GabeN: Linux a-go-go Because Windows 8 is a ‘Catastrophe’

[Nekosan]

The problem with his statement is that for 99% of the population Windows just works, most people still don't use anything but the most basic of functions and customizations and there's just not any reason for them to change. I doesn't matter how much someone says "linux is better" because people just don't care, if Windows works for you and has always worked for you then the majority see no need to change just for the sake of functions they never even knew existed.

I can't see Microsoft intentionally doing anything to reduce performance of anything that isn't theirs, they just aren't that stupid.

[Jez]

The problem with his statement is that for 99% of the population Windows just works, most people still don't use anything but the most basic of functions and customizations and there's just not any reason for them to change. I doesn't matter how much someone says "linux is better" because people just don't care, if Windows works for you and has always worked for you then the majority see no need to change just for the sake of functions they never even knew existed.

I can't see Microsoft intentionally doing anything to reduce performance of anything that isn't theirs, they just aren't that stupid.

You make a lot of sense here, but doesn't that mean Microsoft is screwing the pooch here by introducing a mandatory metro-style that has questionable utility for desktop users? I can understand that Microsoft way want the same interface for all Windows devices for reasons of compatibility, but just because that interface works well on a touchscreen doesn't mean it will work on a desktop.

[Juiceness]

If the games on steam got native linux support, thats just a small skip and jump away from running on OS X.

A Macbook Pro would be a pretty good choice in laptop if it could also play the full library of steam games.

[Auld]

If the games on steam got native linux support, thats just a small skip and jump away from running on OS X.

A Macbook Pro would be a pretty good choice in laptop if it could also play the full library of steam games.

Work buys me MBPs and I currently dual boot for games. It works fine(fine!) for almost all games in the first year of life, second year of life the big new sparkly titles stop working decently (BF3 for this MBP from 2010).

stuff

Very true. But on the flip side of this, its not Windows that they care about as long as it works. If OEMs supplied a flavour of linux on their desktops that just worked I'm not sure consumers of that level would notice.

Steam for mac has been treating me pretty well over the past year. As that continues to grow all it's shown me is: The OS is pretty irrelevant .

Can't wait for all my **** to work on any OS.....heaven.

[10dollars]

I can't stand Unity... I hope they add support for Fedora.

[MaddMoose]

You make a lot of sense here, but doesn't that mean Microsoft is screwing the pooch here by introducing a mandatory metro-style that has questionable utility for desktop users? I can understand that Microsoft way want the same interface for all Windows devices for reasons of compatibility, but just because that interface works well on a touchscreen doesn't mean it will work on a desktop.

The average mum & dad computer user will likely love a big tile that contains the facebooks or their emails. It's why iPads are so successful, they have big shiny buttons for people to use. If you don't like metro, then you just turn it off and go back to W7 style interface. Microsoft have covered all the bases quite well really.

[SaNE]

If you don't like metro, then you just turn it off and go back to W7 style interface. Microsoft have covered all the bases quite well really.

When did they add that? Both previews didn't have such a feature as it is the start menu.

[exe3]

If you don't like metro, then you just turn it off and go back to W7 style interface. Microsoft have covered all the bases quite well really.

When did they add that? Both previews didn't have such a feature as it is the start menu.

That's what I keep hearing as the big issue. Yeah you can activate a "desktop" mode but it's so limited in functionality (no start button) it's simply not what people want or need. Why they don't allow for both versions is beyond me. Forcing people to use something radically different rather than easing them over over time rarely works well. They shouldn't act like they know best and instead provide both options and see where the users themselves go.

[Jez]

You make a lot of sense here, but doesn't that mean Microsoft is screwing the pooch here by introducing a mandatory metro-style that has questionable utility for desktop users? I can understand that Microsoft way want the same interface for all Windows devices for reasons of compatibility, but just because that interface works well on a touchscreen doesn't mean it will work on a desktop.

The average mum & dad computer user will likely love a big tile that contains the facebooks or their emails. It's why iPads are so successful, they have big shiny buttons for people to use. If you don't like metro, then you just turn it off and go back to W7 style interface. Microsoft have covered all the bases quite well really.

I'm not sure I buy that. I would perceive the average mum and dad computer user as being pretty comfortable with the start menu and clicking and dragging after all these years, and changing the interface so radically may mean that Windows 8 is not installed on a lot of office and home computers. But we'll see.

[PinothyJ]

If you don't like metro, then you just turn it off and go back to W7 style interface. Microsoft have covered all the bases quite well really.

When did they add that? Both previews didn't have such a feature as it is the start menu.

That's what I keep hearing as the big issue. Yeah you can activate a "desktop" mode but it's so limited in functionality (no start button) it's simply not what people want or need. Why they don't allow for both versions is beyond me. Forcing people to use something radically different rather than easing them over over time rarely works well. They shouldn't act like they know best and instead provide both options and see where the users themselves go.

Here we are…

[SaNE]

If you don't like metro, then you just turn it off and go back to W7 style interface. Microsoft have covered all the bases quite well really.

When did they add that? Both previews didn't have such a feature as it is the start menu.

Here we are…

To quote the quote "If you don't like metro, then you just turn it off and go back to W7 style interface. Microsoft have covered all the bases quite well really."

That's not what your link is.

[PinothyJ]

That's not what your link is.

I hate having to defend myself when the answer is damn obvious. I was replying to exe3 with a link to a shell replacement that works well with W8 and will give you your start menu back as well as any other stuff you wish never disappeared from the Windows shell.

exe3 notes that forcing someone to use something different may be a dick move and I am noting back that there is a simple fix that is a download away. At the end of the day you can have W8 improvements and still have your comfortable Windows experience without have to put up with a redesigned wheel.


If I were to reply to your post I would give you this link instead but as it happened I only replied to exe3…

[PirateEggs]

To be honest, I kind of like Metro.

[diamondd]

I can't stand Unity... I hope they add support for Fedora.

it takes 4 seconds to install any desktop environment/window manager you want ya know...

[SaNE]

If I were to reply to your post I would give you this link instead but as it happened I only replied to exe3…[/color]

You're missing the point completely... MS have forced people to use metro on a desktop without giving people the choice, which is again stupid because all they need to do is have an option in the control panel or at the very least when you're installing it.

Do you really expect the average consumer to know where to find and what to download to give themselves back the start menu? No.
They can't even wrap their heads around the most basic options in Windows without trying to download a tool to get their start menu back, they're just going to end up with spyware, trojans and viruses while attempting it.