Interesting Software and System News

[rickz]

What are the improvements?
I need to know before I would change.

[bob3160]

What are the improvements?
I need to know before I would change.

Google or Bing or Yahoo search are a great way to find that answer. 

[DavidR]

I honestly don't give a stuff if all monitors will be touch screen, a large screen monitor used on a desktop doesn't lend itself to being used as a touch screen.

Who is going to work for hours with their arms at shoulder level using a touch screen, your arms would be dropping off in no time flat.

The one size fits all approach is not appropriate and to tell everyone that is what they are going to get, just makes them mad and is hardly going to make them switch.

And before Bob, et all say there is a utility/hack not to have to use the Metro interface, why the hell are M$ so damn intent on ignoring this as an option in the OS, that people even have to do this.

The metro apps do have a purpose and are especially nice if you want to be constantly informed of what's going on with your emails, your friends on Facebook and Skype, the news, the blogs you follow, etc etc. The current icons on your desktop just can't be used for that.
If you want to use your programs, simply go to your "old" desktop.
As with anything new, there is a learning curve but overall, Windows 8 is a vast improvement over Windows 7.

You can already get apps/extensions to do these things.

It isn't about being new, touch screen phones and pads/slates are more suited to touch screen interfaces (I have no problem with my phones android OS and touch screen interface) but on a desktop system with large screen monitor that is absolutely ridiculous. Not everyone is going to have the luxury of having multiple systems where they can have the OS best suited to their use of that system.

It is about being new, it is about how people use their systems and the intransigence of MS insisting on a one size fits all and failing to listen. It is cutting off their nose to spite their face, trying to force this on people isn't going to work they aren't going to buy it.

[bob3160]

But you have a choice:
Use the Metro apps or, go to the Desktop and forget about Metro apps.

[DavidR]

No, in its current incarnation you have no choice as the default is the Metro interface, I don't want to have to continually switch to a desktop interface, I want the option not to ever see the metro interface as an OS option not having to hack it or install another utility to do that. I really can't understand the MS Intransigence on this.

Whilst it is this way I would never purchase win8 for a desktop system and I feel that is likely to be the same for many who primarily use a desktop system.

I wouldn't have a problem with win8 on a tablet touch screen interface (or even MS Surface, which I quite like). But if I'm going to use a touch screen tablet, why would I pay for win8 when I can get android for free. So by going down this one size fits all it makes users consider other options and not just MS.

[Dch48]

Bob, can we see a screenshot of your Win 8 desktop that the utility you have gives you?

As far as "vastly improved" goes, I would have to disagree. Forget about the metro thing, the new explorer interface , with that ribbon, is also terrible. I have read every article on Win 8 that I have come across and I would have to say that the only thing that is improved are the recovery options.  I don't go as far as David does. I wouldn't mind using a utility to get a desktop interface as long as the machine booted directly into it, skipping the Metro UI entirely but I also will not be switching this Win 7 machine to 8. I will follow my usual procedure of only getting a new Windows version when I buy a new computer which happens every 6 years. I started with 98SE in '99, switched to XP in 2005, and got Win 7 in mid 2011. So I'll probably wind up with whatever the current version is in 2017 

[bob3160]

Bob, can we see a screenshot of your Win 8 desktop that the utility you have gives you?

As far as "vastly improved" goes, I would have to disagree. Forget about the metro thing, the new explorer interface , with that ribbon, is also terrible. I have read every article on Win 8 that I have come across and I would have to say that the only thing that is improved are the recovery options.  I don't go as far as David does. I wouldn't mind using a utility to get a desktop interface as long as the machine booted directly into it, skipping the Metro UI entirely but I also will not be switching this Win 7 machine to 8. I will follow my usual procedure of only getting a new Windows version when I buy a new computer which happens every 6 years. I started with 98SE in '99, switched to XP in 2005, and got Win 7 in mid 2011. So I'll probably wind up with whatever the current version is in 2017 

Here are some pictures:
Standard Windows 8 Metro:



After installing Classic Start Menu 3.5.1

Selecting the Windows Update selection brings up the following:

Menu:

Programs:

Documents:

Settings:

Search:

Selecting the Shutdown option brings up the following (Shown in expanded view.)

If you don't like it after trying it, you can always uninstall and go back to the defaults.

[Dch48]

I like that Bob, except for the clamshell Windows icon which I'm sure can be changed. Can you change the colors of the taskbar and window headers? Also, does Win 8 boot into that interface and skip Metro entirely?

[bob3160]

I like that Bob, except for the clamshell Windows icon which I'm sure can be changed. Can you change the colors of the taskbar and window headers? Also, does Win 8 boot into that interface and skip Metro entirely?

Sorry, I'm interested in usable changes. Ascetics don't concern me and aren't things I've looked into.
As far as the boot question goes, you get to see a very short wink of the Metro Start and then it changes to the desktop.
If you ever wanted to access the Metro Screen, simply depress the shift key while clicking on the "clamshell Windows icon"
 

[bob3160]

Office Professional Plus 2013 Preview

[bob3160]

                         Are you ready for a Mountain Lion ?

[bob3160]

A present during the Olympics otherwise you need to pay for the product.


No ads, no toolbar no spam but, you need to supply your email to get the free registration information:
http://www.blazevideo.com/promotion/


(It took almost an hour for the info to arrive.)

[bob3160]

http://youtu.be/ovQVvIPgO5w

[bob3160]

Designed to fix wrong program assignments especially after a virus attack.
For Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 and most likely Windows 8
Download Fix it from here.


(Abbreviated from this article in AskVG)

[Pondus]

Introducing Outlook.com - Modern Email for the Next Billion Mailboxes

http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-outlook/archive/2012/07/31/introducing-outlook-com-modern-email-for-the-next-billion-mailboxes.aspx