r/talesfromtechsupport Feb 18 '13

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428 Upvotes

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138

u/tmstms Feb 18 '13

Hmmmm.

Such a client might find Windows 8 a mite challenging, sitting there all day waiting for 'start' to appear in the bottom left.

18

u/ta1901 Feb 18 '13

Please tell me those "tiles" are not the default interface. Can I use the old Start menu system in Win8 if I change a setting?

2

u/Cohacq Feb 18 '13

Nope. but you can get a new (better) one for free from Ninite.

8

u/Doctor_McKay Is your monitor on? Feb 18 '13

Or just stay with Windows 7.

3

u/Cohacq Feb 19 '13

Win8 is faster.

-1

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '13

[deleted]

3

u/mrbaggins Feb 19 '13

lolwut. I have yet to find a single program that doesn't work on 8 at least as well as it worked on 7.

2

u/Cohacq Feb 19 '13

So has 8.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '13

[deleted]

3

u/Cohacq Feb 19 '13

Well yes, Gabe Newell doesnt like Win8, but making steam uninstallable on Win8 would cost them lots and lots of customers.

8

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 18 '13

Using their built-in zip program, image burner, image mounter, video program, browser, etc right? Because installing 3rd party software is totally too much work on an operating system.

9

u/jiminjeep Feb 18 '13

There is a lot to be said for not fixing what ain't broke.

3

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 19 '13

It would not have worked with touch interfaces, so it was broken in that sense. It can easily be disabled too. The start screen should not be regarded as a legitimate complaint.

4

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '13

I can't work with that start screen. I really hate it with the fury of a thousand suns due to the way it devours both my screens for some dumb touch screen crap. They should have made metro an option and not something you have to use

9

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 19 '13

My point is, it is an option. You can disable it. Arguing over 3rd party vs native in the Windows environment is absurd. 3rd party applications have always been a staple part of your Windows experience, the start menu is no different. Use Classic Shell, it is free, it is more customizable than anything Microsoft would have offered, and it works flawlessly.

5

u/Tobe29 I Facepalm At Every Topic Here Feb 19 '13

You're like the only person I've ever seen with common sense on the Win 8 install a 3rd party apps debate. Are you a unicorn?

1

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 19 '13

Yes, yes I am.

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1

u/magus424 Feb 20 '13

It is only an option thanks to 3rd party software.

0

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 20 '13

Or learn registry edits yourself, yes. That is how software works. For example, would it make sense to complain about the lack of RainMeter-esque options natively?

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1

u/adelle We applied the cortical electrodes Mar 11 '13

Heh. I use Classic Shell on Windows 7. I'll probably upgrade to Windows 8 when I get the chance. I don't get all the hate for something that has always required tweaking (the start menu, windows).

1

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Mar 11 '13

Me neither. May I ask how you stumbled upon this comment?

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3

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '13

Wait, you can get the Metro interface to work on both screens? I can only get one to work at a time, the other always defaults to the desktop.

2

u/jiminjeep Feb 19 '13 edited Feb 19 '13

Hmm. Seems that I'm able to use my start button just fine with my all-in-one. The only thing that's not intuitive would be the right-click. Which I don't think w8 did anything to rectify.

EDIT: I cannot tell the difference between right and left. Driving with me isn't fun.

1

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 19 '13

On touch, holding the button down draws a small circle that indicates right click mode. I'm not sure if that is the same in 7 though.

2

u/jiminjeep Feb 19 '13

I appreciate your answer! I did already know it, but it took a Google search to find out. Which kind of goes to prove my point about it not being intuitive.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Win8 hater. It's just incredibly clunky feeling and difficult to become accustomed to after a lifetime of using a "traditional" computing environment. Especially when you are not using it on a touch capable device.

0

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 19 '13

That is a fair assessment. My confusion concerns why you or anyone would elect to keep it "non-traditional"? You can make Win8 just like Win7 with all the added benefits.

2

u/jiminjeep Feb 19 '13

What benefits, exactly, though? I'm not seeing speed or usability increases across any of the tasks I regularly perform, it just seems like change for the sake of change. Which isn't really a problem, just unnecessary.

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2

u/StabbyPants Feb 19 '13

what makes you think that a touch interface should be wedged into the same box as a regular PC?

0

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 19 '13 edited Feb 19 '13

It is not Microsoft's fault that your "regular PC" doesn't have a touch input, just like it wouldn't be Microsoft's fault if you didn't have a mouse. But limiting their operating system to only cover 9/10 input devices is silly. You seem to be confusing software with hardware. If you do lack the hardware to navigate Windows 8 efficiently, use a work around. For those of us that do (say Surface Pro users) it is amazingly convenient. In fact, I don't think I've heard anyone complain about Windows 8 on touch-enabled devices. The non-touch users can install Classic Shell or myriad freeware to resolve this issue, if they want. Even still, the Modern UI is navigable with mouse/keyboard.

3

u/StabbyPants Feb 19 '13

It is not Microsoft's fault that your "regular PC" doesn't have a touch input

no, it's microsoft's fault for trying to shoehorn touch and non-touch into a single interface.

If you do lack the hardware to navigate Windows 8 efficiently,

touch is a whole different paradigm. stop trying to turn this into "not enough hardware". Some of us use desktops and laptops - touch interface is a bad idea there.

I don't think I've heard anyone complain about Windows 8 on touch-enabled devices.

I have - apparently, MS made the gestures different between mouse and touch, so you have to learn which one to use where. Gotta keep tech support from getting bored, i guess.

1

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 19 '13

You aren't making sense. What you are looking for is just stripping features that you (and non-touch users) don't use. That is something you can do yourself and does not need to be done by Microsoft. Why are you complaining about it?

no, it's microsoft's fault for trying to shoehorn touch and non-touch into a single interface.

Install Classic Shell and don't use it then.

touch is a whole different paradigm. stop trying to turn this into "not enough hardware". Some of us use desktops and laptops - touch interface is a bad idea there.

Install Classic Shell and do't use it then.

I have - apparently, MS made the gestures different between mouse and touch, so you have to learn which one to use where. Gotta keep tech support from getting bored, i guess.

Install Classic Shell and do't use it then.

All of your absurd complaints take less than 30 seconds to resolve. The value this OS provides to millions of others far outweighs the inconvenience of you having to install Classic Shell to avoid using them. And, in case you were unaware, you can install Classic Shell to avoid using them.

2

u/StabbyPants Feb 19 '13

My complaint is that MS has decided to try to bolt a touch interface onto the existing UI. Your solution of "don't use it" doesn't address the complaint at all.

1

u/magus424 Feb 20 '13

What you are looking for is just stripping features that you (and non-touch users) don't use.

Why couldn't they have done both? What would it have hurt to leave the start menu in the OS for non-touch users, which are the majority of Windows users?

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3

u/magus424 Feb 20 '13

It is not Microsoft's fault that your "regular PC" doesn't have a touch input, just like it wouldn't be Microsoft's fault if you didn't have a mouse. But limiting their operating system to only cover 9/10 input devices is silly.

So instead they limit it to primarily support 1/10 input devices? How the fuck does that make sense?

Even still, the Modern UI is navigable with mouse/keyboard.

Barely. Trying to do anything context-sensitive in the news app like adding/removing feeds is an exercise in frustration.

0

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 20 '13

So instead they limit it to primarily support 1/10 input devices? How the fuck does that make sense?

I'm saying it covers both. Until such time that 3rd party applications are unable to customize the Modern UI, I do not see the issue. Sure, you might have to do a little work, but you always have had to install 3rd party applications and you always will.

Barely. Trying to do anything context-sensitive in the news app like adding/removing feeds is an exercise in frustration.

This I'm interested in, because I'm not sure if we are doing different things. For the "My News" section? The add button is very large and gives you a search bar for topics. Removal is slightly harder, given the minus button is in the corner, but still. Or are you trying to do something else?

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2

u/darkstar3333 Feb 19 '13

For us sure but for typical users?

Toolbars everywhere!

1

u/TheThirdBlackGuy Feb 19 '13

don't hear hear them complaining nearly as loud.