A very interesting opinion article: For Better or Worse, Windows 8 to Be Industry Inflection Point
Windows 8 Book
If you're thinking of upgrading to Windows 8, you should check out this new book by our friends at How-To Geek.
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I’d rather use Windows95.
I certainly understand being excited about WIN 8 for all those gadgets, but I can’t “work” with them. I need screens for spreadsheets and writing applications. I think combining it all into one OS was a horrible idea – for consumers. I won’t be using Windows 8 – ever.
Now let me count the ways that have convinced me to go to ANY other operating system.
1. Microsoft is trying to beat it’s users into going into the cloud and subscriptions i.e. LIVE whatever. I remember the bad old days of being a mainframe slave and I will not go there no matter, how they “re-language” the choices to appear “trendy.” Smart phones are the lure in this trap.
2. Microsoft keeps jacking around with the graphic user interface, regardless of what the users want. There is a thriving mini-market in apps to keep the old GUI. One company is sending out “start” button software for Windows 8. If the new GUIs are so good why is this market even around? The only wholesale flight from a GUI was the only text based command line format, that should tell people something. Most people, me included, just use a computer because they have to, because it is part of their job. Jacking around with the user interface adds one more obstacle to getting the work done. Everyday for a considerable amount of time this will cause heartburn as people scramble to re-re-re-learn how to get their jobs on yet another bogus GUI so they can go home to do other things they probably want to do.
3. So far Microsoft has been “on the end of the stick” when it comes to the latest advances and I can see this as true also of the new tablets. Again they are going to be left at the station leaving the users holding the bag so to speak with hardware that they will abandon and software that sucks. I wish they would just stick to computer operating systems, the only thing they used to do well. Remember the Ipod replacement made by Microsoft? Of course not, it was so memorable I can’t even remember the name and only uber-geeks can.
4. How Microsoft got away with dumping tech support on maker’s like Dell is beyond me. I remember when Microsoft tech support was fairly good, now you get… well almost nothing in the way of support. Has anyone gotten some sleepy kid with a strange accent, an attitude and a really bad command of the operating system on the phone recently while trying to fix a problem? My last real issue took about 6 months to resolve and I had an angle. I worked in the computer industry at one time and had friends behind the magic answering machine wall and it still took months to get satisfaction. So why buy a product that doesn’t even have marginal support? Right Dell, Emachine,…you fill in the blank.
You don’t HAVE to buy a computer with a Windows operating system pre-loaded. There are other companies. Companies not in the mega-corp league; large companies that WILL support their equipment and WILL install whatever you want on a computer. As has always been the case: avoid the deep, dark bargain basement. Yes, deals can be found, but most often you will get shafted most of the time on some matter concerning your product, especially computers. Anyone want to buy this NEW bargain computer? (Ignore the 5 1/4 floppy cord dangling out the back.) I am developing an endearing relationship with an English computer company, a little more expensive, but hey, you get what you pay for if you are lucky and so far they have been “spot on.”
I doubt people will figure this out, as usual, in time to do anything about being shafted, but I can at least have the satisfaction of: I TOLD YOU SOOOOOO!