Windows 8

[GORDO]

Interesting to note - you cannot buy a proper retail copy of this

 

You can only buy upgrade editions. So you must already have a legit copy of XP, Vista, or 7 installed.

 

That's weird, forces pirates to keep pirating.

 

Another worrying point that I've read about is that Microsoft is thinking about forcing everything on the system to be installed via an app store model. Like if you want to write a program and have other people use it you would have to submit it to the store or whatever. Not sure if this applies to every piece of software or just metro apps but it would certainly prove catastrophic in the former case.

[kaini]

that just applies to apps using the metro UI, and from what i've heard the app store is pretty underpopulated/crap at present.

[oscillik]

Interesting to note - you cannot buy a proper retail copy of this

 

You can only buy upgrade editions. So you must already have a legit copy of XP, Vista, or 7 installed.

 

That's weird, forces pirates to keep pirating.

 

Another worrying point that I've read about is that Microsoft is thinking about forcing everything on the system to be installed via an app store model. Like if you want to write a program and have other people use it you would have to submit it to the store or whatever. Not sure if this applies to every piece of software or just metro apps but it would certainly prove catastrophic in the former case.

 

Nah, that's just for Windows RT which is the ARM version of Windows, that only runs on the Surface tablet (please note: Surface Pro is the x86 version of the tablet, and runs Windows 8 Pro - the x86 version of Windows)

[eugene]

yeah, i wonder how rigorous they'll be when checking for the "legitness" of previous os..

 

actually wtf, im gonna run the upgrade assistance and see. it's only 40$ too...

 

I'd imagine they'll be pretty on the ball - they know the major WAT exploits, and also know the majority of traded product keys....

 

Should be interesting to find out though, post your findings!

 

well it seems the upgrade assistant wasn't bothered by my cracked win7, i suspected it would break the cracked activation but nothing of that kind happened, it just gave me a list of programs that weren't compatible with win8.

[autopilot]

I'd like to run Win 8 on a touchscreen interface desktop PC, and use that for collaborative music production. I'll bet that'd be super tight.

[oscillik]

yeah, i wonder how rigorous they'll be when checking for the "legitness" of previous os..

 

actually wtf, im gonna run the upgrade assistance and see. it's only 40$ too...

 

I'd imagine they'll be pretty on the ball - they know the major WAT exploits, and also know the majority of traded product keys....

 

Should be interesting to find out though, post your findings!

 

well it seems the upgrade assistant wasn't bothered by my cracked win7, i suspected it would break the cracked activation but nothing of that kind happened, it just gave me a list of programs that weren't compatible with win8.

 

To be fair, that isn't installing Windows 8 - that's just checking to see if your currently installed programs are compatible. If you go ahead with the install properly, please do keep us updated as to what it does on a cracked Win7. I am genuinely interested.

[eugene]

yeah i realize that, but i won't be spending 40$ just to see if it works, i'm not even sure if i need windows 8 at all. i'm pretty sure they'll be many takers with such price so we'll know pretty soon either way.

[Joyrex]

Microsoft managed to get the price right this time - 40 (80 maximum, from what I've read) USD is reasonable for an OS, I think.

 

Microsoft seems to think that Apple is trying to 'iOS-ify' OS X (perhaps in some ways they are), and so they're trying to beat them to the punch by doing the same with making their desktop OS in line with what they've done with Windows Phone and now Surface. I'm not sure if desktop OSes will go touchscreen (of course, if Apple does it with the iMac or similar, everyone will hail it as innovative - and it might be - if done right. I just can't imagine a touchscreen replacing a pointing device where you have contextual menus, double-click, etc.), so Microsoft might be taking an innovative step, or a risky one that results in them having to backtrack and come up with a solution like they did with Vista.

 

Disclaimer: I have been using Windows 8 beta under Parallels, and really can't see any benefits to the update, besides the speed improvements mentioned above (obviously I'm not going to see that in an emulated environment).

[skotosa]

Unless there are performance advantages, I won't update. I hear Win 8 is good with SSD's but I don't have one so sticking with Win 7.

[oscillik]

I'm a fickle man

 

 

I'm building a new computer, and I need to buy another copy of Windows 7 anyways. This way I get the choice, and it's no skin off my nose if I don't like it on the new machine because I (should) be able to downgrade back to Windows 7 if I really can't fucking stand it.

[auxien]

out of true curiosity oscillik, for what reason are you building a PC? i'm just honestly curious as to why anyone besides total computer control freaks and hobbyists do it these days.

 

and anyone considering an Win7 to Win8 upgrade, this is a decent overview weighing reasons and more so dispelling rumors: http://lifehacker.com/5955229/why-does-everyone-hate-windows-8-should-i-upgrade

[autopilot]

it seems like with windows 8, microsoft is expecting multitouch interfaces to replace mice in the next couple of years, so they're taking a huge gamble. i think the idea of totally reinventing the desktop interface (which hasn't changed in significant ways for 20 or so years) is ballsy and awesome and i really want to play with the software.

 

if they make things proprietary with a microsoft app store being your only way to load software, then fuck them. if it still remains the relatively open platform for developers that all the other iterations of windows are, with the traditional windows ease of installing your own software but with a different, touch-based GUI, then this could be beautiful.

[autopilot]

...and if it catches on, they could use the technology they already have for kinect to track finger placement and use a similarly functional interface with just a sensor for input and no touch interface. then minority report is here in a year or two.

 

if microsoft doesn't do this, some kids will. in like 3 days. just watch.

[eugene]

why is this so confusing to people ? there are two versions of surface: one which came out yesterday that uses windows rt which can only do apps from the microsoft and the x86 version is supposed to come out in january which will use win8 pro, which is obviously completely open (unless i miss something completely).

[oscillik]

out of true curiosity oscillik, for what reason are you building a PC? i'm just honestly curious as to why anyone besides total computer control freaks and hobbyists do it these days.

 

If I'm a 'total computer control freak' then so be it.

 

Building a computer myself means I get to cherry pick what components I'm using, the case, the cooling system, use standardised parts (in the sense that there's no stupid fucking case designs that are a ballache to sort out), and get parts that aren't generally put into your average store-bought Dell or HP machine (like an Intel Core i7-3960X, or a GTX 690 graphics card).

 

Also I quite like putting them together.

 

why is this so confusing to people ? there are two versions of surface: one which came out yesterday that uses windows rt which can only do apps from the microsoft and the x86 version is supposed to come out in january which will use win8 pro, which is obviously completely open (unless i miss something completely).

 

you haven't missed something at all, you're bang on.

[Guest Frankie5fingers]

out of true curiosity oscillik, for what reason are you building a PC? i'm just honestly curious as to why anyone besides total computer control freaks and hobbyists do it these days.

 

If I'm a 'total computer control freak' then so be it.

 

Building a computer myself means I get to cherry pick what components I'm using, the case, the cooling system, use standardised parts (in the sense that there's no stupid fucking case designs that are a ballache to sort out), and get parts that aren't generally put into your average store-bought Dell or HP machine (like an Intel Core i7-3960X, or a GTX 690 graphics card).

 

Also I quite like putting them together.

building PC's is awesome. and you don't need to be a "total computer control freak". if you can read Ikea instructions you can put a computer together. it really is a lot easier than some people think. i also think one of the biggest up sides is that it can be much cheaper then just buying something from someone else. so you can put down some more money to get better specs.

[Guest isaki]

everyone's going on about how it'll be shit, riddled with problems, just like vista. why don't you try it out before you make claims like that

[kaini]

some of us have, the preview has been available for trial for quite a while now.

[Guest RadarJammer]

I wish they would have made win 7.5 and just addressed some of the most popular feature requests and gripes people have. Windows 8 looks like a stepford wives operating system.

[TechDiff]

Had a go with win8 earlier today.

 

it's fairly obvious how it's more geared towards usage with a touchscreen, particularly the start screen thing. it felt really clumsy using a mouse, but I can see how it'd function better on a touch screen.

 

My main impression of win8, seems really really slow. Wasn't the highest spec computer ever, but still... way to slow, covoluted and ugly. Need to have a longer play with it, but I wasn't especially impressed this time around.

[awepittance]

building a computer from purely components has never been easier. There are tons of compatibility guides online now and it usually amounts to a more powerful computer for the same price.

[auxien]

out of true curiosity oscillik, for what reason are you building a PC? i'm just honestly curious as to why anyone besides total computer control freaks and hobbyists do it these days.

 

If I'm a 'total computer control freak' then so be it.

 

Building a computer myself means I get to cherry pick what components I'm using, the case, the cooling system, use standardised parts (in the sense that there's no stupid fucking case designs that are a ballache to sort out), and get parts that aren't generally put into your average store-bought Dell or HP machine (like an Intel Core i7-3960X, or a GTX 690 graphics card).

 

Also I quite like putting them together.

building PC's is awesome. and you don't need to be a "total computer control freak". if you can read Ikea instructions you can put a computer together. it really is a lot easier than some people think. i also think one of the biggest up sides is that it can be much cheaper then just buying something from someone else. so you can put down some more money to get better specs.

 

yeah i mean i've built a computer before, though it has been years, for the sake of saving money and an interest in learning more about it all, but it just didn't interest me really beyond the initial stage. i understand the desire to build and tweak and all that, i just didn't think there was much of anyone except computer nerds and gamers with any true need for it these days, with computer prices generally reasonable. the couple of computer guys (who actual work in IT etc) i know admit that there's not really much money to be saved by the average user. doing it cause you love it is fine, i just figured maybe a few of the folks in this thread were gamers or programmers or something of that sort.

[oscillik]

out of true curiosity oscillik, for what reason are you building a PC? i'm just honestly curious as to why anyone besides total computer control freaks and hobbyists do it these days.

 

If I'm a 'total computer control freak' then so be it.

 

Building a computer myself means I get to cherry pick what components I'm using, the case, the cooling system, use standardised parts (in the sense that there's no stupid fucking case designs that are a ballache to sort out), and get parts that aren't generally put into your average store-bought Dell or HP machine (like an Intel Core i7-3960X, or a GTX 690 graphics card).

 

Also I quite like putting them together.

building PC's is awesome. and you don't need to be a "total computer control freak". if you can read Ikea instructions you can put a computer together. it really is a lot easier than some people think. i also think one of the biggest up sides is that it can be much cheaper then just buying something from someone else. so you can put down some more money to get better specs.

 

yeah i mean i've built a computer before, though it has been years, for the sake of saving money and an interest in learning more about it all, but it just didn't interest me really beyond the initial stage. i understand the desire to build and tweak and all that, i just didn't think there was much of anyone except computer nerds and gamers with any true need for it these days, with computer prices generally reasonable. the couple of computer guys (who actual work in IT etc) i know admit that there's not really much money to be saved by the average user. doing it cause you love it is fine, i just figured maybe a few of the folks in this thread were gamers or programmers or something of that sort.

 

hate to break it to you, but your computer guys are wrong. there are significant savings to be made by building it yourself, and more importantly there are systems that you can build for yourself that aren't available from the mass market pc manufacturers. Like the system I'm building, for instance.

[gaarg]

Pcs are cool, because you can make them just the way you need them to be.

[747Music]

I'm in total agreement with oscillik. I've been building computers for over a decade now and besides being fun, you have complete customization (which can call for some bitching looking cases and custom LEDs, preferably with an on/off switch), separate warranty agreements for each part, a lot of pre-built computers have unique part dimensions so replacing parts (especially PSUs) can prove to be quite a hassle. And it is easy, it's just like expensive lego. Grab a PCGamer's PC Builders Bible and read the step by step instructions.

 

Just to be a braggart, my recent build as of last summer consists of:

CPU: Core i7 2600k @ 3.4GHz

GPU: ASUS GTX570 w/ 1.3GB of GDDR5 VRAM

RAM: 8GB (2x4GB) G.Skillz DDR3 1800MHz

Mobo: ASUS P8P67 Pro

SSD: 64GB Crucial SATA3 6GB/s (Windows 7,my DAWs and a couple games installed here)

HDD: 750GB SATA3 (data and less used programs, of coarse)

External HDD: WD 2TB USB3.0

PSU: 850W

Case: CoolerMaster Storm Scout

 

It does everything I need it for quite well. I'm sure there are others here with much better specs. (what with oscillik talking about GTX690s and all, lol) But I'm very happy with what I have, won't need to upgrade for a while. And once my computer starts to fall behind, there's always overclocking. And with the Core i7 2600k, people are overclocking over 5GHz without liquid cooling.

 

I have yet to see something that will be the selling point for Windows 8 to me. Windows 7 is just great as is.

 

Also, oscillik, don't bother with Windows 7 Ultimate, go for Pro. Unless you'll utilize BitLocker or switch between 35 languages, it's not worth the extra cash. Also, please do elaborate on the system you are building. PC specs are like porn to me.