Windows 8

[happytraveller]

A little off topic but perhaps useful to anybody who is thinking of changing (I almost said the word 'upgrading' which would be the wrong word completely) to Windows 8. How can the experts at Microsoft sell a piece of software that is so frustrating and user UN-friendly as Windows 8 ?? Luckily, the FSX machine is still on W7 and will stay on it too, but just to advise anybody else that Windows 8 may actually be a large backward step.

Feeling very annoyed at the moment, and I am currently investigating how to upgrade back to Windows 7. To make matters worse, the new computer was only offered with W8, I guess that nobody who had tried W8 would buy it otherwise.

Windows 7, Linux, Ubuntu rule. If it ain't broke then don't fix it, as they say.

What were Microsoft thinking when they issued W8??

smooth landings (on W7), from a not very happytraveller

[NZ255]

QUOTE (happytraveller @ Jun 6 2013,7:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What were Microsoft thinking when they issued W8??

One OS to rule them all?

I'll look at 8.1 maybe.

I have 8 on my laptop (non touch) but I have 'start is back' installed so it doesn't really count..... just like Windows 7 better

[markll]

QUOTE (happytraveller @ Jun 6 2013,8:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A little off topic but perhaps useful to anybody who is thinking of changing (I almost said the word 'upgrading' which would be the wrong word completely) to Windows 8. How can the experts at Microsoft sell a piece of software that is so frustrating and user UN-friendly as Windows 8 ?? Luckily, the FSX machine is still on W7 and will stay on it too, but just to advise anybody else that Windows 8 may actually be a large backward step.

Feeling very annoyed at the moment, and I am currently investigating how to upgrade back to Windows 7. To make matters worse, the new computer was only offered with W8, I guess that nobody who had tried W8 would buy it otherwise.

Windows 7, Linux, Ubuntu rule. If it ain't broke then don't fix it, as they say.

What were Microsoft thinking when they issued W8??

smooth landings (on W7), from a not very happytraveller

Yeah, see, I'm a real Win8 fan. Maybe I'm the only one, but I love it. The trick is to learn how to use it best, and to be fair some things are not obvious to most people, given that they are so different to the way they worked in Windows 7 and earlier.

One thing that should be weighed up when considering a move to or from Windows 8 is the fact that it's so much faster than 7. Given that the majority of people in the forum here are here because we use our computers for entertainment purposes, and that computer entertainment (i.e. games) is the one of the most demanding ways to use a computer, any performance improvement has to be worth considering...and I really do believe that with a small investment of time, new users will grow to become familiar with the new way of doing things...

[Chairman]

I bought a new laptop with the idea of putting fsx onto it for when I was out and about but I've read so many horror stories of how fsx does / doesn't play nicely with win8 so I haven't tried it yet. What's your take ?

Must say it plays World of Tanks nicely with medium graphics, and seems quite snappy in just about everything. Looking forward to win8.1 with the start button and boot to desktop ...

Gary

[towerguy]

Just got a new laptop and it had windows 8 pre-installed so viewed it with a bit of trepidation. I have to say that after a few weeks of mucking around with it and getting the hang of the changes in the way of doing things I have been converted. I have no problems getting anything that I used to do done and it certainly is a leg up in the speed stakes (being an i7 machine with plenty of ram probably helps). I honestly expected to be amongst the W8 knockers but have to admit that I really like it.

[cowpatz]

The problem is that some add ons just don't work with it. The great iFly 737 being one of them. Probably fast because it is on a newer machine and still clean, although I do like the ability to reset to factory fresh without a re-install. I dont place much relevance on the fast boot up time as I usually use sleep mode on 7 anyway. Maybe 8.1 or Blue or whatever it is called might be a game changer. You really have to wonder how Microsoft just keep on getting it wrong (yet their earnings just keep going up). This W8 'blunder' has just about brought the desktop PC industry to it's knees.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jun 7 2013,3:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The problem is that some add ons just don't work with it. The great iFly 737 being one of them. Probably fast because it is on a newer machine and still clean, although I do like the ability to reset to factory fresh without a re-install. .

I think this is not just Win8 , dates back to paywares brought back in the pre Win7 XP days , lot off payware just simply won't work .

[scaber]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jun 7 2013,2:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The problem is that some add ons just don't work with it. The great iFly 737 being one of them. Probably fast because it is on a newer machine and still clean, although I do like the ability to reset to factory fresh without a re-install. I dont place much relevance on the fast boot up time as I usually use sleep mode on 7 anyway. Maybe 8.1 or Blue or whatever it is called might be a game changer. You really have to wonder how Microsoft just keep on getting it wrong (yet their earnings just keep going up). This W8 'blunder' has just about brought the desktop PC industry to it's knees.

Hmm, the iFly 737 seems to be working on mine so maybe there is something else going on there - or maybe I'm not using the functions that don't work?

[emfrat]

As far as I know, Win 8 is not the successor to Win 7, it is a variant written specifically for tablets using touchscreens. In recent years we have seen some very clever coding created for FS9 (CalClassic springs to mind). I don't know what has been done for FSX in the same vein, but I think the point is, the generation of programmers who developed Win 8 probably never even considered FS9 or FSX. Every day on the train, I see people stroking the screen with a thumb, to scroll across, and so on. That is great technology, but I think it is very possible that Win 8 interprets some commands from FS incorrectly. Computers only have one brain, y'know; perfectly logical machines, completely devoid of common sense.

[HamiltonWest]

QUOTE (emfrat @ Jun 7 2013,9:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As far as I know, Win 8 is not the successor to Win 7,

According to Microsoft's out going CFO it is the Successor to Win 7:
Klein didn't detail corporate acceptance of Windows 8, the successor to Windows 7 that was released six months ago.
http://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/24...rom-xp-to-7.htm

Personally I like win 8 - Had to buy a New joystick to play FSX but I like it - Non touch screen running off a 32 inch Sony TV as a monitor.

[markll]

QUOTE (emfrat @ Jun 7 2013,10:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As far as I know, Win 8 is not the successor to Win 7, it is a variant written specifically for tablets using touchscreens. In recent years we have seen some very clever coding created for FS9 (CalClassic springs to mind). I don't know what has been done for FSX in the same vein, but I think the point is, the generation of programmers who developed Win 8 probably never even considered FS9 or FSX. Every day on the train, I see people stroking the screen with a thumb, to scroll across, and so on. That is great technology, but I think it is very possible that Win 8 interprets some commands from FS incorrectly. Computers only have one brain, y'know; perfectly logical machines, completely devoid of common sense.

Nope, that's not right actually - Windows 8 is definitely the successor to Windows 7, and reuses and extends the existing x86/x64 kernel from previous versions of windows.

Windows RT however, is probably what you are thinking of...this is a different beast, BASED on windows 8, and with the same UI - including the desktop, and the "Metro" interface. Windows RT is designed for ARM "system on chip" processors, as found in phones and tablets, and hence is used heavily by those with touch screens.

[markll]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jun 7 2013,3:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The problem is that some add ons just don't work with it. The great iFly 737 being one of them. Probably fast because it is on a newer machine and still clean, although I do like the ability to reset to factory fresh without a re-install. I dont place much relevance on the fast boot up time as I usually use sleep mode on 7 anyway. Maybe 8.1 or Blue or whatever it is called might be a game changer. You really have to wonder how Microsoft just keep on getting it wrong (yet their earnings just keep going up). This W8 'blunder' has just about brought the desktop PC industry to it's knees.

I am constantly amazed how people blame the "decline" in the PC industry on Windows 8. The reality is that PC sales were in steep decline WELL before windows 8 came out - you really have to pin it on mobile devices rather than on anything the PC makers/OS companies are doing. Think about it - people want more and more to be able to take their computing devices with them wherever they go - for years, desktop PC sales have been falling in favour of laptop sales - the start of the trend towards mobility. Following the rise of the smartphone, and then the tablet, people have been moving towards those also. The PC won't die, in my opinion, but people are wanting to rationalise and NOT have multiple devices. Given that your average smartphone or tablet is way more portable than a PC and the computing power of these devices is now at the point where you can do some pretty serious computing with them, more and more people are choosing to spend their tech cash on a mobile device rather than a PC...

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (markll @ Jun 10 2013,1:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am constantly amazed how people blame the "decline" in the PC industry on Windows 8. The reality is that PC sales were in steep decline WELL before windows 8 came out - you really have to pin it on mobile devices

YOU NAILED IT .. Its the Mobile Devices for which Win8 suits or now comes in on its own - plug'in , see a few people stop here , one particular with apps required for work and postings , .. Who takes Flightsim to work ? .. you don't , there is no decline in PC buying it just people who require mobile are on the increase - what is the better for a flight-simulation is simply "a desktop PC" , sure you can run from laptops but ya going to look like a right Dipstick with rudder pedals and yoke under your arm .... .

Win8 dose have a few glitch's with FS , software and such but that will get sorted with developer building and a quik patch for the older OS s they always have .

[cowpatz]

Just one in a long list of sites as to how Windows 8 accelerated the decline.

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/15311...line-in-history

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jun 10 2013,4:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just one in a long list of sites as to how Windows 8 accelerated the decline.

Exactly .. no mention of the home use of a computer and what its best used for ... you cannot do the most simple scenery build "AGNs" on a flop/top i/pad or what ever , .. and here' the blast .. for Flight Simulation they did not have the insight .. more the fore-sight , WIN8 is is just a progression ..

Strange i went to the 1997 pre release of Win98 at the Christchurch Town Hall Convention Center .. all the Hype .. USB pluggins and jibber , many .. Well just walked away .. this was in mid year 1997 and it was huge .... just another load of Jibber Jibber .. I did follow back then .. Course everyone was using desktops and MSFS was friggen pushin and rocking .

If you use it for what its designed to do , makes it easy .. go for it .