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Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

vtmet Jan 28 2013 09:12 PM

I've upgraded my 2 worst performing computers to Windows 8 in the past week before the $39.99 price runs out at the end of January...Part of Microsoft's statement was that any computer that can run Windows, can run Windows 8...and that it would speed up older machines...so for that price, I figured that I'd give it a shot... first test: an older Acer desktop using an AMD 2.66 GHz single core processor; 2 GB of RAM; Was designed for Windows 98, but it was released as a Vista computer when Windows Vista first came out (even though it didn't have the hardware for Vista); Streaming video normally buffers, and video/audio on things that used Flash Player were real choppy... Upgraded to Windows 8 Pro last week; and it's like a new computer in terms of speed, boot time, shut down time, and video/audio performance...it's never going to run like a "gaming" computer, but a noticeable improvement...It's like I'm running a Linux system that can run programs that you normally need Windows for...It was definitely worth the $40...

vtmet Jan 28 2013 09:45 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

2nd test: Toshiba "Netbook"; 1.66 GHZ Intel Atom processor; 1 GB RAM; Was running Windows 7 "Starter" OS; This computer was slower than molasses...and every time that it has tried to do a Windows 7 Service Pack update, it would take about 30 minutes to download the Service Pack...it would install it...then when it would reboot itself, it would say that the update failed and it would change everything back to what it was prior to the update...I think Netbooks, Tablets and smart phones are why Microsoft made Windows 8 the way they did...most of those devices don't have the horsepower to run Windows 7...so they were kind of forced to finally admit that their OS was too cumbersome for low power devices...and to simplify it to be able to run the same speeds as Apple, Android and Linux on these types of devices... Just got done setting up this Netbook tonight...and it's already successfully done 22 Updates since the initial install (Improvement compared to how Windows 7 kept failing, despite checking every where for answers/solutions)...and the netbook is now actually responsive in real time...it took a computer that I was contemplating switching to Linux, and made it useful with Windows... One bad thing: it says that my screen resolution is too small to access the "Apps", but not a big deal, it works fine with my old Windows 7 style Desktop... Overall: worth the money...it's a Netbook, don't expect a lot out of it other than the portability with semi-decent response time...it's a lot easier to take a Netbook with me when I travel than to lug my 15.4 inch Asus Laptop everywhere that I go...

vtmet Jan 28 2013 09:54 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

one thing that I did learn the hard way...When Windows 8 tells you that a specific program is "not compatible", don't ignore the warning and go ahead and install it...I made that mistake with the version of Norton's that I used to use...the computer locked me out, as it kept trying to fix itself...finally after almost 2 hours of it unsuccessfully fixing the problem, it allowed me to "restore" the operating system back to a new install (it did keep my files though)...

Ceetar Jan 29 2013 05:29 AM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

In no hurry to upgrade. My computer runs fine, and I know better than to mess with it in that state.

themetfairy Jan 29 2013 05:35 AM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

Ceetar wrote: In no hurry to upgrade. My computer runs fine, and I know better than to mess with it in that state. Same here. I have no issues with Windows 7, and I don't feel like pushing my luck.

metsmarathon Jan 29 2013 06:38 AM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

hmm, i may have to jump on this. i'm trying to ressurect a frankenputer that was slow as shit on vista and xp.

vtmet Jan 29 2013 02:19 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

Ceetar wrote: In no hurry to upgrade. My computer runs fine, and I know better than to mess with it in that state. I agree, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"...I left alone the computers in the house that ran fine on Windows 7 and on XP...but I figured for $40, it was worth it on the 2 that were FUBAR (ok, there were originally 3 in that condition, but I converted one over to Linux a long time ago and like it on that computer)...

vtmet Jan 29 2013 02:21 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

metsmarathon wrote: hmm, i may have to jump on this. i'm trying to ressurect a frankenputer that was slow as shit on vista and xp. From what I understand, the download price goes back to it's "real price" on February 1st...which according to what I've read, is almost $200 (which you might as well buy a new computer at that price...especially when Linux is a free download and both Ubuntu and Linux Mint work extremely well for the internet and audio/video)...

metsmarathon Feb 01 2013 06:34 AM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

upgraded last night. haven't had too much of a chance to play, but it's a slick looking interface that may take some getting used to, particularly on a computer i may not use all too often. but, damn, the thing boots up fast now.

vtmet Feb 01 2013 12:31 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

metsmarathon wrote: upgraded last night. haven't had too much of a chance to play, but it's a slick looking interface that may take some getting used to, particularly on a computer i may not use all too often. but, damn, the thing boots up fast now. good...I think that at the price it was worth it...I don't know if you checked to see the price starting today but: the regular Windows 8 is now $120; the Windows 8 Pro is now $200 (this is the version that you just downloaded for $40); If Microsoft was having a hard time getting people to upgrade before, they pretty much slammed the door with these prices; It's actually relatively easy to bounce back and forth to your regular "desktop" setup and the page that has all the Apps... and I've found a site that restored the "start screen" that has people in an uproar that it's gone...let me know if you have any questions...

metsmarathon Feb 01 2013 12:48 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

am i thick or is the off button a little hard to find?

vtmet Feb 01 2013 12:56 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

metsmarathon wrote: am i thick or is the off button a little hard to find? move your mouse to either the lower right corner or the upper right corner... after a moment, 5 shapes will show up on the right pane of the screen... Click on the "gear" looking shape (bottom shape, it will show "settings" when you hover over it)... click on the gear, which brings up a bunch of items like when you would click "start" on the other Windows OS... towards the bottom, there is one that says "Power"... Click "Power" and you get a choice of "Sleep"; "Shut down" or "Restart"... click on whichever choice that you want to do... you can also get to the "Control Panel" and a few other things from that "gear" (settings)...

Lefty Specialist Feb 01 2013 01:09 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

Bought a new laptop with Windows 8 and I despise it. I downloaded Windows Shell to make it behave more like a Win 7 machine. All those bright boxes with useless information are annoying.

vtmet Feb 01 2013 01:09 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

some of the other stuff: To close an "App": "Alt" "F4"; To toggle to the "Start Screen" (the page that has the Apps): Option 1: hit the little "Windows" button that is probably at the lower left of your keyboard (mine is between the "Ctrl" and "Alt" keys to the left of the "space bar"); Option 2: Move your mouse to the lower left corner of the screen, a pic will pop up that looks like the Start/Apps screen, click on the pic; Option 3: Move mouse to a right corner, which makes the 5 shapes show up, click on the middle shape (Start); To go to your Desktop: There should be an "App" on your Start Screen that shows "Desktop", click on it (mine is a blue box with a couple of daisies on it, I'm guessing that is a Windows default);

vtmet Feb 01 2013 01:22 PM Re: Anyone upgrade to Windows 8?

Lefty Specialist wrote: Bought a new laptop with Windows 8 and I despise it. I downloaded Windows Shell to make it behave more like a Win 7 machine. All those bright boxes with useless information are annoying. After a few days of toggling between the Windows 8 Apps page and the Desktop; I downloaded the "StartMenu8" program from iobit.com using the download section at cnet.com (after reading the reviews on cnet)...now it comes up looking like Windows 7 unless I tell it to go to the "Apps" screen (I do find the Weather App to be pretty handy)...