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| Thread ID: 135476 | 2013-11-08 04:01:00 | Classic Shell | B.M. (505) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1359131 | 2013-11-10 00:24:00 | Ok then, if I may add my observations into what seems to have turned into a bit of a heated argument. I started out struggling with 8 and didn't really like it, probably said as much on these forums somewhere. Over time as I've gotten used to it, tweaked it to my liking, and found out how to do things, I've come to change my opinion. The improvements over 7 are subtle but noticeable when you run both. I don't think the new interface is better than windows 7, but I do think it's perfectly capable and has many new options that 7 doesn't. To say there is no menu is to ignore the fact that the big new tile interface you don't like IS a menu. People make statements like "windows 8 is crap" because microsoft changed it so much and it can be very confusing and awkward at first. What many people should more accurately say in my opinion is "I don't like windows 8, I prefer 7 (or XP or whatever)" because that takes away most of the arguments. In terms of performance features and stability Windows 8 is definitely not crap and is an improvement over previous versions. In terms of user interface it's quite different at first an not everyone considers it an improvement. What I do dislike about new windows releases, and it's happened every time to some degree, is when MS changes how to access common functions apparently just for the sake of changing it and in some cases renames it as well. Then leaves you no clue as to where or how to find these functions. Every release I've ended up researching how to do something I already knew how to do with the previous version, windows 8 just did more of this than usual and has a bigger degree of relearning. An example is the backup & restore feature, it's still there in windows 8 but cunningly hidden away in an (to me) obscure place and amusingly still has "windows 7" in the name. My Windows 8 tweaks for anyone who's interested; I have set my PC to boot to the desktop, set it to return to the desktop when closing an app, associated most of my common file types with the desktop version of apps, changed all my tiles except a couple to the smallest size, grouped my tiles into categories and named them, added a shutdown, restart, and sleep button to the start screen, and set the start screen background to be the same as the desktop(has the surprising psychological effect of making it feel less separate). Does all this mean I don't like the new apps and don't use the start screen? nope not at all. I rather like some of them and the start screen is really just a tidier version of that desktop full of shortcuts so many people have. So my opinion, try one of the replacement start menu programs if you like but don't write off the new interface completely until you've lived with it for a while. You may always hate it but you may not, and some of the new apps add things that can be quite worthwhile. Here's one for the music lovers if you haven't tried it, fire up the new music app, do a search on a favourite artist, then use the option to start a radio station from there - you'll get free streaming music from a bunch of similar artists on random until you stop it. pretty cool I think (some dodgy choices but that's what the next button is for). |
dugimodo (138) | ||
| 1359132 | 2013-11-10 00:31:00 | Windows 8.1 does come with a Metro mail app. As for something else, well... I use Outlook on my desktop :p :+1: The Windows "App" is good if you have a Hotmail/live Mail or outlook.com account. (all more or less the same thing these days) Don't know about other web mails like Google, yahoo, never tried them. You can also install third party programs, Thunderbird, Windows Live Mail, Outlook and many others ( take your pick of what you want to use) that work as a desktop Program. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1359133 | 2013-11-10 01:01:00 | Don't know about other web mails like Google, yahoo, never tried them. Works just fine with Gmail. :) |
pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 1359134 | 2013-11-10 01:28:00 | Works just fine with Gmail. :) :thumbs: Thanks for the info. Do have a couple of gmail accounts but only used when have give a email address to get something. :D |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1359135 | 2013-11-10 01:39:00 | Works just fine with Gmail. :) +1 |
CliveM (6007) | ||
| 1359136 | 2013-11-10 03:23:00 | I had Gmail and 2 xtra(yahoo) accounts set up in the app. Works pretty well but I prefer live mail. | dugimodo (138) | ||
| 1359137 | 2013-11-10 04:32:00 | Windows 8.1 is brilliant, and easy to use.......Once you have managed to get it set up!! Especially e-mail! It took me about 3 days to get an e-mail client to work, and even now I am not sure which one I am actually using. But now I will leave well alone and just enjoy the access I have to the net. My advice to new installers of W8.1 is to forget completely about previous OS used and concentrate on the learning of the new one. There a heaps of sites with tips and tutorials out there in net land. But I will say that there will be tears when trying to import your contact addresses into W8.1. It can be done, but is a real rigmarole.... good luck. | Richard (739) | ||
| 1359138 | 2013-11-10 04:55:00 | But I will say that there will be tears when trying to import your contact addresses into W8.1. It can be done, but is a real rigmarole.... good luck. Just for reference, I've always found if you export from original as a .csv file ( example contacts.csv). Most email clients should import a .csv. :2cents: | wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1359139 | 2013-11-10 19:56:00 | I use Classic Shell in all Win 7 and 8 PCs i run up. Much easier from the end users perspective.. | paulw (1826) | ||
| 1359140 | 2013-11-10 23:20:00 | What I do dislike about new windows releases, and it's happened every time to some degree, is when MS changes how to access common functions apparently just for the sake of changing it and in some cases renames it as well. The current trend these days seems to be "hide everything away so we don't confuse people" - To my mind, all this does is confuse people who already knew what they were doing, and prevents anyone who doesn't know what they're doing from learning anything beyond clicking on big, chunky, brightly coloured squares that should probably have "playskool" written on the back. Although, with Classic Shell etc Windows 8 is a lot more like Windows 7 and not terrible. I cannot fathom though why anyone would want to use Metro on a desktop. On a tablet, perhaps. But a desktop? It makes no sense to me. To each their own, I guess. As for me, I'm slowly continuing my exodus to Linux, where if the GUI sucks you can simply install something else, and there are dozens to choose from. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
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