I'm on my new PC and at the start of the learning curve

[Omaha Steve]

I may not be on the DU much until Wednesday or so as I get things the way I want them while I learn what it can do.

OS

I moved up from what I thought I would get a few weeks ago. It is a ASUS M51BC-US004S.g

Features:

AMD 6 Core Fx6300 (3.5ghz)
8GB DDR3
1TB Hard Drive
AMD HD 8570 2GB DDR3 Graphics
Windows 8
16 in 1 Card Reader

[steve2470]

1. nice rig, good luck with Win8 nt

[riversedge]

2. have fun.

[CJCRANE]

3. My computer has

a keyboard
a monitor
the DU

[geckosfeet]

4. Interested in your impressions of win8.

Have seen a lot of negative comments. Also a lot of folks like that it is customizable for desktops.

I have always gone Intel cpu.

[Omaha Steve]

5. Marta is Intel, I'm AMD

We are a perfect couple.

[Spider Jerusalem]

6. Win8.1 now defaults to desktop mode, not Metro

so it should be a bit less of a pain in the arse; if you want something that's even more Win7/XP like I recommend this: http://www.classicshell.net/

[pacalo]

8. Thanks for the link!

What is Metro?

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. Metro is the "designed for touchscreens" UI that replaced the conventional desktop in Win 8

[pacalo]

10. Thanks again, Spider.

[Aerows]

12. A UI designed

by the pits of Hell to torture end users.

[Aerows]

11. Classic Shell

saved my sanity.

[pacalo]

14. I'm ashamed to say this...

but I was so frustrated by Windows 8 that I put my new laptop aside for a year now.

I'm very happy there's something like Classic Shell that will make it easier. I believe I've read somewhere that Windows 8 was designed for touchscreens, which my new computer doesn't have -- maybe that's why it was so confusing!

[Aerows]

15. Don't be ashamed!

Wow, please ask questions pacalo. I'm sure anyone would be glad to help. Metro sucks, but classicshell makes it like Windows 7 without the bs of the Metro interface. It still creeps in occasionally like unexpected charm or tile windows flying open, but mostly, it stays on the desktop.

They need to drug test whoever developed, tested and approved Metro for a regular PC/Laptop. Whatever they are on has to be worse than bath salts.

[Egnever]

17. Metro only sucks if you are resistant to change.

if you embrace it it is awesome.

All you have to do in metro is type what you want and hit enter. It doesn't get any easier than that. The desktop is still there when you want it.

Not to mention live tiles are quite usefull.

[Aerows]

18. Uh huh

I am able to manage active directory easily. I'm able to effortlessly shift between OSes. I can use a command prompt, the console, hell, I even remember Novell 3.1 commands. I've built more servers and PCs than most people have even seen in their lives, let alone used. I've unlocked phones, replaced a Windows 5 mobile phone with a Android OS (though it was slow as a dead dog), and generally dive into new technology.

The thing I don't do is say something is awesome when it isn't. Windows 8 is horrible with a mouse and keyboard set up, and I'm not even going to apologize for that opinion. Implying that people are stupid, unfamiliar with technology or "resistant to change" because Metro is despised by many doesn't fly with me. If I wanted to have to type commands to find things, I have plenty of console based OSes to choose from.

But thanks for playing.

[steve2470]

20. IMHO M$ messed up when they tried to merge all versions of Windows

Who cares if you have to get a separate OS for your Xbox or your phone ? I don't. It makes intuitive sense to me. Trying to bolt a touchscreen phone OS on top of the desktop OS was sheer madness and groupthink. I only mastered it because computers are my hobby. If I was a busy IT guy or a busy biz person, I would have said fuck this and gone back to Win7.

Windows 8.1 is much more like 7, interface wise, with the boot to desktop. Hopefully Windows 9 will have separate flavors for separate devices, but who knows.

[Aerows]

22. They did

and I've got no time for folks that imply people are stupid or "resistant to change" when the bottom line is a company screwed up the number 1 portion of an OS: the UI.

I hope Windows 9 takes a different approach, because Windows 8 is disastrous for mouse and keyboard users.

[steve2470]

23. I refuse to use a touchscreen, unless it's a phone or a tablet

I think I'd get a callous or blisters on my fingers. Mouse and keyboard are fine with me.

[Aerows]

25. Me, too

If I wanted to use a tablet and my phone, I do. When I need to intensely type or program something, I use a mouse and keyboard.

[steve2470]

26. by the way, you should come hang out in Computer Help and Support

We could use your expertise.

[Aerows]

27. I wander in there occassionally

But yeah, I like to help people when I can, and I'll see if I can't spend more time in there .

[pacalo]

31. Steve's right; you *should* join the computer group, Aerows!

[penultimate]

45. In Dos, all i had to do was type what i wanted to run and press enter too....

[pinboy3niner]

35. Probably got bitten by a raccoon

Just LOOK what that does to otherwise sane people!

[Aerows]

36. Windows 8

is so messed up even God can't help it.

[pinboy3niner]

37. I was referring to the designer

I'd never get Windows 8 after seeing the reviews. I'm sticking with 7.

[Aerows]

38. I have it on my small portable laptop

I bought it because it is the size of a netbook, but has a very robust processor, graphics core and a lot of RAM and storage space. I swapped the drive for a SSD with Windows 7 on it for about ten days but never could get the drivers to work correctly (UEFI BIOS architecture), so I messed around with it to make it more workable. classicshell provided better usability, but you still have to fart around in the registry way too much to disable things that are annoying, and just when you think you have an annoying problem licked, another one comes along.

I'd voluntarily put it on my main box (7 x64) about the same time as I would elect to voluntarily eat a live cockroach while jumping off a cliff.

It's crap. The benefit of UEFI architecture are going to have to be capitalized on by Ubuntu and other Linux variants, because Windows 8 brings way too much pain. A faster annoyance is ... more annoying and not helpful.

[steve2470]

21. come to Computer Help and Support

We are very kind to newbies and the tech challenged. Honest.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[pacalo]

30. Thanks, Steve.

I've been there a number of times & I've always gotten great advice. I love you guys!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

29. Win 8/8.1 is horrible

I hate that charm thing that pops out on the right. I want a proper start menu not a 'thin one' I don't use the apps in the start menu. Bad move by Microsoft. They should make Windows 9 with a proper desktop.

[Aerows]

32. The charms that fly out

when you are right in the middle of typing something and disrupt your train of thought are the single worst thought out thing I've ever seen from ANY OS.

[Skittles]

33. just the word CHARMS irritates me

[Aerows]

34. It irritates the piss out of me

when I am deep in thought and typing something and for some unknown reason the side panel jumps out, interrupts my chain of reasoning and I have to close that damn thing. And yes, even the WORD is ridiculous. If I wanted to know the time or options available to me, I know where the fuck they are, so quit interrupting me.

Here's how to disable that idiotically infuriating "fuckture", somewhat, to make it slightly less fucking annoying than it is.

http://www.askvg.com/how-to-disable-charms-bar-hint-in-windows-8/

[Skittles]

39. I skipped Windows 8 and will see what the next version will be

I took a tutorial and immediately DESPISED it and as someone who has worked in the IT field for 33 years no, I am NOT afraid of change but I DO detest learning CRAP. Whoever came up with that shit did NOT do their homework!

[steve2470]

40. SCHEDULING MICROSOFT FOR AN ASS KICKING

YES INDEED

How did I do ?

[Skittles]

41. EXCELLENT

[steve2470]

42. :) have a good night Skittles ! nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

43. I should have skipped Win 8/8.1

I use XP at work and old Java and I am happy as a clam.

[Omaha Steve]

7. Original post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024606661

I'm retiring my old PC (there is no joy in Mudville)

Because XP will not be supported starting next month, it is time to move on solely for security reasons.

It used to be a new PC was reason to celebrate. Our first home PC was a Coleco Adam. Marta went PC and I stayed with my orphan Adam longer than I should have. Adam ran a BBS networked with several cities running on it using PC Pursuit from Sprint.

Never had a single problem with my HP. Upgraded the memory is the only thing I remember even adding to it. Had a virus once that Norton missed somehow.

All I need is access to the net for the most part. Like a Timex, my old PC keeps ticking.

I change over to the new PC Friday. It will feel like strike three for Casey.

OS

[WinkyDink]

13. You are in it to win it! That baby is good for many years!

[TreasonousBastard]

16. When you get used to Win 8.1 you may not love it, but...

you will find it pretty close to crashproof and much faster. Even before 8.1 I very easily got it boot and look like
Win 7, and there's a new upgrade coming out in a week or two to make things even better.

I still end up going to the Metro screen for a few things, but it's just a matter of hitting the Windows key to toggle back and forth.

After almost a year on this thing, there's nothing I can't do at least as easily as I used to on XP or 7 and it's usually much faster. Biggest problem I have is some software I'm using is old slow 16 bit stuff.

[Egnever]

19. Agree wholeheartedly

8 is great once you get past the changed start screen. I should say once you embrace it.

I do a lot of new computer installs. I can have people who know nothing about computers doing things in minutes that they would never have dreamed of doing in older windows simply because of the integrated search on the metro screen.

Some things annoy me like moved menus but the old ones are mostly there still. One thing that makes things much easier for people use to old menus is win+x

[Omaha Steve]

24. I'm used to 7 from work

Right now i'm in over my head.

OS

[steve2470]

28. remember to move your cursor to the corners...then you can navigate from there

Come to Computer Help and Support for more help.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1095

[Omaha Steve]

44. I'm starting to learn

Marta set up a lot of stuff so it works a lot more like I'm used to in XP.

OS