Getting used to Windows 8.1. It's weird.

[walpurgis]

Bought a new PC this week (Acer again). This has Windows 8.1 on it and I've only just set it up and started using it. I have to say that after Windows 7 this feels very odd and certainly not intuitive. Still haven't figured out how to adjust the display resolution. The text is way too small for me, but I'll poke around until I find out how. The graphics seem sharper, but that may just be down to the PC rather than the OS. Just got myself signed in here and that's about as far as I've got at the moment. I can understand many Windows 7 users disliking this, it just feels unnatural. I'm undecided so far, but usually adapt quickly to new things.

[struth]

The square box bottom left takes you to the standard desktop which always comes up with me; cannot remember if I had to change a setting for that or not. right clicking on the desktop should bring up options for resolution etc.

Some browsers have adjustable font sizes. in opera i set the zoom at 110%. graphics will be sharper if the resolution is higher and that can make the text smaller.
Using it in desktop mode its pretty much the same as other windows . if you get stuck moving the cursor to bottom right corner opens a panel that will take you most places. files, folders & programs can be found easily by double clicking on the breifcase at bottom..second in from left

[struth]

To get standard windows desktop to appear on boot up this is the routine....thought i had to persuade it :eyebrows:

1. After booting Windows 8.1 (here's how to get the preview if you don't already have it), click the Desktop tile to enter Desktop mode.

2. Right-click any open area in the taskbar, then click Properties.

3. Click the Navigation tab, then check the box next to Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in.

4. Click OK, then reboot. Windows should plunk you right into Desktop.

[walpurgis]

I'll carry on getting used to how stuff is offered, but I'm having a job reading anything. I've tried changing the resolution, but can't find anything that suits. My monitor is not helpful either. I think I'll change to my regular Comodo Dragon browser which I can customise easily.

[Audio Advent]

I've had a bit of frustrating learning curve too - luckily my secondhand new laptop had it already set-up to go to desktop.

Everything is hidden hidden hidden! Especially Metro apps - watched a video on the Metro app version of Media Player and accidently swiped the screen across (touchscreen) and it went to a commercial page of all the films I could pay for and watch but I couldn't get back to the video I was already watching! So had to load it up again via the convoluted method of finding a file which doesn't relate fully to the usual folder structure - more acting like iTunes where it has to find all your files first...

I gave up in the end, shut it down and re-clicked on the video file back at the desktop.

So bloody frustrating so much of the time! It's like 8.1 is made for people who have never used anything other than an iPad before.

Doesn't help I went from XP to 8.1 - many of the basic technical settings were hidden in Vista first from my brief use of it so I guess most people are used to having to click on a million things and then Advanced settings to adjust something which used to be non-advanced and to hand.

[Audio Advent]

One good tip if you prefer desktop mode - you can get all of the desktop programs to appear in the start menu page before all the metro apps. That way, when you need the calc to float on top of a desktop word doc or web browser, the desktop version of calc will be there first. The Metro app calc of course takes up the whole screen or you have to do a split screen, again with a daftly large calc.

Can't tell you how I got those programs to appear first though - I google stuff for explicit instruction.

[walpurgis]

Whoopie! Just downloaded free 'Classic Shell'. I've now got a very usable facsimile of Windows 7 instead of all those tiles. Ah. Relief!! :)

(I must say this new Acer is very quiet and surprisingly quick)

[struth]

One good tip if you prefer desktop mode - you can get all of the desktop programs to appear in the start menu page before all the metro apps. That way, when you need the calc to float on top of a desktop word doc or web browser, the desktop version of calc will be there first. The Metro app calc of course takes up the whole screen or you have to do a split screen, again with a daftly large calc.

Can't tell you how I got those programs to appear first though - I google stuff for explicit instruction.

That was what my post does. it sets standard desktop top be default instead of those metro tiles that I have to say I never go near. .and tbh you dont need them anyways. My desktop is basically the same as on my last pc

[The Black Adder]

I feel your pain.

Windows 8/8.1 is bloody awful. It's complete design over function.

Yep... classic Shell does help but windows 7 is still the best.

I wonder what windows 10 will be like? Has anyone downloaded/using the Technical Preview?

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Oh dear ...You could have bought some nice hifi instead.

What you have presently is the operating system controlling end users, the reverse applies with free software where the end user controls the operating system

Linux Mint is free, in both senses of the word, http://www.linuxmint.com
Free to use, and copy and more explained here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJi2rkHiNqg
and free in cost, but you can be nice and donate to its onward development .

Linux mint not quite right? Try 300+ operating systems here http://distrowatch.com

Cheers / Chris

[Tim]

I wonder what windows 10 will be like? Has anyone downloaded/using the Technical Preview?
Been using W10 off and on for sometime now Jo and I like it. Very stable, extremely quick to boot and shutdown (using an SSD, which it's optimised for) and so far, nothing there I don't like. I don't bother often with the Metro Tile interface and still use a traditional desktop most times, but will probably change over at some point - or flick between the two. The increased speed people experience with W8 is not just new hardware, it's the O/S - mind you, download/install loads of free crap and it'll soon sloooow down and folks will still blame the O/S. Once people get used to 8, upgrading to 10 won't be an issue at all and being a free upgrade, what's not to like?

I wouldn't recommend using a 'shell' personally, it's very simple to boot 8.1 to the desktop, but Geoff has a habit of bloating his machines out with third party software, so each to their own. I know some flat earth types here don't like change ;)

It's very beneficial to learn some shortcut keys with W8/8.1, makes the O/S even more of a joy to use.

http://www.shortcutworld.com/en/win/Windows_8.html

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/tutorial

[walpurgis]

I've got Linux Mint 17 on a (formerly XP) laptop. It works OK.

[Desmo]

I was issued with a Windows 8.1 machine at work. After a few months struggling with it, I just handed it back. Not worth the effort. Fortunately they let me use my own machine instead, so I just use a Samsung Chromebook. Nice and simple - like me :-)

[hifi_dave]

It was annoyance and frustration with Windows 8.1 which persuaded me to buy a Macbook for my Wife, quickly followed by one for me. They do what you want, first time, intuitively. Not that I know anything about computers.

[skimminstones]

8.1 seems mainly designed for touchscreen devices, probably works great on a pad. I find the metro style a bit too annoying for a normal laptop though so just use it in normal desktop mode and it's virtually the same as the previous versions

[The Black Adder]

Apparently I heard somewhere that Windows 8 has been Microsoft's biggest cock-up to date.

Interesting there, Tim.... I was tempted to download it but it will take a full laptop as you can't partition it.

Be good to hear some more feedback on that though.

[walpurgis]

Windows 8.0 and 8.1 are clearly not designed with static desktop PCs in mind. The mouse friendly usablity is missing. Thankfully the download of Classic Shell has resolved all that. Even IE now looks as normal. I've installed Comodo Dragon (Chrome based) browser too, so I'm back to the usability I had before with Windows 7.

If anybody is interested. Here's a free safe download of Classic Shell: http://download.cnet.com/Classic-Shell/3000-2072_4-75553853.html

[Audio Advent]

That was what my post does. it sets standard desktop top be default instead of those metro tiles that I have to say I never go near. .and tbh you dont need them anyways. My desktop is basically the same as on my last pc

I meant what appears when you press the windows button - normally you get the Metro apps up and then you have to scroll down to get to the desktop versions of the same apps (programs). You can swap that around somehow as I have done.

[Audio Advent]

I guess it really is meant for touch screen PCs though and swiping between desktop and say the pdf viewer app is nice. Seems you swipe down to close a Metro app? It's all guess work.

[Audio Advent]

It's very beneficial to learn some shortcut keys with W8/8.1, makes the O/S even more of a joy to use.

http://www.shortcutworld.com/en/win/Windows_8.html

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/tutorial

That's partly what I meant when I said everything in Windows 8.1 is hidden. To get a Metro app (media player) to appear on a second screen for example I had to learn a keyboard shortcut - there didn't seem to be any other way to do it without the hidden shortcut. Shortcuts should be just that with an easy to figure out long way of doing first.

[Audio Advent]

To be honest, I think I'll get used to it and end up liking it. I used to have the same reaction to OSX too - everything seemed to be dumbed down cos my computer brain thinks in terms of technical processes rather than pretty pictures. I guess that comes from starting with DOS (and BBC B of course)

[Tim]

Windows 8.0 and 8.1 are clearly not designed with static desktop PCs in mind.
Hmmm, don't agree with that at all - the O/S caters for both desktops and mobile devices, it's just different and new users aren't attempting to discover what those differences are, or use the interface to it's best ability.

Reverting back to what they know by installing a third party shell and tying to make it look and perform like what it has replaced is hardly progress? Ho hum, each to their own, but it kind of defeats the object.

[struth]

think as Tim says, it is what you make it. i jumped from vista to win 8. once i got rid of the tiles opening then its pretty much the same bar some routes to get to things which are quickly learned. You have to sign in to microsoft account everytime you switch on and although initially irritating it was just because it wad new. does make sense and only takes a second and increases security. the syst is faster and more stable...whats not to like

[Audio Advent]

All about the touchscreen though really....

My new secondhand laptop is a convertible (touchscreen where the screen can flip to a tablet) and was only £220 and in great nick, 3/4 years old but plent fast enough as an i5, Win 8.1 installed and licenced. So don't have to spend much at all to use it as it's meant to be used.

As an aside, Microsoft have just clamped down on the sharing of their source code.... for Windows NT 4.0 ! Haha..

http://torrentfreak.com/microsoft-takes-pirated-windows-nt-4-0-source-code-offline-150415/

[walpurgis]

Hmmm, don't agree with that at all - the O/S caters for both desktops and mobile devices, it's just different and new users aren't attempting to discover what those differences are, or use the interface to it's best ability.

Reverting back to what they know by installing a third party shell and tying to make it look and perform like what it has replaced is hardly progress? Ho hum, each to their own, but it kind of defeats the object.



So what is it you're trying to say?

I don't know what "progress" you mean. It's alternative certainly. That's because Microsoft cocked up when predicting the popularity of touch screen devices which have NOT become universal. I mean who in their right mind with a desktop PC would want the repeated awkwardness of leaning forward to use a static touch screen monitor. Not to mention all the resulting dirty smudges on it. They're a pain in the arse!!

My using an app to adapt Windows 8.1 to a format suitable for normal mouse use is logical, sensible and makes life a bloody site easier and is quicker. It also does not defeat any "object", as there wasn't one for desktops.

[Audio Advent]

You have to sign in to microsoft account everytime you switch on and although initially irritating it was just because it wad new. does make sense and only takes a second and increases security. the syst is faster and more stable...whats not to like

Gah! Got rid of that idea as soon as I could!

I want the ability to switch user accounts without having to set up a different Microsoft account with different email address etc etc. I don't want to buy anything and don't want to have apps updated on my PC without it being my idea after checking full compatability with third-party drivers etc etc. It's fine on a tablet where the hardware is fixed, but this is my main PC and I want everything to work and remain working and to remain the same so it's second-nature to use and stable forever.

Doesn't it also flip out if it you try to log on and it can't connect to the internet? Can't remember..

[Audio Advent]

So what is you're trying to say?

I don't know what "progress" you mean. It's alternative certainly. That's because Microsoft cocked up when predicting the popularity of touch screen devices which have NOT become universal. I mean who in their right mind with a desktop PC would want the repeated awkwardness of leaning forward to use a static touch screen monitor. Not to mention all the dirty smudges on it. They're a pain in the arse!!


Agree there.. Just doesn't work, stupid idea. Only works with something like a laptop. If the touchscreen for a desktop PC was flat like a book, it would make more sense.