time for a new computer. I ve been hearing a lot of bad stuff about windows 8. What's the problems

[demosincebirth]

with it and what is the alternative? I have a Dell with windows XP for years...worked fine just getting a little slow and old.

[steve2470]

1. main problem is with the interface...radically different than Win7

Alternatives are Windows 7, Mac Os, Linux

[SwissTony]

3. I just bought a new laptop with W7.

Heard a lot of bad things about W8. Bad enough that I didn't want to know about it.

And I didn't like the idea of the interface.

But that obviously means I have NO actual experience of W8. So, take my opinion with a pinch of salt.

[steve2470]

4. you can get used to it with a few tricks

However, I do understand the popular revulsion against it. I think M$ really ***ed up.

[eShirl]

5. It's not that different, other than getting used to a few things in different places.

Really.
I finally got windows 8 after almost a year with ubuntu (and windows 7 before that), and I'm not seeing what the problem is.

[NYC_SKP]

2. I use Macs, but on the one PC I still us Windows XP Pro.

Not very often but it's still stable.

[demosincebirth]

6. thanks guys, it may be a toss up or buy one of the last Dells with XP. At least I know the system.

[Phillip McCleod]

7. i use all three all the time..

mac os x least of all.. linux most of all.. and it's not just an opinion that microsoft majorly fucked up. they just plain fucked up bad. real bad.

you see all these articles that claim that the PC market is shrinking and that means that PCs are on the way out? have you ever tried to touch type on a tablet or smartphone?

microsoft jumped on the bandwagon and pooped another vista. end of story. it's windows 7 with a really really really virtually unusable interface. it's ubuntu unity all over again. they went from #1 in the linux 'market' (all free) to #2 *over night*. i mean within 24 hours we dumped them like a needy boyfriend. *all hail linux mint*

such is supply and demand.

..

fact is hackers need keyboards and we write the programs that users and noobs get to use. give me a keyboard or go out of business.

[man4allcats]

8. Like many others, I don't really like the interface.

I'm still running XP Pro on my old Dell, but I've gone in to local computer stores recently and played around with display machines running Windows 8. I'm not sure how I did it, but I think I locked a few up. I do seem to be getting better at Windows 8 though. At least the help doesn't chase me away from the machines anymore when they see me coming.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

9. I have Windows 8 (just bought a new laptop)

It takes some getting used to with Metro. However, I installed a Windows 7 startup menu so I can bypass Metro. It's actually a very good OS. Extremely fast, especially on startup. I like SkyDrive, too.

Of course, I have a 2.4 GHz Quad Core (with turbo boost to 3.7 GHz) and 8 Gigs of memory to help with the speed. My computer blazes.

You'll be fine with Windows 8 and installing the 7 startup menu from IObit.

[demosincebirth]

10. I just bought one too. Man, is it different. I can't even find a favorites tab. I guess I'll just

have to work with it...you know, trial and error.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

11. Try two programs:

8GadgetPack

Start Menu 8 (I think it's by IObit)

It's help me come along.

[RILib]

12. ebay

I have a few thinkpads with XP that I bought off ebay. These are so much more reliable than the HP laptops I used to use that I expect these to last me for the next ten years or so.