I'm Depressed About Windows

[NoelC]

There attempt at over simplification is sad. It makes it harder for those of us who have been been using Windows for years to find what we need to get to. ex: Control Panel you now have to play with the metro control panel as well as the classic to accomplish some basic tasks.

 

Who's running the place that thinks re-implementing control panel stuff from GDI to Modern is important?  Does anyone there really believe that's going to sell even one more copy of the OS?

 

-Noel

[Tripredacus]

Does anyone there really believe that's going to sell even one more copy of the OS?

 

-Noel

That makes me think about something. When was the last time you can remember that people went out and bought a new PC or Windows OS because a new version came out? Was it maybe, Windows 95? Computers are not following the trend the phones are putting forth, where people will go and buy a new phone when it comes out. This is not just an Apple thing, as I have known people also being excited about new Samsung or HTC releases, although they just don't make the news.

I would say that, most of the time, a person is buying a new computer because their current PC is too slow or has failed and needs a replacement or that they want to get a notebook for the kids, going to college or a work requirement. Even corporations are only buying computers for new employees or to replace existing computers. For the most part, the consumer has no real choice as for what OS comes on their computer. Corporations have a greater control as they may have a volume license.

So in my mind, any changes to the OS can't possibly to make people go OOO and AHH and want to buy it. The changes must be done for some other reason... which might just be because they can...

And regarding the reason why anyone really cares about which OS version they are using, it comes down to stability and friendliness. XP and 7 were pretty much rock solid. Vista had a bad start at the gate due to various reasons but eventually ended up just like 7 post SP1 but still many people think it is horrible. Windows 8 had a bad rap, solely because of the GUI change although there are quite a few other reasons why people don't like it. People who actively use Windows 8 on the desktop, and not using the tablet/portable GUI find the OS is just fine. But you will fight those first impressions for the lifespan of the product.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

After the migraine i received due to watching the flowing colors during Win 8 setup (Was that sh*t supposed to be calming?) Then being slapped in the face by HAVING no choice but to give a ms email address to get into it I will NEVER use 8 again (Or even try to) I never got into the actual OS I rebooted from the you must log in bs straight to Win 7 setup.

[Tripredacus]

You don't have to use a MS account. There is a thing you can click to make a local account, but if you install with no network connection (not helpful on notebooks of course) then it won't prompt you for the MS account at all and just show you the screen to create a local account.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Yeah it was a laptop and there was no way to bypass. It felt like extortion or holding the laptop for ransom (You HAVE to give up your privacy to use this OS) Next win 10 rtm or the next one will want a finger print or retina scan to register your new PC or OS...

Edited November 7, 2014 by Kelsenellenelvian

[NoelC]

No, you don't have to give it up, but the method to set up with a local account is well-hidden in plain sight using dimmed, small text and confusing wording on TWO separate screens.

 

See my posts in this thread: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/882eaf9f-2456-4c7a-9a2e-e11de70d9123/skip-sign-in-to-your-microsoft-account-windows-81-setup?forum=w8itprogeneral

 

-Noel

[NoelC]

Direct link to screen grabs:  https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/c1b984c3-bad8-4c88-8326-72039a0bf14b/local-accounts-in-windows-81?forum=w8itprogeneral#9f447018-f3b6-4fae-85fc-c2c3ba2eb760

 

-Noel

[Kelsenellenelvian]

I'm pretty sure I didn't see those at all (Note this was a fully new installation of win 8.1 not a upgrade or anything) I did look for quite some time and i would like to think I could be considered a advanced user.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Like this guy says:

 

0

Sign in to vote

> There is no way to "convert" a Microsoft account to
> a Local account on Windows 8.1. You can do this on
> on Windows 8, which has the "Switch to a Local
> Account" option, but Winodws 8.1 does not have
> it, and that is by design. Microsoft wants you to
> sign in to its account every time you log into Windows.

Man I hope the FTC opens an investigation on Microsoft business practices. If this were examined in detail, I bet this would violate antitrust due to the illegal tying of services. (And you can't opt-out of the ad programs that are piled onto these "features" - you can only "personalize" the ads).

 

• Edited by Jeffrey Walton

[NoelC]

When was the last time you can remember that people went out and bought a new PC or Windows OS because a new version came out?

 

 

Well, as a computer engineer geek I *do* look for a new OS to bring me capabilities I didn't have before.

 

Yet today I still push around a mouse and use a keyboard that (in my case literally) hasn't changed in 30 years?

 

Last time the OS sold systems was (big surprise) the last time major innovation took place (e.g., introduction of graphics, or Explorer-centric "files as objects" operation, or 32 bit applications vs. 16 bit).

 

Real Innovation is more difficult than rearranging the draperies.  That's why it takes a giant, well-funded company to do it. 

 

Except...

 

Right now Microsoft is doing LESS than individuals in this very forum who tweak themes! (!!)  How is it so few people see this issue?  I'm not identifying anyone in this thread; we DO see it - but the world seems willing to just accept whatever Microsoft does as "innovation".

 

-Noel

[NoelC]

 

Note this was a fully new installation of win 8.1 not a upgrade or anything

 

Don't feel bad about having missed those links, but they're really there - yes, in a clean Win 8.1 installation.

 

-Noel

[Kelsenellenelvian]

 

 

Note this was a fully new installation of win 8.1 not a upgrade or anything

 

Don't feel bad about having missed those links, but they're really there - yes, in a clean Win 8.1 installation.

 

-Noel

 

 

That actually just makes me madder at MS.

[NoelC]

Yes, they're being devious and predatory IN ADDITION TO being incompetent.  It's an inescapable conclusion.

 

-Noel

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Yes, they're being devious and predatory IN ADDITION TO being incompetent.  It's an inescapable conclusion.

 

-Noel

 

 

Not surprising with the xbox one practices and some of the horror stories I read of people using xbox live and the cloud, then getting royally screwed by MS automated stuff. (Like being banned from all ms accounts for uploading family pics that the filter caught as child porn and then being auto reported to the feds) They were just pics that had children in swimsuits in some of them in that case.... MS never admitted any wrong and the people were still banned from all of their ms accounts and their cloud stuff was deleted (Or so was said) during the "investigation"

[JorgeA]

 

if there was EVER time for Linux to become most user friendly and easy to use

its now !

 

 

ubuntu took off mainly because its used for android development otherwise it would have still been a dinosaur and it doesnt seem like they are going anywhere with thei ubiquity interface either... the hardware requirement like windows is only going up tho.. linux is right up their with windows now.

 

 

There are (fortunately) some decent Linux desktops out there, like KDE. But IMO Linux will never become anything other than a plaything for enthusiasts or a tool for IT pros until they stop asking people to reinstall everything every six months. They need to come up with a more practical update method, like that of Windows. I can't see regular people, who have lives outside of the latest Linux version, adopting this in any numbers. And those three-year "long"-term releases don't hold a candle to Windows either, where hundreds of millions of users can still run their up-to-date Win7 and Vista systems five and eight years after the OSes came out.

 

I don't like what Microsoft is doing with Windows 8 and 10, but I have to hand it to them that historically they've made it easy and relatively convenient to stay up to date when using Windows.

 

--JorgeA