This is how you De-suckyfy the Windows 8 interface.

[adrianh]

This brilliant bit of freeware creates an alternative interface for Windows 8 that looks and acts exactly like Windows 7. You can set it to boot directly to the Windows 7 interface and if you really feel the urge to annoy yourself then you are able to switch back to the Windows 8 interface. You are able to switch between the two interfaces with no problems.

I've installed on two of our laptops and it works really great.

http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

I give this software 100000 stars...

[Dave A]

The Windows 8 project may be salvable after all, then

[adrianh]

We purchased 4 laptops, 2 with Windows,7 and the others,with 8. The machines on 8 were bought for the kids. My girls really hate the interface so it was either change to 7 or make another plan.

I think that Microsoft is heading down the same slope as Apple, their arrogance catching up with them and showing on their bottom line. Samsung now outsells Apple and Microsoft is forcing people to switch to Linux.

[irneb]

You mean with this it might be possible to actually open a program if you've got a list of 20 (or more) installed? The W8 interface tends to hide those which weren't used as much. Tends to be a pain for us having these programs running all in one day (some at the same time): AutoCAD, AutoCAD MEP, AutoCAD Civil, Revit, Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, 3d Studio, Inventor, VirtualDub, PhotoShop, Impressions, InDesign, Power Point. Because all of them are used in conjunction to generate the presentations.

We've tried W8, it does start up quicker than W7 (though that's true for any new formatted install of any Windows anyway - even W95). But figuring out how to open one of those hidden programs means it takes longer for the user to get his job done! And sorry, touch simply does not work in my line - I'd have cramps within 2 minutes. MS should definitely have made at least a reversion to W7's interface possible as a single setting, preferably a button / shortcut key, if they wanted they could have redesigned something specific for the desktop, but re-using a phone interface is brainless. I don't mind new interfaces, I actually like Fedora's Gnome 3 and Ubuntu's Unity Desktop, I've even found Mac's OSX Cocoa not too bad, but I prefer KDE when on Linux (just so much more you can fiddle with to make it exactly as efficient as you need it to be, without the need to install 3rd party apps or learn to program in the command-line interface). I'd even go as far as to say I feel easier in KDE than I did in XP. Yet W8 is simply stupid, it might work well on a phone/tab, but on a desktop it's a no-fly-zone!

[Hermes14]

I think that Microsoft is heading down the same slope as Apple, their arrogance catching up with them and showing on their bottom line. Samsung now outsells Apple and Microsoft is forcing people to switch to Linux.

I got tired of having to upgrade every few years & switched to open suse & Libre a while ago & haven't looked back.
I does take a little bit longer to configure everything.
The advantage it you can configure it exactly the way you want it.
If anyone is interested in switching I would suggest reading at least the start up manual first.

http://doc.opensuse.org/

You will also find the guys on the forum are very friendly & will help with any questions you have.

https://forums.opensuse.org/forum.php

[irneb]

I thought this might be of interest: http://blogs.computerworld.com/windo...tore-windows-8

So at least Lenovo's noticed that their users don't like W8's interface that much!

Edit: Not to mention, in my mind an even worse thing about W8: http://investmentwatchblog.com/leake...links-the-nsa/

[adrianh]

Wow, interesting reading....

Seems that Microsoft has shot itself in the foot with Windows 8. I think that many people are going to switch to Linux. If I am forced to choose between Windows 8 and Linux I would definitely take the plunge and learn Linux.

[HR Solutions]

I have also just bought a few laptops with windows 8 on them. It looks seriously crap. So I am going to try this.
Thanks Adrian.

[irneb]

Seems that Microsoft has shot itself in the foot with Windows 8.

AFAICS it's a situation of they've shot their own left foot with the UI design, then handed the gun to NSA to shoot the other one! But as the usual US citizen can't simply shoot only one bullet, the NSA went and took another shot just so they could make a hash of their own feet:

Perhaps even more ominously, he added: “The other realistic scenario is that TPM chip manufactures don’t sit within reach of the NSA, but in China….”

If you read further in that 2nd link:

Another option would be to switch to Linux machines, something that the city government of Munich has started 10 years ago; the changeover should be complete before the year is up.

[Chrisjan B]

I have used Pokki for a while but went back to Classic Shell - http://www.classicshell.net/

[wynn]

My nephew is running a PC on Linux and has a system to operate microsoft office and he uses a lot less memory

[irneb]

My nephew is running a PC on Linux and has a system to operate microsoft office and he uses a lot less memory

He's either running it through Wine, or he's running an entire Windows through a Virtual Machine. I've done both before, the 1st don't work too well (it sometimes crashes), the 2nd uses a lot more RAM because you're basically running 2 operating systems at once.

Personally I've given up on Microsoft Office, I use Libre Office instead. And then instead of Outlook I use Thunderbird. I even use those if I'm working on Windows. IMO they do the job I want, and in most cases better than what Micky-soft's exorbitantly priced alternatives. So far, the only reason I'm stuck with Windoze is due to Revit, even AutoCAD is out since BricsCAD has a version which runs perfectly on Linux.

So as soon as I can find a Revit for Linux, I'll say goodbye to Micro-issues for good!

[Zesty App Services]

No chance I'm going to upgrade to windows 8 - windows 7 is still the best!

[adrianh]

Windows 7 is a total pain - I am yet to figure out how to get the XP, 7 & 8 machines to talk to each other - one day some talk, the next day they don't one day they see the printers, then next day they don't, there are workgroups, homegroups and G_d know what osrta of groups but they talk when they feel like it. Now of course sharing, some share with other and some don't then some want passwords and some don't....

It was all so easy with XP...now it is black magic or just using Reebok-net with memory sticks....

My vote is this Windows SUCKS because with each new version they manage to complicate even the most basic tasks for absolutely no reason. Here is another example - in XP you could print preview from explorer and then select multiple pics to be printed on one page. In 7 its all arse about face, you have to select all the pics up front right click and then print....why did they do this...for no other reason than to annoy people who are used to doing things in a certain way.

I don't want to have to relearn every single rudimentary thing each time I upgrade Windows...it just wastes so much time....

[Dave A]

Network printers or shared-via-computer printers, Adrian?

I delivered my gripe about Windows 8 Pro's work network functionality at PC Zone the other day. Apparently it'll be fixed with the 8.1 version release.

Then what's the point of even releasing the Pro version if it can't handle workgroups yet, for crying out loud?