Windows 8/7 question

Bob, FYI....this is the article about start menu replacement:

http://winsupersite.co​m …ce-start-screen-threshold

Check this program out

http://www.classicshel​l.net/

I'll continue to build my own desktop machines and install W7 until the next "good" version is released. I'll probably skip right over 8 completely.

Functionality wise I find that Windows 8/8.1 uses less RAM and resources overall than Windows 7 does, and this is on a non-touch laptop that originally came with Windows 7 Home Premium. Its ever so slightly more responsive as well with kernel level refinements over 7 also. Lightroom, Photoshop, and friends run just fine without any difficulties (now using it on 8 for over a year now). Windows 7 is an awesome iteration of windows (well at least as far as windows can be awesome, haha ), but everything about Windows 8 being bad and unusable is just completely blown out of proportion on the internet. Almost like the quality or failings of some lenses are blown out of proportion on forums.

Honestly, the start screen interface in Windows 8/8.1 really isn't that bad as long as you stay clear of the metro apps and the windows app store which apart from a few useful apps is pretty bad to be honest. But anyhow, if you use the start screen as a revamped and fullscreen start menu with keyboard driven search its actually pretty usable IMHO.

Quick keys to remember to speed things along:

Windows Key -> go to start screen or swap between desktop and start screen
Windows Key + X -> gives you quick links to some important stuff
Windows Key + I -> side control menu
Windows Key + P -> Manage external / multiple windows
Windows Key + E -> Open Explorer for file management

Also you can use OblyTile to make custom tiles for any of your installed applications and use any icons you want if you care about "beautifying" the start screen to your own taste.

cutwater wrote in post #17067768
Bob, FYI....this is the article about start menu replacement:

http://winsupersite.co​m …ce-start-screen-threshold

Thanks for that. It's the same info I saw a few months ago, but it looks like the original thoughts that it would be out this fall were optimistic.

drvnbysound wrote in post #17068037
I'll continue to build my own desktop machines and install W7 until the next "good" version is released. I'll probably skip right over 8 completely.

That's too bad. IMO Win 8.1 is a better OS than Win 7 for everything important (better menu system for Explorer, faster file access, better search) with a couple of minor inconveniences that are easily fixed for three bucks.

Bob_A wrote in post #17071008
That's too bad. IMO Win 8.1 is a better OS than Win 7 for everything important (better menu system for Explorer, faster file access, better search) with a couple of minor inconveniences that are easily fixed for three bucks.

Possibly, but I'm also running 3 different physical machines. So the cost to upgrade to 8, for what I'd assume are minimal changes isn't worth the cost (to me).

jaomul wrote in post #17063171
Hi all,

Maybe through ignorance I dislike Windows 8. My laptop is about to die and I can get a good deal on a Windows 8 with good spec, 8gb ram, Intel I3 etc. My only option for similar spec in Windows 7 is more expensive, refurbished and I can't get locally.

My questions are, I know there are options to make 8 similar to 7. Has anyone here done this?Is this difficult? Is it worth the effort?

Thanks

I made the move from 7 to 8. Like you, I really hate the metro interface.

There are two things you can do to make a Windows 8 machine behave like Windows 7. First, you can set your new laptop to boot directly to the desktop instead of the metro interface. Second, instal a program called "Classic Shell" which gives you back a regular old start menu. I find that my Windows 8 machine now runs in a very similar way to Windows 7, and I am quite happy.

Tiberius wrote in post #17071706
I made the move from 7 to 8. Like you, I really hate the metro interface.

There are two things you can do to make a Windows 8 machine behave like Windows 7. First, you can set your new laptop to boot directly to the desktop instead of the metro interface. Second, instal a program called "Classic Shell" which gives you back a regular old start menu. I find that my Windows 8 machine now runs in a very similar way to Windows 7, and I am quite happy.

That's basically my point above WRT continuing to use W7. There is not much reason (if any) to spend the money on W8, only to have it run similar to W7.

drvnbysound wrote in post #17071540
Possibly, but I'm also running 3 different physical machines. So the cost to upgrade to 8, for what I'd assume are minimal changes isn't worth the cost (to me).

I wouldn't upgrade any exiting machine using 7, but I would use 8.1 for any new build. I have both on my home network, two Win 7 and 2 Win 8 (and 1 old XP laptop) and don't have any issues. Moving between machines using different versions of MS Office is the real pain.

I would not upgrade a Win7 machine to a Win8.1. (But) If I was getting a new machine, I'd go with what it comes with (which should be Win8.1).

I have both in my household (plus a WinXP machine that never seems to get used). There are a total four adults and young adults in the household, so each with at least one laptop and then two desktops. I haven't run across anything that Windows 7 did that Windows 8.1 can't also do. The problem is finding it.

The Windows interface was dramatically changed in 8, it threw everyone a ton. IMO that's why so many hate it. Because of the huge change there is a bigger learning curve - but it is all there with more. You just have to want to learn it - some don't want to do this.

My guess as to the reason for more clicks to get things done is that Win8 was designed more for touch screens. It still works fine for non-touchscreens just more clicks.

Once you get used to its interface, it is not really that big of a deal.

I also think that if you are buying just an OS Win8 is cheaper than Win7.

jimewall wrote in post #17072120
I would not upgrade a Win7 machine to a Win8.1. (But) If I was getting a new machine, I'd go with what it comes with (which should be Win8.1).

I have both in my household (plus a WinXP machine that never seems to get used). There are a total four adults and young adults in the household, so each with at least one laptop and then two desktops. I haven't run across anything that Windows 7 did that Windows 8.1 can't also do. The problem is finding it.

The Windows interface was dramatically changed in 8, it threw everyone a ton. IMO that's why so many hate it. Because of the huge change there is a bigger learning curve - but it is all there with more. You just have to want to learn it - some don't want to do this.

My guess as to the reason for more clicks to get things done is that Win8 was designed more for touch screens. It still works fine for non-touchscreens just more clicks.

Once you get used to its interface, it is not really that big of a deal.

I also think that if you are buying just an OS Win8 is cheaper than Win7.

You can set it up so there's zero additional clicks jimewall. If you were using my system you wouldn't even notice the change going from a Win 7 machine. I only ever see or use metro for my touchscreen Surface Pro 2.

drvnbysound wrote in post #17071906
That's basically my point above WRT continuing to use W7. There is not much reason (if any) to spend the money on W8, only to have it run similar to W7.

That's true, but it does mean that if your Win 7 machine is at the end of its life and you need to upgrade, you do not have to look specifically for another Win 7 machine. Given that most new computers today have Win 8, you can still go for one of them and not worry that your experience is going to suffer.

Bob_A wrote in post #17072485
You can set it up so there's zero additional clicks jimewall. If you were using my system you wouldn't even notice the change going from a Win 7 machine. I only ever see or use metro for my touchscreen Surface Pro 2.

Actually I have zero problem with the extra clicks. Now that I know where things are, it is not a problem. Moving from a W8.1 to a W7 and back is not a problem either.

Tiberius wrote in post #17072579
That's true, but it does mean that if your Win 7 machine is at the end of its life and you need to upgrade, you do not have to look specifically for another Win 7 machine. Given that most new computers today have Win 8, you can still go for one of them and not worry that your experience is going to suffer.

Microsoft is scheduled to support Windows 7 through 2020. That's quite a life span, which is why I stated that I'd likely skip right over W8.