Want a new laptop but do I want Windows 8?

[pacerron]

Dell users get claws out over laptops that stink of cat pee | Technology | theguardian.com

LOL

HS

That would be a nasty smell

Everyone has there share of problems with new computers, even Apple owners.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5481839?start=0&tstart=0

As was said a number of times, this Microsoft/MAC preference argument is related to experiences in the past for most folks, plus their knowledge level of computer operation at the time and there will never be a winner, if you exclude market share.
I think the OP has enough of this chatter and will certainly use his own preference in the end since it is his money involved.
It would be nice to hear from Bird about his start up of his new pc. I'm sure it went well.
Time to eat

 

[Bird]

It would be nice to hear from Bird about his start up of his new pc. I'm sure it went well.

I wouldn't say it went well; the jury's still out.:laughing: I got started on the set-up this morning (FedEx delivered it yesterday), but still have a lot to do. I hate manuals that have mistakes in them and/or say "some models". In other words the manual might be right, part of the time anyway.

 

[mikehaugen]

is it in 37 languages also? :laughing:

 

[pacerron]

I wouldn't say it went well; the jury's still out.:laughing: I got started on the set-up this morning (FedEx delivered it yesterday), but still have a lot to do. I hate manuals that have mistakes in them and/or say "some models". In other words the manual might be right, part of the time anyway.

Bird,
With all your years of computing, toss the manual.:laughing:
The one we got didn't even have a manual, just a two page brochure, half in English showing
which USB plugs were USB 3 and which were USB 2 and a back up disk of Dell drivers which I'm sure were out of date as the unit was made over a month ago.

When the screen came on it was pretty much automatic from there except for typing in the "Service Tag Code" and the "Express Service code" off a label on top. Then it was a on screen walk through. The walk through updated the drivers automatically and installed the driver for the printer we plugged in.

I bet HP has the same thing either on the Metro Screen or Apps screen.
Ron

 

[deerseeker001]

Bird there is a learning curve here.it took me a week to get to the point where you understood how the system worked.i use Mozilla and customized it to look and act like windows 7 and now i like, it very fast on start up.the key on the key board that has the Microsoft logo will help maneuver around.it takes some learning cause its all new.Ron

 

[Bird]

The one we got didn't even have a manual

Manual may have been the wrong word to use. I was talking about a 13 page "pamphlet" that's about 8" x 5" and labeled Windows Basics.

I'm not spending as much time as I should on this new computer. For one thing, I've been sick for 3 days, and then I've had other things I needed to get done, too; not to mention my wife fussing at me to go to the doctor.

But I hope to get her car out of the shop tomorrow, and a son-in-law is coming to visit and help instruct an old man on Windows 8. Nope, he doesn't like Windows 8 and says most of his customers call to ask how to get rid of it, but he says he's comfortable with it.

Of course, I've only had this Windows 8 computer for 24 hours so I'll give it at least a week or two before making a decision as to whether or not I want to keep it.

 

[pwright]

Phil... competitions, really that sounds like reality?

So you have no idea what Defcon is then. DEF CON - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And you have never had to re-install? Lucky man. Been a windows user/abuser since the beginning. I constantly battled issues with windows OS upgrades and software for years.

Not since Win98. It's not luck. I just don't screw my systems up in the first place. One thing I don't do - and this could certainly be seen as a plus for Macs - is install OS upgrades e.g. like from XP to Vista or Vista to Win7. In most cases I would go to new hardware for a new OS release or on my development systems I would just create a separate clean boot drive. I also kept Norton far, far away from any of my systems. I can't think of a better way to make a computer slow and unstable than installing the Norton suite.

I think, like the few converted mac users here... all we are saying is our headaches are pretty much gone.

You may think that way but way too many of the posts are full of complete nonsense that shows they know absolutely nothing about computers or how they work.

Yes, you do pay more for a comparable Mac but I think you get pretty much what you pay for as a rule. And yes I think Mac's are a bit overpriced but when someone else comes to the table with a comparable package then the price will adjust.

I didn't say anything about Mac pricing. I don't think it is an argument either way. If folks want to pay extra so that they can feel good more power to them.

 

[pacerron]

Manual may have been the wrong word to use. I was talking about a 13 page "pamphlet" that's about 8" x 5" and labeled Windows Basics.

I'm not spending as much time as I should on this new computer. For one thing, I've been sick for 3 days, and then I've had other things I needed to get done, too; not to mention my wife fussing at me to go to the doctor.

But I hope to get her car out of the shop tomorrow, and a son-in-law is coming to visit and help instruct an old man on Windows 8. Nope, he doesn't like Windows 8 and says most of his customers call to ask how to get rid of it, but he says he's comfortable with it.

Of course, I've only had this Windows 8 computer for 24 hours so I'll give it at least a week or two before making a decision as to whether or not I want to keep it.

Bird,
Just click on the "Desktop Box" in the Metro View and it will take you to a view that looks just like W-7 with a taskbar at the bottom. There is a folder icon in the taskbar. Open it and you will see the folder and Library view you are used too and there will be a header bar at the top to Minimize, maximize, or close the Window, just like before.
The metro view hides all that and is full screen so the folks that have touch screens and think it is cute to pinch windows and do other commands
while getting grease from their hands all over the LCD say, OH, isn't that neat!
Other than that, all they have basically done is hide some of the paths a little more to places that folks who are new to computers shouldn't be going anyway. There are plenty of "tutorial videos" on You tube to show how to work it since it has been out a year now. Plenty of videos for 8.1 as well. HP probably has some on their site too.
Once you go to 8.1 and get a "Start Button" back you will be very comfortable with it. A right click on the Start button is really a quick path to about anywhere you might want to go, even with administrator privilege.

If you are serious about sending it back though, it might not be a good idea to install 8.1 yourself, as they may not want it back then. Who knows.
All they would have to do is fumigate it, test it, and box it up, for the resale outlet.
Hope your feelin better soon.
Ron

 

[woodlandfarms]

Sorry to be sexist but aren't you like breaking every man code there is by reading the manual?

Open box, turn on, get frustrated, watch wife grab manual and tell you how to operate, get even more frustrated, storm out of room for beer.

 

[dragoneggs]

So you have no idea what Defcon is then. DEF CON - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Not since Win98. It's not luck. I just don't screw my systems up in the first place. One thing I don't do - and this could certainly be seen as a plus for Macs - is install OS upgrades e.g. like from XP to Vista or Vista to Win7. In most cases I would go to new hardware for a new OS release or on my development systems I would just create a separate clean boot drive. I also kept Norton far, far away from any of my systems. I can't think of a better way to make a computer slow and unstable than installing the Norton suite.


You may think that way but way too many of the posts are full of complete nonsense that shows they know absolutely nothing about computers or how they work.


I didn't say anything about Mac pricing. I don't think it is an argument either way. If folks want to pay extra so that they can feel good more power to them.

Thanks for the education on DEFCON... had some idea but never looked at Wiki for the 'full' story.

Totally agree on Norton (and McAfee for that matter)... but there's the rub. I also learned the lesson that it was usually problematic to upgrade OS on 'old' hardware on Windows based machines. Too many headaches to get everything working just to be as good as before... something is wrong with that. Why should OS advancement/improvements pretty much render last generation hardware obsolete? I haven't experienced this with Mac... yet, but I am not saying it won't eventually bite me as well. I just upgraded to OSX Maverick (free) and it is great! No issues so far... Is this ever the case with Windows OS upgrades? Never been absolutely smooth for me.

Yep again can't argue on ignorant or inexperienced opinions but unfortunately this is the nature of forums in general. Thus better off listening to multiple opinions and sorting out ones that obviously have some solid reasoning.

On pricing I was just trying to say that many people don't consider Mac because of the pricing but I will argue with you that I paid 'extra' just so I could feel good. I paid the price because I became convinced that this was the platform for me.... now I feel good.

Bottom line, I initially chimed in on this thread just to give the OP something else to consider. I am not here trying to solely convince people to switch to Apple or anything else... I would expect the buyer to do their research and listen to informative opinions based on experiences, and decide based on their needs, wants, and budget. My opinion is that about 95+% of the people who buy PCs would do just fine with a very simple inexpensive laptop or even a tablet these days as long as they can surf, email, print, and run a few basic word, number, and photo post-processing software apps and never push the limits of their hardware until they decide or are forced to upgrade OS.

Cheers :drink: