Windows 8: "Fixing" what wasn't broken

[Kulindahr]

I was always taught, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Microsoft apparently never got that memo, and in Windows 8 they've fixed more things that weren't broken than I could have ever imagined. The games, of course, are all sterling examples -- all take longer, and are filled with googaws and extras that actually make them a pain to play. But I ran into a great one today, and this video does a great job of explaining how to un-"fix" the Microsoft idiocy:

 

[AstareGod]

I think it's great that MS included some sort of PDF viewer rather than none at all that was the status quo in Windows 7 and earlier. You always had to install Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer anyway - so nothing has really changed, except that it's no longer absolutely necessary on Windows 8 to be able to view PDFs. Using Microsoft's Reader on a Windows 8 tablet is much better than the desktop version of Adobe Reader would be on a tablet, but I believe Adobe has made their own Modern version of their reader.

Also, the first time you open a file after installing a program that is capable of opening it, Windows will ask you which program you'd like to use by default. These options are also very easy to change by opening the Start Screen and typing "default" and choosing "Default Programs".

Every successive version of Windows, including Windows 8, has helped my efficiency and productivity. As with every new version of an operating system, whether Windows, Mac OS, or any other, it takes some time to get used to and discover all the shortcuts and features.

 

[Kulindahr]

I think it's great that MS included some sort of PDF viewer rather than none at all that was the status quo in Windows 7 and earlier. You always had to install Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer anyway - so nothing has really changed, except that it's no longer absolutely necessary on Windows 8 to be able to view PDFs. Using Microsoft's Reader on a Windows 8 tablet is much better than the desktop version of Adobe Reader would be on a tablet, but I believe Adobe has made their own Modern version of their reader.

Also, the first time you open a file after installing a program that is capable of opening it, Windows will ask you which program you'd like to use by default. These options are also very easy to change by opening the Start Screen and typing "default" and choosing "Default Programs".

Every successive version of Windows, including Windows 8, has helped my efficiency and productivity. As with every new version of an operating system, whether Windows, Mac OS, or any other, it takes some time to get used to and discover all the shortcuts and features.

Windows hasn't asked me a thing about what program to use for anything -- it just goes ahead and uses its damned "apps" that take over the screen and slow things down. The guy in the video is right -- that reader thing makes getting things done harder.

I think more and more every time I encounter something new that Windows 8 was written to force people to think simplisticly, never engage in complex tasks, never try to do more than one thing at a time.

 

[AstareGod]

I'm sorry that's been your experience. On my desktop and notebook computers, I'm on the desktop virtually all the time with multiple applications and windows open. I hardly touch the full-screen Metro/Modern interface at all on those systems. Windows 8 lets me use my applications just as I used them in Windows 7, and also brings improvements such as the ability to pause file operations and keeping them all in one place. The ability to run multiple apps, and engage in complex tasks, is still there.

Don't get me wrong - there are still some faults I see with Windows 8. But, in my opinion, the improvements far outshine the faults.

 

[GamerBear]

I got real annoyed with Windows 8 apps opening up, so I basically replaced it with all my favorite programs for audio, video, pictures and documents.

 

[dpnice]

Well I am really not technologically capable but I have had Windows 8 for 10 days now and I really like it.

Okay it is taking me a lot of time to learn how it works but I am enjoying it.

I don't make huge demands on my computer so the "Start" page is not yet overloaded.

What pleases me the most is that everything is aesthetically pleasing even down to the new sound used for bringing something to your attention.

My most recent discovery is the "snip tool". When I think of the difficulty I had to do a screen capture with XP this just seems like magic.

Thanks for the link to YouTube as I am in need of video tutorials like this and until today didn't know they existed.

 

[dpnice]

I was going to say that I miss the easy access to my "favourites".

Then in 5 mins I had my list of "favourites" pinned to my start screen.

As I didn't like how the list appeared on the screen I was able to get rid of all the unnecessary details and now with one click I find a clear and easily read list.

All that in 5 mins by someone who is not really a wizard on the computer. This is an example of it doing what I want it to and not what Microsoft have decided for me.

I am enjoying discovering Windows 8 so much that I forget to eat so I must stop and go cook something.