Want a new laptop but do I want Windows 8?

[Bird]

I can't imagine using a touch screen on a regular desktop or laptop computer.

I have a brother who says he loves Windows 8 on his laptop; just wishes he'd bought the touch screen model, which he did just buy as a birthday gift for his granddaughter who will soon be going to college. My son-in-law says that way you always have a messy, greasy screen.:laughing: So, as with many things, I reckon it just comes down to personal preference.

Personally, I'm inclined to agree with AlanL.

 

[pacerron]

We have a 20" touch screen all-in-one real computer and never noticed any fatigue. If your arms are that weak, just use the mouse! http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif

Dennis,
It's the old goat syndrome, in us old goats!
We really need ergonomics to be applied where the screen is at eye level and longer than our arms length away so we don't get a stiff neck too quickly and our old non-elastic eye muscles can focus on it properly. The keyboard needs to be closer
and at a level on a pull out below the furniture desktop so our multi-blend glasses can see it well. Even special computer glasses, which many of us use, have a sweet spot that is not akin to touch screens, but could be made that way as another special pair.

I'm sure, you as a retired electronics technician if you have had to deal with the public, have had the query: " why are all these features that are rarely, if ever used, and I don't need or want put on this device at extra cost?"
The most common answer I ever received when asking this, is: "because we can."

 

[pacerron]

Has anyone that is using Windows 8.1 and have changed the property settings to have it open up on the Desktop Mode rather than the Metro Mode, found that if you go to the Metro Mode by clicking the "Windows key, or Start Key, that once on the Metro Mode the APPs don't work? My wife's that I rigged to open in Desktop Mode does the typical full screen open with the App symbol showing, but then immediately switches to the Desktop screen without the Metro App opening. Same thing in APP view, I think.

She still likes, and is used to desktop view, but I read where a web page opened in Metro view can have a "reading view" feature by clicking on a symbol on the lower right of the screen. This reading view is supposed to remove all advertising from the page and arrange the text across the screen like a book.

 

[Xfaxman]

Dennis,
It's the old goat syndrome, in us old goats!
We really need ergonomics to be applied where the screen is at eye level and longer than our arms length away so we don't get a stiff neck too quickly and our old non-elastic eye muscles can focus on it properly. The keyboard needs to be closer
and at a level on a pull out below the furniture desktop so our multi-blend glasses can see it well. Even special computer glasses, which many of us use, have a sweet spot that is not akin to touch screens, but could be made that way as another special pair.

I'm sure, you as a retired electronics technician if you have had to deal with the public, have had the query: " why are all these features that are rarely, if ever used, and I don't need or want put on this device at extra cost?"
The most common answer I ever received when asking this, is: "because we can."

At 73, I am a certified old goat!! That is why I like the all-in one with the separate keyboard, better than my laptop.

 

[SPIKER]

LOL Certified Old Goat (hence forward to be known as COG.) lol

I am starting that got bi-focal glasses this summer but HATE them so right now Touch Screen would not work, my arms are not long enough period! lol

Mark

 

[pacerron]

Has anyone that is using Windows 8.1 and have changed the property settings to have it open up on the Desktop Mode rather than the Metro Mode, found that if you go to the Metro Mode by clicking the "Windows key, or Start Key, that once on the Metro Mode the APPs don't work? My wife's that I rigged to open in Desktop Mode does the typical full screen open with the App symbol showing, but then immediately switches to the Desktop screen without the Metro App opening. Same thing in APP view.
She still likes, and is used to desktop view, but I read where a web page opened in Metro view can have a "reading view" feature by clicking on a symbol on the lower right of the screen. This reading view is supposed to remove all advertising from the page and arrange the text across the screen like a book.

Answering my own question..........
Getting 8.1 to open directly in "Desktop view" is easy but it kills the functionality of the Metro View.
Metro view has some nice APPS like Maps and Weather that are great in full page.
So setting it back to work as Microsoft intended, everything works fine and with 8.1 you can actually have a Metro View page/pages open side by side with Desktop view pages at the same time, with a wide screen.
That is great.

 

[Tony_S]

How about these new fangled Fox News touch screens in the Shepard Smith World?

 

[Bird]

WORD OF WARNING! When I upgraded to 8.1 I then got a dialogue box that there was an update for Adobe Flash Player, so I let it do that update. Bad mistake. I got the Qone8 malware that took my son-in-law a little time to get rid of without downloading any of the so-called removal tools.

 

[Soundguy]

We never had Federated in our area, but I bought my first digital camera, a couple of TVs, and the dish & receiver for our first satellite TV at Circuit City, and was really sorry to see them go.

same here. interesting variety.

 

[Ken]

WORD OF WARNING! When I upgraded to 8.1 I then got a dialogue box that there was an update for Adobe Flash Player, so I let it do that update. Bad mistake. I got the Qone8 malware that took my son-in-law a little time to get rid of without downloading any of the so-called removal tools.

Bird they get sneaky with the down load adds .Have to keep clicking on permission to progress then they toss in a malware.

Are you having problems with the touchy touch pad? Mine will go someplace or anywhere and only touch side of computer to move so coffee cup will stay on the table. Have it now 8.1 and Sys. 7 look but when restart all comes back win 8 gives me a message updates held off until a month has passed because I didn't acknowledge a check box that never saw. supposed to put in a 4 digit number that received by phone wrote on piece of paper and missed placed
(How was I to know all the *** *** **** was a phone number that had to acknowledge .) So be glad a Son in law can get it fixed.
ken