Windows 8/8.1 - Positive experiences, tips, and what would you have added?

By CG-88
in Microsoft (Windows)

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Grand Master

BajiRav

Posted
Posted

This is a big facepalm for me but the Music and Video apps have an option to start in "My Collection" under settings. It's much better that way.

Another recommended thing: Need password before purchase in all App/Video/Music Store app. Enable it.

Grand Master

+Eternal Tempest MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Starting using Windows 8, here's testing it out last night.

Here's my initial impressions.

Observations

Pro's

Faster Startup / Shutdown

Seems snappier / more responsive

Built in PDF viewing

Picked up all my drivers, two devices without win8 drivers, win7 drivers worked fine (Brother Laser Printer / USB TV Tuner)

Auto muting music playing when you turn on mic to record from web cam (it muted Google music playing in chrome wen mic kicked for recording).

Con's

Decentralization of control panel functions

More keystrokes / mouse clicks to just navigate

Flipping between metro / modern and desktop

(Desktop) Horrible aesthetics with it warping a colored frame based on current windows which might clash with the window it's framing. (Aero Glass would of been perfect here)

Left Corner / flyout to close to browsers forward backward buttons if full screen in upper left corner.

Neutral

Microsoft "push" to open a video, picture, audio file with metro apps, then give notification about other's apps that can play it (desktop).

Opened up mp3 file, opened in music app 1st, then choose media player as default when notfied, auto flipped to desktop media player, starting playing it there, while still playing it in the music app giving instant echo.

I do think Aero Glass effect would look nice on the desktop to be honest.

Charm Bar is not intuitive to bring up (Left monitor, middle) if your using dual monitors.

Smart Phone users vs non-smart phone users

The idea of metro/modern apps is familiar if your use to any modern smart phone, with apps linked to account, notifications, and how to use etc.

If you have someone that doesn't understand the basics of smart phone, and how things works with apps, this poses a learning curve.

Grand Master

notuptome2004

Posted
Posted

Starting using Windows 8, here's testing it out last night.

Here's my initial impressions.

Observations

Pro's

Faster Startup / Shutdown

Seems snappier / more responsive

Built in PDF viewing

Picked up all my drivers, two devices without win8 drivers, win7 drivers worked fine (Brother Laser Printer / USB TV Tuner)

Auto muting music playing when you turn on mic to record from web cam (it muted Google music playing in chrome wen mic kicked for recording).

Con's

Decentralization of control panel functions

More keystrokes / mouse clicks to just navigate

Flipping between metro / modern and desktop

(Desktop) Horrible aesthetics with it warping a colored frame based on current windows which might clash with the window it's framing. (Aero Glass would of been perfect here)

Left Corner / flyout to close to browsers forward backward buttons if full screen in upper left corner.

Neutral

Microsoft "push" to open a video, picture, audio file with metro apps, then give notification about other's apps that can play it (desktop).

Opened up mp3 file, opened in music app 1st, then choose media player as default when notfied, auto flipped to desktop media player, starting playing it there, while still playing it in the music app giving instant echo.

I do think Aero Glass effect would look nice on the desktop to be honest.

Charm Bar is not intuitive to bring up (Left monitor, middle) if your using dual monitors.

Smart Phone users vs non-smart phone users

The idea of metro/modern apps is familiar if your use to any modern smart phone, with apps linked to account, notifications, and how to use etc.

If you have someone that doesn't understand the basics of smart phone, and how things works with apps, this poses a learning curve.

The desktop control panel is the same as it ever was

Grand Master

Nothing Here

Posted
Posted

This is NOT the place to post your hatred about Win8. This thread is posted towards the people who actually LIKE Win8. So, with that said, please ONLY constructive opinions should be posted here. No negative comments please.

Windows 8 is a pretty good OS. Right up there with Win7. Almost. If Win8 was my idea, it would be full Metro. Not a half breed. No Bing related appz. Win8 should come out of the box with an app that will convert 3rd party appz to a Metro app.

Win8 is very stable. Much more so then Win7. Win8 also plays games more reliably then other MS releases. So, how would Win8 have been if it had been your idea?.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

If Windows 8 was my Idea, it would have no Metro and be all desktop. The new desktop enhancements of Windows 8 are really nice, a nice upgrade from Windows 7.

Grand Master

+Frank B. Subscriber²

Posted
  • Subscriber²
Posted

Workaround to slim down the title bars:

From a Windows 7 installation with title bars/border padding set the way you want them to export the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics to a .reg file. Import this in Windows 8, log out and back in. Result: Reasonably sized title bars.

Veteran

CentralDogma

Posted
Posted

I haven?t had much time to spend with Windows 8, but from what I?ve heard from others, the Star Screen is very good for ?ambient information?. That is, you can set it up to display a lot of information without having to launch other applications. You could set up the Windows key as a very easy way to get a whole lot of the information your having to use different applications or mange multiple tabs to do currently.

Contributor

jagowar

Posted
Posted

Would it really make sense to continue calling it Windows, if it was all Metro? I mean, none of the UI at least would have anything to do with what came before, right? Why not simply give it a new name then?

I think it would have done wonders to call it something different from the negative backlash from the haters.

Calling it windows set an expectation for those desktop users.... its not that.... it's thinking beyond the desktop and to the next generation of computing and really should have had a name to reflect that.

Grand Master

Nothing Here

Posted
Posted

By merging the two threads, this post makes no sense. Two totally different topics that has nothing to do with each other and you merged it? People see the OP and respond to it. How do people know there are 2 OPs in it now? They don't. So my OP is now lost. I'm done.

Grand Master

Active.

Posted
Posted

I think it would have done wonders to call it something different from the negative backlash from the haters.

Calling it windows set an expectation for those desktop users.... its not that.... it's thinking beyond the desktop and to the next generation of computing and really should have had a name to reflect that.

Totally agree.

Grand Master

Ice_Blue

Posted
Posted

I think it would have done wonders to call it something different from the negative backlash from the haters.

Calling it windows set an expectation for those desktop users.... its not that.... it's thinking beyond the desktop and to the next generation of computing and really should have had a name to reflect that.

Maybe Microsoft will not call the next version "Windows 9".

If the desktop plays a minimal role in the next Windows version (mainly for backward compatibility), then yes, it would make sense to rename the OS to something more relevant.

The Windows brand, however, has powerful recognition appeal to consumers. It's going to be a difficult decision.

Grand Master

Joni_78

Posted
Posted

I completely ignored Windows 8 before it hit RTM, I just didn't understand it. Before I've always ran earliest alpha/beta builds since Windows 98 as soon as I got my hands on them, and been on internal Windows Beta tests. When I installed RTM I was shocked but now after using it a week or so I've started to like it more and more :)

This has a lot of enhancements I really like. I don't like those huge window borders though and I think metro makes things a little too hard for mouse and keyboard, icons there should be small, close together and near the bottom left corner so you don't have to make big moves with the mouse back and forth. Also shut down should be somewhere else rather than buried in settings. Win+X menu is neat and it seems there are most of the Windows settings I usually need.

All and all there is more positive than negative on Windows 8, I think I'll buy it.

Grand Master

Active.

Posted
Posted
The Windows brand, however, has powerful recognition appeal to consumers. It's going to be a difficult decision.

Recognition? Yes. Appeal? I wouldn't be so sure. When consumers have a choice, they don't appear to gravitate towards the Windows brand. In fact, I believe Windows Phone would be doing better if it had a different name. Or look at the hugely successful Xbox. No Windows brand there.

Collaborator

Dapen

Posted
Posted

Win 8 is very clean looking now on the desktop, I quite like the new start screen too. I don't use any metro apps, but I'm trying to give the people/messenger etc apps a go.

It's super quick too and I love the way it turns off and just gives you a simple screen rather than sat staring at the desktop until it decides to power down in Win 7.

Grand Master

Dot Matrix

Posted
Posted

Found a way to fix the horrible JPEG compression going on with wallpapers on Windows 8, not sure why it is happening, or if it still happens in the final RTM build, but the simple fix is to convert your walls to PNGs, and boom, the compression is gone.

Experienced

Pygmy_Hippo

Posted
Posted

I've been using Windows 8 since the DP and love it. My only gripe is that the Start screen can't be used at 720p resolution - I have an HTPC setup that goes through a TV, which unfortunately looks horrific in 1080i 50hz. Windows 7 on 720p looked lovely (I know, not as nice as 1080p would, but I can't afford a new tv at the mo!) and there was plenty of screen real-estate. I wonder how many others are using their pc's through a tv or projector and are having the same issues? :/

Grand Master

mrp04

Posted
Posted

I love Windows 8

In general

  • Fast
  • New task manager is awesome
  • New explorer
  • File copying: much improved dialog and auto switch between interfaces. I can start a copy on WiFi then plug Ethernet in and it automatically switches.
  • Win+X Menu
  • Eject USB device menu pops up instantly now! This used to take around 3-5 seconds on all Windows 7 computers so I never even bothered. Now I use it all the time to eject my external hard drive.

For my convertible tablet

  • Metro UI is much easier to use with fingersover Windows 7
  • New touch keyboard is much better than Windows 7's
  • Metro apps

A few things that are better in 7

  • Network and sharing center used to let you rename the networks from generic Network, Network 2, Network 3
  • Explorer details pane now is vertical and takes up quite a bit of room on my laptop's 13" 1366x768 display. I wish this was an option. Don't mind it as much on my desktop.
  • A few other missing options here and there that I can't quite remember

  • remixedcat and saeed9009
  • Like 2
Grand Master

+John Teacake MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

I love the new Task Manager. I love the new GUI bit when you are copying files. It certainly feels a lot more responsive. I mean Windows 7 was amazing...This is better so far! And I haven't even had a proper good test of it yet. I didn't use any Betas, Release Previews etc just RTM.

I did get a "Blue Screen" However once but this was when I tried to enable Jumbo Packets on my Intel PRO 1000 Nic. I got dpc watchdog violation error but it looks like a lot of people are getting this for various reasons. I am guessing there maybe a Day 1 hot-fix for this soon...

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