Windows 8

dricketts

Trainz Luvr since 2004
So what's the word? Does TS2012 support Windows 8? If not what are Windows 8 users feedback? I've tried searching the forums but haven't found much recent discussion. I find this surprising because if you want a new computer it's coming with Windows 8 OS. There's really not a choice if you are in the market for a high end gaming machine.
 
So what's the word? Does TS2012 support Windows 8? If not what are Windows 8 users feedback? I've tried searching the forums but haven't found much recent discussion. I find this surprising because if you want a new computer it's coming with Windows 8 OS. There's really not a choice if you are in the market for a high end gaming machine.

Many manufacturers will install Windows 7 if the customer insists on it. You can also still buy Windows 7. I tried Windows 8 on two different machines, and unless you have a touch screen, I thought it was horrible.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/...ST&cid=263896&lid=4785762&acd=123098073120560
 
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I'm looking at a high end gaming laptop without a touch screen. It comes with Windows 8. If the touch screen is so crucial to Windows 8 why are most laptops currently available on the market non touch screen models and come with Windows 8?
 
I recently set up a new Windows 8 desktop computer for a friend - it has a large touch screen - and I have had a chance to play with it as well :-). I have not attempted to install Trainz so cannot speak to that aspect. After the initial "shock of the new" of coming to grips with the metro interface, I must say that I am very impressed with it and am now looking at getting a Windows 8 system for myself. The touch screen was a first for me (my mobile phone does not have a touch screen) and the "missing" start button on the Windows 7 look-alike desktop (one of the metro tiles) initially confused me. The latter turns out not to be the disadvantage that many critics have claimed.

As Bob has indicated, Windows 8 works much better with a touch screen.

Just yesterday I installed Office 2013 Pro on the computer and it comes with enhancements for touch screen operations.

Just my 2c worth.

Peter Ware
 
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Don't believe the hype. Windows 8 will run almost anything Windows 7 will. You just need to realize things are in a different place, for start menu. Windows 8.1 or other free utilities can restore the Windows 7 and older style Start button, if you really need it. I switched my desktop and laptop to 8. They both do perform faster, so I am not going back to 7 right away. Trainz works fine, so does MS TS, and other old stuff. Ho-hum...

:sleep:.

Paul
 
I'm looking at a high end gaming laptop without a touch screen. It comes with Windows 8. If the touch screen is so crucial to Windows 8 why are most laptops currently available on the market non touch screen models and come with Windows 8?

For the same reason that Desktop and Laptop sales with Windows 8 are in the dumpster. The UI was designed as a touch screen-tablet-phone UI, and is a PIA to work without a touch screen, but MS is trying to force people to buy it anyway. They have a fix for some of the issues coming out with 8.1 by September, but it still is not as easy to open multiple windows, resize, and all the other things that windows users have done easily for years. Just last week, Microsoft admitted that they lost almost $1 Billion on their Surface Tablets with Windows RT, and design failure. Windows 7 will e around for a long time... If asll you use a computer for is running Trainz and checking your email, then Windows 8 is OK. If you are a real user of computers, you probably won't like it.

http://phys.org/news/2013-07-windows-doesnt-basic-problems.html
 
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If you are a real user of computers, you probably won't like it.

I'm old enough (or long enough in the tooth) to remember when Windows first came out and MS-DOS was "king of the hill". People said exactly the same thing back then - "real men use DOS".

When Windows 8 came out I heard all the hype, complaints, criticisms, etc but until quite recently never really had a chance to look at it myself. Yes, there is a "culture shock" (the metro interface) and, like the change from DOS to a GUI, there are many who will not like it. It took me a while to finally get the hang of it. But I now think that Microsoft is right and, like it or not, the touch screen-tablet-phone UI is the way of the future (or at least until the next best thing arrives). I'm not surprised if Microsoft have, as you claim, lost $1 billion on their Surface RT - I always thought that the Surface Pro is a much better deal or that an Ultrabook with a touch screen and Windows 8 is an even better deal, but that does not mean the whole concept of Windows 8 is a loser.

I consider myself to be a "serious" computer user (not just email and Trainz) and I am now looking at getting a new system with Windows 8 installed - I think that it is better than Windows 7.

Another 2c worth.

Peter Ware
 
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Thanks for the input guys. I use my pc now for Trainz for the most part. I'm not sure if I'm a "real" user of a computer. I do a fair amount of reskinning for Trainz with photoshop and will have several windows or tabs in my browser open.
 
I'm old enough (or long enough in the tooth) to remember when Windows first came out and MS-DOS was "king of the hill". People said exactly the same thing back then - "real men use DOS".

When Windows 8 came out I heard all the hype, complaints, criticisms, etc but until quite recently never really had a chance to look at it myself. Yes, there is a "culture shock" (the metro interface) and, like the change from DOS to a GUI, there are many who will not like it. It took me a while to finally get the hang of it. But I now think that Microsoft is right and, like it or not, the touch screen-tablet-phone UI is the way of the future (or at least until the next best thing arrives). I'm not surprised if Microsoft have, as you claim, lost $1 billion on their Surface RT - I always thought that the Surface Pro is a much better deal or that an Ultrabook with a touch screen and Windows 8 is an even better deal, but that does not mean the whole concept of Windows 8 is a loser.

I consider myself to be a "serious" computer user (not just email and Trainz) and I am now looking at getting a new system with Windows 8 installed - I think that it is better than Windows 7.

Another 2c worth.

Peter Ware

Good luck with it..... ;)
 
For the same reason that Desktop and Laptop sales with Windows 8 are in the dumpster. The UI was designed as a touch screen-tablet-phone UI, and is a PIA to work without a touch screen, but MS is trying to force people to buy it anyway. They have a fix for some of the issues coming out with 8.1 by September, but it still is not as easy to open multiple windows, resize, and all the other things that windows users have done easily for years. Just last week, Microsoft admitted that they lost almost $1 Billion on their Surface Tablets with Windows RT, and design failure. Windows 7 will e around for a long time... If asll you use a computer for is running Trainz and checking your email, then Windows 8 is OK. If you are a real user of computers, you probably won't like it.

http://phys.org/news/2013-07-windows-doesnt-basic-problems.html

I don't know where you get the idea that it is not as easy to open multiple windows, resize, etc.???? I can do it just fine. You just need to keep in mind there is a Desktop, and that can be used to open multiple windows as in Windows 7. Also, yes, there is a Applications area (now called Start) with live tiles, similar idea to phones. You don't have to use only that interface. You can still use the desktop and install any applications that worked in Windows 7, without problems. Windows RT, that is a version for tablets, does not have the desktop. That one does suck. It is application happy and I am prefer the Android or iPad for that. So let me say Windows 8 Professional is the desktop platform that can do the same as Windows 7. 8.1 will just make it even better for people that don't want to deal with the "other" interface, and boot straight to desktop. Of course, you could just get that now, with some free utilities.

Paul
 
I don't know where you get the idea that it is not as easy to open multiple windows, resize, etc.???? I can do it just fine. You just need to keep in mind there is a Desktop, and that can be used to open multiple windows as in Windows 7. Also, yes, there is a Applications area (now called Start) with live tiles, similar idea to phones. You don't have to use only that interface. You can still use the desktop and install any applications that worked in Windows 7, without problems. Windows RT, that is a version for tablets, does not have the desktop. That one does suck. It is application happy and I am prefer the Android or iPad for that. So let me say Windows 8 Professional is the desktop platform that can do the same as Windows 7. 8.1 will just make it even better for people that don't want to deal with the "other" interface, and boot straight to desktop. Of course, you could just get that now, with some free utilities.

Paul

I guess all the complaints and poor sales of Windows 8 that had the person that designed it fired, a month after it was released, Windows 8 PC sales seeing the worst decline ever, and had a patch for it months after it was released, means it is a great OS and people love it.
http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/26/mi...kydrive-integration-smarter-search-tool-more/
 
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Didn't we just have this conversation about a month or so ago?

Maybe but I had a hell of time finding any discussion on it. I still feel like the search feature on the forum is kind of quirky.

I guess all the complaints and poor sales of Windows 8 that had the person that designed it fired, a month after it was released, Windows 8 PC sales seeing the worst decline ever, and had a patch for it months after it was released, means it is a great OS and people love it.
http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/26/mi...kydrive-integration-smarter-search-tool-more/


True but the reality is most people don't need a pc any longer. Desktop or laptop. They get all they need with their phone or tablet. We are a dying breed / market.
 
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I guess all the complaints and poor sales of Windows 8 that had the person that designed it fired, a month after it was released, Windows 8 PC sales seeing the worst decline ever, and had a patch for it months after it was released, means it is a great OS and people love it.
http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/26/mi...kydrive-integration-smarter-search-tool-more/


Who designed it and got fired?

SINOFSKY'S FINAL MEMO: I Wasn't Fired. I Quit. And I'm Ready To Compete With Microsoft
In a memo to employees, Sinofsky says it was his decision to quit.
He says that his departure from Microsoft is merely a "break between product cycles" and that he will use it "as an opportunity to reflect and to look ahead."
He says he isn't done working in the space.
"My passion for building products is as strong as ever and I look forward [to] focusing my energy and creativity along similar lines."
 
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