So anybody upgrading to Windows 8?

Started by Barrister, October 25, 2012, 04:45:16 PM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages1 2 3 4
User actions

Barrister

October 25, 2012, 04:45:16 PM
It's out today.
Posts here are my own private opinions.  I do not speak for my employer.

Ed Anger

#1
October 25, 2012, 04:46:13 PM
I can get it cheap, but I just don't feel like going through the hassle.
Stay Alive...Let the Man Drive

derspiess

#2
October 25, 2012, 06:18:41 PM
I'm going to buy a couple upgrade licenses while they're cheap.  Slick interface but not happy about having to pay extra for Media Center and other stuff.
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

Grey Fox

#3
October 25, 2012, 07:27:19 PM
Only at work. But I don't think there's much corporate interest in this Iteration.
Colonel Caliga is Awesome.

viper37

#4
October 26, 2012, 09:51:26 AM
For the first time since Windows 3.1, I will adopt a "wait and see approach" :)

I don't need it at the office, I don't plan on using a Windows Phone anytime soon and it offers nothing new for gaming.  So, no, not right away.
I don't do meditation.  I drink alcohol to relax, like normal people.

If Microsoft Excel decided to stop working overnight, the world would practically end.

DontSayBanana

#5
October 26, 2012, 11:20:28 AM
Hell no.  For one thing, I'm without a backup hard drive to mirror so I don't lose everything on my computer.  For another, I just don't like Windows 8.
Experience bij!

derspiess

#6
October 26, 2012, 04:30:52 PM
It looks like if you buy or upgrade to Win8 Pro you can get the Media Center add-on for free until January. 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/feature-packs

What the hell, I think I'll upgrade my HTPC to Win8 tonight.
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

Neil

#7
October 26, 2012, 08:39:46 PM
Hell no.  I ain't retarded.
I do not hate you, nor do I love you, but you are made out of atoms which I can use for something else.

Vricklund

#8
October 28, 2012, 10:13:07 AM
Quote from: derspiess on October 25, 2012, 06:18:41 PM
I'm going to buy a couple upgrade licenses while they're cheap.
This.

Since all new computers ship with install partition and loads of bloatware these days, the first thing I do is repartition and install a fresh copy of windows that I found on the net. I'm getting the widows 8 license just to get a legit bloat free copy in case I want to make the move later on.

derspiess

#9
October 29, 2012, 09:37:54 AM
Okay, I got a wild hair and bought/downloaded a copy of Win8 Pro to install on my home theater PC.  I might do a clean install at some point, but I wanted to see how the upgrade install went. 

I was pleasantly surprised.  It asks if you want to keep your settings and files, files only, or a clean install.  If you choose to keep settings/files, it will prompt you to uninstall any non-compatible applications (the only one I had was Windows Defender or whatever it's called now).  Once you do that, it's a completely unattended install until it boots for the first time.

If you sign in with your Windows Live ID, it will go ahead and sync your hotmail, Xbox, and Xbox Music (Zune) accounts.  The integration of Xbox Music into the Start menu interface is a really nice touch if you have an Xbox Music subscription.  And going by the look and feel of the Metro interface, the line of distinction between Xbox and Windows (and I guess Windows Phone) is fading.

The new interface make me wish I had a Windows 8 tablet, though I ain't shelling out the five bills for a Surface anytime soon.  And if you don't like the new Start interface, a Windows 7 style desktop is a click away.  One odd thing is that I'm finding that I use keyboard shortcuts more now with Win8 than with any previous version of Windows.

On Saturday my brother & I went out to get our $38 physical copies of Win8 Pro.  I was originally just going to let this sit on the shelf until I felt a need to upgrade my main PC, but I went ahead and did that Saturday given how easy it was Friday with the HTPC.

I may try hooking the Kinect up to see how useful (or not) it is.  I imagine it would be as nice for video chat as it is on Xbox, at least.
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

derspiess

#10
October 29, 2012, 09:42:53 AM
Oh, also I activated my two free Media Center licenses for both machines.  It took about a day for them to send the activation codes, but it's 'free' stuff so I guess I shouldn't complain.

Media Center looks and works exactly like it did with Win7, which is fine from a reliability standpoint but it would be nice to get a Metro-style refresh for the interface.
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

Darth Wagtaros

#11
October 30, 2012, 09:22:24 AM
I wouldn't upgrade my labs, staff PCs, or really home computer for months.  I might upgrade my HTPC for the hell of it since I don't care of it gets nuked. Will try to get a test machine here at work going first.
PDH!

derspiess

#12
October 30, 2012, 10:52:18 AM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on October 30, 2012, 09:22:24 AM
I wouldn't upgrade my labs, staff PCs, or really home computer for months.  I might upgrade my HTPC for the hell of it since I don't care of it gets nuked. Will try to get a test machine here at work going first.

That was my plan.  And since I had a fresh image backup of my main PC, I went ahead and took the plunge on that as well.  I did the upgrade install on it and the only thing I had to do was re-install my ATI drivers and select my printer as the default printer.
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

Darth Wagtaros

#13
October 30, 2012, 12:05:48 PM
One concern of mine is that it seems this release was really intended for mobile devices and PCs with touch screens. 
PDH!

Barrister

#14
October 30, 2012, 12:37:16 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on October 30, 2012, 12:05:48 PM
One concern of mine is that it seems this release was really intended for mobile devices and PCs with touch screens.

Absolutely.

I thought about throwing Win 8 onto my Mac Pro, but the reviews have been so universally bad, and all I use my Windows partition for is to play Windows-only games, so I really can't see the use...
Posts here are my own private opinions.  I do not speak for my employer.
Print
Go Up Pages1 2 3 4
User actions