32 ms·

The changes between Windows 7 and 8 always seemed terribly minor to me -- a few control panels and settings shifted around as they do every OS update, the start

The changes between Windows 7 and 8 always seemed terribly minor to me -- a few control panels and settings shifted around as they do every OS update, the start menu became larger and looks a bit different but functions essentially the same (right down to preserving your Program Files hierarchy from Win95 if you scroll down from the tiles screen), but nothing major in the big scheme of things. If Microsoft hadn't made these changes, and in the next few years became completely foreign and irrelevant to the current young generation of consumers who grew up on touch devices that work more like Win8 than Win7, would we be panning them for sticking with "what works" while their consumer base switches to Android/iOS?

Woben 13y ago
No - The problem lies in the fact they tried to create a "One size fits all" solution and failed at creating a usable desktop OS. Windows 8 is fine on a phone, it's the desktop that's the problem. (before anyone jumps down my throat, yes you can mod Windows 8 so it's more usable in a desktop environment but that's not the point)
- gooble_flop 13y ago
  I use Windows 8.1 on a desktop and it's fine even without mods. I can see how Windows 8 might have been a problem for some people, but for the most part 8.1 is 7 with a fullscreen start menu.
  - free652 13y ago
    >for the most part 8.1 is 7 with a fullscreen start menu. And missing the non-full screen start menu. I hate going back to metro interface to launch an app, now I have to create shortcuts on the desktop. I used to simply type an app name in windows 7's launcher.
    - dangrossman 13y ago
      > I used to simply type an app name in windows 7's launcher Why don't you still do that? That global search has only gotten smarter, it's definitely not been removed. You press the windows key, type 3 letters, hit enter and your app is running before your eyes even register the start screen having briefly appeared and gone. I couldn't imagine going back to desktop shortcuts -- I haven't had to move my hands off the keyboard to launch a program in 7 years.
      - free652 13y ago
        I do, but it switches me to the metro interface with a color change. Also it pulls metro apps first and only 2 apps then its like 2 settings apps and the 2 documents, but I want all apps. Something like if I type "sky" SkyDrive Skype (metro) ..Some settings ..Some settings ..Some document ..Some document
        dangrossman 13y ago
        If there are 4 programs that match my search, it shows 4 programs before any documents or other results. If a color change is that bothersome, you can use Win+S to open the search panel on the desktop. You can also uninstall the Metro apps you're not using and don't want to see in search results. They uninstall in one click.
        free652 13y ago
        Here are two screenshots: https://portal.bitcasa.com/send/3555f1c51a7e086335e4e0d6895fe862b37b40e03e9d7919cd727d96b03d720e/7e955128f20e8e7a689b1f414319b2f7c9142b9c57d068e3071f54340307a5a5 https://portal.bitcasa.com/send/3555f1c51a7e086335e4e0d6895f... "Sky" should have return both skypes, not just first 2 search results. Also how do you start desktop internet explorer? The search returns the metro one.
        dangrossman 13y ago
        I hit Win, type "ie" (short for iexplore.exe) and press enter. It only starts the metro version if it's set as your default browser. You've made some pretty bold color choices, that would be distracting. Set your background to be your desktop wallpaper. Then the start screen just looks like an overlay, rather than a context switch. 1. http://i.imgur.com/WyiizIR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/WyiizIR.jpg 2. http://i.imgur.com/ROxIXp0.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ROxIXp0.jpg
    - adolfojp 13y ago
      Win + S brings up a small search panel to the right of the screen. It's not full screen and it allows you to do exactly what you describe.
      - free652 13y ago
        Thanks, that's better. But still doesn't solve only 2 apps and 6 total search results. I looked over settings and can't seem to find to change that.
    - gooble_flop 13y ago
      > I used to simply type an app name in windows 7's launcher. Me too... the process hasn't changed. Windows key -> first few letters of the app's name -> enter
iends 13y ago
Metro apps that are full screen are a terrible idea. I hate running skype and it taking up an entire monitor (yes, I know about skype desktop, and use it now, but it's not the default). I hate the PDF reader that is always full screen and difficult to close (alt-f4 is the only way?). Full screen applications don't work on a desktop where multitasking is the norm.
- dded 13y ago
  Does the default PDF reader allow you to print yet?
  - jongalloway2 13y ago
    As far as I know, it did from day one using the "Devices" charm thing. Later on they also made it available using the menu at the bottom - swipe in from top or bottom on touch screen, right click screen otherwise.
    - dangrossman 13y ago
      Or press Ctrl+P. I don't recall that ever not bringing up the print menu.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- stusmall 13y ago
  I really only had two complaints about Windows 8. I couldn't find a way to have two PDFs open and on the screen with that default reader and I had a lot of trouble find out how to shut the machine down. Once I found ctrl+c if fixed the power down problem and to be honest I'm just glad they are finally shipping a PDF reader by default. All and all its not bad for a Microsoft product and I don't completely get the hate. (By the way, ALT+F4 is the way I close metro apps too but here is another way http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-close-app http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-close-app)

Woben 13y ago

No - The problem lies in the fact they tried to create a "One size fits all" solution and failed at creating a usable desktop OS. Windows 8 is fine on a phone, it's the desktop that's the problem. (before anyone jumps down my throat, yes you can mod Windows 8 so it's more usable in a desktop environment but that's not the point)

gooble_flop 13y ago
I use Windows 8.1 on a desktop and it's fine even without mods. I can see how Windows 8 might have been a problem for some people, but for the most part 8.1 is 7 with a fullscreen start menu.
- free652 13y ago
  >for the most part 8.1 is 7 with a fullscreen start menu. And missing the non-full screen start menu. I hate going back to metro interface to launch an app, now I have to create shortcuts on the desktop. I used to simply type an app name in windows 7's launcher.
  - dangrossman 13y ago
    > I used to simply type an app name in windows 7's launcher Why don't you still do that? That global search has only gotten smarter, it's definitely not been removed. You press the windows key, type 3 letters, hit enter and your app is running before your eyes even register the start screen having briefly appeared and gone. I couldn't imagine going back to desktop shortcuts -- I haven't had to move my hands off the keyboard to launch a program in 7 years.
    - free652 13y ago
      I do, but it switches me to the metro interface with a color change. Also it pulls metro apps first and only 2 apps then its like 2 settings apps and the 2 documents, but I want all apps. Something like if I type "sky" SkyDrive Skype (metro) ..Some settings ..Some settings ..Some document ..Some document
      - dangrossman 13y ago
        If there are 4 programs that match my search, it shows 4 programs before any documents or other results. If a color change is that bothersome, you can use Win+S to open the search panel on the desktop. You can also uninstall the Metro apps you're not using and don't want to see in search results. They uninstall in one click.
        free652 13y ago
        Here are two screenshots: https://portal.bitcasa.com/send/3555f1c51a7e086335e4e0d6895fe862b37b40e03e9d7919cd727d96b03d720e/7e955128f20e8e7a689b1f414319b2f7c9142b9c57d068e3071f54340307a5a5 https://portal.bitcasa.com/send/3555f1c51a7e086335e4e0d6895f... "Sky" should have return both skypes, not just first 2 search results. Also how do you start desktop internet explorer? The search returns the metro one.
        dangrossman 13y ago
        I hit Win, type "ie" (short for iexplore.exe) and press enter. It only starts the metro version if it's set as your default browser. You've made some pretty bold color choices, that would be distracting. Set your background to be your desktop wallpaper. Then the start screen just looks like an overlay, rather than a context switch. 1. http://i.imgur.com/WyiizIR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/WyiizIR.jpg 2. http://i.imgur.com/ROxIXp0.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ROxIXp0.jpg
  - adolfojp 13y ago
    Win + S brings up a small search panel to the right of the screen. It's not full screen and it allows you to do exactly what you describe.
    - free652 13y ago
      Thanks, that's better. But still doesn't solve only 2 apps and 6 total search results. I looked over settings and can't seem to find to change that.
  - gooble_flop 13y ago
    > I used to simply type an app name in windows 7's launcher. Me too... the process hasn't changed. Windows key -> first few letters of the app's name -> enter

iends 13y ago

Metro apps that are full screen are a terrible idea. I hate running skype and it taking up an entire monitor (yes, I know about skype desktop, and use it now, but it's not the default). I hate the PDF reader that is always full screen and difficult to close (alt-f4 is the only way?). Full screen applications don't work on a desktop where multitasking is the norm.

dded 13y ago
Does the default PDF reader allow you to print yet?
- jongalloway2 13y ago
  As far as I know, it did from day one using the "Devices" charm thing. Later on they also made it available using the menu at the bottom - swipe in from top or bottom on touch screen, right click screen otherwise.
  - dangrossman 13y ago
    Or press Ctrl+P. I don't recall that ever not bringing up the print menu.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
stusmall 13y ago
I really only had two complaints about Windows 8. I couldn't find a way to have two PDFs open and on the screen with that default reader and I had a lot of trouble find out how to shut the machine down. Once I found ctrl+c if fixed the power down problem and to be honest I'm just glad they are finally shipping a PDF reader by default. All and all its not bad for a Microsoft product and I don't completely get the hate. (By the way, ALT+F4 is the way I close metro apps too but here is another way http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-close-app http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-close-app)