win8 Poll: Windows 8 Experience (How do you like it?)

[UKDarkJedi]

I voted 5,4,4 everything is going fairly ok for me, but I'm getting random disk usage spikes (for over a minute at a time) meaning the system just stops responding for that time. I thought at first it was chrome or firefox that was causing it, so to be on the safe side I did a complete format, and had nothing new installed either from the store or anywhere else and it still happened. Very tempted to put it back to 7 but I do like Metro

[NightScreams]

Thanks to Start8, i have no issues with it other than the fact i'm not doing anything new i couldn't do in W7.

I purchased a couple of books on Kindle. Inside and Out: Windows 8 and Windows 8 secrets. Freshening up on it despite almost 2 decades of windows experience has helped a lot and pacify my initial opinions from the consumer preview.

[Tuishimi]

5, 4, 4

Won't be going back to 7. I've been using it since February and love it. I've become re-acquainted with keyboard shortcuts and familiarized myself with the various edge/corner responses and it has become second nature.

Most of my games worked, had to install the Microsoft game software to get some of them to work (like fallout 3).

Cisco AnyConnect has an issue that can be solved with a quick registry value edit.

The File Explorer tweaks and speed improvements are fantastic. Love them. I have an old version of Office (2010) and might consider upgrading that... but have to figure out how to get it into the budget. I had to tell my wife in advance that I'd be buying 8 in November. I guessed at the price when I did and I was about right... :)

One issue that is still with File Explorer that has been with previous versions of windows is the response time for a disconnected network disk that you accidentally swipe your mouse over... Another is convincing it to not power down USB disk drives (but that may be the drives themselves since they have their own hardware/logic for interfacing with windows over USB.

[Denis W. Veteran]

I voted 5,4,4 everything is going fairly ok for me, but I'm getting random disk usage spikes (for over a minute at a time) meaning the system just stops responding for that time. I thought at first it was chrome or firefox that was causing it, so to be on the safe side I did a complete format, and had nothing new installed either from the store or anywhere else and it still happened. Very tempted to put it back to 7 but I do like Metro

Open up Task Manager and sort by the disk column when it happens. You can trace which process(es) is/are responsible for the high disk usage.

[UKDarkJedi]

It varies unfortunately. If I install chrome, it's that. If I install firefox, it's that. If I install steam, it's that. Sometimes its the Antimalware service executable. Spikes at 14Mb/s for about a minute at which point the laptop becomes unresponsive and hdd light flashes continuously, then settles again. Didn't happen on 7. It's a shame as I really want to like 8.

[ambiance]

I mentioned this before, but is it at all possible to not show 'safely remove hardware' icon? I know you can customize this notification icons, but then I have the expansion arrow that can't be hid. I just think it's odd that the icon is persistent even when there are no removable devices attached.

[ambiance]

Also, is it possible to not sync my Hotmail contacts from my Microsoft Account in the People app? Previously I only used the account for my Messenger contacts, but now I have to use it to sync my settings and to use the store.

[neoadorable]

sorry for not reading through...got Win 8 Pro, love it. Nine items were not compatible upon detection. Install took about two-three hours start to finish, which is a little long. No major issues so far, except Neowin has a problem showing pics. Oh the biggest was XCOM Enemy Unknown not working until I went into task manager and put it into Win 7 compatibility manually.

Otherwise I have to say this is an amazing OS...once you get to know it, it's incredibly fast and smooth, and just looks awesome. I think even games look better somehow heh heh.

[leesmithg]

My results are as follows.

2/5

4/5

1/5

So even a clean install of windows 8 pro upgrade x64 has faults.

I still found in I.E. my original favourites.

I will wait for windows 8.5 or 9.

I'll try again if microsoft release a pack for turning windows to similar to xp,vista,2000,millennium,95,98.98se,7 etc.

Shame we can't have some new features with the dekstop and original features.

Windows 8 is 99.99999% for a tablet system and maybe touch screen, not for desktop pc's and laptops.

[Dot Matrix]

My results are as follows.

2/5

4/5

1/5

So even a clean install of windows 8 pro upgrade x64 has faults.

I still found in I.E. my original favourites.

I will wait for windows 8.5 or 9.

I'll try again if microsoft release a pack for turning windows to similar to xp,vista,2000,millennium,95,98.98se,7 etc.

Shame we can't have some new features with the dekstop and original features.

Windows 8 is 99.99999% for a tablet system and maybe touch screen, not for desktop pc's and laptops.

There are a TON of new features on the desktop. What are you talking about?

[PeteWhite]

Just installed it, one weird issue so far... it added 23 hours to my time and date!!! Pete

[korupt_one]

No problems upgrading from windows 7,

I have noticed one annoyance though, The desktop version banner remains. So am i forced to seeing

Windows 8 Enterprise

Build 9200

on the desktop from now on? or is there an easy method to disabling it. It's a legitimate copy that I downloaded from Technet.

I would say that means your copy is not activated

[JustinTime]

So far so good, working well. ESET 6 RC doesn't work and for some reason ESET 5 blocks my internet, so I had to remove. Otherwise I love it! Now one issue is lack of Aero so I am 98% reverting back to 7 tomorrow. I love Aero and hate this new theme.

[leesmithg]

There are a TON of new features on the desktop. What are you talking about?

I made it clear already.

[DavidM]

Well, it's back to 7 for me, thankfully I didn't have to pay for it, it was a free upgrade with the newest laptop. I think adding ads to their card games was the final straw, a 30 second ad to play a game that was free in the last version? No Thanks.

The real problem was the constant jumping from "metro/modern" to the desktop and back every time I wanted to use Firefox and/or Foobar. The ugly desktop ui was another reason, when I was using the "desktop" the ui looks like a pencil sketch that they forgot to finish. Everything just ran together and looked horrible, what happened? Was/Is "aero" a problem for tablets to run? Since 7 is rock solid and doing so well, was 8 pushed out just to capture some of the tablet market? If so, why screw with the desktop part?

My vote was 5/5, 5/5, 1/5... in case anyone was wondering. I made a Win8 usb and it installed nice and quick, it picked up every piece of hardware perfectly. Too bad they shoved metro/modern into a very nice DESKTOP os and tried to force it onto us happy desktop users. I resorted to using Classic Shell to avoid metro, but then removed, and reset the laptop, it to try and give 8 a honest try but, it's a piece of hardware that's supposed to make life easier, not force me to work around their "design choices". I hope 7 turns out to last as long as XP did, because without a touch screen metro/modern seems to be a mess of different sized tiles that are constantly scrolling text.

[grayscale]

Well, it's back to 7 for me, thankfully I didn't have to pay for it, it was a free upgrade with the newest laptop. I think adding ads to their card games was the final straw, a 30 second ad to play a game that was free in the last version? No Thanks.

Wasn't the 30-second ads only on the Daily Challenges? The game itself (if you select not to do the Daily Challenges and just stick with the game) is ad-free just like on previous Windows releases. Just saying, I have nothing against your vote since it's your own personal experience.

[Dot Matrix]

I just ran a Metro app on my desktop.... and liked it. *runs away and hides* :laugh:

[Scorbing]

I hate it. Sorry but this is not Windows. This is an abomination. What the hell were they thinking when they designed this garbage? Everything is harder to get at. Things are more confusing than ever.

Does it boot fast? Yes. Absolutely

Does it shutdown fast? Definitely

Is it better (easier to use) than Windows 7? Hell no.

[BiGdUsTy]

Some of my games don't work and Creative's x-fi beta drivers suck but nothing new there. For my game rig it's windows 7 for now.

[DavidM]

Wasn't the 30-second ads only on the Daily Challenges? The game itself (if you select not to do the Daily Challenges and just stick with the game) is ad-free just like on previous Windows releases. Just saying, I have nothing against your vote since it's your own personal experience.

You may be right, I was just so surprised, I basically rage quit. I saw the ad and really said aloud "oh hell no **** this" and quit, my wife thought my laptop died and came into the room to see what was the matter.

I like W7, and that may be part of my problem, it's like trying to learn a new way of doing something that I've already learned to do efficiently. It's funny MS has spent millions making the desktop look and act like it does, now they see Apple making a fortune and decided everything they taught us since 95 was BS. I hope they realize their core is the desktop and even though it is getting smaller it will never go away, I for one do not want a 10 inch screen to do my computing on, and I damn sure don't want to watch a movie holding a tablet. Am I showing my age here?

It's funny, when I used see a desktop just completely covered with icons I laughed, now it's what MS wants?

[bikeman25]

Liking it, Working Well, Everything Reinstalled, Did clean install, Install time was Fast!, New Start screen so far has not been a bother, (still have to get bigger monitor to use Modem Apps fully) Desktop apps load really fast, Seems a lot faster than Windows 7 64bit on the same hardware.

Very Happy with WIndows 8 Pro 64bit

[Dot Matrix]

It's funny MS has spent millions making the desktop look and act like it does, now they see Apple making a fortune and decided everything they taught us since 95 was BS. I hope they realize their core is the desktop and even though it is getting smaller it will never go away...

It's not BS. But the times are changing, and what Microsoft has with Windows 7 isn't sustainable. The consumer's interests have changed. Big, bulky apps that Windows caters to are still nice to have, but the consumer is interested in smaller apps. These Metro apps, while light, are going to start filling in the holes in the Windows OS quite nicely, and you're never going to have a desktop equivalent to many of these, so avoiding them is futile. Hell the Metro Skype app replaced the desktop one for me, I'm currently running it docked to the left side of my monitor. I also have MetroTwit, and Calendar running in the background. After I reply here I'm going to be opening OneNote MX to update some notes I have.

People may laugh, but Windows 8 is a big deal, and this is pretty much why.

[remixedcat]

I just ran a Metro app on my desktop.... and liked it. *runs away and hides* :laugh:

is it like if I kissed a girl and liked it?

[DavidM]

It's not BS. But the times are changing, and what Microsoft has with Windows 7 isn't sustainable. The consumer's interests have changed. Big, bulky apps that Windows caters to are still nice to have, but the consumer is interested in smaller apps. These Metro apps, while light, are going to start filling in the holes in the Windows OS quite nicely, and you're never going to have a desktop equivalent to many of these, so avoiding them is futile. Hell the Metro Skype app replaced the desktop one for me, I'm currently running it docked to the left side of my monitor. I also have MetroTwit, and Calendar running in the background. After I reply here I'm going to be opening OneNote MX to update some notes I have.

People may laugh, but Windows 8 is a big deal, and this is pretty much why.

On the desktop it is BS, you have entry level laptops with I3's and 4 gigs of ram, you do NOT need "smaller apps", the entry level pcs are more powerful and less expensive than ever before. The market is shifting, yes, the people who don't want desktops are just jumping around from laptops to netbooks to tablets. They just have more choices than they ever had before, it doesn't mean they still don't have a desktop, hardware lasts longer, desktops don't NEED to be replaced as often as they once did.

I don't know what hole you need filled but after running 95 to XP to W7, there isn't a need I have, on either my desktop or my laptop.

[hagjohn]

Installed fine. Everything seems to work out of the box (did a clean install). It's quicker than 7.

For those who are not liking it. Leave it on a few days. Once you get used to it, you may change your mind.