BREAKING NEWS: Microsoft puts back the Start Button in Windows 8.1

I recently purchased a Asus touch screen laptop with Windows 8 a few months ago. It has a Intel I5 processor and is a fast computer. I have the MS Office also the current version. This replaced a 4 year old HP Laptop running Vista.

I'm probably one of the few people who adjusted to Windows 8 and enjoy it.

However some of the new features like a start button that allows you to search programs is much easier and I look forward to this FREE upgrade later this year. The SSD is a nice feature, my PC is never shut off. Instant boot. No complaints.

I use a Windows 7 desktop at work.

Many companies are adjusting to BYOPC. Bring your own PC, or in my case I go home, but may use my Home Laptop to updates reports, etc. Skydrive is a nice addition.

I'm also a Apple fan with the Ipad and IPhone 4s. I will upgrade my phone on the next release.

I would purchase a Apple Laptop but I think they have lost me on the cost. I can get the same I5 processor in Windows for half the cost. The apple OS is nice but not worth the $ in my opinion.

 

I agree, I believe Microsoft made a step in the right direction with Windows 8 but these last few adjustments are very important, and in part why it will be a FREE upgrade.

I can say that when I go to the Mall the Apple Store is packed every weekend to the hilt, but the Microsoft store has people but not that congested.

Much of MS OS focus is on the CIO and the Large Enterprise. It is refreshing to see them dive into the Tablet, Phone and desktop integration market and the Store for downloading programs and focus on every day people. It seems MS is following Apples lead. Than again Windows was developed for IBM, and MS just decided to run with there own version. That was a very long time ago.

 

2 steps forward. 1 step backward. I purchased a copy of 8 but did not install it because from what I saw, without a touchscreen, the OS was more cumbersome. The start button should help.

 

I agree the Touchsceen is the bomb. Without it the tiles or Tablet like interface is troublesome. When you go the MS store they only sell Touchscreen Laptops and PC's and Tablets. Phones also

The real question is what will the next iPhone be? I have the 4S, waiting for the 5S to be released. Will it be a earth shattering device and break ground or just another chip set to improve performance, a better camera, and a Apple Dog and Pony show.

All eyes are on Apple and Cook needs to start cooking !

 

So, Windows 8 is only available for touchscreens? I think that Windows XP was the best version and there are far too many quirks with all future versions. We just got Windows 7 at work and although I can adapt to anything, I can't adapt well to having to deal with our IT people on a more regular basis because they didn't test how it would work with existing company applications. I will say that I prefer the Microsoft Store to an Apple Store any day.

I still have the iPhone 3G. Not changing until it dies!

 

Windows 8 works better with Touchscreen since it is more like a tablet now. It will work without a touchscreen, just not as seamless. The MS Store sells only touchscreen. The web site will sell traditional monitors.

Touchscreen is the future, that is where it is going.

 

Which is a shame for a clean freak like me. My biggest pet peeve is when people touch the computer screen. I hate fingerprints on a screen. People don't wash their hands enough to make it acceptable to me. I clean my Kindle Fire twice a day, and my iPhone at least four or five times a day!

 

Dealing with legacy applications is a bear. I like the SAAS play myself. As long as I have a browser and a internet connection I'm good.

I recall one back office application would only work on Office 2007 platform. It held up many hardware and software upgrades in my office. Then we had new applications that were not supported on Office 2007. Huge headache. People live that every day. CIO's they tend to be more causious about upgrades. One problem gets solved but another dozen is created. That is probably why XP has survived so long.

My company orders screen wipes. If you just wash your hands a few times a day and after eating you be surprised.

There is one fat chick with candy bars in her desk drawer, her screen is in 3D with chocolate on it, doritos dust, etc.

My Prius Touchsceen has finger print smudges. Someone told me don't use windex or ammonia based cleaers it will fade the screen's clarity. Same thing with TV's, etc.

Is that true?

I'll tell you a guy like me getting older the larger screen is a nice upgrade. I have the 4S which is the same screen size your 3S, when I borrowed my daughers 5 to look up a movie I noticed less squinting and eye strain.

If you use the browser and apps a lot, the faster processor chip set and 4G data speed is a blessing. You may want to consider the upgrade this fall when it gets released. You may get $35 if you trade in on your old phone.

 

The start button is better than the tiles or desktop shortcuts.

 

It is true. You want to use distilled water to clean the screen. Just lightly dampen a lint free rag or old t-shirt and it works the best. I have used the wipes as well, but they don't do as good a job. It is safest and least likely to damage anything. It is absolutely disgusting how unclean some people are at work. I actually have the 3, not even the 3s. I don't use my phone for anything but phone calls and Pandora. I may use it when I am out of town to look up things, but I use my Kindle Fire or my laptop for movies, and other applications. I am unsure if I want to stay with AT&T so that is why I am holding off getting an upgrade because it only means I have to commit to another two year contract. The only advantage is the grandfathering in of my unlimited data.

The problem with my company is that decisions are made more by the Marketing, IT and Sales departments which don't use a lot of the more archaic programs that the rest of the company uses. For example, we use Google mail, but our intranet is only accessible through IE. Oh, how I miss outlook. I have no problem with 7, I just have a problem with programs not working with it. I use it at home without any issues.

 

Another analogy would be the steering wheel attached to the roof and the starter button in the glove compartment behind a 2nd door.

If you do get stuck with Win 8.0. there are several programs available for free to $5 that not only give you the start button back, they make Win 8 look and act a lot like Win7.

I think this is the one I put on my notebook for $3.00.
StartIsBack - CNET Download.com

 

I was setting up an Asus ultra book for a customer and I noticed a Windows 8 tutorial was included. This was the first Windows 8 computer that I have seen it on. The best tip it had was to go down in the left bottom corner and right click on the mini tile screen to get a decent menu for control panel, device manager and such.

 

Unless you modify Win 8, you need to do that every time you want that menu. For 0 to a very few dollars you can make the win 8 tile mess go away.

You can also get rid of that stupid screen you need to click through before you enter your password to login by using a simple registry mod

 

I got Vista and hated it. A lot of my desktops and my laptop often got the "stack overflow" message and the blue screen of death.

I blamed the processors and the motherboard. Come to find that it was Vista, after they came out with Window 7.

I bought a new HP desktop with Windows 8 on it. Every time that it downloaded the updates, the thing wouldn't start and went through a recovery process.

Finally, the recovery process wiped out all of the programs and updates that I had laboriously downloaded. The desktop immediately went back so the store.

I went to Newegg,com and got a barebones PC, put it together with Windows 7 64 bit.

I couldn't be happier. The new store computers don't even come with an install disk.

The only thing that I liked on Windows 8 was the weather app.

 

I may be alone on this but I like the tiles. It reminds me of a tablet. My win 8 is running great no issues.

 

Apple may have a product announcement on Monday !