Windows 8.1

[Rhino]

Ok I realize this could be a really controversial subject (maybe should have put it in the Arena) but I'm actually starting to like it. The key is you have to have a touch screen. I pulled the trigger on a Lenovo Yoga 2 laptop that the keyboard flips to the back to become a big tablet. I have a win 8 desktop that I use Start 8 utility that makes the desktop in win 8 work exactly like win 7. I absolutely hated the win 8 interface with a mouse driven desktop. But with this touch screen laptop/tablet I am finding I use the desktop much less and the win 8 interface more.

[VirginiaJim]

I actually don't mind it.  I'm running 8.1 and tend to use the 'normal' desktop for the most part but I actually like the tile system.  Unfortunately I can't get it to connect outbound for some reason.  The normal desktop works fine.  Oh well.  8.2 is coming out in the spring and the rumors are that it will fix some things.  We'll see. 

[Awaz]

I have it on my surface pro 2. But I also have it on my desktop. I have dual boot win 7 and win 8.1 thinking I may not like win 8.1. But I rarely every go to win 7 anymore. I use the app view for music, Netflix, and all other lazy stuff. For the serious stuff such as coding, gaming, etc, I am in desktop mode. Personally, I honestly do not see the fuss about mouse driven - I find it quite good with mouse swipes to switch apps, programs, and use the search feature for anything I do not have pinned.

[Rhino]

The only trouble I have with the touch screen is it cannot emulate left button down hold and move mouse. And there are some apps and web sites that absolutely require that.

[leyenda30]

As Jim said rumor of 8.2 has it that it will boot to destop and include a real start menu. MS approached this a@@ backwards in that they should have made win8 like win 7 but add the metro as a special extra rather than stuffing all the changes down our throat in one go. That way they would have come out the hero and metro would be more palatable.  There are some nice features once you get used to it. I just hate hunting for things that were second nature with the start menu.  JP

[Rhino]

As Jim said rumor of 8.2 has it that it will boot to destop and include a real start menu. MS approached this a@@ backwards in that they should have made win8 like win 7 but add the metro as a special extra rather than stuffing all the changes down our throat in one go. That way they would have come out the hero and metro would be more palatable.  There are some nice features once you get used to it. I just hate hunting for things that were second nature with the start menu.  JP

For $4.99 you can get that now: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
I've been using it on a Win 8 for over a year now. On my desktop I never see the metro interface.

[VirginiaJim]

That's what I'm using now..

[Rhino]

That's what I'm using now..

+1 If someone else were to work on my desktop they would never suspect it wasn't a Win 7 machine unless they happen  to put the cursor in the lower right corner.

[MrPepsi]

For $4.99 you can get that now: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
I've been using it on a Win 8 for over a year now. On my desktop I never see the metro interface.

Or for free by using Classic shell.

I also love Windows 8 on my Surface and Venue 8 Pro.

[stevewfl]

I actually don't mind it.  I'm running 8.1 and tend to use the 'normal' desktop for the most part but I actually like the tile system.  Unfortunately I can't get it to connect outbound for some reason.  The normal desktop works fine.  Oh well.  8.2 is coming out in the spring and the rumors are that it will fix some things.  We'll see.

Windows has been fixing Windows since DOS

[Son of Pappy]

Windows has been fixing Windows since DOS

DOS 6.1, the ultimate solution.

[leyenda30]

Using the Classic Shell now...all is better...ahhh.  Thanks JP

[gPink]

I just got a small acer laptop. Windows 8. Cannot access websites in IE or Chrome. Chrome will let me access gmail and I can use google to search but will not connect with any websites. Can't find anything and don't know where to look in Win 8.
Any ideas?

[Daytona_Mike]

I use Classic shell on PC's I have built for other people. It makes the transition from Win7 to Win8 much easier.
I  find Win8.1 very stable but hard to get around at first. It takes some getting used to.

gPink, Do you have any anti- virus programs running? More specifically anti Malware programs?
Try turning those off and test.

[gPink]

Mike, I think it's a conflict with this pos McAfee software that came preinstalled. I did a system restore and It's operating at the moment. I think I'll uninstall McAfee and see if it helps. Thanks

[Daytona_Mike]

I am not a big fan of Norton or McAfee.  Try Avast. It is free and works well.
I have the same bike  MMVIII C XIV   
A lot of people do not know where the words 'The Ivy League' comes from.

[gPink]

I'm running Avast on my xp machine at work. I'll try it here. IV would be the original 4 schools wouldn't it?

[B.D.F.]

Ivy League is a collection of 8 private colleges (or universities). All located in the northeast US.

They could also be called P.S. due to the princely sum it takes to attend them, save scholarships of course.

Brian

I'm running Avast on my xp machine at work. I'll try it here. IV would be the original 4 schools wouldn't it?

[VirginiaJim]

Make sure that your network type is not private.  If so, that can cause network connectivity issues to the outside world.

[Daytona_Mike]

Ivy League is a collection of 8 private colleges (or universities). All located in the northeast US.

They could also be called P.S. due to the princely sum it takes to attend them, save scholarships of course.

Brian

The first four  universities were : University of Pennsylvania - ‎Dartmouth College - ‎Brown University - ‎Yale University =    IV     Some people dont get the IV and called it Ivy League   instead of The  I V league


I like that   MMVIII C XIV  =  2008  C14