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So probably when you type Visual and click you will get the whole Visual Studio heading with all it's programs and you just select whatever you need, how hard is that?

No it is not but explain that to 95% of Windows User Base. Secondly from visual stand point looks fugly. Big tiles with little icon in them, totally contradicting and not consistent. And again why do i need to use whole screen when classic start menu was efficient for it? The visual transition from Desktop to big plain screen with flat boxes on it does not make sense. It is like two operating system were slapped together.

I'll somewhat agree to that.

I guess those people find Apple interface please to work with....so much of that.

As I said it is useless, go type specific *.dll name located in Windows Folder in your start search. It won't find it.... As I said most people do not type word to search for but they actually go point and click so as a concept search we have in Windows is a failure.

They should learn, possibly have an intro video on win8 encouraging it. That's how I launch all my programs. I don't pin anything to the start bar or desktop

As I said it is useless, go type specific *.dll name located in Windows Folder in your start search. It won't find it.... As I said most people do not type word to search for but they actually go point and click so as a concept search we have in Windows is a failure.

Challenge Accepted. Took all of 10 seconds.

So.... Have you even used Windows post XP?

No it is not but explain that to 95% of Windows User Base. Secondly from visual stand point looks fugly. Big tiles with little icon in them, totally contradicting and not consistent. And again why do i need to use whole screen when classic start menu was efficient for it? The visual transition from Desktop to big plain screen with flat boxes on it does not make sense. It is like two operating system were slapped together.

I guess those people find Apple interface please to work with....so much of that.

You still don't understand who MS builds Windows for

For 90% of the population the metro start screen will be easier to use.

Most people at home use their pc for email, browsing, social networks and the occasional game

If they get a start screen with nice big tiles giving them info about what they are interested in it's going to make their lives much easier

They will be able to share loads of different content in between Metro apps which is what people want to do.

The other 10% will use their pc for actual creation, and they still have the desktop available for them, the only thing that changes is that you have a start screen in stead of a start menu.

As I said it is useless, go type specific *.dll name located in Windows Folder in your start search. It won't find it.... As I said most people do not type word to search for but they actually go point and click so as a concept search we have in Windows is a failure.

Hmm.... in Windows 7 I clicked start and in the search box typed in calc.exe or hal.dll and it showed up. I hardly ever used the search box. All the applications I use I put in an application menu drop down. I find having to search for an application I use all the time kind of pointless. For the ones I use a lot like "Thunderbird" I pin to the bottom of the screen.

They should learn, possibly have an intro video on win8 encouraging it. That's how I launch all my programs. I don't pin anything to the start bar or desktop

I actually do pin to Taskbar and Desktop. It is quicker to launch app from Taskbar (former quick launch). Search bar has a wrong place in Windows 7. It should be on top of the screen in its own taskbar.

Challenge Accepted. Took all of 10 seconds.

So.... Have you even used Windows post XP?

I know how to find dll in Windows 7. I was saying that you can't get them by searching from Start Menu itself not all of them across whole C drive

I actually do pin to Taskbar and Desktop. It is quicker to launch app from Taskbar (former quick launch). Search bar has a wrong place in Windows 7. It should be on top of the screen in its own taskbar.

I know how to find dll in Windows 7. I was saying that you can get them by searching from Start Menu itself.

I disagree. It autofocuses when you launch the start menu. I personally find it faster to do win+type+enter then to move my mouse and click. My hands are on my keyboard anyway and I guess I'm a fast typist.

I'm also a run box ######. If I want to get to a location on my hard drive I don't search for it and I don't go click click click click click click click click click ...I do a windows key + R type were I want to go and press enter. For some of the more popular folders I even have an app which lets me create hot keys for certain folders. For instance

my d:\video folder is Windows key + alt + V

downloads directory is Windows key + alt + D

Then for websites like Amazon I have Ctrl + Windows key + A and BOOM i'm at Amazon.

Then for an outlook template I created for things like "Payment received" I just press ctrl+ shift + P

You still don't understand who MS builds Windows for

For 90% of the population the metro start screen will be easier to use.

Most people at home use their pc for email, browsing, social networks and the occasional game

If they get a start screen with nice big tiles giving them info about what they are interested in it's going to make their lives much easier

They will be able to share loads of different content in between Metro apps which is what people want to do.

The other 10% will use their pc for actual creation, and they still have the desktop available for them, the only thing that changes is that you have a start screen in stead of a start menu.

They use iPhone, Windows Phone , Android for those things.

I disagree. It autofocuses when you launch the start menu. I personally find it faster to do win+type+enter then to move my mouse and click. My hands are on my keyboard anyway and I guess I'm a fast typist.

there are other ways to focus cursors to any place you want.

They use iPhone, Windows Phone , Android for those things.

But what if you need or want a bigger screen? Smart phones are good on the go, but it's nice to have something bigger at home

there are other ways to focus cursors to any place you want.

What's easier then pressing one key on your keyboard?

They use iPhone, Windows Phone , Android for those things.

So you are saying that nobody at home uses their pc anymore for all those common task, they all moved to a tiny phone screen???

Right, pc sales have gone down a bit but there are still heaps of pc's being sold.

But what if you need or want a bigger screen? Smart phones are good on the go, but it's nice to have something bigger at home

What's easier then pressing one key on your keyboard?

At that point for sure don't neet Metro Start Menu since i need to get more details of what i am looking for therefore Metro Start Menu makes no sense.

So you are saying that nobody at home uses their pc anymore for all those common task, they all moved to a tiny phone screen???

Right, pc sales have gone down a bit but there are still heaps of pc's being sold.

The Average computer user is not a very productive individual. They read and post to Facebook, write the occasional email and browse the web. That's about it.

So you are saying that nobody at home uses their pc anymore for all those common task, they all moved to a tiny phone screen???

Right, pc sales have gone down a bit but there are still heaps of pc's being sold.

Yes and that explains why Windows XP is still dominant. Person A got iPhone cool, she/he checks emails, weather, feeds, facebook, local stores, movie shows, phone calls, text, take picture upload to facebook while his/her PC with Windows XP sits there in a room she or he starts once in awhile to finish some work with excell. Entertainment time? Let's fire up PS3 and watch blu ray movies, gaming time oh i can play games with my PS3 as well. Netflix time well my PS3 can do that too. That's why i support MS attempt with Metro on Tablets and Phones, makes perfect sense!!!. It turns out that Windows XP is more than enough for that work in Excell. (just example)

PC will never die though but will have its own market for certain people and for that reason MS needs to avoid bringing all that mobile **** to Desktops. PC Marketshare will drop even more and will stop dropping at certain level. And those who will be still heavily using it are hard core gamers and people with serious professional work.

At that point for sure don't neet Metro Start Menu since i need to get more details of what i am looking for therefore Metro Start Menu makes no sense.

A bigger screen is also nice to browse

I still believe you have no grasp on how people use their pc's at home, and i'm not talking about the people who frequent sites like this.

Your regular mom and pop will find it much easier to get things done on Metro then on Win7.

This will be specially true one there are heaps of Metro apps which people will be able to use on their phone, tablet, laptop, desktop and probably Xbox

The Average computer user is not a very productive individual. They read and post to Facebook, write the occasional email and browse the web. That's about it.

That's exactly what I'm saying, they don't use their computer for much more then the normal consumption

For those people I believe Metro will be a good fit. They will have all the info they are interested in on that nice big start screen

And once those Metro apps are there people can share all their cool stuff between apps like they are used to on their phone or tablet right now

The Average computer user is not a very productive individual. They read and post to Facebook, write the occasional email and browse the web. That's about it.

Define "average". As I sit here, I can see various students in the cafeteria doing all sorts of activities. I'm inclined to disagree.

At that point for sure don't neet Metro Start Menu since i need to get more details of what i am looking for therefore Metro Start Menu makes no sense.

How so? You have to choice to get on the Desktop or the start screen menu when booting.

The new start screen is much much better than the old start menu, do we really need to prove that over and over again?

I don't know why we're considered to be "confused".

I'm not confused about how useless i thought the DeV preview was, or how ugly this Metro UI is.

I'm for certain :p

Are you a developer? If not, then the DP was certainly useless to you, it wasn't meant for anyone else but.

I don't understand why people are so up in arms about Windows 8. Change is good. However, it appears most of us can't handle it when Microsoft changes something drastically. This is why Apple succeeds IMO, they do small, incremental updates that contribute towards the bigger one, so that people aren't confused when it happens. Subtly.

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    • SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk, mousing around. Apologies for the knife cut across the top of the box; that was my doing, being a bit too heavy-handed with opening up the outer packaging. First up, what's in the box: SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 1x Type-C charging cable User Manual 1-Year Warranty (card) In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official Amazon listing, here are the key features: Full-Hand Air Compression: OS500 wraps your fingers, palm, and wrist with multi-chamber air compression for a complete hand relaxation experience. The extended massage chamber helps cover more of the hand and wrist area than standard palm-only hand massagers Palm Kneading with 6 Modes & 6 Intensities: Built-in palm kneading rollers add a hands-on massage feel, while 6 preset modes and 6 pressure levels let you choose the comfort level that fits your day—from gentle relaxation to a firmer full-hand massage 3 Heat Levels with Cooling Fan: Choose from 104°F, 113°F or 122°F warmth to suit different seasons and comfort preferences. The built-in cooling fan helps reduce stuffiness during heated sessions, keeping your hand feeling fresh and comfortable Easy Visual Display & Smart Timer: The digital image display clearly shows massage area, mode, intensity, heat level, and remaining time at a glance. Select 10, 15, or 20-minute sessions for quick office breaks, evening relaxation, or everyday hand care Rechargeable, Cordless & Comfortable: A 3000mAh battery supports over 90 minutes of full-function use on a full charge, with convenient USB-C charging. The soft inner lining, smooth ABS/PU finish, and premium black-gold design make OS500 ideal for home, office, or gifting With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. I gave it a try on both left and right hands, and as you can maybe see from the above YouTube Short, (sorry for the shaky video), my whole hand fits in, but my wrist barely enters the Hand Massager. I was able to push through a bit more with my fingertips extending out the other end to get a bit of massaging on the start of my wrist. Usage For some reason, there is a strap that is very difficult to fasten to my wrist with one hand. I am not sure what function it has, and it isn't mentioned in the user manual. The only thing I could find was in the product images that claimed "wrist precision". Unlike the Bob and Brad Hand Massager, this device does not massage the wrist anyway, even though a "wrist mode" is mentioned, which must be for smaller hands than I have, as it is mainly intended for the hand and fingers. In addition, for its steeper price, there are no disposable gloves provided in the box, which is a bit of an issue considering the internal cover (which appears to be elasticated nylon) cannot be removed for washing; so you are left with only one choice: always thoroughly wash your hands before using it. I can imagine this thing getting a bit grimy after a period of use, and that is a bit of a shame. With that said, the buttons on the device, from left to right, do the following: Heat button: 3-level heat control at 104°F, 113°F, or 122°F Mode button: Auto mode Circular mode Soothing mode Relax mode Palm and fingers mode Palm and wrist mode Intensity button: from (First-time users) 15Ka, 25Ka, 35Ka, 45Ka, 55Ka, 60Ka (Intensive relief) Knead button: on or off (6 pressure levels) Power button: Long-press to turn on or off Cooling button: turn on or off the cooling fan Also, in the product imagery, it states there are 36 "custom modes," but nowhere is it listed what these modes are. I can only imagine that they mean a combination of all of the above settings in different intensity levels. The device itself seems to rely on a single "kneading" mechanism located at the palm area of the hand, which spins when in use, and the other massage features are mainly utilized through the air sacs, increasing and decreasing at various levels on the hand and fingers. I am not sure it offered too much relief for someone who is typing and operating a mouse for hours at a time; further testing may be required. It does feel nice, though. Finally, you may be wondering how this fits into the scope of a tech website? Well, let me tell you something: sometimes I sit for up to 15 hours working on Neowin, and although I take breaks in between, it takes a toll on my body. I think in the immediate absence of a partner to apply relief, a good massager like this Hand Massager can shed the strains of the day in just a couple of 15-minute bursts. On the official website, this has an MSRP of $99.99, but luckily for our readers, it is selling at $10 off for just $89.99 right now on Amazon. SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 for $89.99 (with $10 off coupon), $99.99 MSRP For me, this gets a thumbs hands(?) down. However, it could be improved by making it so that the protective covering could be removed and thrown into the washing machine, or get yourself some disposable gloves to use with it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Thanks for the info, but I'm still not sure if I need this....
    • We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk; I figured it could offer some neck pain relief. What's in the box: SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager Rechargeable Battery (inside massager) Type-C USB cable User Manual Quick Start guide 1-Year Warranty In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official listing, here are the key features: Biomimetic Kneading & High Torque Motor: Designed with innovative biomimetic kneading heads that perfectly simulate the touch of human hands. Powered by a high-torque motor, this massager delivers powerful and precise deep tissue relief to effectively target stiff neck muscles and release built-up tension Soothing Heat & Integrated Sound Relaxation: Experience the ultimate Relaxationation with our dual-action approach. The soothing heat function gently warms your neck, while the built-in sound Relaxation provides calming audio tracks, helping you achieve a state of mindfulness and mental tranquility during your physical massage Cordless Convenience & Travel-Ready & Father's Day Gifts: Crafted for maximum portability and ease of use. Its lightweight, cordless design allows you to enjoy a premium massage anywhere without the hassle of tangled wires-whether you're taking a quick break at your desk or winding down at home Versatile Relief for Home & Office: An essential wellness companion for office workers, gamers, frequent travelers, or anyone looking to integrate mindfulness into their daily routine. It seamlessly fits into your lifestyle, providing instant neck relief whenever and wherever you need it Safe & Premium Materials: Manufactured with high-quality, skin-friendly materials to ensure a safe and comfortable experience without irritation. SKG backs this device with dedicated customer service, making it a thoughtful tech-health gift for family and friends App & Bluetooth Music Control: Connect via Bluetooth to control your massage settings through the dedicated app and enjoy your favorite music during your massage session for a fully customizable and immersive relaxation experience Red Light Warmth Technology: Features advanced red light warmth technology that penetrates deep into neck muscles to enhance blood circulation and provide soothing comfort while relieving muscle tension and stiffness Design With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. SKG does not say what materials are used to make the neck massager. However, on the product website, it mentions "soft-touch silicone" with what looks like PU leather cushioning, with the rest being mostly made up of plastics. On the inside of the massager, there are two "biomimetic kneading heads" that are motorized for the different styles of massage, which are not actually listed at all in the paper user manual, but the standard included modes are: De-stress mode, Mediation mode, Relax mode, Shiatsu mode. The massager looks quite premium and is actually very comfortable to wear. This massager is small and light enough to go anywhere, as it doesn't get in the way of anything, so I was able to use it in the chair while writing this review. Unlike the back massager, SKG does not warn in the user guide not to use it for more than 30 minutes a day (or two 15-minute sessions). However, there is a long laundry list of important safeguards to consider before and during the use of the device, and it is warned that the neck massager is not waterproof. It also includes a 1,400mAh battery with a rated power of 14W and input of 5V, which is the standard for up to USB 3.0 power (although the Amperage is not mentioned at all). SKG does not say how long it takes to charge, but a quick calculation at 2A (if that is what it is) would mean it would take roughly 1.5 hrs to charge from empty. In any case, the light around the button changes from orange to green on a full charge. In addition, it is not possible to use the device while it is charging. On the right of the neck massager is the On/Off and modes button, which also acts as a joystick. You can operate all the modes directly from the power button, as well as the app, which I'll get into a bit later: Push up: Short press to adjust Heat levels On/Off button: long press Mode Switching: Short press (while in operation) ➕ Push left: increase Music volume ➖ push right: decrease Music volume Push down: Short-press to turn Music on or off The massager defaults to De-stress mode, and it is not stated anywhere if the neck massager has overheat protection. This time around, regarding heat, the only detail I could find is that it has "triple action soothing heat." The temperature stages are not listed anywhere in the paper manual, Amazon listing, or official website. The heat levels can be adjusted through the app or directly on the device using the joystick button. Usage There's also the SKG Health app, which makes using the massager far easier than feeling around for the button on the side of your neck. If the app is stopped, you are required to log in with a verification code over email, which I am not too pleased with, as this means it will only work that way for however long SKG decides to support it through said app. However, I was not able to get the app to connect to the OS500, which I have reported back to my contact. Bluetooth appeared to be working on the neck massager as it became available to pair with my phone, but the SKG app failed to discover it. Before I forget, there's also a switch next to the USB charging port to deactivate and activate the Voice Prompt, which, when enabled, audibly tells the user when switching intensities, modes, or connecting to the app and informs when the massages start and are completed. That said, on to my likes and dislikes, which are listed below. What I didn't like Unable to connect the Neck Massager to the app Use through the mobile app relies on continued support from SKG What I liked Can be used without the app Cordless use Light and comfortable to wear Heat is also quite comfortable Where to buy: According to the official website, this has an MSRP of $249.99, but is currently $50 (on Amazon). To sweeten the deal a bit more, there's also an in-page coupon that knocks a further $20 off the price. SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager for $179.99 on Amazon (was $199.99) Apply the in-page $20 off coupon for the final price of $179.99 Just like the back massager, this gets a confused thumbs up (due to the cost). However, I cannot rate it through app usage as it failed to connect. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • This Samsung T7 external SSD deal lasts less than a day by Sayan Sen Recently we had covered some nice deals of internal NVMe SSDs which include the 4TB TeamGroup G50 for only $400, the WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB for just $243, as well as the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB for $370. If however you require an external SSD for portability and quick data transfers and have a budget of less than $200 the Samsung T7 1TB model is currently on a limited time deal at just $190, it's lowest price in nearly three months. The deal ends today so you better hurry if you need one (purchase link below). The T7 weighs in at just 72 grams meaning it should be fairly easy to carry around helping in the portability department. Via its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface the T7 promises sequential read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s and writes of 1000 MB/s. It is also fairly robust with a drop protection of up to 2 meters, though bear in mind that this is not waterproof. For that you will have to choose the rugged T7 Shield. The technical specifications of the Samsung T7 1TB are given in the table below: Specification Value Model Code (1TB) MU-PC1T0T / MU-PC1T0H Interface USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Dimensions (W × H × D) 85 × 57 × 8 mm Weight 72 g Sequential Read Speed Up to 1,050 MB/s Sequential Write Speed Up to 1,000 MB/s Drop Resistance Up to 2 m (6.6 ft) Encryption AES 256-bit hardware encryption Operating Temperature 0°C to 60°C Non-Operating Temperature -40°C to 85°C Humidity 5% to 95% (non-condensing) Shock Resistance 1,500 G, duration 0.5 ms, 3-axis (non-operating) Vibration Resistance 20–2,000 Hz, 20 G (non-operating) Get it at the link below: Samsung T7 Portable SSD, 1TB External Solid State Drive, MU-PC1T0T/AM, Gray: $189.98 (Sold and Shipped by Amazon US) Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • I just wish they would put more love into Virtual Desktops. There is just so much more they could do.
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