Microsoft pats self on back over Windows 8 sales

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  • IvanIVIvanIV Posts: 30,301
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    Not sure what your point is here, you don't have to use Metro if you don't want to. The start menu really isn't needed.

    But it's such fun to keep banging on about it.
  • DotNetWillDotNetWill Posts: 4,564
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    d'@ve wrote: »
    For lesser used programs, when you aren't sure of the exact name or spelling, two clicks? Not quite.

    For Metro and a 1920x1080 screen it's (at most):
    • Move mouse pointer to bottom bar
    • right click
    • move mouse pointer over to the right-bottom
    • click the "All Apps" icon
    • Scan 86 small icons of mixed-up programs, apps and section names (not even in line with each other)
    • if not found, click bottom bar again to scroll right for next screen
    • scan another 91 mixed-up programs, apps and section names (not even in line with each other)
    • if not found, click bottom bar again to scroll right for next screen
    • scan another 26 mixed-up programs, apps and section names (not even in line with each other)
    • When found, click on launch-program icon.
    [For 1024x768 resolution, four extra screens]
    • click-scroll
    • scan
    • click-scroll
    • scan
    • click-scroll
    • scan
    • click-scroll
    • scan

    Compared to the Classic Start Menu method, it's (at most):
    • Move pointer to bottom left
    • Click Start button
    • Hover pointer on either "Programs" or "Apps"
    • Scan flyout vertical alphabetical column of 50 program group names all neatly in line
    • Hover on required program group for flyout sub-list
    • Click on required launch-program name

    No peering, always two clicks plus a couple of fast hovers, job done in no time at all.

    Metro is a perishing nightmare and I am unlikely ever to use it seriously on my desktop. Compared to Classic Shell and similar, it looks and works on a desktop PC like it was designed by my five year old grand daughter.

    So you don't know the exact name of the spelling or any part of the name or even the first few letters? You're being deliberately obtuse. Even if you don't now the name you can skip a the first few steps by pressing the windows key.
  • user123456789user123456789 Posts: 16,589
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    So what games do Windows 8 users play to waste their time then? :p

    Jetpack Joyride :)
  • MicroSmurfMicroSmurf Posts: 1,463
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    For those of you that want to easily access your programs in Windows 8 desktop, you don't need to install Classic Shell or any third party software. Just do the following and you will have a program tree accessible from your task bar.

    Right click on taskbar, select 'Toolbars' and click 'New Toolbar' then enter the following text.

    %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
  • cnbcwatchercnbcwatcher Posts: 56,681
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    d'@ve wrote: »
    Write long comparison lists of how to open lesser-used programs in Metro and with Start Menu! :eek: :D

    :D:D:D:D.....
  • d'@ved'@ve Posts: 45,452
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    DotNetWill wrote: »
    So you don't know the exact name of the spelling or any part of the name or even the first few letters? You're being deliberately obtuse. Even if you don't now the name you can skip a the first few steps by pressing the windows key.
    I am just explaining how and why I use my desktop in the way I do, and am criticising MS for trying to bounce me and many others into a new way of doing things with no 'out of the box' backwards compatibility and for forcing those who want that to turn to unsupported (by MS) third party software.

    Your suggestion may work for some but it is a hit and miss method for others using many programs, which makes it unreliable and somewhat inefficient, and it sometimes fails totally. The mouse gave us better user-friendliness and for most users lessens the need to use that relic of DOS, keyboard shortcuts, and to remember them. MS seem intent on a return to the 1990s for desktops, not a very forward thinking philosophy (except on tablets and touch screens).

    All they needed to do was provide a built-in choice, the grief they have had over Metro would then have been entirely avoided, and we could all have got on with discussing what's under the bonnet - a really good operating system Windows 8.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,302
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    I prefer the Windows 7 start menu and have found that StartIsBack does the best job of getting it back and working pretty much exactly as it does in Windows 7. I also like the way it separates the new Metro UI & Apps from the desktop (a good method for someone like me who has no intention of using the new UI but may want to run a "modern" app) I tried Classic Shell but despite all of it's configuration settings (many of them unnecessary imo), it didn't seem to give me a true Windows 7 start menu. StartIsBack is so much simpler to setup and use and definitely worth a try if you're not interested in the new UI.
  • FraserGJFraserGJ Posts: 1,814
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    My opinion is Windows 8 is a very good OS under the hood but is wrapped in stupidity :p

    I've been using Windows 8 for the past couple of months, I've also used the preview release so I knew what to expect.

    It still very muddled though. I don't mind a little confusion as long as it is a consistent experience - Windows 8 is not.

    - 2 Control Panels - the main Desktop one and a smaller Metro one with extremely basic features - why?
    - Metro apps as the defaults for common file types so you go to the Desktop and open a picture and you're in the Metro photos app - why? Can't we stay in the same place to open it?
    - Why no start button at all in Desktop mode - why couldn't there be a Windows 8 icon to take you back to Metro - why does it have to be an invisible hot zone? Its not obvious
    - Why do you have to click to reveal features like the All Apps button on the bottom bar or go to Charms bar for Shutdown - why can't you have a fixed bar of icons like other Metro apps do on the start screen with All Apps, Run, Help, Shutdown on it?

    It just makes stupid decisions for the minority which annoy the majority. Don't get me wrong, I love other areas especially the new Explorer but just some oddities.

    P.S. All this promotion about the fast startup/shutdown feature is rubbish since it doesn't actually shutdown...
  • TadpoleTadpole Posts: 1,646
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    I am aware of three people who have legitimately bought and installed Windows 8 on their existing PC's. So as far as Microsoft are concerned this is good news.

    The pattern that I see though is that all three have subsequently de-installed it and reverted to Windows 7. They also decided not to hang onto the install media and sold it on ebay.

    So if Microsoft are focusing simply on sales of Windows 8 then what they say is probably accurate. But I believe that the truth is a bit more complicated than that.
  • d'@ved'@ve Posts: 45,452
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    FraserGJ wrote: »
    P.S. All this promotion about the fast startup/shutdown feature is rubbish since it doesn't actually shutdown...

    Mine does. Perhaps you would explain?
  • user123456789user123456789 Posts: 16,589
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    d'@ve wrote: »
    Mine does. Perhaps you would explain?

    So does mine, I even pull the plug out at night so know it has fully powered off :confused:
  • d'@ved'@ve Posts: 45,452
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    Ahhh, I see what he means now, he means Fast Start, which seems to be a kind of partial hibernate. Well I had to disable that because it was causing problems with my other O/Ss (triple boot), when switching from one to another I was getting chkdsk running frequently, drove me mad! I'm convinced that it lost me some data, too (hard to prove though).

    But it's still a lot faster than anything I've had before, even on full shut-down or restart (the latter doesn't use fast start anyway).
  • IvanIVIvanIV Posts: 30,301
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    MicroSmurf wrote: »
    For those of you that want to easily access your programs in Windows 8 desktop, you don't need to install Classic Shell or any third party software. Just do the following and you will have a program tree accessible from your task bar.

    Right click on taskbar, select 'Toolbars' and click 'New Toolbar' then enter the following text.

    %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

    Ha ha, that's nice. Not as fancy as what the 3rdparty shells can do, but it's almost like an XP menu so all retro fans should be happy with it.
  • alanwarwicalanwarwic Posts: 28,396
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    FraserGJ wrote: »
    My opinion is Windows 8 is a very good OS under the hood but is wrapped in stupidity :p
    Coming to the same conclusion.
    I've just installed in on a 3G laptop and am trying to find a way to stop Metro accessing the internet.

    A 'first post in 6 days' hints at quite a bit of disinterest too.
    edit - same as the widgets on a smartphone. A slower weirder process though.

    I see the idea now. They wean you onto this dysfunction so that you get familiar with their smartphones.
  • IvanIVIvanIV Posts: 30,301
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    You can set a connection to metered then it restricts the communication to minimum, you can turn off live tile, you can set a firewall. I don't think there's another way, why should there be.
  • TadpoleTadpole Posts: 1,646
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    Rather than patting each other on the back, a blame game appears to have broken out over disappointing Windows 8 sales over Christmas.
    Exclusive Microsoft blames PC makers for underwhelming Windows 8 sales over Christmas, The Register has learned. The software giant accused manufacturers of not building enough attractive Win 8-powered touchscreen tablets.

    But the computer makers are fighting back: they claimed that if they’d followed Microsoft’s hardware requirements and ramped up production, they'd have ended up building a lot of high-end expensive slabs that consumers didn’t understand nor want.

    Full story on The Register

    Oh, and the introductory low cost upgrade offer to Windows 8 Pro expires today.
  • James2001James2001 Posts: 73,425
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    Microsoft will do anything other than admit they've created a bad OS most people don't want to touch.
  • John259John259 Posts: 28,325
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    James2001 wrote: »
    Microsoft will do anything other than admit they've created a bad OS most people don't want to touch.
    It will be interesting to see how much of the MS culture changes when Ballmer is forced out.
  • alanwarwicalanwarwic Posts: 28,396
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    IvanIV wrote: »
    You can set a connection to metered then it restricts the communication to minimum, you can turn off live tile, you can set a firewall. I don't think there's another way, why should there be.
    Deleting all the absurd apps pretty much does the trick.
    If I want stuff like the weather I use a specialist site that gives info I actually need.

    Android often has its widget gimmicks pre-loaded too.
    The absurd screen edge menu system is there to flog new hardware.
    Whilst there to flog new hardware, at least it suits the pointing stick on most of my laptops.
  • IvanIVIvanIV Posts: 30,301
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    James2001 wrote: »
    Microsoft will do anything other than admit they've created a bad OS most people don't want to touch.

    Actually it's pretty good for touch devices :p
  • Kolin KlingonKolin Klingon Posts: 4,296
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    Windows 8 is selling!

    I have a copy, anyone want to buy it? :p
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