Message Board
| Message Board > Malarkey > What do you think of Windows 8? |
| November 11, 2012, 17:33 | |
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Zomg
None 641 posts |
What do you think of Windows 8? An old teacher of mine wants to use (even buy) Windows 8 because he's all excited about it for some reason. I guess it's the hype. So now I'm trying to see what Windows 8 is about. Let me know what you think and if you have tried it before. Opinions please. ____________ |
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| November 11, 2012, 23:52 | |
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PB
Defender of the faith 630 posts 
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I've had some short tries with it, and colleagues of mine have it installed. Most of them do see it as an improvement. Personally I do think Windows 8 is a step forward that Microsoft needed to take. At the same time I do think that the change to the UI is so big, that it will need time to mature to have better features for the power user. ____________ |
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| November 18, 2012, 19:49 | |
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(. )( .)
top pussy 447 posts 
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Could you elaborate a bit more PB. As in how is it an improvement and what's this step forward you speak of? I've gathered that the biggest difference is that it's got an UI for touch devices now, and that it's not good. For example metro apps can only be in fullscreen or 2/3 screen size...what is this shit? Also some buttons and actions are on the side of the screen or something, so that you can't actually find them. Sounds genius. This all said, it's all hearsay and I haven't got any personal experiences. ____________ gay |
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| November 19, 2012, 00:16 | |
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Zomg
None 641 posts |
A friend of mine is going to test it out and so am I.
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| November 26, 2012, 01:00 | |
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PB
Defender of the faith 630 posts
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Well the step forward is easier to elaborate on, because that's my opinion. As for that my colleagues saw Windows 8 as an improvement, those are their words. Also some colleagues needed to roll back to Windows 7 (policy reasons) and they disliked that because they said Windows 8 was better. I do believe that this is a step forward that Microsoft needed to make, because tablets are already a big thing and Microsoft is missing out. Even though Windows 7 was already touch compatible, it wasn't designed for tablets. They needed to do this, hence it's a step forward. In the end, I do think it's a good idea to have one single operating system as the foundation of all devices (whether it's a watch, phone, tablet, laptop, pc, television or car). And why not, hardware is powerful these days and there are still improvements. Also, computers have grown to be consumer products, not technical products. Having the same environment on all devices helps the not technical user become more integrated with the e-cosystem. From a business perspective, it's great if someone can take his work from his pc or laptop to the meeting with a tablet. And can check the same stuff from his phone while travelling. Over time those use cases should just be natural behaviour, but for now I think Microsoft hasn't ironed it out yet. On the tablet you still need the desktop environment in some scenario's (for instance to use Office). On a pc, not technical people just have a hard time finding their way in Windows 8, simply because there is no visual indication on what functionality is available or how to use it. So over time I do think that Windows should have a fluid user interface on any device, while being the same operating system. But for now, I do think that the original way of using Windows did have so much R&D behind it, that it will take some time to reach that same level again with Windows on any device. In other words, they need to iron out some usability issues... But when they do this, I think they are on track... ____________ |
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| November 26, 2012, 09:06 | |
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Zomg
None 641 posts |
Tablets a big thing? I know many people that dislike tablets. Are they mainstream now? As to hardware, you are assuming that everyone can afford the fancy flashy latest new hardware. The reality is that people have to contend themselves with their Pentium IV 2.4 GHz from 2003. I know how it goes. Computers are very much technical problems. 90% of the people I know think that a computer is a magical mystery box that is too difficult to understand. They don't even know how to install a program. Come on man, fall back to reality. Being in a meeting with a tablet is not really practical. I tried it. If anything, it slows things down. I generally prefer to keep my devices as far away from me as possible. Heard of SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)? Well, that's the reason. Also, most people throw their phone on the couch or something when they come home. They're not checking their stuff all the time. I know many people that lose their phones in their own home. Still have to try Windows 8 though. ____________ |
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| November 26, 2012, 22:55 | |
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PB
Defender of the faith 630 posts
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10 months ago, the figures where that 12% of the Dutch people own a tablet. And 15% of the Dutch where planning to buy a tablet in the 6 months after that. This would mean that about 1/3 of the Dutch should have a tablet by now (but I do not have thát figure). However I'm still not part of the group that does own a tablet :-). I don't know where you work, but there are customers who have the demand that web based solutions work well on a tablet, because their management layer does work with a tablet. I've seen it a few times that people brought their tablet into a meeting. At least it's very practical to write the minutes or to quickly illustrate something that is available on screen. So in my opinion tablets are a big thing. If you do not find these facts a big thing, than you are entitled to your opinion. But it seems to me that you are assuming that I make assumptions and then accuse me based on that assumption. I find that disappointing for someone who communicates to be convinced that making assumptions is a bad thing. In my opinion, it's very important to know when you make assumptions and be cautious when you do. But sometimes you have to make assumptions and sometimes you shouldn't, because assumptions are often the root cause of human error. [Edited on November 26, 2012 by PB] ____________ |
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| November 26, 2012, 23:02 | |
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Zomg
None 641 posts |
Ah, you are probably referring to bringing a tablet with a keyboard attached to it. I was referring to a tablet without keyboard. Much slower to tap all those letters one by one. Yes, it seems to you that I am assuming that you make assumptions and then accuse you based on that assumption. As they say about assumptions: it makes an ASS out of U and ME. ____________ |
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| November 26, 2012, 23:05 | |
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PB
Defender of the faith 630 posts
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I'm glad that you see why I put the word "seems" there. Can you defend that you where not? I was talking about the market that Microsoft targets with Windows 8, so that includes tablets with keyboards... ____________ |
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| November 27, 2012, 08:21 | |
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Zomg
None 641 posts |
Do they really target tablets with keyboards? What the hell man. Tablet keyboards are very expensive. That's why I haven't purchased one and I doubt people will be investing that kind of money in it. After all, they want to get away from the keyboard, not back to it. Right?
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| November 27, 2012, 20:04 | |
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PB
Defender of the faith 630 posts
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It seems to me you have not been following what's going on. Microsoft has released it's own tablet with Windows 8, named the Surface (RT and Pro). Pro is not yet available and RT is not yet globally available (I know someone who has one and I did have a short try). For the Microsoft Surface there are two covers available which have a keyboard built in. The touch cover, which is touch sensitive (I found it a bit hard to get used to in the two minutes that I tried it) and the type cover, which has real keys (haven't tried that). I agree with you that the pricing for those keyboards is a bit over the top (119.99 US for the touch cover 129.99 for the type cover). But Microsoft does advertise the Surface in a way that the cover is somewhat iconic to the tablet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7UlE-o8DQQ So yes, Microsoft really targets for tablets with keyboards. That doesn't mean that their strategy worked, since they already admitted that the selling figures where a bit disappointing so far... ____________ |
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Message Board > Malarkey > What do you think of Windows 8?