The Windows 8 and other failed Microsoft products thread - Windows 8 "relaunches" Feb

[Warsaw]

Kubuntu is being discontinued as an official, Canonical-supported version of their OS. Which sucks. I like Kubuntu.

As far as Windows 8 is concerned:

They should have made Metro an optional shell instead of the classic explorer.exe (metro.exe?). For the traditional desktop, they could have given it a look that complements the Metro interface with its aesthetic, but maintains the same functionality we have all been familiar with for years. I would like Windows 8 on a tablet PC like the EP121 or the Series 7 Slate, but on anything else...I'll pass.

Also, if they are going to use a rapid-release schedule, then NEED to lower the price of their OS. The guy who just spend $200-$300 on a new OS is not going to be inclined to do so after only two or three years of use, especially when the operating paradigm is such a radical departure. Make it $50-$100 or, better yet, do what Apple does and make it a $30 upgrade.

[arbiter901]

Goodbye Start!

[Mr Buckshot]

Kubuntu is being discontinued as an official, Canonical-supported version of their OS. Which sucks. I like Kubuntu.

As far as Windows 8 is concerned:

They should have made Metro an optional shell instead of the classic explorer.exe (metro.exe?). For the traditional desktop, they could have given it a look that complements the Metro interface with its aesthetic, but maintains the same functionality we have all been familiar with for years. I would like Windows 8 on a tablet PC like the EP121 or the Series 7 Slate, but on anything else...I'll pass.

Also, if they are going to use a rapid-release schedule, then NEED to lower the price of their OS. The guy who just spend $200-$300 on a new OS is not going to be inclined to do so after only two or three years of use, especially when the operating paradigm is such a radical departure. Make it $50-$100 or, better yet, do what Apple does and make it a $30 upgrade.

contrary to popular belief, anyone at least semi-savvy about computers can get "free" windows and receive full updates etc without any sort of negative impact on their experiences. I've heard lower-end computer shops in South American and Asian markets will sell laptops without any OS installed at all (saving at least $200 over a stateside model in the process), and then sell a burned DVD of Windows 7 for less than $1. I myself used this method for a while until I realized my school gave out legit Professional windows 7 on MSDN, so I switched to that since my tuition fees technically paid for it. To this day I still haven't found any way in which the non-legit Windows could screw me over.

As for the Apple thing, the $30 upgrade thing works because Apple's a hardware company and makes most of its profit from the overpriced Mac hardware. MS is primarily software, the only cut they get from any new computer sold is the preinstalled OS, and thus it doesn't make sense for them to price it so low.

[BobtheGreatII]

I have three copies of Windows 7 I got with my school email for $30 each while Microsoft had the student discount. I pretty much am expecting the same thing for Windows 8.

[Warsaw]

contrary to popular belief, anyone at least semi-savvy about computers can get "free" windows and receive full updates etc without any sort of negative impact on their experiences. I've heard lower-end computer shops in South American and Asian markets will sell laptops without any OS installed at all (saving at least $200 over a stateside model in the process), and then sell a burned DVD of Windows 7 for less than $1. I myself used this method for a while until I realized my school gave out legit Professional windows 7 on MSDN, so I switched to that since my tuition fees technically paid for it. To this day I still haven't found any way in which the non-legit Windows could screw me over.

As for the Apple thing, the $30 upgrade thing works because Apple's a hardware company and makes most of its profit from the overpriced Mac hardware. MS is primarily software, the only cut they get from any new computer sold is the preinstalled OS, and thus it doesn't make sense for them to price it so low.

But the majority of computer users aren't tech-savvy at all, so that is irrelevant. I mean, sure, I got my Windows 7 for free, but not everybody can do that or knows how to do that.

Microsoft also likely makes more than Apple does on the OS just through sheer volume of PC sales. To say they can't afford to lower the price on the boxed editions is completely ridiculous.

[Cortexian]

I have three copies of Windows 7 I got with my school email for $30 each while Microsoft had the student discount. I pretty much am expecting the same thing for Windows 8.

I hope you don't mean you're planning to upgrade downgrade.

[BobtheGreatII]

I am. I'm looking forward to Windows 8. Probably not so much on my desktop. But I've rather enjoyed it on my laptop.

[t3h m00kz]

Problem is, they're trying to market to the masses, so catchphrases will get tossed more than a hot potato with aids

brb patenting "hot potato with aids"

Also fuck ubuntu, kubuntu is so much better than that piece of trash.

no experience with kubuntu so no opinion. ubuntu 10.04 works great for me though

Not happy with the new Unity shell. Gnome 2 was where it's at, I don't know why the fuck they tried to fix what wasn't broken. Gnome 3 is also incompatible with tons of the applets I used..

the pc is great aside from the part where it burns itself out within two years of regular use because the cpu runs at 100c :

Had mine for over two years, still works as fine as ever. overheats like a bitch, normally but nothing this couldn't handle:

[Cortexian]

I am. I'm looking forward to Windows 8. Probably not so much on my desktop. But I've rather enjoyed it on my laptop.

Is your laptop a tablet/touchscreen one? That would explain it.

If not, wtf is wrong with you??

[Rainbow Dash]

Had mine for over two years, still works as fine as ever. overheats like a bitch, normally but nothing this couldn't handle:

Kinda hard to hold it and draw with that lol. If you still have Vista or Seven on it, you could cap the cpu at 50% using windows power plans, and I found that kept it around 50c when mine still worked.

Also you should definitely check out Kubuntu, the ui is way better than Gnome 2, and lightyears ahead of that piece of shit unity.