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Windows 8
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Join Date:Posts: 10275
Underneath it works like Windows 7 so you can use the regular Steam app?
I would hope so
I was trying to highlight that gamers who are already using Steam already have the app store functionality (in fact, a better version of it than Win 8 offers, since Steam is cross-platform), so they don't need to move to Win 8 to get it. So as sales pitches go, it's not a particularly compelling one.0 -
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I prefer the Classic Shell Windows 7 too because they left out stuff in W7 thats in XP if you're being picky
The whole system feels faster (than7) in use, interface and just generally doing things. I read that a lot more of the OS is multi threaded and perhaps thats why. I don't know tbh. On a clean install it found more hardware and installed the right drivers for it than W7 does. Well on the low end laptop I tried. 2GB/1.5 C2D.
While W7 gives you more RAM, 64 etc, and better drivers and a bit more robust for stability. In terms of interface or OS features, theres almost nothing nothing in W7 I need over XP. In fact it removed some useful things from the GUI. Hence Classic Shell above.
I think MS is making a mistake with Metro. But W8 isn't as bad as some would have you believe.0 -
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Actually I would. about 1 in 4 people I sell tablets to will inquire about microsoft applications (to which there are none noteworthy on iOS or Android; there is Skydrive, and Onenote. Basically). When these things hit the shelf, with a keyboard and trackpad built into an included "smartcover", and the ability to use office applications, people will flip their ****. Assuming the price is right. For many though just having their native office applications will be all the push they require to buy a tablet. The only thing that can stop MS, really, is the existing market: people that caved in, and already own droid tabs or the iPad and won't be quick to switch. Their shoe-in though will be returning laptop customers that will see it as an alternative to buying another piece of **** laptop for under $400 and hoping it lasts more than 2 years. People who are heavily invested in iTunes or Android markets though will be hard pressed to change teams. For me though the only thing I was heavily invested in was Comixology's app, but they're there, so I'm goodThe add to the mix the Windows Phone 7 and 8 ...
Of course considering the way MS has killed Windows phone 7 would you gamble on a MS tablet being supported for long? I wouldn't.
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I prefer Windows XP to any other O/S, it was Microsoft's best O/S
Close but not quite...
Win2k3 is still my absolute favourite. Of course, spending $999 on an operating system might be a bit of an overkill (official retail price, OEM or "subscriber" is a lot cheaper though).
It is significantly more stable, faster and more responsive than XP... even with all the goodies and eye candy enabled (by default it comes across as a vamped up version of Windows 2000, it is a server OS after all). There are a few drawbacks, hardware support is not as universal as with XP (if a piece of hardware ware is not officially supported, the XP driver can wreak havoc). But in general, I'd say it is the best OS MS have officially released, ever.0 -
I never used Win2k3 but if it's as good as you say I'll do a search on the net to see what people say about it.Close but not quite...
Win2k3 is still my absolute favourite. Of course, spending $999 on an operating system might be a bit of an overkill (official retail price, OEM or "subscriber" is a lot cheaper though).
It is significantly more stable, faster and more responsive than XP... even with all the goodies and eye candy enabled (by default it comes across as a vamped up version of Windows 2000, it is a server OS after all). There are a few drawbacks, hardware support is not as universal as with XP (if a piece of hardware ware is not officially supported, the XP driver can wreak havoc). But in general, I'd say it is the best OS MS have officially released, ever.0 -
I did a bit of digging and Win2k3 was in fact a server and a business server at that, I was referring to O/S that are for home use.Close but not quite...
Win2k3 is still my absolute favourite. Of course, spending $999 on an operating system might be a bit of an overkill (official retail price, OEM or "subscriber" is a lot cheaper though).
It is significantly more stable, faster and more responsive than XP... even with all the goodies and eye candy enabled (by default it comes across as a vamped up version of Windows 2000, it is a server OS after all). There are a few drawbacks, hardware support is not as universal as with XP (if a piece of hardware ware is not officially supported, the XP driver can wreak havoc). But in general, I'd say it is the best OS MS have officially released, ever.0 -
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I did a bit of digging and Win2k3 was in fact a server and a business server at that, I was referring to O/S that are for home use.
I know what you mean but just because something isn't marketed for "home use" doesn't mean it's not suitable. Windows 2000 was never marketed for "home use" either but what a great relief it turned out to be for those who suffered from Windows ME.
@ Kaiser2000: I have tried to "abuse" 2008 as a workstation and wasn't too impressed, Windows 7 worked better on the same machine.0 -
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Close but not quite...
Win2k3 is still my absolute favourite. Of course, spending $999 on an operating system might be a bit of an overkill (official retail price, OEM or "subscriber" is a lot cheaper though).
It is significantly more stable, faster and more responsive than XP... even with all the goodies and eye candy enabled (by default it comes across as a vamped up version of Windows 2000, it is a server OS after all). There are a few drawbacks, hardware support is not as universal as with XP (if a piece of hardware ware is not officially supported, the XP driver can wreak havoc). But in general, I'd say it is the best OS MS have officially released, ever.
Would XP x64 not just be the same thing? They're based on the same kernel.0 -
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Yep, IIRC DirectX is even missing from Server 2003 and has to be installed manually.
True, but not because it isn't "compatible" but rather because people are not likely to play games on a server.Win2k3 is very reliable but most of the media stuff is stripped out which can be a pain getting working.
Care to elaborate on this? I create videos (Premiere), convert media files (dbPowerAmp, SUPER) and rip audio CDs (EAC) on Win2k3, it plays every format I throw at it (VLC, foobar and, for good measure, WMP10), I can't see what's so painful about "getting it working".Windows XP 64 in my experience is nothing like as stable, has driver issue, and compatibility issues.
XP x64 (and indeed Win2k3) only works if your hardware is 100% compatible. Many hardware manufacturer just never bothered to release proper drivers (because XP x64 was coming quite late or because their hardware was not likely to be used with a server OS like Win2k3, often the case with "exotic" sound cards or media capture devices) and stability issues arise when people hope to get it going with drivers not written for the OS kernel or poorly written drivers which have not been certified. Thus it has never been for everyone, but saying XP x64 is "nothing like as stable" is not true. Most BSODs in the Windows world stem from poor, faulty or broken drivers. Many hardware manufacturers explicitly ask their customers to ignore warnings during the driver installation (because it costs money to get drivers certified) but users do this at their peril.Windows 7 and 8 seem much faster and even more reliable
And this you can tell from the experience of a few "beta testers" two month before the official Windows 8 launch? Quite a daring statement, I'd rather wait until this sh*t hits the mainstream fan.
In the last eight years I'm using Win2k3, I have seen 1 (one) BSOD and that was when I installed a non-certified driver.
And as it stands, I'm pretty sure I can sit out Windows 8 as well with 2k3, since this I'm not big into gaming (Dx9 is still cutting it for me) and IE10 or WMP11 is not a must have for me. 0 -
Care to elaborate on this? I create videos (Premiere), convert media files (dbPowerAmp, SUPER) and rip audio CDs (EAC) on Win2k3, it plays every format I throw at it (VLC, foobar and, for good measure, WMP10), I can't see what's so painful about "getting it working".
Well you had to install all that for starters. Most consumers are not going to to that.....but saying XP x64 is "nothing like as stable" is not true. Most BSODs in the Windows world stem from poor, faulty or broken drivers. Many manufacturers explicitly ask users to ignore warnings during the installation (because it costs money to get drivers certified) but users do this at their peril.
How about I rephrase it to, its unreliable if you use any drivers other than the limited range (compared to other versions of Windows) of certified hardware.And this you can tell from the experience of a few "beta testers" two month before the official Windows 8 launch? Quite a daring statement, I'd rather wait until this sh*t hits the mainstream fan.
In the last eight years I'm using Win2k3, I have seen 1 (one) BSOD and that was when I installed a non-certified driver.
And as it stands, I'm pretty sure I can sit out Windows 8 as well with 2k3, since this I'm not big into gaming (Dx9 is still cutting it for me) and IE10 or WMP11 is not a must have for me.
No I basing it on my experience in a large IT dept, we've lots of people running these OS's, right the way up to Windows 8 Server for a good many months now. I myself must use about 8 different OS'es not all windows on a daily basis. But we've all had similar experiences of excellent reliability stability with the new OS'es.0 -
Well you had to install all that for starters. Most consumers are not going to to that.
We're not talking about a consumer OS, are we?
This is purely my personal preference and not much else.
I can't recall any headaches caused by the lack of DirectX, download and installation certainly wasn't as painful as someone claimed it to be.
The only "pain" you may encounter is the very limited choice of free antivirus software (I can see their point, "You have a thousand dollar operating system and now you want our stuff for free, bugger off, you lousy cheapskate!"), the free stuff isn't cut to provide efficient security in a complex server environment.No I basing it on my experience in a large IT dept, we've lots of people running these OS's, right the way up to Windows 8 Server for a good many months now. I myself must use about 8 different OS'es not all windows on a daily basis. But we've all had similar experiences of excellent reliability stability with the new OS'es.
But in order to add credibility to you claim that "Windows 7 & 8 are faster and more reliable than Windows 2003" you'd need a similar number of users running 2k3 on their workstations, no?
I never said they are unreliable (most stability issues with any Windows operating system can be traced to PEBCAK) but I did run quite a few benchmarks on identical hardware with XP, 7 and 2003 and surely 2003 came out on top in most realms.0 -
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You said this Sht (W8) would hit the fan.
Metaphorical speaking... I would not base my verdict on reviews from enthusiasts (i.e the beta testers, again, not meant in a negative sense as they're usually quite versed) who'd love trying all the new stuff when it becomes available (i.e. as consumer previews). I prefer to see it being used mainstream in rather worldly scenarios when Windows 8 hits porn and facebooks on a large scale. We'll soon have plenty opportunities to see how that goes. 0 -
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