have with Windows 8 is almost entirely one of navigation with the new interface. It seems arrogant of a company to tell all its customers that they are wrong. No MS. You are wrong. If we don't get it, it is your fault for failing to create an interface that takes into account the user.

Windows 8 has a trivial layout compared to Windows 7. I'm 100% against UI's that require you to click and do more than you should or have unecessary designs. Windows 8 was designed for touchscreen, not for mouse & keyboard. To pretend it somehow is more useful than 7 is just silly.

There's absolutely nothing Win8 does that makes it more appealing than Win7 other than PC refresh. The fact that it switches between Metro & Desktop depending on the app just tells me that it's broken in the sense that there's no real 'Home' in it.

I recieved a free copy of 8 and I honestly still don't even care to use it.

Windows 8 has a trivial layout compared to Windows 7. I'm 100% against UI's that require you to click and do more than you should or have unecessary designs. Windows 8 was designed for touchscreen, not for mouse & keyboard. To pretend it somehow is more useful than 7 is just silly.

There's absolutely nothing Win8 does that makes it more appealing than Win7 other than PC refresh. The fact that it switches between Metro & Desktop depending on the app just tells me that it's broken in the sense that there's no real 'Home' in it.

I recieved a free copy of 8 and I honestly still don't even care to use it.

Mystic-G

[QUOTE="Mystic-G"]

Windows 8 has a trivial layout compared to Windows 7. I'm 100% against UI's that require you to click and do more than you should or have unecessary designs. Windows 8 was designed for touchscreen, not for mouse & keyboard. To pretend it somehow is more useful than 7 is just silly.

There's absolutely nothing Win8 does that makes it more appealing than Win7 other than PC refresh. The fact that it switches between Metro & Desktop depending on the app just tells me that it's broken in the sense that there's no real 'Home' in it.

I recieved a free copy of 8 and I honestly still don't even care to use it.

ShadowDeathX

Nah, I have to eventually use it regardless if I want to or not.

Does Windows 8 support software that work on Win7? Are there compatibility issues? Or is it like Vista/Win7 as in if it works on Vita it will work on Win7?

PCgameruk

I haven't had any compatability issues with Win8.

One thing I have noticed with Windows 8 regarding the apps, is that they seem to designed for touchscreens, and don't take into account the fact that they might will be used on traditional x86 PCs as well. Hydro Thunder Hurricane is big one for me that does this, it has taken away the ability to accelerate/deccelerate with no option to turn it back on. While it makes sense on a touchscreen device, on a regular PC that has a keyboard there is no reason to not have that ability. I also don't understand why you would use any of the Metro Apps on a PC since there are likely desktop alternatives that aren't as stripped down and they would allow easier multitasking.

[QUOTE="Zeviander"]I'm moving from XP to Linux.V3rciS

[QUOTE="Chozofication"]

Linux is the future I think.

hexashadow13

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]It does absolutely nothing for me to need the upgrade. clyde46

Windows 8 boots faster, runs better, runs games better and shuts down faster. Not much to complain about.

Zophar87

I know its laughable isn't it? most of the ""features"" removed is stuff that no one besides casuals used anyways.

there is not a single benefit for me to switch compared to my curent win 7 64. Absolutely nothing. I'm not going to get it and then use 3rd party software to turn it back into win7 just so I can enjoy something I already had

wis3boi

[QUOTE="hexashadow13"][QUOTE="Chozofication"]

Linux is the future I think.

Hexagon_777

I'm pretty sure I can get it for free or super cheap because I'm a student. I just don't care enough to install it. All I use my pc for is watching movies/tv shows, browsing the web, doing homework, and playing games. I'm just too lazy to get it.

[QUOTE="V3rciS"][QUOTE="Zeviander"]I'm moving from XP to Linux.Hexagon_777

This may change (barely if any; same drivers are used for both oses so it can't be much different than windows 7 deep down) since this was posted in august http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Microsoft/Windows_8_Graphics_Performance/1.html . Just a hads up the article solely focuses on gaming.

Actual performance charts and stuff. People make your own decision. From the article it seems game performance is amost identical.

Quite frankly I don't want to relearn all the locations of this crap (settings, control panel locations, hardware, network)......*sigh*..........again. And this time with a stupid tablet design function. Sucked enough with the jumped from windows xp to 7/vista. If thats my fault then like Akon said "just put the blame on me".

And pretty much this:

there is not a single benefit for me to switch compared to my curent win 7 64. Absolutely nothing. I'm not going to get it and then use 3rd party software to turn it back into win7 just so I can enjoy something I already had

wis3boi

I just bought a new laptop about a week ago with Windows 8 and all I can say is I'm loving everything about it so far. For all you guys complaning about the Start button, its still there. Just hit the Widows key and start typing out a program, pic, vid, ect then poof it finds it. Win 8 just does it in a different "looking" way.

Think about it this way. You yell out to your girlfriend to make you a turkey sandwich. She comes back with one. The next day she dyes her hair a different color. And yet again you yell out to her to make you a turkey sandwich. As always like the good girl friend you wish you had she brings it to you. There is nothing different other than the way she presents it to you.

myth: Windows 8 offers absolutely no advantage for people to move on and "upgrade" from windows 7

oh wait, thats true.

I upgraded to windows8 and thanks to one download, Start8, I have the os looking and acting exactly like win7. I boot directly to the desktop, I never have to use the Metro layout at all. To all the haters- one click download a simple program and youve got a faster windows 7.

FACT 1 for TC: Windows 8 currently does not support windows xp era games

this has been proven. dx9.0c or earlier native games have 0 support atm despite microsofts claim otherwise. until this is fixed playing games that use UE3 prior to the 3.95 revision flat out do not work. and thats not even the start of this iceberg. i dont even want to discuss jupter ex, chrome, cryengine 1, and havok (pre skyrim)

I've not yet tried 8 but hear it's pretty terrible if you're not using a tablet. From what I hear, you cannot have two (or more) "windows" open at the same time. Is this true? If so, how is this an improvement? Also, I've heard that one needs to swipe (like with a finger but with the mouse) to get to certain functions, and that it's very easy for 8 to mistake one movement for another. How is this more desireable or efficient, or adds better functionality? Again, I've not used it but these changes sound absolutely awful. MirkoS77

Like I already posted, download any of the start menu apps and you will never have to worry about using Metro, it will be exactly like windows 7. Bang, I dont get why people moan about Metro, you dont have to use it.

[QUOTE="MirkoS77"]I've not yet tried 8 but hear it's pretty terrible if you're not using a tablet. From what I hear, you cannot have two (or more) "windows" open at the same time. Is this true? If so, how is this an improvement? Also, I've heard that one needs to swipe (like with a finger but with the mouse) to get to certain functions, and that it's very easy for 8 to mistake one movement for another. How is this more desireable or efficient, or adds better functionality? Again, I've not used it but these changes sound absolutely awful. sailor232

Like I already posted, download any of the start menu apps and you will never have to worry about using Metro, it will be exactly like windows 7. Bang, I dont get why people moan about Metro, you dont have to use it.

I've not yet tried 8 but hear it's pretty terrible if you're not using a tablet. From what I hear, you cannot have two (or more) "windows" open at the same time. Is this true? If so, how is this an improvement? Also, I've heard that one needs to swipe (like with a finger but with the mouse) to get to certain functions, and that it's very easy for 8 to mistake one movement for another. How is this more desireable or efficient, or adds better functionality? Again, I've not used it but these changes sound absolutely awful. MirkoS77

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]

[QUOTE="hexashadow13"] Until the average person's computer skills improve immensely, that ain't gonna happen.WilliamRLBaker

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]

[QUOTE="V3rciS"]This... it's just that I'll be moving from Win 7 to Linux.cain006

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"][QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]Mint, Lite, and a few others are just as easy to use as Windows, and that's going by my 57 year old mother who is quite likely a below average user.

Hexagon_777

FACT 1 for TC: Windows 8 currently does not support windows xp era games

this has been proven. dx9.0c or earlier native games have 0 support atm despite microsofts claim otherwise. until this is fixed playing games that use UE3 prior to the 3.95 revision flat out do not work. and thats not even the start of this iceberg. i dont even want to discuss jupter ex, chrome, cryengine 1, and havok (pre skyrim)

ionusX

[QUOTE="MirkoS77"]I've not yet tried 8 but hear it's pretty terrible if you're not using a tablet. From what I hear, you cannot have two (or more) "windows" open at the same time. Is this true? If so, how is this an improvement? Also, I've heard that one needs to swipe (like with a finger but with the mouse) to get to certain functions, and that it's very easy for 8 to mistake one movement for another. How is this more desireable or efficient, or adds better functionality? Again, I've not used it but these changes sound absolutely awful. sailor232

Like I already posted, download any of the start menu apps and you will never have to worry about using Metro, it will be exactly like windows 7. Bang, I dont get why people moan about Metro, you dont have to use it.

and this is why people don't buy win8. Because you're returning back to what you had already

[QUOTE="sailor232"]

[QUOTE="MirkoS77"]I've not yet tried 8 but hear it's pretty terrible if you're not using a tablet. From what I hear, you cannot have two (or more) "windows" open at the same time. Is this true? If so, how is this an improvement? Also, I've heard that one needs to swipe (like with a finger but with the mouse) to get to certain functions, and that it's very easy for 8 to mistake one movement for another. How is this more desireable or efficient, or adds better functionality? Again, I've not used it but these changes sound absolutely awful. wis3boi

Like I already posted, download any of the start menu apps and you will never have to worry about using Metro, it will be exactly like windows 7. Bang, I dont get why people moan about Metro, you dont have to use it.

and this is why people don't buy win8. Because you're returning back to what you had already

Exactly what I was about to ask. If you have to go through all that trouble, why bother? Because it's a little faster? My Win 7 is more than adequate.

I absolutely hate Windows 8.

Want to know why? It's not because of the new features, the speed, metro, the removed features or troubles running older games. I hate it because without a pre-boot method of getting to safe mode it's a complete ball ache to fix when it goes wrong (see driver issues, viruses etc) .... and as a techie who fixes this stuff I can tell you it goes wrong quite often.

Microsoft's excuse? Oh, well on an SSD it boots too fast to press F8 hurr durr. Well how about letting me hold down a key when I power on the machine you dimwits. In fact, I now HAVE to use Linux to fix Windows ...

/rant off.

[QUOTE="MirkoS77"]I've not yet tried 8 but hear it's pretty terrible if you're not using a tablet. From what I hear, you cannot have two (or more) "windows" open at the same time. Is this true? If so, how is this an improvement? Also, I've heard that one needs to swipe (like with a finger but with the mouse) to get to certain functions, and that it's very easy for 8 to mistake one movement for another. How is this more desireable or efficient, or adds better functionality? Again, I've not used it but these changes sound absolutely awful. sailor232

Like I already posted, download any of the start menu apps and you will never have to worry about using Metro, it will be exactly like windows 7. Bang, I dont get why people moan about Metro, you dont have to use it.

so people get to pay to use something that needs an app to emulate something we already have.....to win a few seconds in the start up....OK sounds like a great and worthy upgrade for me:lol:

[QUOTE="sailor232"]

[QUOTE="MirkoS77"]I've not yet tried 8 but hear it's pretty terrible if you're not using a tablet. From what I hear, you cannot have two (or more) "windows" open at the same time. Is this true? If so, how is this an improvement? Also, I've heard that one needs to swipe (like with a finger but with the mouse) to get to certain functions, and that it's very easy for 8 to mistake one movement for another. How is this more desireable or efficient, or adds better functionality? Again, I've not used it but these changes sound absolutely awful. KungfuKitten

Like I already posted, download any of the start menu apps and you will never have to worry about using Metro, it will be exactly like windows 7. Bang, I dont get why people moan about Metro, you dont have to use it.

No, I own the OS, Im using it now, and I never have to deal with Metro, Ever. Why would I defend it, I have windows 7 Dvd sitting next to me, I could easily go back, but there is no need to, as 8 is almost identical, but faster.

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]It does absolutely nothing for me to need the upgrade. Plagueless

[QUOTE="NoodleFighter"]

[QUOTE="Plagueless"] It's less resource-hungry. While you won't see any noticeable improvement in most games, in CPU-heavy games like RTS's and Simulators you can usually expect a 10 FPS improvement with Windows 8.Plagueless

The difference seemed even bigger in Shogun 2 Total War I hope results like that happen when Rome 2 comes

Just saw it on 9gag:D

I stopped at Windows 7, I don't see the difference