What is Reddit's opinion of
Start8?
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➔ Start8 website
By popularity on Reddit, this Service is:
100 reviews of this app found across Reddit:
I don't understand. This is a desktop replacement, right? Metro has nothing to do with the normal desktop. In fact I feel like there's been a bit of a misunderstanding with this whole thing with those who haven't used it. If you're on a desktop, you're not forced to use Metro at all, it's completely voluntary. Only differences are the metro-style Login screen on boot then clicking the Desktop button and a different location to shut down the PC (there are workarounds for these). Otherwise, I'm on the desktop all the time. On top of that, you can spend a few seconds installing Start8 to bring back the start menu button. After I spent a day getting over the hump of figuring out all the new stuff, it's really been just like Windows 7, only faster and snappier.
I'm not saying there's no place for awesome hacks like this, more referring to the ridiculous amount of hyperbole around W8 I've seen around these parts.
I know that you're not happy with windows 8. My advice is to update to 8.1 (Free through the Store) and see if your opinion changes at all. It includes UI improvements, the return of the start button, desktop improvements, much better metro apps, and the ability to boot straight to the desktop if you want.
If you still don't like metro in 8.1, you can install a program that replaces the start screen with a familiar start button, such as Start8: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ This will give you back the familiar interface with all the speed and efficiency improvements of Windows 8.1. In any case, I don't believe that downgrading to Windows 7 is a good idea. You might get it to work, but your installed programs and settings will be erased. Plus you'll be running outdated software that is not as efficient (battery life/performance) as it could be.
Performance wise, it performs faster than Windows 7. Usability wise, there is an adjustment period. For example, in order to get to the start menu, you have to go to the very bottom left hand corner, and click (The button for the start menu only pops up when you go to the corner).In order to shutdown you have to bring up the charms bar by going to a corner on the right side, go to Settings >> Power >> Shutdown. It's a bit of a hassle but you get used to it after a week or so.
Windows 8 has the new Metro UI, but what's great is that the desktop is still there, and very much updated. It has a new task manager, comes with MSE built in, has the ability to mount ISOs now, and also has better multi-monitor support. There's a lot more, but that's all I can think of at the top of my head. To me, the changes made on the desktop are pretty similar to the changes made from Vista to Windows 7 in terms of the size of the improvements.
If you find that you don't like the new Metro apps, then you can just unpin them from the start screen, and just pin all the desktop apps you want like so. The only disadvantage is that the start menu is full screen now.
If you still hate the metro start menu after trying it out, then install Start8 or Vistart, which are more traditional start menus.
Overall, it's honestly not too bad. It's about as stable as Windows 7, so it's not nearly as buggy as Vista's launch was, and it's easy to avoid the Metro UI if you don't want it. I know a lot of the comments on Reddit have called it a tablet OS and such, but it's every bit as capable as Windows 7, and performs faster so there really isn't much to lose by giving it a go. Is it a must have upgrade from Windows 7? No, but it's definitely an improvement from Windows 7.
That's kind of hard when I try to open a program, or menu, and it automatically opens in the metro ui, without giving me the choice to open it in the desktop.
I have downloaded Start8, and it seems good at keeping me out of the metro ui, though.
>More experimental garbage. It's going to be slow, horrible, buggy and generally unusable.
I completely disagree. I've been using Win8 since the Developer Preview and it's as fast or faster than Win7 in most cases.
That being said, I'm not a fan of metro, and completely agree with you about the UI changes.
Edit: I forgot to add, this is what they should have done to the desktop start menu.
Start8. I shouldn't have to go to a third party to get this. I wish you just had an option when you installed Win8 to disable the features that make no sense if your computer doesn't have a touch screen detected.
You realize the metro interface isn't the entire OS, right? It's a replacement for the start menu, which you can get back. The desktop is still there and functional.
i'm using windows 8... kid you not it is exactly the same as windows 7. I had the same opinion as everyone else here but this is answer to all your problems http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Disables hotcorners and provides exactly the same start menu with full functionality
I just wish more people knew about this.
Can I offer another (late) vote for Start8? I got in a couple nights ago based on a recommendation here and I love it. It solved my three biggest complaints with Windows 8:
- Start button back on taskbar, launching a full-featured Start menu
- Boot to Desktop skipping Start screen
- Elimination of corner hotspots, which I found annoying when mousing.
For five bucks it's a lot easier than trying to manage a downgrade and as others have said, you keep under-the-hood Windows 8 improvements.
It's an organization you can belong to if you are in the 98th percentile in any standardized IQ test. Basically a smug asshole club.
For what it's worth, I've been using Windows 8 for a while now and with Stardock's Start8 it is fantastic. I see no reason not to adopt if you are savvy enough to install an application that requires zero configuration to behave just like Windows 7 does.
Ridiculous, the certification only deals with software available through the Microsoft store. The Application signing has wider consequences.
As for an app that "brings back" the old UI, the code for that UI has been deprecated, so it wont happen. You can however run something that gives you something similar... right now. Notice how it is available outside of the company store without any certification?
I've never seen this comment before. /s
But if you're serious...
http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Alternatively, you could learn to navigate by keyboard or simply stick with seven and stop whining about something you're not forced to buy.
It's really not that big of a deal, if you must have the start menu back, just take a good 2 minutes to install something like this that brings the start menu back.
I've seen that. I use start8 on my win8 machine at work (only reason it exists is for software testing on that OS) and I also have it on a server running 2012 (which also adopted the awful metro UI)
Get Windows 8.1.
You get used to the absence of the Start Menu, but if you really can't live without it, you can install Start8 or Classic Shell.
I've been able to play every game so far on Windows 8.1, ranging from Sim City 4 (2003) and Richard Burns Rally (2004) all the way up to League of Legends and Red Orchestra 2. Don't worry about that.
You can choose which drive to install Windows in during installation so you can leave both your SSD and HDD in. Here's how that screen looks like in Windows 8.1.
Good luck!
You need two things to turn off metro: Start8 (http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/) and ModernMix (http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/) $5 each. The first gives you are fully functional start button same as all previous versions of Windows and loads windows into desktop view by default. The second makes any metro apps that are launched from desktop, open in desktop. Between the two, you get all the benefits for Windows 8 and none of the annoyances.
Of course it also defeats Microsoft's purpose of creating metro in the first place since you never have to lay eyes on the train wreck that is metro...
The original windows phone copied the look and feel of the desktop environment to the phone screen. I think Microsoft should have gone continued with this and made windows 8 mobile feel more like regular desktop environment. This would give them the best of both worlds that they wanted in the first place. Imo, the reason there are so few windows phones out there is because there are no good phones( hardware) that runs windows OS and metro did nothing to fix this.
Windows 7 is that faithful old girlfriend you've been seeing for a while and are used to.
Windows 8 is a butterface. The backend is gorgeous, and better than anything you ever had, but the face is disgusting.
It's a great tablet OS. On my desktop it was just a slightly updated Win7 with no functional start menu.
Edit: For anyone reading this that's on the fence, Start8 is fantastic and completely fixes what Microsoft fucked up. I highly suggest it.
The only touch-friendly stuff you have no choice in is the start screen. All of the included 'apps' and such can be uninstalled or ignored. The traditional desktop is still there, and is vastly improved from Windows 7.
The only exception is Windows RT, which is basically Windows 8 for ARM powered machines (tablets); There is no desktop in Windows RT.
I like the start screen quite a bit more than the start menu. It still has the "start typing something to search" functionality, and clicking boxes is easier / quicker than clicking tiny items in a list.
If you're adamant about hating the start screen, Stardock has a program you can use to bring back the old start menu.
I'd recommend you upgrade, the OS itself runs noticeably better, and you should see some performance gains in gaming (if you do that on PC) amongst other things. TBH Windows 8 feels like what Windows 7.5 would be, but with some tablet features thrown in. The interface divide between Metro and Desktop is quite jarring, but there are ways to remove the Start Screen and other Metro stuff if you want: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Edit: Also don't forget the Refresh and Reset features, which are absolutely one of the greatest features in this OS (lets you reset Windows core files to default while keeping your programs and files, or deleting your programs and files if you want a quick factory reset). The new task manager is also pretty awesome.
How on earth are you searching through a list of programs while watching something else at the same time?
Regardless, if that's what you really want, you could always install Start8. I know this article is talking about how Microsoft is "ripping out" legacy code, but Paul Thurott is not a programmer, all he knows is that his previous start menu apps don't work in the Release Preview, which is to be expected since Microsoft changed the start menu button slightly. My guess is that we'll still be getting apps like Start8. It's like trying to have a 100% secure OS, it's impossible.
Also, if you're like me, and you work in multiple web browsers, and IDEs you probably have two screens in which case you could just open the start menu on the screen that the video isn't playing in.
I use start8 to get the windows 7 style start menu, makes windows 8 way better imo. The only problem is you have to pay to keep it, you can try the 30 day trial though.
>Hi, so I am tired of windows 8
Just curious, have you tried Classic Shell or Start8? It effectively turns 8/8.1 into 7 with a start menu etc.
I spent the $5 on Start8. I find its a lot smoother and more polished feeling than Classicshell.
With Win 10 around the corner though I probably wouldn't buy it now.
100% stardock start 8. It's $5 but works fantastically. It's such a perfect recreation of the windows 7 start menu that I legitimately forget I'm using Windows 8 on my personal computer.
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
It's the only one I recommend to my clients because it works so well you forget it's an extra program.
It will be a free for a year, and if you haven't upgraded by then you'll have to buy it. There won't be a subscription or any charge once you have it.
In terms of Windows 8, I've been running it on a desktop and a tablet for a while now. I personally like the start screen, but if you prefer a menu Start 8 has you covered. And aside from a brief learning curve to know how the fullscreen apps work, it's objectively better than Windows 7. Unless you're really into the TRANSPARENCY EVERYWHRE IT'S SUPRER COOL thing, because they took that out and gave it to Apple, apparently.
8.1 fixed the "there's no close box what do?" issue in metro apps from the initial release, and the main reason people still complain about Windows 8 is that they've never tried it and they'd have to admit to being wrong.
Granted it's not worth upgrading with windows 10 around the corner, I just felt like I should set the record straight.
Get windows 8.1. if you don't like the start menu (I hate it) for $5 you can get start8. DirectX 12 is coming out and it will not have support for windows 7.
Windows 8/8.1 doesn't offer a "classic" start menu. So you were using a third part app that replaces the Start Screen (the tiled start menu you are referring to) with a "classic" start, usually with some extra functionalities, like "popular apps".
Since the computer was "relatively new" it was probably some kind of bloatware installed by the OEM. You may have disinstalled that utility by accident or maybe it was in trial and expired.
If you want that specific software back, sometimes the vendor make it aviable on the "driver & software" section of you model (if it wasn't trial) or you can try another "start screen replacement" app, both free (like classic shell) and paid (stardock's start8 is probably the most famous, you can try it or buy it here).
Or you can simply keep using the Start Screen, like Windows 8.1 is intended to be used. Can get a little of effort getting used to it, but can really speed up some operations. You can see some tutorials (probably the best made so far) on Scott Hanselman's youtube channel.
EDIT: some cosmetic & grammar fixes
1) Create a local account instead of logging in with a Live account.
2) Set it to log straight into the desktop
3) Set the default Metro apps to their desktop equivalents in the Control Panel
4) Install Classic Shell or Start8.
Aside from a few small annoyances, you'll almost forget it's not Windows 7.
My go-to recommendation for a "cheap gaming laptop" (which is kind of like talking about getting a "cheap Ferrari", but that's another discussion) is the Lenovo Y510p.
It's got solid specs, and you can usually pick one up for under a grand if you choose one of the models that sacrifices some hard drive and luxuries like a Bluray drive.
They come with Windows 8.1. I know it's trendy to hate Windows 8. I used to think it was a terrible, useless thing and it's Vista 2.0 and so on. But then I actually started using it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Windows 8; in many respects, it's actually better than Windows 7.
The biggest complaint is about the Metro interface sucking on a non-tablet device, and that's a valid complaint. That's why there are programs like Classic Shell and Start8, and Microsoft is even rumored to be planning to bring the Start menu back in future versions.
So, anyway, yeah, that Lenovo laptop is pretty good. I'd just caution you that any new laptop you get will probably come with Windows 8, and it's really a solid OS once you look past all the media hate and the clumsy interface they tacked on for tablets.
People smash it without trying it. The only disadvantage IMO is that there's no start menu, and the default Metro start screen. Both can be fixed very easily. I use Start8 http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ which solves both issues.
Windows 8 has a lot of good improvements over 7, but is hampered by a terrible UI for mouse and keyboard use, and most importantly for no-nonsense business use.
Solution: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ + http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/ and now you have all the advantages of Windows 8 without its two biggest annoyances.
You actually don't have to use metro ui. There are a few programs you can download. The programs are Classic Shell, Start8, and there was one more but I forget the name of it.
Might wanna post this here in /r/SuggestALaptop
I would suggest getting a windows laptop, purely because of support and cost. Mac's do have stability and sort of reliability going for them, but it comes at a massive cost to you as a user, and, in most cases, they just aren't worth it
I would consider getting a Windows 8 laptop (as that's about the only OS you can get on it) with decent internals.. So, if you're a gamer, definitely windows for the gaming support, dedicated graphics card, i5 maybe, 6GB RAM, should probably cover you for light-medium gaming, and more than cover you for every day browsing..
Windows 8 regardless of what you hear is pretty stable (for me anyway). There services are improving and everything's getting there what with SkyDrive integration, the added security benefits that Windows 8 built on massively, and the improved GUI in some cases (such as the task manager), but not the MetroUI Tile crap, that's explained later...
My laptop I brought with Windows 7 on it, loved it, made the move in about June last year (hesitant to do so because I hate the tile UI with a passion), and with the two programs linked below, I now enjoy it more. My laptop boots really quickly, and the OS just feels more snappy. Can't put my finger on it to be honest why, it just does
If you have Windows 8 installed, consider getting programs like Start8 and ModernMix (both by StarDock). Start8 offers you a full start button on your desktop mode, as well as the option to disable those pesky hot-corners, etc. and ModernMix runs the Windows 8 full screen apps in a window, so you can close them from your task bar. From this, you get Windows 8 security, speed and stability, coupled with Windows 7 productivity (never having to interact with the Tile UI again)
I have the above combination, and I couldn't recommend it more.
Take a look at the Dell Inspiron 15:
- 15.6 inch, 1366x768p display
- Intel Celeron 1017U + 4 GB of RAM
- 320 GB HDD
- Price: $320
> My budget is $300
Your budget is kinda low. Don't expect something with great build quality. Be careful with it and buy a padded sleeve if you're going to carry it around.
> I'm not a big fan of windows 8, if I have to get another I will. I want to look at windows 7.
If you don't like Windows 8, update it to 8.1 (it's free in the Microsoft App Store). Then change the settings to book up straight to desktop mode and install something like Start8 to get the Start Button back and you won't see the Live Tiles again.
I've been using windows 7 since it came out, and i switched to windows 8 when it came out. I have around 100 steam games that all work on windows 8 (even older ones like counter strike 1.6), and I haven't had any compatibility issues after installing all the updates brought to the OS. At first i was a hater and only stuck to windows 7, but now i see that Windows 8 actually performs noticeably much faster overall and also has better dual monitor support. My only problem with this OS is the start button which i still could not get used to even after around 4 months of using it, so i bought and downloaded a program called Start8 by stardock that brought back the old windows 7 startbutton and removed some of the windows 8 interface. Another flaw I had was little compatibility issues every now and then with windows 8.1 when it first came out on many of the games I played, but im certain its gotten patches since then so it would most likely work better. Overall I would say that 9/10 times the programs and games that work on windows 7 work on windows 8 from what ive used. As a once Windows 7 fanboy I could honestly recommend this OS over windows 7 keeping in mind that you download the Start8 program along with it.
I just installed this and changed the settings so that going to the bottom left brings up the default 'metro' menu as you would expect and pressing the windows key on the keyboard brings up the traditional windows start menu.
It's actually pretty neat, worth $4 (£2!) for use on a laptop / desktop. Wouldn't work on the surface RT but don't think it would be neccesary on a touch screen anyway.
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ This is a mod my friend has shown me for windows 8. Basically give you back the windows 7 start button and menu.
Edit: Just for people who were wondering the pro's and con's of windows 8 :P
>They may have single handedly solved the headache that is the new UI decision from Microsoft. http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Dumbest idea ever to remove the start button / pearl from the Desktop UI. "Oh, oh! Let's make people jam their mouse into the bottom left corner! That sounds like a GREAT UI idea." I think people that design smartphone UIs know how stupid that is too, because they have the decency to put a faint dot symbol where you can tap -- a visual cue. Maybe, if Microsoft wants to get in on the mobile market, they should try paying attention to what everyone else is doing for once in their existence and not play catch up to standard features 10 years later.
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
It was the first thing I installed when I tried out Win8. It's not perfect (no drag+drop to/on the start menu), but it makes the Win8 desktop a fair bit more usable, and visually, it's a very good replica of what we're used to in Win7.
The current beta version was free. They're going to make a killing if/when they start charging for the final version! (Unless Microsoft comes after them for some sort of copyright/patent infringement...)
You'd get a lot more upvotes if you'd explain what it is, what it does, and maybe give a link!
It gives you back the start button, which links to a miniature version of Metro that loads like the Start menu. It does not disable Metro entirely, in that apps still load full-screen outside of the desktop. Nonetheless, if it remains free, most techies will be installing this on most end-user systems just to mitigate the massive support workload that Metro is going cause.
You can get it here: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
I actually have Windows 8. I'm using a program called Start8 that changes how the Start Menu looks like to a more Windows 7 style. In the program there's an option to change the menu button to anything you like.
You can get it here: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Edit: There's also one on the same page for Windows 10
You already can do that. See: Start8 or RocketDock or Rainmeter. You can't directly swap out the Windows Start menu for Apple's dock because they both depend on large chunks of the underlying system, which you'd have to re-implement in order to get it to work (down to the fact that the code that opens files is different).
The complete ignorance of Metro Apps is a thing you have to learn to master when using Windows 8. And sadly, there are lots of programs preinstalled in Windows 8, which are only Metro Apps. You often can see this easily because the Metro Apps Icon are square and "modern", fitting in the Metro UI. The desktop app does not have the square purple background.
If you download a program from a website, in 99/100 times it is the desktop version, for the last program you have to search for a desktop program (I only know skype where you have to do this).
Metro Apps are normally downloaded through the Windows Store, there are no desktop programs in there. If you need any other help with Windows 8 feel free to ask. Once you get it, you will love it! :) For a better experience I recommend downloading Classic Shell or buying Start8. These are giving you a Windows 7 like Start Menu. I personally use Start8 because it has some better design features in my opinion, but you can try out both for free and make yourself an image :)
I used to use a program called "Actual Multiple Monitors"
It's a little bulky but tons of features like adding buttons for maximizing windows across monitors, selecting an area of one screen and blowing up it on another (league of legends minimap taking up my whole TV). TBH I pirated it because $25 was too much.
Got rid of that when I switched to Windows 8 because I found another called Start8 that would let me skip the metro menu and added the start menu back, totally worth the $5 or $8.
Now I just use Windows 10 and it does it by default, 8.1 might as well.
Still time to sign up for Windows Insider and get 10 free without upgrading
But there are multiple other options such as Stardock's Start8, StartIsBack and others.
Start8 is also a good alternative. It does cost $5 but it has a lot of nice features that I think are worth the money. It's also been packed for free with Asus (I think) motherboards.
I'm running on my 8.1 on my newly (3 weeks ago) built machine. No issues what so ever. Runs very fast on my SSD and 8GB of RAM. The only thing 8.1 is missing is a proper start menu. Start8 will put you right.
Windows 8 is pretty much Windows 7 in drag. I would upgrade because it's free and because there are improvements (that we don't see) that fix issues and make windows more efficient. You don't have to learn the new interface if you choose not to do so. There are several utilities, free and paid, that bring the start menu/button back to Windows 8. I'm not a fan of the new interface, so I'm running Windows 8.1 with a (paid) utility called Start8. My desktop looks just like Windows 7 and allows me to be more productive.
Yeah it does, you can configure the PC to boot into desktop mode directly.
If you want to run metro apps on the desktop you can try using ModernMix
And if you want the classic Start menu back you can give Start8 a try.
Because why not. I just bought a new laptop (clevo p150sm [I7 4700QM;16GB;840ProSSD;GTX780M]) and there was no windows on it. My university has windows deals for windows 8. And I think windows 8 is better then windows 7. Why do you hate it? Because of the metro screen and because there is no start menu? I didn't use the start menu in windows 7. Just click the windows key and type the first 2 letters of the game/ program you want and it launches with enter. It works the same on 7 and 8.
My girlfriend thought the same as you. But after I chose a windows 8 laptop for her. (she thought it was windows 7). She just needed to work with it. And after 2 weeks, she couldn't work without it.
If you really want a start menu on win8. Try this then: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Windows 8 performs better http://kotaku.com/5935337/lets-see-how-windows-8-performs-against-windows-7
And you can easily revert it back. (not a SS of my system, I would never run that much on my bar) http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/images/ss1.png
You can tell it to launch to desktop by default and never use the Metro UI, I don't use Metro at all.
Combine it with Start 8, its basically normal windows again. http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/images/ss1.png
Not to mention it does have a performance boost over win 7 in many areas. http://kotaku.com/5935337/lets-see-how-windows-8-performs-against-windows-7
I run windows 8 so the start button is from Start8 and for the colour i just set it to a dark grey/ light black colour. Other than start8 its just stock windows 8.
Definitely better performance and boot up time with Windows 8. If you don't like the new start menu with the tiles, you could always install a program like Start 8 to get the old start menu back. You will still be able to access the new start menu in case you want to use apps from the Windows store.
The Start8 start menu is $5, but it feels native. I used Classic Shell for a while, but I eventually caved and paid the five dollars and now it feels pretty much like when I had Windows 7.
I would recommend a 8*3*0 instead of the 840. The reason being that the 840 uses TLC nand which store 3 bits in a cell vs the 830 which uses a MLC nand which only stores 2 bits. The use of TLC allows the drive manufacturers to cram more storage on the same number of chips but it can cause the chips to fail earlier due to the way that nand memory works. Here is more information than you'd ever need.
On to your actual question. Windows 8 is no worse than windows 7. I have Windows 8 on my laptop and 7 on my desktop. The differences between the two are insignificant. The major changes are cosmetic and you can (through the use of third party software) make it look just like 7. So if you're happy with 7 than I would recommend sticking to it. However, if you're buying an SSD you'd want to do a fresh install of the OS anyways. If you'd like to upgrade then it's a perfect time to do so.
As for the capacity issue, I would say 250gb is more than plenty. You'd only really want to put the applications that you'd use a lot on the SSD. With Steam you can even choose the install directory now. I have a 120gb Samsung 830 that I am very happy with. It's still got about 20gb of space, I can reclaim another good chunk if I delete a game.
Hope that helps and sorry for the wall of text.
You can actually group tiles and then name the group, that's what I do for my steam games etc. Some sort of nested system would be better though I agree.
I guess my point is I'm pretty indifferent, I can understand people being annoyed, and it could be a little more intuitive for pc users, them focusing on mobile so much is annoying. I work in IT though so I'm used to Googling and trying to figure out how the heck to do stuff, the average user isn't.
Also a heads up theres a great app by stardock you might be interested in, http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ it was mentioned in this months PC Gamer as well.
You can change the look (i.e. add an aero theme) but you're right. It doesn't maintain the sharp edges and color scheme the start menu does. For that you'd want to look into start8 as mentioned above.
Start8 Let's you have your old start menu back instead of using the metro screen (which is still there if you want it). I'm using Start8 mostly because I hate how many clicks away shutdown is on the system now, and my computer is next to my TV so I'm not going to trek over to the power button.
But yeah I like Start8 and I love the speed of Windows 8 (especially with an SSD).
More people need to know of Start8, this and a second monitor is making my Windows 8 experience great. I love Metro for when I use my PC as a media centre due to the Netflix app!
I've had no issues. It's, on the whole, functionally no different from 7 for me with the Start8 menu, just maybe a little faster. On the other hand, FUCK CHANGE. SHIT. ASS.
I pretty much agree with you. If I could boot straight to the desktop and never see Metro I would probably upgrade.
There is a cool piece of software called Start 8 that supposedly does this, but my computer boots to a black screen with it.
~~Yeh, Windows Live Games which allows you to access the xbox live market place and buy/play games.~~ Thought you said, see any game features.
Well, below is a little explanation of what I consider to be an improvement with the UI. But some other things, here's an article discussing why Windows 8 is better for multiple monitors, Link. Here's a list of features, Link. I consider the Windows Store to be an advantage, because I personally don't believe that Microsoft are attempting to make it the centre of Windows.
> Also do you see the big start screen that was made to promote RT apps?
You either like it or you don't, I personally love the new start screen. I have found it easier to manage and use. Sure, the restart/shutdown might take an extra step or two, but on the same note you no longer need to go all programs > accessories etc... because it's all laid out on one screen. Searching also provides a more full view.
Worst case scenario, even if for some reason you're finding it so hard to adapt to these changes, there are plenty of addons that take 1 minute to download and install to revert those changes. Start8 for example.
Another possible alternative is this. I haven't tested it personally but it doesn't look quite as pretty as OP's link. I'm sure as windows 8 ages we'll see a few more of these programs designed to emulate the old start menu.
If you're on Windows 7, there aren't many compelling reasons to upgrade to it other than that it's only a $40 upgrade and you get performance improvements. The speed difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 is about the same between Vista and 7. Just to clarify, the differences between Vista and 7 weren't too big despite all the hate Vista got.
If you're on Windows XP or building a new computer though, there really isn't a reason to avoid it imo, if you're considering switching to ubuntu, then that means you're willing to learn a new UI, so why not learn Windows 8? That will probably be easy to learn since the only thing you need to do install one little start menu program that makes it act like Windows 7.
If you don't want to install something like Start8 or Classic Shell the only real difference between Windows 8 and Windows 7 (assuming you don't use the metro apps) is that the start menu is full screen (just like ubuntu), and you go to the bottom right hand corner to shutdown.
Oh, there's far, far more functionality in the start menu than that.
I use it to redirect the user directories, the control panel options, computer management and properties...
I like a clean desktop so the startup menu is actually quite valuable to me.
Windows 8 was terrible. Windows 8.1 improved Windows 8 dramatically. But I didn't really like it until I installed Classic Shell. Installing Classic Shell or Start8 made Windows 8.1 a great operating system for me.
I greatly dislike Windows 10, due to attempts at forcing or tricking customers to upgrade, privacy concerns / violations, and because of broken applications. (Both Microsoft's, as well as other applications.)
I will keep my current gaming system running Windows 8.1 for the foreseeable future, but have migrated my laptop to a Linux distribution and will buy an Apple workstation for my birthday this Fall.
I am done with Microsoft.
SmoothPing.com and Start8 (http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/) are blocked by BattlEye. I had to remove SmoothPing to be able to play. Win 8.1 professional.
Edit: Start8 still works to some extend. I didn't had to remove it to play the game.
You'd have to make sure that the hardware is supported by Windows 7 compatible drivers. Laptop hardware can be weirdly specific. I suggest getting Start8 ( http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/) and live with Windows 8.1 - it's really not that bad. I've tried Windows 10 - Microsoft absolutely refuses to listen to what their customers want - the start menu there is just the Metro interface shrunk down - it's a real slap in the face.
i hear you ... try start8 http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/.
it puts the button back, and gives you a win7 style menu, and gets rid of METRO. it's great. all for $5 or something. i am not affiliated.
win8 seems to have a smoother process and IO scheduler. it's impressive. don't downgrade just yet.
also check out https://www.thurrott.com/tag/clean-pc for lots of articles on doing a clean install.
Put Windows 8 back on it, if they made it without support for Windows 7 you are possibly wasting your time hunting around for drivers.
If you hate Windows 8 style install a program like Classic Shell (free) or Start8 ($4.99) and use it that way. Start8 does come with a 30 day trial if you want to test it.
I personally use Start8 and recommend it to anyone who asks if it's any good. (I'm not affiliated with this company, it's just a good program)
My next setup will be 8.1 but with a few of the stardock products;
- http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
- http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/
- http://www.stardock.com/products/shadowfx/
The perf improvements on 8.1 over 7 shouldn't be forgotten about, even if Windows 8 was a series of badly executed, poorly thought out decisions.
Here (link) is one of the best, if not the best, interface changer for Windows 8. Nothing fishy about this one at all!
Build looks pretty good, and the mobo works very well. A 128 GB SSD is a little limiting with the space that it provides, so if you can spring for a 240/256, you could try that. Not sure if you're able to get a little better graphics card for the price since I'm unfamiliar with the euro market, but perhaps you could finagle the parts around with a different case or maybe something else, it could work (not necessary in the slightest, though). Glad you were able to find a build that works for you!
> and windows 8 was made for xboxes and touch screens
Oh how my master race brethren would love you.
ahem
My suggestion would be to keep Windows 8.1 and simply install a program like Start8. It makes Windows 8 look and feel like Windows 7, but keeps all of the Windows 8 improvements.
Alternatively, follow this guide:
I understand totally about buying more PSU than you really need. With 900-series, NVidia managed to cut down power requirements a lot. Still, you could probably run 4-way 980s in SLI with 1200W. And 8 hard disks.
There are several differences between Start8 and Classic Shell. It's more a matter or preference, though, not so much technical. I use Start8 from Stardock, who does a few decent games as well (you may recall Galactic Civilization, or Demigod). It has quite a few options, and pretty much just stays out of your way. Some people prefer Classic Shell for some of it's features. It does more. It won't hurt to try either one, Start8 has a 30-day free trial.
Yeah, my W520 and X220t run way better on Windows 8.1 than they did on 7. Lot of little improvements that add up to a better experience.
Just one example: I'm diligent about using the Safely Remove Hardware menu. In Windows 7, that menu took a good 10-15 seconds to pop up. Very annoying when you use it many times a day! In 8, the menu always opens instantly.
I spent $5 each on Start8 and ModernMix, so I have a regular Start menu and never see Metro unless I choose to.
I'm curious about the reason you have to run Windows 7. Windows 8.1 would handle this so much better. You would run in native resolution and tell Windows to use 125%-140% DPI scaling.
Then Windows would stretch everything for you and your apps would look just like they would if you used a scaled screen resolution. However, many apps do run gracefully at native resolution now, and those apps would either run that way automatically, or you'd have the option of turning off bitmap scaling in the compatibility settings for each app.
It's really the best of both worlds, compared with forcing everything to use bitmap stretching via a display resolution change.
I run my W520 at 140% scaling and have forced most of the apps I use to run natively (without stretching). It really looks great this way: I get the bigger text I want, and that text is much more crisp and detailed than it would be with non-native resolution.
If the Start screen is the reason to stick with Windows 7, then Start8 is a great way to fix that. I hardly ever notice that I'm not using Windows 7! :-)
If you go for windows 8. Get: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Then you can be happy again. There is a free opensource version that i don't think is very good. You get your start menu back. Window 8 with a start menu is awesome.
Don't worry about Win 8. A lot of people hate it, and it Win 9 will be coming out soon. There will inevitibly be an upgrade program of some sort to get you to move to Win 9.
In the mean time, Start8 recreates the Windows Start button for you.
It's not a great option, but if you're willing to spend about $5, you can get Start8. Since the Windows logo o the front of the device is practically just a start button, you can program it to take you to the desktop via the settings in Start8. Good luck!
Edit: The start menu is optional, but comes by default, since it's the main appeal of the program. It's not required to have, however, if you don't want it.
the whole win 8 thing such a shitstorm of crap. i just replaced it with this and is usable again.
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
most of the benefits of 8 with 7 interface.
the thing is, windows 8 puts points on my screen i mostly do not want there, that thing allows to turn all of that off, gives you a nice normal start menu.
also boots win 8 direct to desktop.
(there are free things that do all of this, but this one is a pretty complete package)
Go for Windows 8.1 and 'buy' and install Start8 - http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Fast OS, gaming works fine, etc and you'll never use the metro ui ever again with Start8 unless you want to use it.
Edit: didn't mention classic shell or similar because I've only used Start8.
I don't find anything wrong with Windows 8, I have it on my Dell XPS 12 and the touchscreen function is great (Civ 5 is awesome with it). I also have it on my PC and don't have any issues at all. Just install Start8 and set it up to boot straight to desktop. I mostly use apps in metro when I'm on my laptop for Netflix and random games, on my desktop not so much but it's still nice to have the option.
You could always do Windows 8 with the Start8 program from Stardock http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
I turned off almost all of the new windows 8 features and it runs just like 7 now. I can still right click and get the Windows 8 menus if I want but I rarely do.
I have it on a couple of my machines. It's really not bad once you get used to it. My wife absolutely hates it and will not use it unless she has to so I've left Windows 7 on her machine for now. If you're really struggling to get used to the new interface you can actually use a couple of cheap applications to make it work a lot more like Windows 7:
- Start8 costs $5 and brings back a traditional start menu. It came free with Parallels on my mac and it works very well.
- ModernMix costs $5 as well and allows you to run the metro apps in windows on your desktop instead of full screen. It also came free with Parallels and is great, but I could see it being fairly useless without Start8.
As for other tips, the keyboard shortcut of Win+x will bring up a very useful shortcut menu on your desktop where you can get to your Control Panel, the Run dialog, and a few more management applications.
If money isn't an object and your main gripe is the new "modern" metro UI then I would suggest this: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ It brings back the start menu so you can be right at home again. Windows 8.1 seems to be good. I haven't had any problems with it and I don't see much of a difference so if you don't want to spend the money I would just stay on 7
Windows 8.1 is faster than 7 and most of the major problems have been ironed out. The latest versions boot straight to the desktop (so long as you don't have a touchscreen) and with Start8 installed you can have a proper start menu and never have to see that awful tiled interface again.
Windows 8 is less power hungry than Win7 so that would help a lot for battery life. You can disable the modern interface, hot corners and all the crap that's intended for touch devices. I personally use Start8 to bring back the start menu and disable those annoying features.
W8.1 added the "start" button - it's really only a button to enter the Metro interface though.
If you want the start button, there's programs like Start8 and ClassicShell that restores it, but honestly, I never used the start button in W7, and I don't use the Metro interface in W8. I press the windows key, write what I need and launch it, so for me there's no difference between Metro and the old start menu.
As for upgrading, I would just say I can't go back to 7 after having switched to 8. The task manager is much better (you can see which programs are using your internet, which I'm 99% sure you can't in 7, and which programs are writing to disk, which I'm 50% sure you can't in 7).
It also boots faster (~3 seconds boot from SSD, used to be 5-6 or so on 7, but that was a long while ago). The difference isn't huge on SSD, but on a normal HDD the difference is noteable.
Then there's the small stuff like integrated iso mounter and integrated .zip functionality.
Overall, I wouldn't go back to 7, and I'd recommend you try out 8. It's not like upgrading from Vista to 7, where it was mindblowingly great, but it's just... Nice. I'd say upgrade if you can get it cheap, but it's not really a huge upgrade.
Yeah that is a pretty good deal. As for making Windows 8 work more like Windows 7, I would recommend these two applications
Start 8 brings a very configurable start menu back to windows 8 with all the functionality of the Windows 7 one.
ModernMix this allows you to open windows 8 mode fullscreen applications in a windowed mode.
Both of these make Windows 8 very similar to Windows 7 and you don't have to see the metro start menu at all. they both have free 30 day but are worth purchasing IMO.
Skyrim (max settings) and minecraft mainly. Also KSP, and other various games like half-life. I typically have anywhere from 30 to 60ish FPS. Comp specs are as follows:
ASUS F1A75-V Pro AMD A8-3870K Quad-core 3.9GHz (O.C. 3.4GHz) G.Skill 8GB 1600Mhz RAM AMD Radeon HD 6570 1GB
Also, I got rid of the tiles by using star dock. It's called start8 I believe.
Anyway, for me, 8 runs way better than 7, performance wise.
Edit: stardock link. http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
I've been using Start8. It works pretty well. A couple minor gripes, notably including the removal of all the nice new items from the context menu of the normal Windows 8 Start button, but it's very serviceable.
But once you get to the desktop (thanks, start8) it's a fine OS! An improvement over Win7. Just never actually go to the abomination known as the start screen.
Interesting how as soon as Ballmer leaves, they backpedal on the start screen....
>I use driver pack solutions, a few times I've tried the windows 8 download driver and it's said os not supported....
That might be something other than the driver that doesn't work... Something like a companion app, like AMD's Catalyst Control Center is when taken in addition to the OS driver.
It may just be a stupid installer doing OS detection and saying "no" when it doesn't really have to.
>All of my customers hate metro..
I like metro, and I've defended it plenty, but there's a clear schism between its touch-first intent and the reality of the desktop/laptop world in which we live.
To that end, if I may offer some advice: don't downgrade your customers. Everything about Windows 8 really is better than Windows 7 both under the hood and in Explorer. Better kernel, better tech, and most of all, it'll be supported longer.
Start8 is five bucks, and it's so well done that while I was in the middle of emailing them to ask if the license let me install it on two of my computers, I just bought a second copy instead.
Stardock did an amazing job of providing a program that integrates Desktop and Metro in every conceivable way as well as allowing you to completely segregate them too---and if necessary, hide metro completely.
That last step I find to be too much because after all, I have a touchscreen. But for the change-adverse or the Windows GUI purist, it's the only one that's actually done right. Everything else---and I'm specifically thinking of Classic Shell---looks like some dickhead took a Windows Start Menu and said, "Oh I'd like it so much more if it worked THIS WAY instead," and conned a bunch of idiots into installing it because it looks similar to what they thought they wanted.
You get what you pay for sometimes.
> And I am still wary of Windows 8 because I have used it before and could just about not stand it at all.
Because you spent most of the time in the new live tiles UI. Install something like Start8, change the settings to boot up straight to desktop and it will look like this.
Could you guys maybe take a look into making modern ui apps work in windows or like win 7 gadgets for power users who want to spend more time on the desktop mode side of things? Not by default of course - but I kinda like the ideas behind
http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/ - and i miss my gadgets though I guess rainmeter works
Also maybe look at http://www.stardock.com/products/launch8/
and http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/features.asp are cool beyond the classic start menu like some of the added pinning features.
I imagine he uses Word? Then don't get him a Chrome OS as others have suggested. It's simply not worth the learning curve.
Secondly, refurbished computers are your friend. Any reputable seller will have a warranty for the first year or so and I personally have no issues with buying refurbished electronics.
Does he need a new screen or just the computer? There are quite a few "All-in-one" PC's that are really affordable and I guarantee it'll impress.
Anyway, here's are a couple quick options:
Acer, desktop only, but much better specs, $399
The only "spec" I would be concerned about is a hard drive over, say, 320GB and at least 4gb of DDR3 RAM. These should be pretty much standard in any computer by now (unless you're looking at a ChromeOS). Finally, most computers will now come with Windows 8. Windows 8 is really not bad, but as soon as you get the computer pay the $5 and install "Start8" or something similar. It will make the computer act much more like Windows 7, which is close enough to working like XP.
The main thing I hated about Vista was it was the first major step in "idiot proofing" computers for users. I don't feel like that gets discussed enough. Vista introduced a lot of weird handholding (the most grievous of which was UAC). As someone that repaired computers, I had to spend a lot more time on Vista machines at first just working out how to make the OS actually let me make the changes I wanted to.
The UI was also changed a lot to try and simplify it, which led to wasted time learning where I needed to go to change something. Even once I had a handle on the OS, I still felt like I had to jump through extra hoops that weren't there preVista. It got to the point where when I had to work on a Vista machine, I'd switch the OS to classic mode to work on it, then switch it back to the Vista interface before returning it to the customer.
This "dumbing down" of computers has remained prevalent in every OS Microsoft has released since Vista. While Windows 7 was a bit less of a beast, it still wasn't as streamlined as XP.
I won't even get into what a pain in the ass Windows 8 is. It sucks to work on and people that have it seem to generally dislike it. Stardock should be giving me commission with how much I push Start8 onto people