Win XP -> Win 8 ?

YP5 Toronto wrote in post #15343461
so much misinformation here....

Such as?

Colorblinded wrote in post #15343509
The removal of the start menu is perplexing for many but since Vista & 7 trained me to use the start menu as a glorified search tool it's no different. Press the Windows key, start typing in what I want and press enter or wait for the search results to come up. Still performs the same basic function.

We know this, but most people don't. Most people never really learned Start Menu search in Vista or Win7, even though clicking Start puts your cursor in a box that says "Search programs and files". Win8 doesn't even give you any clue that you can search while looking at the Start Screen. You're just supposed to know that you can.

Even when I do search in Win8, I find that most of the time what I want isn't on the first list of results. For example, if I'm looking for "programs and features" in Win7, I hit Start and type "prog", cursor down twice, and hit enter. Win Win8, I hit Start, type "prog", go back to the mouse and click settings on the search bar to the right, get a list that fills the screen, then click "programs and features".

I also feel that since they've made a lot of stuff harder to find in Win8, they're making Start Menu search even more necessary. Of course when searching fails for whatever reason, you're stuck.

I really liked XP back in the day. I tried Vista for a week and hated how slow it was on an Intel quad core. When I upgraded to Win 7 I liked it so much, I upgraded all of my computers to it.

Just a few weeks ago I wanted to build a small form factor system that I can take with me to the studio for tethered shooting and decided I'd take advantage of some of the Win 8 deals.

Here's my thoughts on it. I'm not very fond of the new start screen. I think it would be great for a media center computer or something, but not really a desktop with a normal non-touchscreen monitor. It's not a big deal though since a click of a mouse button or even hitting the start button takes you to the traditional desktop right away. It's also a little weird not having a start button on the desktop. I find that I miss that the most from Win 7. There are a lot of 3rd party programs out there though that boot straight to the desktop and add a start button, so I just need to try them out and see which one I like best.

Performance wise, everything seems slightly faster than my Win 7 system even though the specs are pretty similar. It could just be because it's a new build and I don't have all sorts of junk in my registry yet. At the desktop things are very similar to Win 7 as well. My only real gripe with Win 8 is getting to the shutdown menu. It's kinda annoying. Other than that, I don't have any issues with it and with current pricing I'd be happy to install Win 8 on any new builds I make.

I have been a huge fan of Windows 7 since day 1. It is the best windows operating system I have used. I just purchased a new Lenovo thinkpad with 7 on it with an offer to upgrade to Windows 8 for 15 bucks. I decided WTH, i'll give it a whirl. It is not much different from win7 except the start menu. But that is a frustrating experience in itself. Hate it. BUT... there are many apps to default back to the WIN7 start menu. I downloaded one and my WIN8 system looks virtually identical to WIN7. Initial impressions to the speed look good. Lightroom 4 had some quirks and hangups occasionally, but was liveable under WIN7. Under WIN8, lightroom is definitely snappier and quicker to load. WIN8 suposedely is less resource hungry, to run on tablets, so I have read. Before writing off WIN8, it might be in your interest to dig deeper into the performance reports and disregard the GUI/start menu. That is easy to fix.

EDIT: Patrick 023, here is what I am using for a classic start menu. Works well and is free http://download.cnet.c​om …3000-2072_4-75553853.html

The only reason you want to jump to Windows 8 if you have touch enable devices or screen and after faster boot time.

Apart from that... Windows 7 is better. Windows 8 boots really fast compare to 7... and that's it. And check if they have drivers from XP to Windows 8. I know if you upgrade from Vista or 7, you won't have problems with Windows 8 drivers not sure about XP though.

Im using XP and only recently am starting to feel its age with the adobe products straying away from compatibility. so i will be needing an upgrade soon. I was thinking of giving Windows 8 a shot but also by configuring it for a one click shut down and bypassing the metro apps: http://www.extremetech​.com …ow-to-boot-to-the-desktop

Microsoft has Windows 8 Pro for sale on their website for $39.99. You can only download the 32-bit edition from their site. If you want to install the 64-bit version, you'll need the 64-bit installation disk. It can be purchased from Microsoft at the same time. The cost of the disk is under $15 (plus S&H). Microsoft emails you the Installation Key at the time of purchase. The Installation Key can be used at any time in the future. The offer is good until Jan 12, 2013. After that, it'll be in the $300 range!

I recently purchased a SanDisk 128GB SSD for my desktop computer to replace an 80GB HDD that was at over 91% capacity with Windows 7 64-bit & my Applications installed. I don't have that many APP's... Lightroom, Photoshop & Monitor Calibration software account for the most space. I use a 2TB HDD to store my images. The old HDD is formatted and waiting in the tower for something to do.

I did a fresh install of Windows 8 Pro 64-bit on the SSD & installed the APP's. A cold boot to a working desktop takes under 30 seconds. Windows 8 Pro is a little buggy, but what new software isn't? I'm sure Microsoft will sort it out. If you have your peripherals turned on during installation, the compatible drivers will be installed.

The biggest problem you'll encounter is when you decide to shutdown and find that you can't find the shutdown button. Here's a tutorial on how to create a Windows 8 shutdown shortcut that you can pin to your taskbar. I put it where the old Start button used to be.

I can't deal with 8, if I want a tablet I'll buy a tablet.

s.l.k wrote in post #15366865
I can't deal with 8, if I want a tablet I'll buy a tablet.

It appears the Surface is not faring well in the marketplace. Sad, as I was really looking forward to a tablet running full-blown Windows and associated applications, for instance Lightroom.

We just got a computer with Win 8 on it for running some surveillance cameras.

Just trying to instal an extra HDD and format it, took 3.5 hours and talking with multiple people in advanced tech support because of windows 8.

It is without any question the lousiest and least intuitive operating system I have ever been cursed to use. It's like they made windows into a worthlessly designed webpage and shredded out any easy access to ANYTHING. We spent a long time just looking for a way to shut down the machine!

Win 8 is pretty fast booting up, but that's all.

Windows 7 is really their best one yet. I am sticking with it until it dies.

Since I started this mess, maybe I can end it by just saying Thank You for the responses...

Win 7 and be done with it.

jemanner wrote in post #15366903
It appears the Surface is not faring well in the marketplace. Sad, as I was really looking forward to a tablet running full-blown Windows and associated applications, for instance Lightroom.

I can't imagine editing with my fat fingers. Convenience would be nice, but I figure I'd get really frustrated and chuck it out the window. I personally don't like this merger between mobile and desktop, one is extremely user friendly to the point of being an extreme hindrance, the other being aesthetically outdated and seemingly cumbersome for non-power users. They both have their own place, please stop merging them.

Canon_Lover wrote in post #15366996
We just got a computer with Win 8 on it for running some surveillance cameras.

Just trying to instal an extra HDD and format it, took 3.5 hours and talking with multiple people in advanced tech support because of windows 8.
.

Whatever the issue was, it wasn't Win8 itself. Disk Management is the same in Win8 as it has been for a long time. Once you find it, that is.

Canon_Lover wrote in post #15366996
We just got a computer with Win 8 on it for running some surveillance cameras.

Just trying to instal an extra HDD and format it, took 3.5 hours and talking with multiple people in advanced tech support because of windows 8.

It is without any question the lousiest and least intuitive operating system I have ever been cursed to use. It's like they made windows into a worthlessly designed webpage and shredded out any easy access to ANYTHING. We spent a long time just looking for a way to shut down the machine!

Win 8 is pretty fast booting up, but that's all.

Windows 7 is really their best one yet. I am sticking with it until it dies.

Once you get to Control Panel, its exactly the same steps to initialize and format a new hard drive in Windows 7 and Windows 8. And its not that hard to get to the Control Panel or Computer Management.

But I guess its easier to moan and whine and spread misinformation.