If you got to add,change,etc anything in Windows 8 what would it be?.


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Give me the option of Metro or a more traditional desktop setup.

Let me as the consumer choose my interface.

As is being discussed in the "tablets/desktop PC" news story right now, they are two devices with two functions. They can and should communicate, synch, etc, but if I want pretty colours and boxes and an interface designed for a touchscreen, I'll use the tablet. I need my desktop to behave like a desktop.

Agree with the above basically. Ability to have it feel like Windows 7 (with new copy paste, speed improvements, etc) on Desktop if I so choose. Which to me means no Metro, No Tiles, standard start, etc.

Start Button returns even if it just takes you to start page.

Complete elimination of the Prev App bar and return to app switching of Windows 7.

New nice icons throughout system.

Native ability to select custom icon for any icon in system, including library icons.

Ability to move Charm bar as you can move taskbar

Ability to turn off Charm Bar and use traditional start button to go to start page.

Option to boot directly to Desktop.

Option to "not" add icons for new app installs to Start Page.

Consistent and hiccup free scrolling in all Metro apps

Ability to change Start Page background to wallpaper or show desktop behind Start Page.

iTunes comparable app for Windows Phone/Zune/Tablet Devices - A metro app will be fine.

Better Media Player.

Native Facebook Metro App.

In-place context sensitive menus in native Metro Apps.

Native Metro Fitness app to log diet/exercise with a Windows Phone companion app with GPS recording.

More Stable USB 3.0 Drivers for NEC, and TI chipsets.

Native Thunderbold support.

More GPU-acceleration wherever applicable.

More utilization of multiple cores.

More utilization of memory for systems with 16-32GB.

Metro Geometry Wars, bundled.

Metro Lode Runner, bundled.

Metro I made a game with Z0mbies, bundled.

Purchase and play all XBLA games on Windows 8.

Full Bitlocker (TPM Support) in ALL versions of Windows 8.

Native Blu-Ray playback support (MS subsidizes license fee for codec :)

Bundled DivX, Xvid, and native MKV codecs/playback support.

Program desktop apps using WinRT.

Not necessarily the same apps you use when full-screen, but...expose WinRT for desktop apps, so that developpers could make desktop apps which are sandboxed, do not leave junk behind on uninstall, and can be updated through the Store.

Disabling Metro : Not gonna happen. That would make no sense at all considering Microsoft's future plans - the only way they'd do it is if they have a WinRT desktop ready, and even then the Start Screen would probably stay.

The resources involved in creating the Windows Runtime and the whole Metro UI/UX are too high IMHO to leave room for another huge project, especially with Sinofsky's "if it's not ready, leave it out" philosophy.

Couple of other ideas for application sold on Windows 8 store (where MS can enforce some rules like Apple does).

No more saved games outside of My saved games folder or the game/service root folder tree itself.

No more app settings in My Documents or User root folder.

No more DRM softwares installed as hidden device drivers and not showing in add/remove programs (all drivers should be drivers or you are stuck out of Windows 8 store).

When i choose to un-install a program everything the program installed should be removed unless some components show in the add/remove program seperately.

Disabling Metro : Not gonna happen. That would make no sense at all considering Microsoft's future plans - the only way they'd do it is if they have a WinRT desktop ready, and even then the Start Screen would probably stay.

The resources involved in creating the Windows Runtime and the whole Metro UI/UX are too high IMHO to leave room for another huge project, especially with Sinofsky's "if it's not ready, leave it out" philosophy.

Hey this is just a list thread. Let us dream. :)

I'd like to see the metro essentials apps built out a lot more and for them to be much more comparable (functionality wise) to their desktop equivalents. Also, for the desktop UI, I like the way they are taking it (flatter as in the other thread) however, the opacity of the windows do not match the superbar. They're whiter and more opaque.

1) A resolution independent desktop (read: support for high-DPI displays).

2) Bring Metro to the desktop (checkout this mockup).

3) Cloud support for saved games (no more having to mess around with hidden folders like AppData and ProgramData).

4) Skype integrated by default through the Windows Live login (read: communication revolution).

1) A resolution independent desktop (read: support for high-DPI displays).

2) Bring Metro to the desktop (checkout this mockup).

3) Cloud support for saved games (no more having to mess around with hidden folders like AppData and ProgramData).

4) Skype integrated by default through the Windows Live login (read: communication revolution).

#2 Nice

Stop the user experience torture started with Vista and keep it all consistent and make incremental UI changes, instead of constant overhauls.

your beloved XP was actually worse than Vista.

Couple of other ideas for application sold on Windows 8 store (where MS can enforce some rules like Apple does).

No more saved games outside of My saved games folder or the game/service root folder tree itself.

No more app settings in My Documents or User root folder.

No more DRM softwares installed as hidden device drivers and not showing in add/remove programs (all drivers should be drivers or you are stuck out of Windows 8 store).

When i choose to un-install a program everything the program installed should be removed unless some components show in the add/remove program seperately.

Don't worry, WinRT apps can't do anything like that. In fact, they can't write anything to the disk apart from their own temp and data folders, and can't read anything unless the files are explictly specified by you using a file picker dialog.

@MorganX : Well, I think it'd be more interesting if we said realistic stuff...

I'm not even going to bother with it until a few things are changed.

1) Get rid of the desktop as anything other than a "legacy" mode. Yes, I don't like Metro as it is. I also don't think the desktop or the start menu are the future.

2) Have the guts to make all your own apps Metro ONLY Microsoft! If you can't do that then identify and fix the issues in the Metro UI that prevent you from doing so.

3) Add a "productive" UI mode. This "rearranges" the UI to make it more suitable for non-tablet interfaces, similar to the way responsive web design works (single website, but it serves a different style according to the device). If websites can respond to a device, why shouldn't the OS? Would fit perfectly with the "dockable tablet" hardware idea I've seen thrown about.

4) This goes with 2 - add some definition. I get that Metro is supposed to be "chromeless" but I think it has been taken too far. The screenshot of OneNote posted on the frontpage a few days ago looked such a mess and the "tabs" of the ribbon were just floating randomly. The only reason I could identify them as tabs was because of previously using Office 2007. Could easily be solved by a single 1px purple border running underneath all the tabs. The reliance on whitespace is the major problem with Metro IMO. It works fine for low density presentation of information (same as the web), but as soon as you apply it to a complicated program it looks a mess.

5) Consistency. How long until MS decide we need yet another UI, then start adding elements of that to Windows 8 to continue the hodgepodge of UIs that is Windows? Seriously, pick one Microsoft and stick with it for more than two releases...

I still think MS are focusing too much on tablets at the expense of their existing strengths.

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    • Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 Ergonomic Office Chair review: The Ikea of chairs by Steven Parker I've reviewed a few gaming chairs over the past three years or so and generally found them to score well in our reviews. SIHOO reached out asking if I was interested in taking a look at their flagship chair, the Doro C300 Pro V2. I never got the chance to check out its predecessor, but the V2 is described as an "Adaptive Ergonomic Chair." It became available to buy in April of this year. Let's get things rolling with a closer look at the specifications and features. Specifications Doro C300 Pro V2 Model Ergonomic Materials Mesh Back and Seat; Soft PU Coated Armrests Height adjustability 45.5 - 53 cm / 17.5" - 20.9" Seat (w+d) 52 x 43 - 47 cm / 20.5" x 16.9" - 18.5" (adjustable) Backrest 52 – 60 cm / 20.5" - 23.6" (adjustable) Lumbar support Mesh built-in (adjustable) Armrest adjustability 8D Bionic Armrests Rocking angle 105°, 120°, 135° (fixed) Neck support Mesh built-in (adjustable) Net weight 27.3 kg / 59.64 lbs Weight support 150 kg / 330 lbs Colors Black, White Warranty 5 years (upon registering) Price $499.99, $539.99 Introduction At first glance, it looks like a chair that in another life wants to be a Herman Miller; It certainly looks like my Aeron Remastered, but the Doro C300 Pro V2 has quite a few more features and costs quite a bit less. SIHOO says that it is made up of a "DynaCore" system that tracks your movement and synchronizes the headrest, backrest, lumbar support, and armrests as you shift, twist, or recline. They also say that the "SyncroFlex Backrest" molds to your spine, which kind of describes how the mesh fabric works in most ergonomic chairs, but anyway. Below are the meat and potatoes measurements for the chair. Here is the same tech sheet, but in inches. Durability I would be remiss to not talk about the various durability testing this chair underwent before coming to market, as this is claimed on the product page. First of all, the chair is BIFMA-, SGS-, and TÜV-certified. As for durability, the tests undergone were: 100,000 Castor cycles tested 120,000 Armrest cycles tested 120,000 Recline cycles tested 120,000 Gas lift cycles tested 60,000 Armrest durability cycles tested 120,000 Rotation cycles tested Nothing about weights testing, though. Now that's all disclosed, now onto my own personal findings. Assembly The Doro C300 Pro V2 came in two large boxes (1) (2), and everything was packed very well, protecting the different parts of the chair. In the box, there is a folded sheet that explains the 12 steps to assemble it; they are: Remove the bottom cover on the aluminum base; Insert the five legs into the aluminum base and use ten screws to fasten them; Insert the castors into the legs; Replace the bottom cover on the bottom of the aluminum base; Place the Class 4 Hydraulics gas cylinder into the aluminum base; Screw the bottom part of the arm rests, taking care of the orientation using two screws on each side; Use three torx screws to fasten the footrest to the bottom of the seat; Fasten the backrest to the seat using four torx bolts; Fasten the armrests to the backrest using four Torx bolts (two on each side), taking care to note the orientation; Place the chair onto the Class 4 Hydraulics gas cylinder; Insert the headrest into the top of the backrest; Use two torx screws to fasten the headrest to the backrest. There's also an online guide you can refer to. Carefully unpacking the two boxes took around 15 minutes because almost everything is wrapped in plastic and protective foam; the chair assembly itself took around an hour. I say in the above assembly steps to take note of the orientation, because it's not obvious which way around the bottom portion of the armrests go, and although there is an L and R on the bottom of the armrests, it also wasn't clear from the instructions which was actually left or right, facing the chair, or in the seated down orientation? Anyway, I ended up putting the bottom portions on the wrong sides, and after securing one of the armrests, I discovered that although it was on the correct side, the armrest base could rotate a full 360°, but not when bolted to the chair, so I had to remove it, rotate it, and then bolt it back on. Truly an Ikea experience! Also, to complicate things further, although all the parts are labeled from A to X (yes, that's 24 parts) unhelpfully, these letters do not appear on the parts themselves or the package with the bolts, screws, and washers. There's also a pair of protective gloves in the box, but I think they were made for much smaller hands than I have. Even my friend, who is 5.1, had difficulty putting them on. Once assembled, I needed to sit down. Anyway, as I said, it looks quite similar to my Herman Miller. And here is the back of it. If you look at the product page and on Amazon, it seems like a lot of thought has gone into the chair itself and what it's capable of, but there is no mention at all about the castors, and this is an area where I think the chair trips up quite quickly. I found it difficult to move the chair in any direction. I asked a friend who came to visit me earlier this week to test my findings, and she said that the wheels were "no good," so it definitely isn't just me. I am 6'2 myself and a big guy, I work from home and gained a few pounds from mostly staying in and the hell away from other people. However, the Doro C300 Pro V2 is rated for up to 150kg (330lbs), which in my case is used well within its max rating. Ergonomics The number of adjustments you can make, right up to setting it in nap mode — which I haven't fully tested yet — is what you'd expect from a premium chair. Yes, you can go up and down (max 7.5 cm adjustment), rock back and forth (with tilt adjustment), and lock the chair between three stages of 105°, 120°, 135°, which is not quite as flat as the AndaSeat I tested at 160°. Some thought has also gone into the "8D" armrests, too, which are cushioned but quite firm; you'll only know it if you press hard into the PU-covered tops, which give about half a centimeter, but it's enough to ensure your skin won't get awkwardly stuck to it in warmer (or sweatier) conditions. It almost feels like plastic and is very easy to keep clean. However, the armrest positions move far too easily, and I am not sure what that "elbow" function is. Maybe it is good for a short person with short arms, anyway, I never used it and kept it flat at all times. There are eight levels of adjustment for the armrests, they are: backwards, forwards, swing left/right, height up and down, tilt, and 360° rotation, which can be handy for desk clearance. As I said, the armrest pads shift far too easily, which could give off an ergonomic vibe, but who wants the armrest sliding when you are shifting weight? The height adjustability does lock into place when lifting and adjusting. Comfort This is ultimately what it boils down to at the end of the day, right? Quite a lot of reviews praise the comfort of this chair, and I don't disagree that the mesh seating is quite comfortable. I am used to the material from my daily Herman Miller. However, the backrest cannot be locked into place, and this is actually a feature; as you shift or recline yourself on the chair, the backrest moves with your body. It took some getting used to. The lumbar gives ample support, but I would have preferred an adjustable one built into the seat base, as this causes the backrest to move up and down at will. Again, as with my previous chair review, this chair is also rated for tall people, but nowhere in the product documentation does it say how tall. Being 6'2 myself, I'm happy to say that the backrest is tall and wide enough, and thought has been given to being able to adjust the neck rest, but as others have mentioned in their reviews, people as tall as 6.2ft is about the limit for the neckrest. Conclusion What I didn't like The footrest is rated for 15kg (33 lbs), which to me seems a bit light, and after looking online, it seems like a chair footrest for adults must be at least twice that rating. In all honesty, they are just hollow metal tubes, so it is not recommended to let a kid sit on them. I also feel like it doesn't really go out far enough for my height, so that kind of puts the dampener on me being able to use it regularly. I'll just have to continue to use my subwoofer as a footrest! I do not like the armrests being able to shift around as easily as they can, and they are a little too forward-positioned in the chair to comfortably sit close to my desk, because even in the lowest height position, they don't allow me to go under the desk like is possible with my Herman Miller. I also feel like this chair could have been delivered partially constructed, especially the armrests on the seat, and why the aluminum base wasn't already pre-constructed (without the castors) is baffling, considering it would have fit in one of the two boxes that way. The instructions also need to be clearer. On the pamphlet, there's an A to X listing (which is also used in the steps), but none of the physical parts use this lettering system! What I did like I'll be honest, I haven't used it for very long, just one week, and seating comfort is subjective after all! Any spills wiped straight off it, the stitching, and the lines look great, not a fray to be seen or stitch out of place. It looks kind of cool, too. My favorite feature of these seats is the nap mode. While you're not lying completely flat, it leans far back enough to make you easily doze off after a heavy gaming or working session. Overall, this chair offers plenty of comfort features. The MSRP does vary quite a bit depending on the region, at £549.99 in the UK, and €580 in Europe, and $599 before tax in the U.S. However, shipping is free, which is a bonus for such a heavy item. Is it worth it, though? At three years' warranty, I think it's a decent deal. Another firm out of Germany sent me a free replacement hydraulic gas spring for a chair that failed after almost four years, so it was well outside its two-year warranty. My advice is to always try, as you might have the same luck I did. If I could fault it at all, it would be the constant shifting of the armrests and backrest. Where to buy Although the footrest variant normally costs $539.99, it has been discounted to $469.99 on the official website in Black or White. In fact, the non-footrest variant is only $40 cheaper. On Amazon, it currently costs more at $499.99 links below. Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 for $469.99 (official website) Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 for $499.99 at Amazon US SIHOO provided a free sample without any review or pre-approval. Good to know This Amazon link 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.
    • Making US citizens pay is a prominent tool? Joke of the week…
    • Price Drop: Save 86% on Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus lifetime digital license by Steven Parker Today's highlighted deal comes via our Apps + Software section of the Neowin Deals store, where you can save 86% on a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for Windows. This bundle is for families and small businesses who want classic Office apps and email. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. A one-time purchase installed on 1 Windows PC for use at home or work. Lifetime license for MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, & OneNote One-time purchase installed on 1 Windows PC for use at home or work Instant Delivery & Download – access your software license keys and download links instantly Free customer service – only the best support! Microsoft Office Professional 2021 (for Windows) includes: Microsoft Office Word Microsoft Office Excel Microsoft Office PowerPoint Microsoft Office Outlook Microsoft Office Teams Microsoft Office OneNote Microsoft Office Publisher Microsoft Office Access No faffing about with subscriptions, just classic apps that don't expire. Good to Know ONE-TIME PURCHASE INSTALLED ON 1 DEVICE Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase Access options: desktop Full versions No subscriptions – no monthly/annual fees Version: 2021 Updates included* *Support for this version of Office ends on Oct 13, 2026 A lifetime subscription to Microsoft Office 2021 Professional normally costs $219.99, but this deal can be yours for just $29.97, that's a saving of $190. For full terms, specifications, and license info, click the link below. Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for just $29.97, or learn more Although priced in U.S. dollars, this deal is available for digital purchase worldwide. Support queries If you have queries or need support for any of the Neowin Deals, please use the contact form here. Neowin Deals are managed and sold by StackCommerce who represent Neowin on an affiliate basis. Why we post these deals We post these because we earn commission on each sale so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. So for those that keep moaning and complaining, be thankful we're still online for you to even do that. Other ways to support Neowin Whitelist Neowin by not blocking our ads Create a free member account to see fewer ads Make a donation to support our day to day running costs Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: Neowin benefits from revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site powered by StackCommerce.
    • The only reason I want to know where you from is because if you are not from the U.K, then why should you care what we in the U.K do or don't do? Racist I am not, I am fed up with the amount coming over here and feel they can come over here and think we need to support them. Do you know how much it costs this country to support these people coming over here? Even when we give them a place to live it is not good enough. We had a barge that was being used to house immigrants, oh but that was not good enough. A mate said to me at the time, when he was homeless, he would have been happy to live on the barge, instead of ending up sleeping on a bench on the beach. I am not scared to say what my family heritage is, unlike you who is scared to say where they are from or where they live. Father side U.S, mother side Wales, still have family living in the U.S. A mate who sadly died a few years ago, had a load of people from different races recording in his studio, I got on with all of them. Skin colour don't bother me, where they are from don't bother me. Religion don't bother me as long as they don't push it onto me and it is not crazy stuff. I am not religious. But if you are not living in the U.K, then why should you care if we are in the E.U or not? This the problem, too many people poking their noses into where it don't belong. But you believe what you believe, if you think I am racist, then be it, I really do not care. Just grow a pair
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