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Subject: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,chris Date: 05 Mar 13 - 11:27 AM I ended up with windows 8 on a laptop that I bought to replace an old one that used Vista - I ended up with it 'cos there was nothing else!! Windows 8 has to be the biggest waste of time and space ever. eg if you want to add a photo to a hotmail email - the system asks me to install silverlight - every time, even after it had been installed. I want to print a pdf it will show it on screen but gives no access to a printer!! I can't imagine what sort of mind could create such a totally useless system and then tell us it's good. Microsoft ................words ....Ican't think of words to describe my feelings towards it!!!!!!!!!!!! chris |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Bert Date: 05 Mar 13 - 11:48 AM It seems that with Microsoft it is alternate versions that work. XP was alright Vista was crap 7 not too bad so you won't catch me trying 8. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: jacqui.c Date: 05 Mar 13 - 11:56 AM I liked Vista - think I had a later version but it was easy to use. I'll live with 8 but am not impressed - they say it's 'intuitive' - HOW? It is much more unwieldy than Vista, involving, for me, more key strokes to get where I want to go than was previously the case. I really do not like the side bars that pop up when I get anywhere near the edge of the screen, for instance when scrolling, but are the devil to get at when you want them. Photos are not so easy to access and print as with Vista and I really do not like the download system that is not nearly as user friendly as was my last pc. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Bat Goddess Date: 05 Mar 13 - 12:30 PM As I understand it (and I'm a Mac user, not a Microsloth slave), 8 was designed for mobile devices such as smart phones or tablets. That it's useful for those types of devices, but doesn't add a bit of value (and, as I continue to hear, only problems) for desktop or laptop computers. You'd think Microsloth would give you the option of continuing with Vista or 7. Or, better yet, continue to support XP. Just my two cents... Linn |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Don(Wyziwyg)T Date: 05 Mar 13 - 12:42 PM As soon as support for XP ends and it becomes necessary to change, I'm for learning to live with Linux. Don T. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Richard Bridge Date: 05 Mar 13 - 02:50 PM Damn! I agree with Don again. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 05 Mar 13 - 03:45 PM Lost all that as "placed off line"? |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 05 Mar 13 - 03:49 PM SOB! I did! Grrrrrrrr! Short version... 30 days in. Welcome to the club. I have learned to circumvent a lot of crap but it ain't fun. If you buy something that has a WIN8 sticker on the box... it's a sticker. Unless it's written on the box, maaayyyybe it will work as advertised. We need a WIN8 Permathread. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,Framus Date: 05 Mar 13 - 05:11 PM I bought the download version of win 8 to replace 7 on a laptop. It certainly feels cumbersome and NOT intuitive, to the extent that I will cut my losses and go back to win 7 IF I CAN! Does anyone know if installing 8 has erased 7, or if a "Restore" would achieve the desired result? |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST Date: 05 Mar 13 - 06:06 PM Shift F-8 SAFE MODE .... (all you need to know about Win-8) |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Ian Burdon Date: 05 Mar 13 - 07:11 PM The laptop on which I type this was bought cheap in a supermarket as a stopgap 4 years ago and has Vista Home Basic on it. It has never given me a moment's problem. However it isn't powerful enough to run some modern software I'm using so I'm upgrading. My wife has a Windows 8 laptop and I detest it. Happily I discovered that you can still buy Laptops with Windows 7, either by buying one from a business laptop rather than via the domestic market, or by going through the manufacturer's online outlets and looking for bargains. I seriously considered a Macbook but the price was crazy. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Joe Offer Date: 05 Mar 13 - 07:55 PM I bought a computer last summer with Windows 7, and it has a $14.99 upgrade to Windows 8 when 8 came available. I bought a Windows 8 computer for a new employee at the Women's Center, and I liked it. So...I decided to take the plunge and put Win 8 on mine. With the backup disk, it was about $35 for the upgrade - and I like it. I had to learn some new keyboard shortcuts and rearrange a few things, but now I have it working just like I want it to work. It does have a lot of flexibility, once you get the hang of it. I use [WindowsKey+D] to get to the desktop, and work primarily off the desktop. I "pinned" shortcuts for my favorite programs to the taskbar, so I have one-click access to them. The folder on the taskbar gives me access to my files. That makes 11 icons on my taskbar, and that seems to be all I need for 97.6% of what I do. The "Start" page (or whatever they call it) has all sorts of doodads like news and weather that are kind of nice to look at when I turn on my computer, but then I don't go to the "Start" page very often during the day. Working from the desktop is just about like working from Windows 7. Oh, and the games have to be downloaded separately, but they're great. So, although all you naysayers will hate me for saying this, I like Windows 8, mostly because I find it a little more fun and more colorful to use than Linux or Windows 7 or my Chromebook. The Chromebook's great for travel, though. I had to rehab a donated XP computer in a hurry last night, I got it set up to do what I wanted it to do, but I found I had forgotten some of the things I used to do automatically. I think that if you have an XP computer, you should start thinking about switching to something else. I'm betting that most people will prefer Windows 7, but I don't know how much longer Win 7 computers will be available for purchase. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 05 Mar 13 - 10:22 PM From: Bert - PM Date: 05 Mar 13 - 11:48 AM It seems that with Microsoft it is alternate versions that work. XP was alright Vista was crap 7 not too bad so you won't catch me trying 8. Interesting. Like Star Trek movies. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Mark Ross Date: 05 Mar 13 - 10:32 PM I hear that Bill Gates is getting a divorce.... his wife won't do Windows. Mark Ross |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Gurney Date: 05 Mar 13 - 10:48 PM I was reading the Oz magazine Australian PC. It said that the latest Ubuntu issue is as good as W8 or Apple-something. You had to learn the language, though. Windows spellcheck doesn't recognise Ubuntu. Or spellcheck. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Joe Offer Date: 05 Mar 13 - 11:25 PM Linux is not the Ultimate Solution To All Computer Issues, either. It's good, but a lot of interesting software doesn't run on it unless you use some sort of shell like Wine. You may have trouble finding drivers for various devices (and you won't believe how easily Windows 8 installs obscure devices). I use Linux (usually Ubuntu) on computers that don't have enough power to handle Windows, but then I have to teach the user how to use Linux. Not as easy as you'd think. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: EBarnacle Date: 06 Mar 13 - 01:14 AM I haverfound that many [not all] later XP laptops will accept W7 readily if you max out the RAM the machine will accept. That seems to be the best of both worlds but I would not go there with a machine having less than a 100 GB hard drive. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,chris Date: 06 Mar 13 - 03:06 AM 'Intuitive' -that's a lovely word - is it intuitive to the person who created Windows 8 or is intuitive to 3 people in the world or maybe it's intuitive to everyone in the world......except me. OR is it a word that can be used when the concept it is describing is too complicated, illogical and unfriendly to explain in simple, understandable language. I suspect the latter!!!! chris |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Joe Offer Date: 06 Mar 13 - 03:19 AM Well, the "Start" page is cute, but it's not really intuitive unless you have a touch screen. Without a touch screen, that page is just "window" dressing, if you'll excuse the pun. But if you click the Windows button and "D" (for desktop), you'll get to a desktop that's just like you had in Win 7, Win Vista, and Win XP. I was going to say that I don't like Windows Vista - it's sluggish, and seems to have a lot of problems with updates. Win 7 was a great improvement. I'm glad I only bought two Windows Vista computers, as opposed to six or seven with Windows 7 - and I had a truckload of Win XP computers, but most of them were donated. We're still getting XP donations, but I'm getting reluctant to take them (I rehab most of them and give them to our guests at the Women's Center - and keep some for parts and office use). -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,chris Date: 06 Mar 13 - 04:32 AM my current problem (not my only one!) is how does one print a pdf? Anyone have any ideas? chris |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Newport Boy Date: 06 Mar 13 - 04:43 AM A pdf is a document, just like most other files. Open it in whatever application Windows uses for pdfs, and print via one of the usual methods - Ctrl-P, File>Print, rightclick & select Print, etc. Phil |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,JHW Date: 06 Mar 13 - 05:09 AM I can't think who's beer it was that advertised 'Unspoilt by Progress' I'd be happiest if all new, beta versions, upgrades, forever new versions of Firefox etc. had a button to click 'Ignore New Features' |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Rumncoke Date: 06 Mar 13 - 05:47 AM I have some older programs on a W 98 PC and had to fire it up yesterday to check on something that used to work on W3.1. It was just like going home at the end of term. Yes, it is old and there's faster and bigger things - but just so familiar. I notice that people use the keyboard for doing things - I am strictly point and click when it comes to making things work and just use the keyboard for text - oh, and the arrow keys and delete, and Ctrl-Z when playing card games, but that is about it. My W7 is in 'Classic' mode, but W 8 does rather look to be too clever for its own good. What puzzles me is why the OS doesn't adapt to user preferences automatically - that was always the thing in Science Fiction, computers were going to learn about us and alter to make things easier for us - not the other way around. I don't actually mind having to learn new things, in a way, but it would be better if the designers of software read some old Sci Fi and realised what older people like me were expecting. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,999 Date: 06 Mar 13 - 06:01 AM "why did I think windows 8 would work" Hope over experience! |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,PeterC Date: 06 Mar 13 - 06:27 AM I agree with Joe (and others) the most useful key stroke is [WindowsKey+D]- you can then use W8 as 'normal' |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: jacqui.c Date: 06 Mar 13 - 07:43 AM I don't want to use key strokes - I prefer point and click. It isn't the start page that is my biggest problem. To close down takes longer every time because I first have to log off and then wait while the machine goes through its paces before bringing up the screen from which I can access the login page, which is where the closedown button lives. This takes a lot more key strokes and clicks than previously and I have to sit twiddling my thumbs while it happens. NOT an improvement in my book. I haven't been able to find a way to get a new Word document without actually being in Word with a document open. Believe me, I've tried. I've finally set up a blank document in my folders and use that but it really isn't satisfactory so far as I'm concerned. Staples is offering free training for 8 and I'm going to take them up on that and see if that helps. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: wordfella Date: 06 Mar 13 - 09:30 AM When I needed a new desktop five years ago, I had heard of the need to avoid Vista. I paid the store 120 bucks extra for a Vista-ectomy, and have been fine with the XP ever since. But in the harder-faster-deeper atmosphere, with program and system support diminishing--and because of the Need for Speed--I must now upgrade. I find that more than half of the suitable offerings carry Windows 8. I'm going to have to pull the trigger while I can still get Windows 7. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 06 Mar 13 - 12:44 PM Preinstalled Windows 8 most generally is "Windows 8" which is a "basic" version with limited capabilities similar to the "Home Basic" versions of some earlier versions. If you want a useful OS for a desktop or laptop, it's almost mandatory that you upgrade to "Windows 8 Pro" to get all the functions that are advertised/reported. (It's unclear whether the Pro version is much better for little toy machines.) Some machines can still be purchased with Win8 Pro preinstalled, and nearly all builders offer an upgrade to the "Pro" version. While new machines still often have only the kiddie version preinstalled, Microsoft recently announced a price cut for Win8 Pro, back to the same price as Win8. No information on whether that's a special offer for a limited time or a permanent change. Check with BOTH Microsoft and with whoever sold you your new machine for the best deal you can get. For all recent versions of Windows all of the possible versions are on your machine or on the installation disk. All that's needed to switch from one version of WinXP - to another Win8 - is a new "registration number" (call Microsoft to get it) that turns the features on or off. You can't go from one OS to another (e.g Win8 to Win7) that way but should be able to turn on Win8 Pro if you have the basic Win8. Many builders offered a "downgrade" to let you switch back to Win7 when the first Win8 machines appeared, and it's fairly easy to step back. I haven't looked recently at how many manufacturers still offer the downgrade but if yours does, it usually is cheaper to get it from the same place where you bought the machine. For runninng "more advanced programs" the most important machine differences are larger and faster Hard Drives and MORE RAM MEMORY. The best newer and bigger hard drives may use a different interface that will require installing a driver card, and if you don't have a slot to put it in you may not be able to install them internally; but you can still get a "big enough" internal drive with an older interface and use good USB external drives for all the data storage. Since anything external may get bumped around, I recommend something specifically for "Portable" use, but if you have a cleaner desk than I do you might be okay with a "backup" device. USB Drives may be slower than you like if the machine is "old USB," but for the most part it's workable. You may be able to install a newer USB interface card if the speed limits of an older one are too much of a problem. If your old machine has only 32-bit capability, the amount of RAM that you can install theoretically is lower than if it's a 64-bit macine; but the myth that you can have "all the RAM you want" by going to a 64-bit machine is a false one for the most part, since the BIOS must also support the amount of RAM you install. Some cheap machines will not support any increase in what they have when you buy them, which is rarely but occasionally as little as 2 or 3 GB. Most machines, even in the "bargain priced" range come with 4GB or 6GB and have BIOS support for a maximum of 8GB. A 64-bit computer that supports more than about 8GB will be ... "expensive." We have two identical Win7 desktop machines that came with 6GB installed. Lin still has no problem with hers at 6GB, but I had to kick mine up to 8GB, the max supported by the BIOS on these machines, to get rid of an "insufficient memory" popup that became a nuisance. A couple of other recurring problems may be an indication that 8GB isn't really enough, but that's as far as I can go for now. Most RAM upgrades in Win7 and later machines will require replacing ALL the RAM, because of the limited number of slots available. I have NEVER seen a case where buying from the RAM makers was more than half the price of getting an "upgrade" from anyone else, but check what you can find. (I used Crucial most recently but there are others) Newer machines are much more limited as to what improvements can be made, but if you're not happy with what you've got you do need to take a serious look at what you can do with them to make them functional. A crippled computer can sometimes be cured (or at least given a prosthetic it can limp on). If you bought a toy, you may have to just get a better toy. Everybody out there has lots of new toys. John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 06 Mar 13 - 12:57 PM Error in previous, paragraph 4: For all recent versions of Windows all of the possible versions are on your machine or on the installation disk. All that's needed to switch from one version of WinXP - to another Win8 - is a new "registration number" (call Microsoft to get it) that turns the features on or off. You can't go from one OS to another (e.g Win8 to Win7) that way but should be able to turn on Win8 Pro if you have the basic Win8. Should be: For all recent versions of Windows all of the possible versions are on your machine or on the installation disk. All that's needed to switch from one version of WinXP to another WinXP, or one Win8 to another Win8 - is a new "registration number" (call Microsoft to get it) that turns the features on or off. You can't go from one OS to another (e.g Win8 to Win7) that way but should be able to turn on Win8 Pro if you have the basic Win8. (a constant problem at mudcat (for me) is that the Reply box sometimes doesn't show where your cursor is, so what you think you type one place goes somewhere else. I think that's what happened here.(?). I corrected what went elsewhere, but didn't get back to what I'd intended to fix in preview) John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Newport Boy Date: 06 Mar 13 - 04:11 PM I agree with most of your summary, John, but a 64-bit computer supporting more than 8GB RAM shouldn't be expensive. My current machine is 64-bit, supports 16GB RAM. The motherboard, triple-core processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD and a DVD writer came to £285. The rest of the components, excluding the monitor, were less than £200. And I've never seen more than 55% RAM used, even when I'm running Filemaker Pro in my virtual XP alongside the 8 or 10 application open in Linux. I know recent versions of Windows are memory hogs, but 8GB should be enough for anything except serious video work. Phil |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 07 Mar 13 - 05:36 AM N Boy - Your £285 is close to the top of what would be considered "consumer grade" machines here, and there probably are some at about that price with more than two slots for RAM and BIOS suport for more RAM. That's not the case in that price range for most of those available in my markets. The bigger problem is that while most sellers tell you how much RAM is installed, they say nothing about what MAXIMUM amount can be installed in their up-front specs. You have to dig really deep to find it, which means you have be aware that it could be something you'd care about. Video is certainly one thing that needs a little more RAM but there are other things that push the requirements quite a bit more. OCR on large documents is one thing: Runing OCR on a 500 page "image only pdf" generally raises a flag on my machine showing "High Usage of Processor" at about page 370. There's no crash from that, but it indicates something other than the program itself needs more space than I have. Any time the RAM space is pushed to the limit, the computer should be flipping memory segments in and out of virtual RAM (temp files on the hard drive) and unfortunately the process that keeps track of what goes in and out has to use more and more of the real RAM in order to not lose its mind. That appears to be one of the things I encounter frequently with 8GB RAM. (Win98 warned that installing more than 1MB ram could make the file manager eat more RAM than you added above that.) A difference between how FAT formatted drives keep track of files and how its done with NTFS apparently is RAM intensive, with high requirements for "background processes," so the sheer number of files on all the drives connected, with some effect from what range of file sizes are there, affects how well Windows Explorer can keep track of what's going on. This can result in failure of Explorer to show what files are in a folder, or even to show that it's "pointing at" a different folder than it desplays as the target when you paste something. I get frequent "Windows Explorer has stopped working" messages, because the folder I tried to copy from didn't show the files actually in that folder so there's a crash when it tries to do something with something that doesn't exist. While it's purely speculation, it looks like my 8GB of RAM isn't sufficient for the "background processes" needed to keep the File Control Block current. This problem is most often reported by "heavyweight PhotoShop users" and I'm not in that category. My guess is that it's not because of high RAM requirements for PhotoShop, but mostly because lots of photographers handle batches of files in bulk bunches and the large number of files all changed within a short time outruns the file manager. That's something I do - a lot. On the main topic of the thread, I don't see a way that this can't be a worse problem with Win8 (and for those who use the latest toy tricks in Win7 etc) since the demand that you should use "Libraries" for all your file management means that the actual files aren't in the library, which is just a sorted(?) mirror of the real hardware file locations, so every file transaction has to look in the library to find where to look in the FCB to find where get the file. And every change requires an update of the FCB and of the Library both of which are background processes that you can't force to be done instantly. They only happen when the processor is idle and "feels like doing it." I REFUSE to use the libraries (because they're worthless for me, although they might be okay for the children). I haven't REMOVED them as yet in my Win7 since it's a little complex to get it done, but probably will soon. John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 07 Mar 13 - 06:15 AM "had a button to click 'Ignore New Features' " Hahahahaa! Joe... THAT is what I am talking about. You don't have to hit the WIN+D. You can put the start page on your app screen OR you can put it on whatever the hell that thing is called that appears when you put your cursor in the upper left corner. As well, the whatever the hell it is in the upper left corner can have various places to go which appear on the left side of the screen if you have your glasses on and just happen to notice them as the are barely visible. I am sure WIN8 is just peachy and warm and fuzzy if you take the tutorials. WHO has time for that when there is something to moan and complain about? In my case, I first saw the start page and I was immediately POd, as in, WTF IS THAT? That is not a proper handshake. It's like meeting one of those guys that tries to impress you by squeezing your hand real hard. It took me several days to get "back" to my old desktop and I still "find something" by mistake every now and then. One of these days, I'll take the tutorials. They can be found easily thru a Google search... if you wanna use the Google bar, go to Google using the preloaded Bing bar (which sucks in comparison) and download it, choosing it as the default. Took me 5 minutes to realize and execute that simple process. Sent from my Desktop. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 07 Mar 13 - 02:02 PM Further evidence from PC Advisor that Microsoft has no idea what they're doing with Win8 ... ? Microsoft's unexpected price slashing of Windows 8 Pro was a mistake. Yesterday we reported that Microsoft had dropped the price of Windows 8 Pro to £45, lower than regular Windows 8 at £99. The firm has confirmed with PC Advisor that this change was made in error. ... Microsoft said: "Due to an error in our system, Windows 8 Pro was available on the Microsoft Online Store in the UK at a price that was advertised lower than our regular Microsoft Store price." If anyone managed to purchase the cut price Windows 8 Pro operating system while it was cheap, Microsoft will honor the purchase. Well, it was Microsoft's fault after all. "This pricing error has been corrected and we are honoring all legitimate purchases that occurred while we worked to resolve the issue. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience our customers may have experienced." the firm added. The price has now returned back to £190 which is the price it increased to at the beginning of February after Microsoft's upgrade offer ended. The pricing error affected on the UK website and not the US site where it remained at $200. John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 07 Mar 13 - 02:47 PM Hahahaa! Priceless! |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 07 Mar 13 - 04:28 PM A web currency converter I did a quick check on gives $200 (US) as equivalent to £133, or £190 as $284.96. Looks like Microsoft is sticking it to the Brits? Must be that VAT, or maybe it's the high shipping cost. Or all those EU antitrust fines? John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 07 Mar 13 - 09:59 PM Dear Mr. Gnu... Your postings, above the line, continue to bring me great pleasure. Sincerely, Gargoyle the internet was never meant for someone as innocent as gnu. hire a geek.... |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 08 Mar 13 - 11:45 AM Continuing the confusion: Extreme Tech reports: Microsoft cuts the price of Windows 8 and Office 2013 to overcome slow adoption By Sebastian Anthony on March 6, 2013 at 12:11 pm "According to the Wall Street Journal's anonymous sources, Microsoft has been offering a dual pack of Windows 8 and Office to OEMs for $30 since late February, for touchscreen devices under 10.8 inches. The previous price was $120. This massive discount is obviously intended to increase the number of affordable touchscreen laptops and tablets running Windows 8, which is currently experiencing very slow adoption." "...the CEO of Asus recently said the following at the company's investor conference: "Microsoft has been making many efforts lately that I cannot talk about in specific, but that will help give momentum to the notebook and netbook and Eee PC area." " {Oviously I'll need to take another look, since I've alwasy wanted an OS with "lots of momentum." They shatter better when they hit the wall. ???} Note that the price reduction is only to OEMs and only on the little pinball (or maybe those are pachinko) machines. "We still don't know exactly how many touch-enabled Windows 8 devices are actually being used by consumers, but the mere fact that Microsoft hasn't shared any figures — either in general, or specifically for its Surface tablets — is a strong indicator that things aren't going to plan." "... Samsung is pulling the Windows RT Ativ Tab out of Germany and "additional European countries" (Samsung hasn't yet specified which ones). This follows on from Samsung's decision to not release the Ativ Tab in the US, citing a lack of consumer interest and confusion over what Windows RT actually is." {It's not obvious that Microsoft is real sure?} {Must insert a quote from the robot in the (US) TV series Lost in Space before continuing with the article ...} WARNING! - WARNING! - DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!!! "Moving forward, we should also remember that Microsoft is working on Windows Blue, which will reportedly be very cheap — or possibly free. It isn't yet clear whether Blue will be a standalone version of Windows that you can buy off the shelf, or the code name for Microsoft's internal shift towards annual releases, instead of every two or three years. It is possible that Microsoft's slashing of Windows 8 and Office license costs is simply a precursor to Windows Blue." {On most TV shows, "Code Blue" means somebody/something is about to DIE, which may suggest where Microsoft got the idea for the name? Nobody knows what it means here.} The above article gives a link to another recent blip, giving the Extreme Tech view of Windows 8 on the day it was released: Windows 8: The disastrous result of Microsoft's gutless equivocation You can see if you can find anything that needs to be changed aince then ... Yet another link goes to about as much as is known regarding actual "installations in use" for DESKTOPS as of February but there are no reliable similar figures available for the pinball/pachinko installations. Four months in: Windows 8 adoption is almost at a standstill shows that as of February 2013, Windows 7 was on 44.7% of desktops, Windows XP on 38.99%, Vista (which took the crown for "worst OS ever" from Windows ME?) at 5.17%. Three OS X versions account for 6.51%. Also linked "for the few people actually using Windows 8" : tips and tricks for making Windows 8 less useless consists of a brief description of helpful comments posted at/by Extreme Tech with a link to each of them. Since you have to follow each link I haven't looked at what tips are helful, but Joe and gnu might want to see if they find something amusing. That concludes this morning's news. Stay tuned for the weather report and the usual two hours of sports blather. John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 09 Mar 13 - 08:16 AM Procedure : Print a pdf in W8 Note : See Procedure : Find a pdf saved to PC in W8, rename it and file it where it should be filed 1. Wonder WIF I can't just see the same damn thing I have seen for years. 2. Move mouse around to see if anything happens because that's how I finally figured out a bunch of other invisible shit. 3. Click pdf. 4. Right click it. Read actions at screen bottom. Select "More." Select "Info." Read list telling me what I have permission to do. Say out loud, "AHA! PRINT! Thank goodness!" 5. Click print... twice... swear. 6. Right click print. Stare at ONLY THE DAMN FILE AS EVERYTHING ELSE IS F****** GONE! 7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 as I just can't believe it. 8. Google "how do I print a pd". Click "How do I print a pdf document in Windows 8" or any of the other onessss. 9. Return to previous screen. Note : See : Procedure : How do I find my f****** desktop in W8? or Procedure : How do I get back to where I was in W8? 10. Move mouse to upper or lower right corner of screen. Click Devices "charm" and say out loud, again, "Yeah, this is really f****** charming alright." 11. Click on a printer. Follow directions. 12. Nuke cold cup of tea. Say to self, "I really should watch the tutorials. Shit! I forgot to take my blood pressure meds!" Associated notes : Procedure : How do I find W8 tutorials? Hint : Procedure : How do I *.* in W8? |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 09 Mar 13 - 10:56 PM Gnu ... take a clue... It works for everyone in this thread except for you. When you point a finger always reflect upon the four pointing back at you. Sincerely, Gargoyle |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 09 Mar 13 - 11:48 PM Gargoyle... your funny bone is broken in two and YOU have shoved both halves up yer ass sideways. The only thing that doesn't work is you and your perception of your superiority, even more so than your perception of your wit which ain't worth a shit. You are actually an intellectually inferior piece of trash with shit for brains and the social skills of a periwinkle. I would suspect you have a small dick too but that wouldn't matter seeing as what a big fuckin prick you are or perhaps, should I say, would be if you actually had the intelligence to realize your own failings regarding perception and human conversation. I am sure yo mama would be proud of you if she would admit to being yo mama. Read your own words... it's an old joke about the fingers... to my mind... you just stuck them up your own ass for the world to see. You got no funny bone. You are a funny bone. Nobody laughs with anyone who simply posts to shit on others in an attempt to demonstrate false superiority. They don't even laugh at them. They pity them or view them with disdain. Me? I call em assholes. Don't bother to post any reply. I shant be arsed to answer to idiots. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 10 Mar 13 - 04:50 AM Maybe helpful: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/get-started My impression is it's a toy. That means you're supposed to have to play with it. (At Christmas time it usually means it will break before the first set of batteries runs down, I think; but you should have time now fiddle for a little while something still works since that's a seasonal thing.) John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 10 Mar 13 - 01:20 PM Thanks again, JiK. If I could be arsed to take the tutorials, I would only have half as much to piss and moan about and make fun of. I say half because I would probably forget half of what I learned before I had a need to use it. What is the half-life of a halfwit anyway? Does it vary from a halftwit? |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,chris Date: 10 Mar 13 - 03:58 PM The last time I tried to print a PDF I read on the Adobe site that they have not got a print facility yet for W8 Am I surprised to find this info? Not really - more disappointed and resigned to more inconvenience - good job that I've still got my netbook!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 10 Mar 13 - 05:00 PM Gee, Chris... I hope Gargutless doesn't think less of you because WIN8 sucks at times. Have you searched "how do I print a pdf in windows 8"? |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 10 Mar 13 - 07:37 PM Printing a pdf should be not different than printing anything else, regardless of what OS you have. The apparent problem is just with finding the "Print" button to tell Windows 8 to print something. I haven't looked for the specific instructions, but based on other things I have seen explained by Microsoft for Win8, I would suggest that you: Wave your left hand from right to left over the display. Swipe your right hand from bottom to top over the display, making a 90 degree right turn halfway up. Tap the screen twice in the lower right corner. Step back and spin around twice counterclockwise, followed by one full turn clockwise. Stick your left thumb up your ass and hold it there while you bang your forhead twice on the middle of the display. Go have a beer while leaving the computer alone in peace for a while. Sneak up on it when you've finished the beer (Don't let it see you coming), and see if it's done something. Leave the computer where it is and go teell all your friends how wonderfully it did whatever happened (which likely won't have had anything to do with printing anything, but will give you something really fun to talk about). As a backup, your browser should be able to open a pdf, and with the pdf open in the browser you might be able to use the normal browser menus to print. This isn't an ideal method, and you'll probably still have to figure out how to open a file in your browser instead of in some other default program in Win8 so it's unlikely to be a lot of help; but it may give you another interesting bunch of questions to discuss with your friends. The theoretical reason for pdf is that any printer that can print anything else should be able to print a any pdf, but since that theory originated with Adobe it may be no better than the recent stuff from Microsoft. John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 10 Mar 13 - 11:20 PM JiK... I had to grab a tissue... I can hardly catch my breath... that is the funniest.... oh here I go again... hahahahahhaaaaaaaaa! "Wave your left hand from right to left over the display."? That's where I lost it.... it got worse from there. I am just now recovering. JiK... that is a nomination for best crack-up of the year. Of course, I suppose there may be some that find my laughter hard to comprehend but I can only assume they haven't read all the posts to this thread. I haven't had "sore sides" in ages. Thanks! |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 11 Mar 13 - 12:29 AM I'm really quite sure those were the instructions I read in one Microsoft Win8 tutorial. I don't really remember what they were supposed to do, but I'm very sure it was supposed to be something fun. But did it WORK? John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: katlaughing Date: 17 Mar 13 - 12:11 AM my rog says it's touch screen technology... i.e.touch an icon of a cat's arse and it takes you directly to Mudcat! |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: JohnInKansas Date: 17 Mar 13 - 12:27 AM Well kat, that's not really new with Win8. They went to "stick your mousefinger in the cow pattie" to open the top menu in all the Office programs that got "updated" for Win7. (Mostly replaces the "File" button?) (Some overly PC people call it "the pizza" but I've seen a couple of pizzas and a whole bunch of cow patties - and I can tell the difference between cow pies, horse bombs, and buffalo chips). It's a COW SPLAT! (Most likely a hereford on green alfalfa.) John |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Joe Offer Date: 17 Mar 13 - 01:02 AM I bought my computer in July with Windows 7. I finally gave in to temptation and paid $14.99 to download Windows 8 Pro. I paid an extra $14.99 plus shipping for a backup disk, which I haven't opened - so I'm guessing that was wasted money. And as I have said, I really like Win 8 Pro - mind you, I have the pro version. I think I have Win 8 Pro on the other computer I bought for work, too (but I'm not sure of that right off). Windows 8 has a very nice "reader," and it's set as the default reader for PDF files. The only thing is, the "reader" does not seem to have a "print" function. I cannot emphasize this enough - you need to learn to use your right mouse button. Anyhow, I can print with either Internet Explorer or Adobe Reader, but not with the new default "reader." You can set one of the other readers as the default program to open PDF files, but I prefer to refrain from printing and I like the new Reader. So, printing PDF files with Windows 8 is simple - just open the file with Adobe Reader, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word, and a host of other programs - but not with the default program, Reader. Somebody above said that Adobe Reader has trouble printing in Windows 8. I can't verify that - I haven't had problems. And although I kinda like Windows 8 and I really like Windows 7, the best configuration I've had was Windows XP and Office 2003, with Google Chrome as a browser - that did everything I would like to do on a computer, including photographs and scanning and OCR (but not sound work). Trouble is, XP runs very sluggishly with a lot of the other applications and antivirus devices and browsers available today, so I'm forced to use a newer operating system. And I don't really mind. I like the free games available with Windows 8. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: gnu Date: 17 Mar 13 - 02:44 PM MS says... Create a USB recovery drive Your PC might have come with a recovery image that's used to refresh or reset your PC. If you run into problems with your PC, a USB recovery drive can help you troubleshoot and fix those problems, even if your PC won't start. The recovery image is stored on a dedicated recovery partition on your PC, and is typically 3-6 GB in size. ******************************************************* I thought that was odd but I did not read any further, I went to Future Shit and bought a flash drive for $6.99 plus tax. I ALMOST made a recovery drive. The Wizard said my flash was too small and that I needed "at least 32Gb". I had to go back to Future Shit and buy a 64Gb drive but it WAS on sale for $39.99 AND they EVEN gave me the penny back instead of rounding up from $45.19 to $45.20!!! Ain't I lucky? Must be on accounta I am Irish and it's a special day for the Irish and us Irish decendants. |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: Jim Carroll Date: 30 Mar 13 - 06:27 AM Went in to PC World to buy a lap-top and was told by the assistant, "I'm afraid we only have Windows 8 - he then tried to charge me an arm and a leg to replace it with Windows 7 Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: GUEST,Russ Date: 30 Mar 13 - 04:13 PM Just bought a Dell desktop. Used the small business section to get Windows 7 as an option. I don't do laptops, tablets, or touchscreens. I just did not feel up to the challenge of Windows 8. Russ (Permanent GUEST) |
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Subject: RE: why did I think windows 8 would work From: SteveMansfield Date: 31 Mar 13 - 03:02 PM Windows 8 is fine. Oh, of course, that's once you install Start8 and configure it to boot straight into the desktop. |
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