A Two-Days-In Windows 8 Product Review

[pdub]

My old computer with XP ate itself for the third time in a year and I figured that was it.

New computer. I'd never seen Windows 7 until one day at work last week. Then now 8 here at home.

I get so frustrated with "things" that won't work right, irrationally so and I know it. Especially a computer, but this time I don't know HOW to make it work right.

First I have to say it was entirely too easy to set the new box up on the home wireless network. Freaky easy. I turned the box on for the first time and it saw the Weevillessee network, do you want to connect? Uhhhh, yeah.

Seconds later, my cell phone went off. A text message from Big Brother telling me what my MS access code is to the wireless network. Cool, but creepy. How did the computer know my cell phone number? Did it get it off of PM's on BangShift?

So, connected in about two minutes. And I didn't know how to do anything but look at the Welcome screen. There's nothing there.

After about two hours of cussing I finally randomly stumbled and figured out a thing or two. Remember those mystery video games from years ago, like Myst, where you have to "find" stuff and then somehow figure out what to do with it next? That's Windows 8.

But from the news of what happened to the folks in Oklahoma, I knew my problems with the computer were good, very lucky problems to have.

So by now I'm able to do a few things but 8 is still kicking my butt, from what I'm used to. As far as I can find, there's no "Control Panel" that I'm familiar with. And bigger than that, I don't believe it has Paint on it. I can't live without Paint.

And on email, I can't just right click on a photo and save it. I'm still a long way out.

I need an 8-year-old over here showing me how to run this thing, or I'll never get it.

[Barry Donovan]

you are doing good.
xp, to windows 8.. some years there.

my own had xp home, to vista, to 7, and going for 8...someday.
the first hard drive started in 2005. now at 53000 hours.
one machine.. swapped a motherboard for a server like one.

I am still mad at 7. Its kinda like cars today, the operating system...
some fairy tale of masterminding socialistic idiot claiming to be all people while implementing his own retardation.

"yahoo."

good times.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Once you go MAC, you'll never go back.

[SpiderGearsMan]

Linux

[Deaf Bob]

Once you go MAC, you'll never go back.

Love my iPad and iPhone.... Have not been on the desk top in 2 years!

[hoofhearted]

I have Windows 8, and it sucks. I also went from XP to 8. I cant look at some downloads or even print. It drives me nuts.

[pdub]

I have Windows 8, and it sucks. I also went from XP to 8. I cant look at some downloads or even print. It drives me nuts.

WhooHOOOO, thanks Jim! I was completely sure it was just me.

Thanks for that my friend, I can sleep better tonight.

EDIT - why aren't you coming to the gathering up here in some weeks?

[Monster]

My Mom went from XP to W8 about a month ago and is starting to get the hang of it pretty well.
I recommend that you pick-up the "Windows 8 For Dummies" book ... a fantastic reference that will show you how to get to everything you want (yes, it's all still there).
Good Luck !!!

[pdub]

My Mom went from XP to W8 about a month ago and is starting to get the hang of it pretty well.
I recommend that you pick-up the "Windows 8 For Dummies" book ... a fantastic reference that will show you how to get to everything you want (yes, it's all still there).
Good Luck !!!

Thanks for the heads up Steve! I did a search on that title and all I got back was, "Only Dummies Buy Windows 8" so I'm not real sure about getting that book. If I'd have been taking notes as I went, I could have written it.

[Ron Ward]

I am still using my Pentium III with Windows XP Pro. Thankfully, I have a licensed copy of XP Pro and when I step up to a Pentium IV, I can have it loaded up and running in no time.

I wish I still had Windows 95

[pdub]

I am still using my Pentium III with Windows XP Pro. Thankfully, I have a licensed copy of XP Pro and when I step up to a Pentium IV, I can have it loaded up and running in no time.

I wish I still had Windows 95

I'm wishing for DOS. I knew what I was doing, and when I typed it wrong, it would declare a syntax error and I could try again.

[BOOOGHAR]

I took my laptop in to be restored and refreshed, the owner asked me what I wanted - vista, 7, or 8 and I asked for XP, he told me that was the best choice, im sure its all a matter of opinion, and ive used all the op systems, and for simplicity, im happy with XP

[pdub]

I took my laptop in to be restored and refreshed, the owner asked me what I wanted - vista, 7, or 8 and I asked for XP, he told me that was the best choice, im sure its all a matter of opinion, and ive used all the op systems, and for simplicity, im happy with XP

It looks like 8 is all about synching and sharing. It synched to my cell phone number (it sent me a text). My cell phone won't even take a photo.

I didn't know until this morning that it sent an alert to my work email addy about synching. How in the HELL did that computer know my work email addy?

I don't have a smart phone or a Skype camera or a music player or a Twitter or whatever all of those other things, whatever they are.

That's what 8 is about. I don't think I need it. But now I've got it.

At least I can still cause trouble on BangShift.

[Beagle]

Windows 8 was intended for a touch screen. There are some things you can do to make it a little bit more familiar but the mothership alienated a HUGE userbase and is getting punished severely in sales for not giving the corporate IT officer any choice for the interface.

I would not train my staff to use a floating turd. I would move them to Suse or something else before I would foist this on them. It's embarrassing to say I had anything to do with it.

[Whelk]

My office is still on Windows 7, which is fine. I dread the day we start to get Windows 8. I won't get any training on it, it'll show up and I'll be expected to support it. Ugh.