Good riddance to Windows 8

[lunatic59]

Well, if you're going to get technical, 95 OSR2 should have been included, too. Though called a service release, it was a huge leap forward for the Redmond folks and should have been called Win97, except that they were busy putting the final touches on Win98 and didn't want that kind of comparison.

"Windows for Workgroups" and some of the XP service packs should also be included, too. Of course, the point was inconsistent naming for consecutive releases.

Of all of the consumer operating systems Microsoft ever released, though, I think that ME was the dog meat worst. And that was just the raw OS; God help you if you bought a bloat-laden HP or Dell. Yeeesh. I'd take Dos 2.1 over that.

And I say that after having owned a laptop with Vista. In fact, I'm typing on it right now, though it's now running Win7.

Agreed that ME was the Star Trek V of operating systems. I never had much of a problem with Vista from a user standpoint, but then I didn't try and run it on low end hardware, either.

And for the cutting edge Luddite who finds Windows unnecessary.
Lenovo announces the N308, an All-in-One Android computer | Android Central

http://shop.lenovo.com.cn/product-18152.html

No Windows license, keeps the cost down.

God bless 'em, but I don't see them taking the world by storm ... or even light drizzle.

 

[mikedt]

God bless 'em, but I don't see them taking the world by storm ... or even light drizzle.

Yeh...got bless 'em.

It's showing the folks staying in touch at home. Which is what my father does with me of course. He's not using a Windows PC, basically he got fed up paying

 

[lunatic59]

Oh, I don't doubt it's utility, just it's marketability. Many a good idea has found the general consumer to be non-receptive.

 

[mikedt]

Basically it's for the same market as the Chromebook. Lightweight non-demanding home use, just needs a browser and an internet connection really, and maybe a few "apps". Not doing any serious PhotoShop or anything like that. Most people in this country don't have PCs anyway, Android tablets and smart-phones are extremely popular of course, as are Android smart-TVs and STBs. The green robot shall inherit the middle kingdom.

 

[mikedt]

And I say that after having owned a laptop with Vista. In fact, I'm typing on it right now, though it's now running Win7.

Don't think there was anything inherently wrong with Vista itself. It was Microsoft telling manufacturers they could no longer supply XP, and so manufacturers were forced to put Vista onto their "Designed for XP" machines, and it didn't run very well on these of course. Things like Pentium III and 4 with low RAM and basic Intel graphics, which just choked on Aero Glass.

At my office last year, under the desk there was an ancient Great Wall P4, 512MB RAM, Intel graphics, school PC, which ran XP Pro. And there was no way it could run Vista, 7, 8, 8.1. etc. satisfactorily. It stated on the front "Designed for Windows XP".

 

[nickdalzell]

Vista worked well enough, but took half an hour to boot up. I'm just not comfortable with the idea of leaving my computer on 24/7 like some do these days. It is just one of those holdovers from DOS machines, rule was never leave it powered on, always shut it down, remove the disk when done.

 

[jefboyardee]

Microsoft confirms Windows 9 event for September 30, Technical Preview to follow soon after

Windows Threshold (we don’t actually know if it’ll be called “9″ yet) seems to be mostly oriented towards appeasing Microsoft’s massive base of conventional mouse-and-keyboard PC users. On the Desktop side of things, the Start menu is returning, the Charms bar is being removed, Metro apps can now be run in a window, and virtual desktops will make their long overdue debut.

 

[mikedt]

Vista worked well enough, but took half an hour to boot up.

It often took a while to load anything as well, especially when the "Designed for Windows XP", forced to install Vista, often budget computer wasn't really up to it, e.g. low RAM and/or modest CPU. Where previously the same software was good and responsive with XP. Not to mention the HDD thrashing as well, usually because of inadequate RAM, but OK for XP.

I'm just not comfortable with the idea of leaving my computer on 24/7 like some do these days. It is just one of those holdovers from DOS machines, rule was never leave it powered on, always shut it down, remove the disk when done.

Modern PCs can start Windows and load software very quickly, especially if they have an SSD and enough RAM. There's really no reason to be waiting 30 minutes. You can run 8.1 on the same sort PC that would run Vista Ok, Core2Duo, 2GB RAM etc. 1GB you might be pushing things, and can expect a lot of swap file activity, e.g. HDD thrashing.

XP in 2001, was originally designed for a Pentium 3 with 64MB, that was the minimum, although 128MB or more was preferable.

 

[lunatic59]

XP in 2001, was originally designed for a Pentium 3 with 64MB, that was the minimum, although 128MB or more was preferable.

And people still tried to load it on a 486 with 32MB and blamed MS that it was a bloated piece of cr@p. Nothing ever changes.

 

[jefboyardee]

And for the cutting-edge Luddite, there's All-in-One PCS with Windows 7.

Refurbished: ThinkCentre A70Z Desktop PC Core 2 Duo 2.9GHz 4GB 320GB HDD Windows 7 Professional

Almost jumped on this until I remembered a previous experience buying a W7 PC online... still a good price.

 

[bjacks12]

And people still tried to load it on a 486 with 32MB and blamed MS that it was a bloated piece of cr@p. Nothing ever changes.

I did that one just to see if I could. It sucked.

 

[sfbloodbrother]

The work phone (Lumia 920) updated to Windows 8.1 last week.

I'm very impressed. They fixed everything that bothered me.

And tonight I started "swyping" on it without thinking about...and then realized it has Swype now, too!! Yes! Awesome!

The battery life is still nothing to write home about, though.

I don't think any battery on any phone has been a wow factor. Every phone has "All day battery". That's getting old. I want something that can have all week battery. Don't worry about charging, or a Magnetic Field Charging. Wireless charging and batteries aren't there yet.

 

[nickdalzell]

Actually this was a new eMachines that was preloaded with Vista. It simply churned it's hard disk for about half an hour, and it made the UI completely unresponsive until it 'turned me loose'.

But afterwards, it ran fine and smooth. But that would only work if I wanted the machine on 24/7.

 

[mikedt]

I don't think any battery on any phone has been a wow factor. Every phone has "All day battery". That's getting old. I want something that can have all week battery. Don't worry about charging, or a Magnetic Field Charging. Wireless charging and batteries aren't there yet.

I used to have a phone with an "all week battery", a Nokia 3310, it could make phone calls, it could send messages, and it could play Snake.

 

[jefboyardee]

Within that, Microsoft to deliver Windows 'Threshold' tech preview around late September

I had heard previously from my contacts that Microsoft was aiming to deliver a public preview of Threshold available to anyone interested toward the end of calendar 2014. I'm not sure if there's still a plan to make a public consumer preview available at that time or if this "technical preview" is the only "preview" Microsoft will release before Threshold is released to manufacturing.

 

[jefboyardee]

More non-news:

Microsoft offers first look at new Windows - and gives it a name

The project, known for the past few years as "Threshold" inside the software company and "Windows 9" outside it, will likely get an entirely new brand, or just be called Windows, analysts said, ahead of its full release early next year.

The name change is symbolic of a new direction and style for Microsoft, which is veering away from an aggressive focus on Windows and PCs, the hallmark of previous Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer. The new, quieter emphasis is on selling services across all devices and is championed by new boss Satya Nadella.

The switch also represents a desire to erase the ill will generated by Windows 8, an ambitious attempt to redesign Windows with tablet users in mind, which ended up annoying and confusing the core market of customers who use mice and keyboards.

"Windows 8 was not a shining moment for Microsoft," said Michael Silver, an analyst at tech research firm Gartner. "Probably the biggest issue that lingers is the negative brand equity in the name."

Microsoft declined to comment on the new name, or what it plans to unveil on Tuesday.

The Redmond, Washington-based company has said only that it will have a "discussion" about where Windows is headed at a stylish event space in San Francisco on Tuesday.

 

[BRAINZ2013]

Has anyone ever rooted a android device from a windows tablet such as any windows 8.1 program

 

[mikedt]

Has anyone ever rooted a android device from a windows tablet such as any windows 8.1 program

Provided the tablet is 8.1 Pro and not RT, should be able to, just like you can root using a traditional desktop or laptop PC. AFAIK all the most common Windows rooting tools, like Kingo, will work with anything from XP SP3 through to 8.1 Pro. Anyway I read that Microsoft now discontinued RT as a failure.

 

[BRAINZ2013]

This tablet is dead wont pickup device as being installed but it is charging. Drivers hang up and just stop installing in the middle . I am not seeing rt windows thanks I will get it

 

[Th3M4dP1ay3r]

Well it seems I'm posting from a Lumia 810 tonight. My Kindle was broken and is being fixed. Hopefully it'll be back on Wednesday. Anyway I think W9 will look good and more simpler hopefully.

 

[jefboyardee]

Microsoft expected to unveil new Windows name next week

But Windows is Windows, and if Microsoft can appeal to its loyal desktop PC users then it won't matter what the full version of Windows is called, as long as the company listens carefully to feedback and rights all of its Windows 8 wrongs. Next week will give us an early look at exactly what Microsoft is planning.

 

[BRAINZ2013]

Why am I being told that we may have to pay for windows 9 . this isn't a upgrade. Something that some of us aren't using the full windows 8 and to solve security issues . what is this and is it true . if not someone terminate the fool at tiger direct that told me this .

 

[jefboyardee]

A disagreement, but not to consider the source:

Windows 9 a free upgrade?

Andreas Diantoro, the president of Microsoft Indonesia, according to Indonesian news site Detik.com, has confirmed that Windows 9 will be a free upgrade for Windows 8 users.

Windows 9 will be available as a free download, much like Apple’s updates to OS X–and much like Windows 8.1, which was a free update provided to Windows 8 and Windows RT users through the Windows Store.

It has not been determined if Windows 9 will be available to earlier OS's, such as Vista and Win7.

An announcement as to when the OS will be released should be upcoming at the companies Sept. 30th media event.

 

[jefboyardee]

Microsoft’s Windows 9 event in San Francisco: Updated live blog

Today’s Windows 9 event in San Francisco is a fairly low-key thing — it won’t be anything like a big Build or WWDC keynote. I expect that the event will basically be a preamble for the Windows 9 Technical Preview, which is due to be released at some point in the next few days.

 

[jefboyardee]

So we can have the number nine all to ourselves...

Windows 10 is the official name for Microsoft's next version of Windows

...When you put all that together, the end result looks a lot like Windows 7. That's intentional. Microsoft's Joe Belfiore pointed to the millions of customers still using Windows 7, and said the company wants to make their transition to Windows 10 much more comfortable than the unfamiliar leap to Windows 8 two years ago. "We want all these Windows 7 users to have the sentiment that yesterday they were driving a first-generation Prius, and now with Windows 10 it's like a Tesla."

Watch Microsoft's Windows 10 event