Windows 8: Is It Worth It?
- Thread starter epa
- Start date
TS12 works fine with Windows 8.1. The requirements are the same as they are for Windows 7. You will need to install and run the program as administrator.
The new start menu-thing is a bit odd, but with the desktop mode, things look just like Windows 7 except for the smooth window frames. The desktop is actually an application of sorts and can be resized when other Windows 8.x native applications are running. You can also quit the desktop, which I have done in error, and then go back into it where you left off without affecting the application that is running on the desktop. The start menu doesn't need a touch interface. You can scroll between applications by simply rolling the wheel on the mouse.
I spend 99% of my time in desktop mode since that's where my applications reside, as they are older Windows 7 era applications. For these applications, I have taken the multitude of desktop icons and placed them in a folder I call Desktop Apps. I can then run the application from there without cluttering my desktop with icons.
Stability wise, Windows 8.1 is very good. Windows 8 originally had trouble with my motherboard, but subsequent driver releases and now Windows 8.1 have proven to be very stable.
Once you get used to it, you'll find the operating system to be very powerful. There are lots of hidden gems in there that are not so obvious until you start working with it, and once you do stuff in Windows 8.1 and go back to Windows 7 you'll look for the missing features there and get confused.
John
The new start menu-thing is a bit odd, but with the desktop mode, things look just like Windows 7 except for the smooth window frames. The desktop is actually an application of sorts and can be resized when other Windows 8.x native applications are running. You can also quit the desktop, which I have done in error, and then go back into it where you left off without affecting the application that is running on the desktop. The start menu doesn't need a touch interface. You can scroll between applications by simply rolling the wheel on the mouse.
I spend 99% of my time in desktop mode since that's where my applications reside, as they are older Windows 7 era applications. For these applications, I have taken the multitude of desktop icons and placed them in a folder I call Desktop Apps. I can then run the application from there without cluttering my desktop with icons.
Stability wise, Windows 8.1 is very good. Windows 8 originally had trouble with my motherboard, but subsequent driver releases and now Windows 8.1 have proven to be very stable.
Once you get used to it, you'll find the operating system to be very powerful. There are lots of hidden gems in there that are not so obvious until you start working with it, and once you do stuff in Windows 8.1 and go back to Windows 7 you'll look for the missing features there and get confused.
John
Thanks John. I guess I will go ahead and do it.
I kinda played around with Windows 8 on the tablets and laptops on display at Best Buy, and it really looks cool. I probably will spend most of my time in desktop mode just because the Windows Phone style menu seems confusing.
I hated windows 8 at first, with a passion! The nerve of them to take away my start button.... Now that it's back in 8.1 I love it and have since upgrade the rest of my PC's to it.
Mike
First thing I did when getting a Win8 machine was to install Start8 from Stardock. Start Is Back is another good one. There are other similar tools out there. There is the rare Metro dialog that can pop up, but I've been in desktop mode this whole time I've been on Win8. I don't have any stability issues, so I'm in no rush to upgrade to 8.1. And, from what I have seen, some of the third-party start menus still have some advantages over the 8.1 menu.
p.s. Me too, by the way... once I got used to it, I thought Win8 in desktop mode was great!
Yes, it feels very odd at first, and it will take you a while to get used to it, but when I changed back to my old OS, I immediately started to miss all the apps I had accumulated.
At first when 8 came out the apps where absolute garbage, but now there are some real useful ones, but the best thing I like, is the ease of use between the apps and the desktop.
It all flows so seamlessly I now wouldn't be without it.
At first when 8 came out the apps where absolute garbage, but now there are some real useful ones, but the best thing I like, is the ease of use between the apps and the desktop.
It all flows so seamlessly I now wouldn't be without it.