So I purchased and installed Windows 8...

[BelieverX]

I've had a couple of weeks to tinker with Windows 8, and here's a short review.

Start menu (Metro interface): At first I didn't understand the logic behind making a dual interface, but after a couple of days of exploring I came to realize that Metro is not really another interface, but rather an elaborate Start Menu. Imagine clicking the old fashion start button, and instead of a menu list in the lower left corner, a new window opens up with all your familiar start options filling the screen. Windows 8 boots into the start menu, requiring you to click the Desktop app if that is your preferred destination. I think Microsoft should have built in an option allowing the users to choose what they see when the OS loads. When you are in the Desktop mode you can easily access the start menu by moving your mouse down to the lower left corner. The button is hidden and will only pop up when you point your mouse in the corner. If you right click the button you will get a useful list of essential applications.

• Programs and Features
• Power Options
• Event Viewer
• System
• Device Manager
• Disk Management
• Computer Management
• Command Prompt
• Command Prompt (admin)
• Task Manager
• Control Panel
• File Explorer
• Search
• Run
• Desktop

What's missing in that list, is the option to turn off the computer without having to go into the Metro menu. Luckily my Logitech keyboard has a button for that. Because I use my PC for work I spend more time in Desktop mode, making the Metro start menu irrelevant to my needs. I did take time to organize Metro into categories though, which is a quite useful feature.

Apps: I really like the free apps option. There isn't a lot of free software (apps) at the moment, but the numbers are growing every day. Someone told me that Microsoft didn't include the usual free games in Windows 8, that's true, but you can download some of them as an app for free. Microsoft also offers OneNote, my favorite software, as a free app. It doesn't have all the features that comes with a purchased copy, but for those who don't have the cash, it is still an awesome piece of software.
[FONT=&quot]
I kept my Windows 7 DVD within arm's reach after I installed Windows 8, but over the last couple of weeks I have come to like Microsoft's new OS. It isn't perfect, but that's nothing a service pack or two can't cure. Hey...every new operating system has some sort of birth pains. Windows 8 isn't any different.[/FONT]

 

[WalksWithChrist]

I've had a couple of weeks to tinker with Windows 8, and here's a short review.

Start menu (Metro interface): At first I didn't understand the logic behind making a dual interface, but after a couple of days of exploring I came to realize that Metro is not really another interface, but rather an elaborate Start Menu. Imagine clicking the old fashion start button, and instead of a menu list in the lower left corner, a new window opens up with all your familiar start options filling the screen. Windows 8 boots into the start menu, requiring you to click the Desktop app if that is your preferred destination. I think Microsoft should have built in an option allowing the users to choose what they see when the OS loads. When you are in the Desktop mode you can easily access the start menu by moving your mouse down to the lower left corner. The button is hidden and will only pop up when you point your mouse in the corner. If you right click the button you will get a useful list of essential applications.

• Programs and Features
• Power Options
• Event Viewer
• System
• Device Manager
• Disk Management
• Computer Management
• Command Prompt
• Command Prompt (admin)
• Task Manager
• Control Panel
• File Explorer
• Search
• Run
• Desktop

What's missing in that list, is the option to turn off the computer without having to go into the Metro menu. Luckily my Logitech keyboard has a button for that. Because I use my PC for work I spend more time in Desktop mode, making the Metro start menu irrelevant to my needs. I did take time to organize Metro into categories though, which is a quite useful feature.

Apps: I really like the free apps option. There isn't a lot of free software (apps) at the moment, but the numbers are growing ever day. Someone told me that Microsoft didn't include the usual free games in Windows 8, that's true, but you can download some of them as an app for free. Microsoft also offers OneNote, my favorite software, as a free app. It doesn't have all the features that comes with a purchased copy, but for those who don't have the cash, it is still an awesome piece of software.
[FONT=&quot]
I kept my Windows 7 DVD within arm's reach after I installed Windows 8, but over the last couple of weeks I have come to like Microsoft's new OS. It isn't perfect, but that's nothing a service pack or two can't cure. Hey...every new operating system has some sort of birth pains. Windows 8 isn't any different.[/FONT]

 

[C-Man]

I'll keep my post short.

 

[If Not For Grace]

so far (If I missed something let me know) the only advantage to an upgrade is a bit faster boot time (That may change) less freezes...

I have a pretty good boot time experience few freezes---I shall wait..Windows 10 or at least 9 will likely be out soon.. or I could go back to AOL If I could still load a floopy disk...)

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Thats a good read. Seems like EphesiaNZ's version is not exactly true.

Need more resarch hmmm.

Oh no, I've been lying!

It seems Windows 8 (since the release version anyway) detects your SSD and just sends trim (housekeeping for SSD) hints to that drive. Well this is good news I guess. So Windows 8 does't actually do a full defrag of your SSD.

Hmm, after my years as a Microsoft professional I am always dubious of what they tell us and here's why, take a look at this link to a PC running Win8.

Notice something?

Yes it's actually doing a full defrag of this machines SSD! - we love you Microsoft!

I will leave people who see this to draw their own conclusion about Win8/SSD and "optimization".

Edit: I doubt everyone will experience this bug (undocumented feature) but just be aware that it could happen. Usual advice, wait for Service Pack 1 maybe...

 

[paul1149]

I wonder when that shot was taken. Here's one that Brink posted in late
August that shows trimming, not defragging, being done.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

I wonder when that shot was taken. Here's one that Brink posted in late
August that shows trimming, not defragging, being done.

The link to the screenshot I posted was from this month and it was from a discussion on Microsofts Technet forums - may have something to do with the scheduler script for this task and/or something to do with the make/model/firmware of your SSD. Im not a software/hardware engineer but the SSD trim function should work independently from any other disk maintenance function IMHO.

As with any Windows release, wait for Service Pack 1 or 2 or ...

 

[paul1149]

That's a disturbing thread. The last time I installed Win7 it automatically ran the windows experience index, which identifies SSDs and protects them from auto-defragging with the apparent exception of when optimization is called via the Action Center. I don't know, though, if Win8 automatically runs WEI upon installation - or runs it when an SSD is added to the system, which seems doubtful. So at the very least MS has left a huge hole in Win8's SSD armor on this point.

Another salient takeaway from that thread is that MS chimed in pretty quickly with their explanatory gloss, but since the dirty reality became manifest they have been nowhere to be found. That's not good.

Bottom line: most SSDs are probably safe, but run WEI at windows installation and again after adding an SSD. And stay away from the Action Center.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

That's a disturbing thread...

Not really disturbing, more the difference of what we are told (marketing) versus reality of a product. I always take what Microsoft say with a pinch of salt these days. Oh and BTW, Windows Indexing service usually does quite a few read/writes when it kicks into action too so this maybe another thing to disable for SSD's.

Having said all this, it's still early days in SSD history so we don't really know how longevity of a drive will suffer with frequent writes as I guess it depends on the quality of the drive to start with.

 

[BelieverX]

My SATA drives serve me well under Windows 8. The defragmentation is regular, automatic an unnoticed by me. I wouldn't even consider buying a SSD drive at the moment, the prices are still too high. Here in Germany a 512GB SSD costs around 400 Euros. I could buy 4 Seagate 2TB drives for 400 Euros.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

I'll keep my post short.

That screen is entirely too busy. When I make some time, I'll see about tweaking that Windows 8 screen to be more useful. Or keep it from appearing!


I do like the Lock screen in Windows 8. Very smooth.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

What I tend to do is use the SSD drive just as the boot/system drive hence you can get away with a 60/80/120GB SSD drive and have your data files on a regular spinning SATA drive. This way I get blazingly fast system performance with adequate data storage. I recently purchased a 120GB OCZ Vertex 2 SSD for NZ $120 (approx 75 Euros) - this makes for a good system drive with about 90GB for data too if your requirement for data storage is modest.

Buying an SSD is not about data storage (at the moment), it's about performance, lower power consumption (makes purchase price lower due to power saved over say a 3-5 year span) plus running silent and cooler too.

 

[paul1149]

I think the SSD prices are about down to be viable. I recently got a 120GB 2.5" Kingston drive for US$75 after a $20 rebate. That's enough for a main drive among others in a tower or for the entire storage system the way I use laptops. I've yet to implement it because I ended up selling the target laptop, but I look forward to using it hopefully soon.

 

[BelieverX]

A 120GB SSD would be way to small for my needs. Consider that an average Game uses 4-6GB of storage, and multiply that by 10+ games. At the moment I have 65GBs of software installed, including Windows 8 and two games. If I were to install several more of my favorite games, adding to that the amount of storage Photoshop and Premiere use when I am working on a large project file, I would max out a 120GB SSD.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

If I were to install several more of my favorite games, adding to that the amount of storage Photoshop and Premiere use when I am working on a large project file, I would max out a 120GB SSD.

As I said before, an entry level SSD 60/80/120GB would take care of the system partition. Other data and application installs could be put on a secondary spinning platter SATA - nothing wrong with installing apps to a D: drive.

A smaller SSD solution is not a one size solution as you point out with your scenario but with my solution it covers the average users storage requirements probably 100% (with 120GB) and would give a good performance boost to those that opted for a SSD system partition as mentioned above.

I have a couple of Western Digital Caviar Black drives - very good performing spinning platter drives. Average performance is,

Seek Time: 12ms
Data Rate: 110MB/s

My 120GB Vertex 4 SSD,

Seek Time: 2ms
Data Rate: 530MB/s

Above figures are measured from my PC and not the manufacturers data. So my SSD is finding files and allowing data transfers about 5 times faster than a top end 7200RPM SATA drive - this would be about 10 times faster than a 5400RPM SATA which are usually found in lower end laptops/PC's found in high street retail stores.

Again, it's about speed v storage for a lot of people - I know what I would choose

 

[BelieverX]

I agree with what you're saying, and I'm considering buying two Samsung 512GB SSDs for my business. I just wish they were cheaper. I have two SATA drives in a RAID config to backup my project files, in about another year I'll have to upgrades those to ones with more capacity.

 

[NiobiumTragedy]

The more I've been using the (formerly) Metro interface, the more I'm not really minding the lack of a start button. It works and it's fluid. Everything is in one spot and I can customize it to my hearts content. I can't wait to start remote controlling this with a tablet and phone.

Now if Logitech would just bring Squeezebox back rather than that silly UE system.

 

[cweinstein]

I don't have Win8 and have never tried Bible Explorer 4. However, have you ever tried e-Sword (http://www.e-sword.net/)? It's free and works fine on my Win7 64-bit machine.

Bible Explorer worked fine when I had Win7 64 bit, and so did e-Sword.

I have Win8 now, and I have Glo Bible (Glo Bible: Experience the Bible like never before)
It works great

 

[BelieverX]

Yesterday I got rid of Windows 8. After two months of evaluation, I came to the conclusion that Microsoft's new OS is worthless. I am self employed, and my home office computer is used for work and play, for me Windows 8 fails as a desktop operating system in these environments. The constant switching between the Metro screen and the desktop nearly drove me mad. What finally convinced me to divorce the new OS and flee to my mistress Windows 7, was a desire to install a toolbar to the taskbar that eventually failed miserably.

I found the folder where the start menu was keeping all the application icons. I right clicked on the taskbar and selected new toolbar, adding the start menu folder with the icons. When I examined the folder I found several icons that I didn't want there. These icons all had arrows on them indicating that they were just shortcuts and not the original application icons, so I deleted them. One of the icons was titled desktop.lnk. When I went to the "Metro" window and then wanted to return to the desktop, I then realized my mistake. No desktop tile. Sure I could access the desktop by pushing the windows+D keys, but that's hardly the point. Why did Microsoft mark those icons as shortcuts? To make matters worse, the refresh tool didn't work anymore either. Maybe I erased that shortcut too.

After digging through the net, I found out the only way to get those functions back, that I deleted, was to do a new install. Fine. I pulled out my Windows 7 DVD and did the reinstall. I feel like I'm back where I belong, and that Windows 8 was just a bad dream. Somebody in Microsoft needs to be horsed whipped. Windows 8 is for tablets and smart phones, and it does well in those environments, but it should have never been pushed to PCs. Forcing their warped idea of a desktop operating system on honest folks is a crime in my world.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Yesterday I got rid of Windows 8. After two months of evaluation, I came to the conclusion that Microsoft's new OS is worthless

I'm surprised it took you that long!

What finally convinced me to divorce the new OS and flee to my mistress Windows 7, was a desire to install a toolbar to the taskbar that eventually failed miserably.

Windows 8 design brief was for NO TOOLBAR/MENU - when will people read the instructions?

After digging through the net, I found out the only way to get those functions back, that I deleted, was to do a new install. Fine. I pulled out my Windows 7 DVD and did the reinstall. I feel like I'm back where I belong, and that Windows 8 was just a bad dream. Somebody in Microsoft needs to be horsed whipped.

Somebody was, Steve Sinofky (who brought us Windows 7) went to spend more time with his family.

Windows 8 is for tablets and smart phones, and it does well in those environments, but it should have never been pushed to PCs. Forcing their warped idea of a desktop operating system on honest folks is a crime in my world.

No, Windows 8 is for all devices but it should have been split up in desktop, tablet/phone editions - that was the biggest error. As for a crime, did they really force you to purchase a copy of Windows 8? Enough people were screaming fail (myself included) about this product and I wonder how many confused and bewildered people there are out there at the moment after buying/upgrading to Windows 8 over this holiday period.

As a tip for others, if you have a newish laptop/desktop from the likes of HP, Dell or Lenovo etc, and want a taskbar for Win 8 then just go to the support pages on the net for the particular device you have and see if they have a Win8 Menu addon to download. Just upgrading my daughters Lenovo laptop and noticed a download to give you a menu back - I would trust this way more over some third party menu application.

So summary,

Is it smart to try and design an OS to fit all devices? - Yes (if it could be made to work).

Is it smart to try and use an OS designed to fit all devices? - You be the judge of that!

BTW - Apple knows the answers to the above questions.

This is not a Windows exclusive problem, Linux is suffering from the same things such as Ubuntu's Unity and Gnome 3. Well Gnome is actually starting to listen to it's users now and is starting to make progress and I would have Gnome as my desktop anyday if i had to choose between that or Windows 8.

Finally, here is a good video about concerns over Windows 8 design and usage.

Why Windows 8 Scares Me - YouTube