Advice on windows 8 please

GinaH

I am looking to replace my existing laptop. I have been looking online and all the new laptops in the large stores have windows 8.
However, I know a few people who have windows 8 and they say it is terrible and very hard to work with. Can anyone advise please. Thanks

vicwatson

+1 would love to know, TIA, and sorry OP for hijacking your thread.

solomafioso

It's not "terrible" as such, just the new Metro (tiled) interface is a not very user friendly addition for non-touch devices.

The first thing I install is Start Menu 8 (http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php).

This bypasses the metro screen and brings you directly to your desktop and also creates the "older" looking start menu. That is, the one you're used to using in XP / Vista / 7.

I also install adobe reader, as the built-in reader goes full screen which isn't that useful.

EDIT: Link fixed.

PropJoe10

Windows 8.1 is far from terrible. Once you install a Start menu replacement such as the one suggested above, or my own preference (http://www.classicshell.net/) then its pretty great. I find that it runs much smoother and faster than Windows Vista or Windows 7. I would not have any hesitation in recommending Windows 8.1, its nothing to be afraid of at all.

Overheal

you might as well dive in, for a couple reasons: finding windows 7 hardware is going to be a pain in the ass, for one, and youre going to be limited in what you can choose from. second, the further back you wish to recede, the more problems you will have later. People who insisted on buying or rigging their computers with windows XP up to 2 or 3 years ago are now running into issues where their OS is unsupported and new software will not be compatible. You also lose out on a lot of built-in features and native hardware support for new technologies. Laptop manufacturers especially will start offering fewer and fewer drivers for windows 7 and earlier, which is going to create problems if you want to downgrade a laptop.

Finally, every new version of windows will make some change or another to the OS and the user interface. The longer you resist embracing such changes, the further you fall behind, and then people who have been stuck in XP for the last 10 years find it needlessly difficult to integrate into a new operating system that is inherently more stable and allows you to do tasks much quicker that used to be incredibly menial - provided that you are familiar with using those new features. The difference between Search features between XP and Windows 8.1 for example is the difference between a propeller and a turbojet engine.

Windows 10 is due out next year, but if you need new hardware now Windows 8.1 is fine. Be on the lookout for free-upgrade deals, which Microsoft normally puts out in front of a new operating system launch.

GinaH

Thanks for all the advice, guess I will have to bite the bullet and give it a go

GinaH

Hi A friend has window 10 on his new laptop but at 63 yrs old he is used to the windows 7 style menu.
Is there anywhere he can download it ?

excollier

Here you go,

Same link as above, I took off the trailing bracket, it works ok for me

http://www.classicshell.net/