The Alternatives to Windows 8

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Grand Master

Nothing Here

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While browsing gHacks I came across this article. Yes. I brought the entire article:

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The Alternatives to Windows 8

Windows 8 is unique in that it is the first version of Microsoft?s mighty operating system that faces serious and stiff competition from its rivals. For the first time there are not just one but a great many serious contenders for the role of your desktop OS. So with so many people wary about the changes that Microsoft are bringing forth I thought I?d take a look at the alternatives, see how they might fit with your Windows world, and examine just how realistic a switch away from Windows this year can actually be.

Windows 7

The obvious place to start is with Windows 8?s predecessor, Windows 7. One thing is certain, that this operating system will be hugely popular right up until support ends for it in January 2020 and possibly even beyond as it wouldn?t be without precedent for Microsoft to extend the support life for a version of Windows. Windows 7 could be considered the ?ultimate? version of the desktop OS, not just because it?s the last true desktop OS from Microsoft, but because of its reputation for reliability, compatibility, stability and security. There is also XP Mode to run any older Windows software that won?t run natively, but with support ending for XP in April 2014, it would be unwise to use any XP software after this time that requires Internet access, and many including Microsoft and security researchers would advise not using it at all after this time. Sticking with Windows 7 is probably the best solution in many ways. It will still be on sale and being shipped with new PCs until the autumn of this year and many will consider it the operating system to use going forward.

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Windows Vista

Few people would now consider Windows Vista as a viable alternative to Windows 7 or Windows 8. Notoriously slow, especially on older hardware, and with software compatibility that was largely broken, almost all Vista users have either upgraded to Windows 7 already or plan to do so as soon as possible.

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Windows XP

Despite the popularity and compatibility of Windows 7, it?s Windows XP that has won hearts and minds in the way no other Microsoft operating system ever has. This comes despite some huge security issues that have plagued the platform and its default web browser Internet Explorer 6. This operating system is already out of mainstream support, so no more service packs and updates are being issued, and extended support for security and stability fixes ends in less than two years, before the launch of Windows 9. A lack of suport for new technologies including USB3 and Thunderbolt also count against this OS, unless you are able to get specific third-party drivers. Anybody sticking with Windows XP will need to have a very good understanding of the security risks involved in doing so, this really isn?t a strong contender for your OS choice for the next few years.

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OS X

Apple?s desktop operating system has a great many strengths, but a few major weaknesses as well. Those strengths involve being one of the most stable and secure operating systems the world has ever seen. It?s eminently usable too with gesture control that Windows 7 simply can?t match and a software base every bit as strong as that for Windows. It?s not going anywhere either. On the minus side there are still questions about how Apple are set to integrate their iOS tablet features into the desktop, effectively doing what Microsoft are doing with Windows 8 but probably to a slightly lesser degree. Moving to OS X would also not just require buying a new and sometimes expensive computer (or even computers) but unless you were going to run Windows 7 or Windows 8 in Boot Camp or the Parallel?s virtual machine, you would have to re-purchase all your software as well, as very little software these days comes with both PC and Mac licensing.

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Ubuntu

Three years ago GNU/Linux was still the rank outsider in the desktop OS world, but times have changed with Canonical turning their Ubuntu OS into an operating system every bit as polished and usable as OS X or Windows 7. The best part is that this operating system is free and, with version 12.1 now comes with long-term support, meaning it?s no longer essential to upgrade your operating system every few months. On the downside, software support, especially for the major apps is still lacking with traditional Linux apps lagging behind their OS X and Windows alternatives. Ubuntu?s new HUD (Head up Display) for finding menu items in software might not be to everyone?s tastes either. This feature can be switched off and traditional drop down menus reinstated, but Ubuntu still needs that all important software support to compete on a level playing field.

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ReactOS

Currently in alpha, this Russian organised Windows NT/XP clone promises to be binary compatible with Windows and support every piece of hardware and software that works with Windows XP. It?s a bold claim that so far seems to be panning out. It should be complete and bedded-in by the time Windows XP support ends so it could be a viable alternative. On the down side, Microsoft has a way of aggresssively going after any ?Windows Clone? and having already shut down Lindows a few years ago they will soon have their guns trained on ReactOS, no matter how well the developers might be covering themselves in terms of copyright. There is also the fact that ReactOS has been in an alpha stage now for an extremely long time, and frankly may never be completely finished.

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iOs, Android, QNX

Do you actually need a full desktop operating system any more? This is an interesting question as the majority of tasks we perform on our PCs can now be done equally well on a tablet running Apple?s iOS, Google Android or RIM?s QNX. These tasks, including email and web browsing are actually pleasurable on modern tablet operating systems and this situation is only set to improve. The burgeoning app stores, and the quality of those apps is improving every day too with companies like Adobe showing how advanced photo editing, another of our major tasks, can be made simple and pleasurable on a tablet.

Here the problem is storage and file management. With a tablet you?re restricted to storing your files mainly in cloud services and in order to get those files on the tablet in the first place, or indeed into the cloud, you need to synchronise with a desktop computer. We can fully expect these devices to become more independent over time, and perhaps even support external hard disks and USB pen drives. Unless and until this happens though these tablets (and I?m obviously excluding Windows 8 tablets from the list) just aren?t quite ready to handle our ever expanding collections of music, videos, files and photographs.

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Summary

So this is my own take on the alternatives to Windows 8 and how effective and realistic a move to each one might be. You will probably have your own ideas on what would make a good alternative and why. You might be just sticking with XP despite the security concerns, or sticking with Windows 7. You may even decide that now is the time to get rid of your desktop PC altogether and move solely to a tablet. Perhaps your music is already stored in the cloud or you use a service like spotify, and maybe your new digital camera can upload your files directly to Picassa or another cloud service for you. Why not tell us your thoughts in the comments.

My personal take on this article is the fact that the only TRUE alternative is Win7. But they have these others listed as well?

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Grand Master

Nothing Here

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None of their choices fit the bill as an alternative except for Win7. Maybe OS X. But I have 0 knowledge to compare it as an alternative. But to even throw React OS? That just shows incompetence on their part.

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Descartes

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ReactOS !!! Wow.... That's not even feature complete, nothing much runs well on the thing. It's not even close to be an alternative...

Yeah, what the hell.

The only real alternatives I'd consider at this point would be Windows 7 and Vista, as far as the Windows family is concerned.

Otherwise, you can pick up just about any distro of Linux... or buy a Mac or build a hackintosh.

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Grand Master

tsupersonic

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I see three valid choices in that list: Windows 7, Mac OS X, or Ubuntu.

Windows XP needs to be phased out. Windows Vista is alright, but there is Windows 7, which is better.

ReactOS - hmm seriously?

Android/iOS/QNX - hmm seriously? Even if all you do is use internet, it is a much better experience on a full fledged computer, rather than on a cell phone/tablet

Then again, I don't really have a problem with Windows 8. I won't use it on my desktop or my laptop, but I'm not against it. I just don't see any advantages to upgrading over Windows 7. I'd rather put my money to something else.

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Grand Master

Nothing Here

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I don't know why there's an issue with Windows 8. Works fine here.

You have to remember, people hate change. They get locked into a certain thing and the moment someone pulls the plug, they run off screaming. I like Win8. I don't se an issue with it. It took me a few days to get used to Metro, but who cares? Win8 works great. Might have a few ads in it here and there, but they aren't slap you in the face pop ups that you can't get rid of.

I tell people now, if you don't like Win8, just don't upgrade your Win7.

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sagum

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The only alternatives there are Windows 7, Ubuntu (or rather Linux), and Mac OS X.

And Ubuntu isn't really an alternative.. I'd go with Zorin http://zorin-os.com/ its look and feel is much more like Windows, where as Ubuntu is trying to be its own thing.

If you even think about running React OS as a main OS, or even a test OS to get anything productive done you're going to be in a very rough ride. It's more of a proof of concept them an actual useable OS. Most people can't even get it working on real hardware without really bad drawing issues.

And if you're going to switch to iOS or Android you may as well just use Windows 8's Metro anyway. You're still in a one box, one window app mode.

In saying that, If you want to use Android on the PC there are efforts to port it to the actual generic PC hardware. http://www.android-x86.org/

As for QNX,.. really? You may as well say, lets use AROS just because you can...

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Grand Master

Brandon H Supervisor

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You have to remember, people hate change. They get locked into a certain thing and the moment someone pulls the plug, they run off screaming. I like Win8. I don't se an issue with it. It took me a few days to get used to Metro, but who cares? Win8 works great. Might have a few ads in it here and there, but they aren't slap you in the face pop ups that you can't get rid of.

I tell people now, if you don't like Win8, just don't upgrade your Win7.

that's the thing though, if you (not you directly) hate the new start screen so much why not just install Start8 and be done with it?

IMHO there are far too many other good enhancements done to Windows 8 to ignore it just because you don't like metro/modern/ect.

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sagum

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You have to remember, people hate change. They get locked into a certain thing and the moment someone pulls the plug, they run off screaming. I like Win8. I don't se an issue with it. It took me a few days to get used to Metro, but who cares? Win8 works great. Might have a few ads in it here and there, but they aren't slap you in the face pop ups that you can't get rid of.

I tell people now, if you don't like Win8, just don't upgrade your Win7.

I don't think Windows 8 is so much that people hate change, they hate not knowing how to control the PC. Near everything about Windows 8's Metro interface is hidden on the PC and goes against everything people have done since the invention of the mouse.

There is no visual aids to help people find their way back to the start screen. Sure you can say just press Start on your keyboard, but for the most part, going by the feed back on the hate responces to it, people don't want or like to do that. Hiding the ability toget to the charms menu into the corners and the metro task list again into another corner with no visual aid to help is bad.

Sure, once you know the trick (and lets be honest, it is a trick) to getting the interface to show up, you're generally OK with it... it just feels very weird to the long time user who, for simple things like the scroll wheel that even by the way they move their finger up and down, applications now go left and right... :o

Other things such as the ability to zoom in and out of the picture library is centered around keyboard and mouse control. Its not something average Joe wants to do when they're sat with a mug of coffee browsing their family holiday pictures.

The entire thing feels very disjointed for people who use the keyboard and mouse with ANY other OS on the PC. Of course, people will get used to it.. its just a shame the new way of doing things doesn't flow to classic desktop too, because right now people are having to switch between two ways of doing things for classic and metro apps.

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Grand Master

PGHammer

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You have to remember, people hate change. They get locked into a certain thing and the moment someone pulls the plug, they run off screaming. I like Win8. I don't se an issue with it. It took me a few days to get used to Metro, but who cares? Win8 works great. Might have a few ads in it here and there, but they aren't slap you in the face pop ups that you can't get rid of.

I tell people now, if you don't like Win8, just don't upgrade your Win7.

The issue with Windows 8 is *entirely* a UI/UX issue - not software compatibility, and not even hardware compatibility - and that's according to the critics themselves.

That was certainly not the case with Windows Vista (hardware requirements were too high) or even Windows 7 (too much application breakage even compared to Vista).

My desktop has been running 8 Pro RTM since it was made available to Microsoft Partners, and it runs every application I need it to (all of which were either brought over from, or compatible with, Windows 7).

OS X is technically not an option (legally, it's tied to Apple hardware) - that leaves Linux or 7.

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sagum

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Zorin OS? Really? Tried it. Week later, I kicked it to the curb.

For people who want to jump ship away from Windows 8 but still want a repalcement for their existing Windows, Zorin will give them the feel they're looking for more then Ubuntu. If they don't mind changing to the feel and look of Ubuntu's way of doing things, I'm sure they'd beable to stick it out and go with the flow of Metro in Windows 8.

Zorin, or any of the other XP/Win7 replacement desktop window managers will be far better then Ubuntu's modified Gnome/unity Window manager.

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Grand Master

Nothing Here

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Why would OSX and iOs be alternatives to Windows 8 ?

I can't install them on my PC

I think the article just meant go out and spend 3k+ on a Mac.

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Grand Master

Noir Angel

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ReactOS whilst an interesting project is in reality always likely to be 2 or 3 generations behind in API terms due to the amount of time it takes to implement a FOSS implementation of Windows. It just doesn't have enough backing to be developed at the same place as Windows. Plus it looks like something from the 90s.

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Grand Master

Dot Matrix

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As far as I know, there are no other operating systems out there I can go install, and have the same UX across my devices, nor is there an OS I can go out and install that would fit all my devices. So, as far as I am concerned, there are no "alternatives" to Windows 8.

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Grand Master

Dot Matrix

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You know, there are those that don't believe in a one-size-fits-all-UI...

But it represents the way forward. Like it or not, you'll be seeing more and more unification of platforms.

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