I know I may be the devil for saying this, but was/is Windows 8 that bad

[lijrobert]

I know is the face of new tech, and new Microsoft mistakes, Windows 8 has faded from our memories, but looking on the year, (actually 2012 really) was Windows 8 that bad? I use it regularly and I actually kind of like the interface. I also use Ubuntu and Mac OSX so I have a fairly rounded opinion.
Thoughts?

[fordgtguy]

Ive been around since windows 95 and honestly i love windows 8 its so fast smooth looks cool, yeah theres things you have to get used to but thats always the case with change. I upgraded my laptop to win 8 from win 7 and love it

[Plasma]

Satan himself designed windows 8 to fuck anyone who uses it over.
Just kidding, but I personally hate it. I really like windows 7

[Celtic.]

let me put it in perspective.
Windows 8 is so bad.....it makes vista look like a god

[lijrobert]

let me put it in perspective.
Windows 8 is so bad.....it makes vista look like a god
That's a very ignorant statement. Vista was released with many bugs, crashed often, and was so bad, support was dropped for it. Windows 8 on the other hand, is just really Windows 7 with a new interface (there are other changes yes but that is the most contested problem and probably the reason you think it makes Vista look like a 'god'.) and is still supported and used by many people. They are two, completely different beasts. Whatever you may think of Windows 8, Vista was much worse.

[Harley Quinn]

I used to hate it because it was just so hard to use, but now that I've had windows 8 for months now, I do prefer it. I was one of those people that hated the transition, but it's really not that bad. Sure, it's not windows 7 but who cares.

[thatgothgirluknow]

i dnt think it was that bad it just takes allot to get used to but now that i have gotten used to it i couldnt use anything else

[Meganium]

Changing from what you're used to is inevitable for the best in life. Same goes for the best in technology, or at least close to it. The changes that came in Windows 8 regarding how easily you can work it, are easy to learn about and easy to get used to. When people deny it's decency because of the screen with tiles on it, it pisses me off to no end.

It's pretty nice, and that's that. A change from 7, definitely, but it's nothing that can't be learned.

[TheMatrix]

The big issue with Windows 8 is that Microsoft went and changed everything (again). They've had the start menu since 95 at least, but now it's gone(in a move of altruism, though, they're putting it back in 8.2 - make sure you buy it for an extortionate sum!).
I've found it exceptionally difficult to help my sister with her new laptop running Windows 8, since they had to put the control panel somewhere else.

And using Microsoft accounts to "sign in" to the computer - why would anyone do that?

[JamesJB]

i like it tbh

[Collins1]

I have all of the Window's OS since Win2000, and Win8 is by far the best!
Although, i prefer Mac computers!

[lijrobert]

The big issue with Windows 8 is that Microsoft went and changed everything (again). They've had the start menu since 95 at least, but now it's gone(in a move of altruism, though, they're putting it back in 8.2 - make sure you buy it for an extortionate sum!).
I've found it exceptionally difficult to help my sister with her new laptop running Windows 8, since they had to put the control panel somewhere else.

And using Microsoft accounts to "sign in" to the computer - why would anyone do that?

I agree. I hate the Microsoft account sign in thing, but I think there are really two camps on the Windows 8 thing. Users who like to like to have lots of control will probably hate it (reason I dual boot Ubuntu). Normal everyday people and even those new to Windows may have trouble at first, but I think it soon becomes much easier to navigate.

[lijrobert]

Windows 8 was designed for touch screens so if you are on a regular computer you are screwed. It works great for tablets but on an actual computer it fails in comparison to Windows 7.

The thing most people don't realize is that you don't need to use the weird start menu thing. Yes it is annoying that it is there instead of the start menu, but it is essentially Windows 7 beyond that.

[Celtic.]

That's a very ignorant statement. Vista was released with many bugs, crashed often, and was so bad, support was dropped for it. Windows 8 on the other hand, is just really Windows 7 with a new interface (there are other changes yes but that is the most contested problem and probably the reason you think it makes Vista look like a 'god'.) and is still supported and used by many people. They are two, completely different beasts. Whatever you may think of Windows 8, Vista was much worse.

8 released a different interface that not many people like and made it much more difficult to operate simple tasks. Not only that no freaking start button... they fixed it yes but come on. That's sad.
What about all the Desktop windows 8 users complaining about the terrible experiences they've had with it.

What issues with vista are you talking about? the only issue iv had was games crashing at random and nothing more

[Kacey]

windows 8 isnt so bad once you learn how to use it. took me a while after coming from xubuntu... but all in all, it is just like seven with some new stuff and without some other things.

[lijrobert]

8 released a different interface that not many people like and made it much more difficult to operate simple tasks. Not only that no freaking start button... they fixed it yes but come on. That's sad.
What about all the Desktop windows 8 users complaining about the terrible experiences they've had with it.

What issues with vista are you talking about? the only issue iv had was games crashing at random and nothing more


Yes, I will say Microsoft was stupid when they decided to consolidate their mobile and desktop environments, but "crashing at random" is pretty bad. Not only that but Vista was slower than XP, despite being newer, had poor software compatibility, had poor driver support (many printers were rendered unusable), and on top of all that was ridiculously expensive at $239 for home premium. To put it truly in perspective: Vista was abandoned by Microsoft due to it's extensive list of problems. 8 is still around and is still supported. I will say that not everyone had the problems listed with vista. Many people in fact used Vista without huge issue, but it still had a lot of problems that are absent from 8.

The major difference between the two is that Vista had architecture problems. They were basic and built into the bloated core of the Operating system. Vista took many years to develop and as time went on became more and more taxing on systems. Heck, Windows 7 and 8 run better than Vista on a lot of older machines. Windows 8's problems on the other hand, come from the interface which many people (including you I assume) hate.

They're two different beasts, both with their problems, but I think Vista is much worse. If you didn't have problems with Vista that's fine, but like Windows ME, most people did.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Windows_Vista and personal experience/too many youtube videos to list.

What ever you think is fine, I just want you to know all the facts before you judge Windows 8.

[Sanctum]

Man windows 8 sucks.
When i first used it, i couldn't find the shut down button!

[Celtic.]

first off XP was one of the greatest operating systems of all time but I just hate windows 8. its terrible but I see where your coming from

[lijrobert]

first off XP was one of the greatest operating systems of all time but I just hate windows 8. its terrible but I see where your coming from

I think you may be confused. I'm speaking about Vista not XP. Sorry if your responding to someone else.

[daniel74]

Windows 8 has been designed as a tablet/laptop operating system and the interface (ie new login screen, start menu etc.) heavily reflects that.

I think they're missing a trick - they should have kept separate mobile and desktop operating systems because almost nobody who has a desktop has a touch screen! I certainly won't be changing yet but not all the reviews I've heard of it are too bad.

[Silicate Wielder]

let me put it in perspective.
Windows 8 is so bad.....it makes vista look like a god

Nah, just upgrade it to 8.1 and you can use it just like windows 7

[Axw_JD]

not at all. It is a great OS and a worthy upgrade to anyone who knows the slightest bit about computers. As it is with anything new or different though, idiots that like to resist change will hate it, and make up problems where there is none.

[TheMatrix]

not at all. It is a great OS and a worthy upgrade to anyone who knows the slightest bit about computers.
You're absolutely right -- up to the boundary you specified.

Let's start with the start menu, and look at it from the perspective of a hypothetical tech support bloke at some company. For years, he's taught his users how to click Start, then Shut Down or Restart. Now, he will need to re-train his users for this task, an act not helped by Microsoft's obscuring of this feature. And why should these users -- bless them -- need to re-learn this? They're trying to use their computer as a tool to do their job, I thought, as opposed to having the computer's design* dictate when and if they will be able to do so efficiently.
But it doesn't end there! As we all know, we have our delightful "tiles" which cause much confusion to users of all skill levels. They are non-intuitive, and the majority(if not all) lack the typical red "X" in the corner, so it is understandable that much confusion ensues when one wishes to do something else on the computer.

As it is with anything new or different though, idiots that like to resist change will hate it, and make up problems where there is none.
These idiots you describe, however, seem to become very rich in their stubborn ways.

Why is IBM so powerful, even though the mainframe is out of fashion? Because it isn't. No, the mainframe is hugely popular today, and I'm certain that you interact with one several times every day, indirectly of course. I am of course referring to the credit card companies, banks, and the insurance companies. They need reliability and consistency, and the guarantee that what works now still works in 50 years. Not an unreasonable expectation, either, those systems are expensive. But we consumers are very similar, albeit to a lesser extent.
Nobody likes change, neither you nor I. Once we're accustomed to something, we tend to continue doing it that way for a long time; any hindrance to these rituals is an obstacle that we try to remove. And it's a very human thing to do. Why does one religiously prefer one text editor over another? Because we don't want to learn the in's-and-out's of another every week. The same goes for fast food. In most every McDonalds you visit the menu is the same. The customer is used to their medium-number-2-no-onions, so they can peacefully order the same in all places already knowing what they are going to get. No change = peace of mind = large profits.

A shame Microsoft didn't follow this formula, they could have made so much more money...


* For the sake of brevity, I omit the obvious parenthetical remark that I am of course referring to the user's perspective of the operating system, as opposed to the physical design, which for all intents and purposes, is irrelevant to this discussion.

[Typhlosion]

A risky but necessary move. Save the start menu.

A phone-oriented system is what Microsoft needs if it wants to give a go against Android and iOS. The general interface was significant enough to release it as a new Windows, yet not changing enough to repulse people. I don't know much of Windows 8 under hood to say anything on that; but I can say that msconfig was better before.

EXCEPT THE START MENU. GOD MICROSOFT WHY.

[Wonder.]

My only two problems with Windows 8 is:
1) The start menu. I prefer the tree-branch style because it's not so giant and it's much more organized.
2) I also really hate how the settings are scattered everywhere. If I want to change multiple things, then I should be able to do it quickly which is a change they made with Windows 7. Vista has everything in one place.

And about the Vista hate, I'm confused about what people are even talking about. I've never had any type of problems with Vista besides the goddamn Data Execution Prevention which is probably on every version of Windows but I'm not sure because I only ever really use Vista and recently Windows 8 because I got a tablet with it for Christmas. I've used every version of Windows since 95, and I've had way more problems with XP than I ever had with Vista. I honestly do prefer Vista over anything else.

[Silicate Wielder]

EXCEPT THE START MENU. GOD MICROSOFT WHY.
Again, Microsoft has brough the startmenu back with windows 8.1, and you can also just download an addon if you dont want the free upgrade.

Not to mention you can run is decently enough on old windows XP machines, infact it actually runs much more smoothly than windows XP would on 512megs of ram and a pentium III from my understanding.

[Miserabilia]

I have windows 8 on this computer... What really bugs me about it is that they are getting like google plus (wanting all your personal information and having to make an account for it even tho you just want to use one thing and not all that other crap)
Like windows 8 skype.. It sucks so much, I got the windows 7 desktop version.

[lijrobert]

I am surprised by how much conversation this thread as spurred. I love it!

I know I have come off as very anti-vista, but it was one of Microsoft's OSs that had a lot of trouble for a lot of users. Actually, one of the first computers I used, ran Vista and my experience was not all bad.