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Post by helens on Jan 25, 2013 2:43:00 GMT -5
I'm in the process of downloading Windows 8... Microsoft is having a sale on it through Jan 31 for $40. After that, it goes up to $200.
I've got mixed feelings about it, since I'm fine with Windows 7... however, I'm getting the Microsoft Surface Pro (FINALLY getting released Feb 9), and I want full compatibility for up/downloading files.
My plan is to set up dual boot, so I can keep both Win 7 and have Win 8 too, because I'm not sure I want to fully migrate to Win 8 yet.
Anyone else getting Win 8?
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Jan 25, 2013 6:05:02 GMT -5
no but giving some thought of dual booting with ubuntu but have no complaints with 7.. its been really good to me so far. I do like the app idea of 8. but i think they had to give an incentive to buy 8 because not many are unhappy with win 7
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Post by texaswoodie on Jan 25, 2013 6:13:15 GMT -5
I think my next one is going to be a Mac.
Curt
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 25, 2013 6:47:38 GMT -5
I have a Mac and an iPad. I haven't read anything good about the Surface. It sounds confusing.
Rob
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 25, 2013 8:16:46 GMT -5
got 8 at work
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,176
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Post by jamesp on Jan 25, 2013 9:26:53 GMT -5
My computer bud is fine staying w/older version.Plenty of power to do his demanding aps.Who can need more than the last few versions? Unless you are looking for specific aps...
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Post by kk on Jan 25, 2013 9:31:27 GMT -5
they still offer that price? I think they advertised that price in shops here about two months ago.....
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 25, 2013 9:40:59 GMT -5
My computer is ancient and needs to be replaced but I've heard so many things about Windows 8 being a bit difficult for us older folks to learn and I'm not real computer savvy. So, I guess I'll wait till my old machine crashes.......Mel
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Post by Roller on Jan 25, 2013 10:36:00 GMT -5
literally my windows broke down and i got a mac .. its a big learning curve but slowly but surely i get used to it , little things tick me off with mac but atleast my virus chances are slim to none .. i need to update windows vista on my desktop .. wheres the sale link ???microsoft .. lemme see if i find it
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 25, 2013 12:07:22 GMT -5
I'll keep Windows 7,I tried 8,didn't like it!
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 25, 2013 13:12:11 GMT -5
No, but with 8 coming out it should bring the price of a win7 update down far enough to do something about this Vista PC. When it comes to PC's I'm cheap.
Lee
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 25, 2013 13:19:12 GMT -5
Apple's latest operating system was only $19.99. I think the last several have been that price.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 25, 2013 14:32:41 GMT -5
Just installing the 8 pro upgrade now. 7 has been great. My trials of 8 have shown it at least as good. The low price until the first makes it worth it for me.
Sent from my phone.
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Post by helens on Jan 25, 2013 16:52:27 GMT -5
Ok, I did it:).
I have put BOTH Windows 8 and 7 on my desktop in a Dual boot.
What that means is that when I restart my computer, I have a choice to log into my Windows 7 or my Windows 8.
Advantages: Windows 7 - all my current software, exactly what I have right now that I'm happy with.
Windows 8 - all the Windows 8 apps. Windows 8 does not have as many apps as Android or Apple. Quantity does not equal quality. Windows 8 apps are GREAT. Freaking amazing. I have an android Galaxy 2 10.1 tablet, and have played with the Google Nexus 7 for 2 weeks too, and I can tell you that Android apps stink by comparison, even tho there are thousands of more junky ones. I got to play on the Ipad, and as far as I can tell, every last Apple app is available for Android as well. Pft, Apple.
Windows 8 apps blow them both away in quality... there's just not as many of them (and who in their right mind needs 100 apps for 1 function anyway?). Quality is better than quantity, and I've tested the hell out of every high rated app on both platforms extensively already. I want the Windows 8 apps.
I got to see all the Windows 8 apps when I owned a Windows Surface RT that I pre-ordered (and now there's even more apps out since then). I returned it after 30 days of hard playing with it because I liked it so much I wanted a full Windows Surface Pro- which is what I'm waiting for now. Hands down, I want the Windows 8 apps back, and decided not to wait til Feb 9 for the Surface Pro to get them.
Other advantage... full portabilty and file swapping with my Surface Pro on the net directly. It's fully synced, so I can go from machine to machine and everything's the same, files, email, etc. Now this IS available with my Windows 7 system too via a Skydrive file, so I'm not decided yet on the advantage for that yet. The one solid advantage are the Windows 8 apps.
Disadvantages: You cannot use your Windows 7 PROGRAMS if you dual boot:(... I had just bought Office 2010 on the upgrade, and found out that to install one on each boot means I use up my 2 licenses:(. That sux. That means for my Microsoft Outlook 2010 and OneNote 2010, I have to boot into Windows 7, unless I swap them to 8, or change my whole system to Windows 8. I don't wanna do that, because everything is exactly how I want it in my Windows 7.
As an aside, RIGHT NOW, you can download 5 FREE licenses for Windows 2013 360 Preview. FREE FREE FREE. You can use the full office suite online til they come out with the 'real' one if you want, just to see if you like it. So I'm not totally upset about my 2010, because I bought it with the free upgrade to 2013 when it's out. That means I don't have to give up my 2013, even after the preview period ends if I like it (and of course keep my bought 2010). 2013 is the system that Microsoft 8 works best with anyway, so you can check it out.
Since I only did this last nite, I'll have to play with it a bit to see how I like the dual boot, or how inconvenient it turns out to be.
Microsoft Surface Pro btw is a revolution in computers. It's a FULL DESKTOP computer, but as small as a tablet (much smaller than a laptop).
Surface RT got such a bum rap because people expected it to be comparable to laptops, but it's really only comparable to an iPad. Fun for entertainment and net browsing, but worthless for anything else. I suspect they did so badly with it, because a lot of people did what I did... bought it, fell in LOVE, and sent it back to get the 'full version' Surface Pro.
The Surface Pro is a brand new animal. It's not ONLY a teeny desktop, it's a NOTEBOOK too... as in, pen and paper!!! So I can write notes with the little pen directly on the screen, convert it into typed text if I want (depending on how bad your handwriting is), and write notes directly into Ms Word, draw Excel charts by hand, paint a Picasso replica with a brush, and write 'buy milk' in my car driving down the road with 1 hand, etc.
I type FAST, but not on a cell phone or a tablet... I have to have a keyboard. But with the Surface, I can write 1 handed with a pen and never look at the computer, like I can with a piece of paper. Nothing like this has ever existed before, and I've been waiting 10 years for the handwriting/palm block technology already.
People who complain about it do not know what it IS. And after owning RT for a time, I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited to get my hands on the real deal Surface Pro!!!! After 10 years of waiting for this technology to exist, Feb 9 cannot come fast enough:).
Anyway, got Windows 8 for the desktop so I could have perfect compatibility with the Surface Pro. After I get that, the only need for my desktop will be to store my files is what I'm thinking:).
Windows 8 takes a lot of getting used to, and is not enough like Windows 7, so you'll have to do a lot of online searching for 'how to's'... it's WAY easier to learn on a tablet than on a desktop because of the touch, but once you're used to it, you'll love it!
Oh... for the FIRST TIME, you'll actually get a use out of your 'windows button' on the keyboard:P (the button between your ctrl and alt buttons). That button toggles your Start and Desktop modes on Windows 8 (I just figured that out last nite after I installed it on the desktop, don't need a keyboard on the RT).
Anyway, heads up, you only have 6 more days before it goes from $40 to $200, so if you are thinking about it, you'd better think fast:). On the other hand, if you are planning to get a new computer in the next 2 years, don't do it, new computers will come with 8 installed anyway.
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Post by mohs on Jan 25, 2013 22:33:27 GMT -5
Helen:
when you downloaded 8 it gave you the option for a dual boot? & to keep Win 7?
It wouldn't be wise to try to upgrade Win 7 to 8 ? Right ?
A full install is the only way to go? Correct?
Thanks Ed
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Post by helens on Jan 25, 2013 23:18:06 GMT -5
No, when you download it, you have to fully install it. I didn't want to, I have my software configured perfectly in 7, I have tons of it, and am not re-installing everything again, so I wanted both 7 and 8. I want to mention that 8 has slightly furry text and graphics in browsers. It's making me mad, and I'm back typing on 7 again. This does not show up AT ALL on Surface RT (and presumeably Surface Pro either), but on my screens, it's annoying. Further, I have a 2 large monitor setup, and my right side monitor makes me turn my head to see the edge of, and it's a LOT of screen landscape to get to the top right edge.... where the off button and settings are located. That's REALLY annoying, and I don't like it, but that's only because of my own monitor setup, not a flaw in the design. I DO like the Win 8 apps. The biggest thing I like about the Windows 8 apps (which are not available for 7) is that they can be 'live'... so you can have things happening in multiple tiles at once... news headings are sliding through several tiles at once, while your incoming email is showing up on another, while your home photos on another, with facebook updates on yet another. If you like looking at 10 things at once like I do, it's fantastic and very time-saving- like having multiple teeny screens all doing different things:). You do NOT have to set your tiles up this way, but I like to. Oh! On 2 screens, it will let 1 be the tile/start screen, and the other the 'work' screen, which is just like your Windows 7 desktop, you can open lots of browsers and programs, while all the tiles are doing their thing for email/facebook/news/stocks/cooking recipes/etc on the other screen. But the fuzzy stinks, and I haven't figured out yet how to get around it... I tried to do a photo edit and my photo was fuzzy too!! Many people wouldn't notice, it's not VERY fuzzy, but for photos, it's enough to be aggravating for me. To dual boot, google dual booting windows 7 and 8, these are the directions I used: mashable.com/2012/11/08/dual-boot-windows-8/I burned my Windows 8 to my own DVD so I can redo it if necessary (I hope it will do that). You can check compatibility first before you buy. If you click the buy button, it will download a test for you. You can't buy it til you enter your credit card info anyway, so anything up to that point is safe to try. If you don't enter credit card info, you haven't bought anything, so they won't download anything for you. This way you can find out ahead of time whether your system will work with it or not. Again, be warned about the fuzzy, and if you are a software pig like I am, you may want to dual boot. If all you have are files, like pix, it's not a problem. There IS a learning curve tho, Windows 8 will take you a few days to figure out if you decide to do it... it's a lot like 7, but a lot is different too, with much to learn... but I just love their app shop!!
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jan 26, 2013 10:16:23 GMT -5
If i dual boot, will I still be able to use my office in Win 7 ? My brother works for Microsoft as a software developer so I guess I should ask him? LOL
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Post by helens on Jan 26, 2013 10:38:57 GMT -5
Hi Sheri:). I'm using my Office 2010 in 7 on the Dual Boot right now.
Don't know if you saw me post this earlier, but using Office on a dual boot counts as your 2 licenses:(. HOWEVER, if you bought 2010 late last year, you should be getting the 2013 free anyway, AND!!! They have Office 2013 FREE for the Preview (5 licenses), so I installed 2013 on my Windows 8 boot, and have 2010 on my Windows 7 boot. I don't like Office 2013 so far...
If your brother works for Microsoft at the Redmond Headquarters, he gets to buy Office for like $20 at the Company Store, and Windows for around $10. So you can dual boot and play with your computer to your heart's content, with copies of Office on everything. Lucky you:)!! Your brother should have $1000 a year to spent at the Company Store, so I'd have him load up for you:P.
My best friend's husband was a top Microsoft Exec, and for years I got cheap Office and Windows... then she divorced him 2 years ago... so now I have to buy my software like everyone else:(. So I'm a whole lot more careful about my microsoft licenses.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 26, 2013 19:32:47 GMT -5
Well it has been a rougher night for me than for Helen. I did the validation tool, passed, bought the win8 upgrade and let it run. My system booted a few times and eventually got stuck on the win 8 splash screen. Didn't sleep, unable to recover win 7 or move ahead to 8. Of course I didn't want to waste time creating a backup of my 500 gb of data so I pulled the hdd, upgraded to a bigger hdd, reinstalled win7 and office clean and activated everything as well as ran all updates and driver updates. Creating a nice small backup now without all my work applications. I will attempt the 8 upgrade again and if it fails will just roll to what I have and forego 8. I have my original hdd so all my data is intact but what a pain. I did install a vm with 8 enterprise on it and it is identical to win 7 once you get past the block screen so I think it will be perfectly suitable for what I do. Hopefully l'll have better news he second time around
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Post by helens on Jan 26, 2013 22:12:27 GMT -5
John, did you do the whole compatibility check first (you can't buy it til you've downloaded it anyway, but did you look at what was incompatible?).
I didn't try 8 as an update. I partitioned my C drive because I had a 1 terrabyte drive, so I had plenty of space, and just put Win 8 on roughly 1/2 of it. But that's considered a clean install, so I had no conflicts or drivers to deal with at all.
They tell you when you download to fully back up (use backup/restore in your control panel and make a complete copy (it's called System Image, 2nd option on the left bar in backup/restore), so you can put Windows 7 back if it messes up.
But it's ALWAYS a good idea to: 1. COMPLETELY clean and defrag your drive. Go through all the Accessories > System folder functions, checkdisk, clean everything, then defrag.
2. Back it up COMPLETELY (including a boot disk).
3. Install from DISK (do not do the Windows 8 update, pick the alternative options for everything, and pick Install from Disk). This lets you burn the Windows 8 CD... and like all other Windows CDs, it will boot the system, but ALSO has a 'repair installation' function.
-- in your case, had you done it that way, you could pop that disk in and repair it. If you're going for a 2nd round, do it this way so if you encounter any hangs, you can pop the disk in and run repair instead of overwriting everything, unless you're doing a clean install.
I haven't seen 8 Enterprise, so don't know... but basically Win 8 Pro is Win 7 Pro without a Start button, which is replaced by the Start screen. Since the Start screen is accessible from that 'Start' button on your keyboard, it's basically a full screen scrolling sideways Start button.
As I said, the BIGGEST advantage of 8 in my opinion is that you get access to Win 8 apps, which blow away Apple and Android apps, despite being fewer in number.
If you have 8 loaded, check out the Food Recipe apps... omg... some of the photo editing apps are great, the tools, the utilities, the news, etc... really superb apps!!! Makes my android apps look primitive.
As for functionality, other than the slightly fuzzy... which seems to have gotten corrected somewhat with the updates installed, it's not a whole lot different from 7. But for me, the 8 apps were worth the $40 alone.
As for 'didn't sleep'... you have EVER installed a Windows and slept? Takes me about 2 sleepless days and nights to get my system prepped, checked, system installed and all my drivers and programs installed. Sleep is for the weak when messing with software!!! LOL!
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