Microsoft spectacularly fails: Early look at Windows 8 baffles consumers

[Poll_Blind]

[div class="excerpt" style="border: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom: none; border-radius: 0.3846em 0.3846em 0em 0em; box-shadow: 2px 2px 6px #bfbfbf;"]Early look at Windows 8 baffles consumers[div class="excerpt" style="border: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top: none; border-radius: 0em 0em 0.3846em 0.3846em; background-color: #f4f4f4; box-shadow: 2px 2px 6px #bfbfbf;"]NEW YORK (AP) — The release of Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system is a week away, and consumers are in for a shock. Windows, used in one form or another for a generation, is getting a completely different look that will force users to learn new ways to get things done.

Microsoft is making a radical break with the past to stay relevant in a world where smartphones and tablets have eroded the three-decade dominance of the personal computer. Windows 8 is supposed to tie together Microsoft's PC, tablet and phone software with one look. But judging by the reactions of some people who have tried the PC version, it's a move that risks confusing and alienating customers.

Tony Roos, an American missionary in Paris, installed a free preview version of Windows 8 on his aging laptop to see if Microsoft's new operating system would make the PC faster and more responsive. It didn't, he said, and he quickly learned that working with the new software requires tossing out a lot of what he knows about Windows.

"It was very difficult to get used to," he said. "I have an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, and they never got used to it. They were like, 'We're just going to use Mom's computer.'"

Much more at the link- and actually interesting stuff too! It was difficult to prune it down to 4 paragraphs so I just punted and went with the first four.

Oh, and of course it's going to be the new standard forced on just about all non-Mac PC purchases.

Trying to make an OS that both plays well on a smartphone and a desktop, IMO, is a losing proposition. It's a matter of scope and focus.

BTW, although I don't use it as much as my family does, the new interface Ubuntu's been using for the last few years is superb. The kids and the little lady picked it up almost immediately. That shit just...works. I could see that being shrunk down to a smartphone with only a few changes and pulling it off so much better than Microsoft.

PB

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. It's supposed to be pretty good for touchscreen systems.

[Poll_Blind]

7. And I'm sure it is, actually. The problem is the defacto standard they force on everyone else.

It's like when they discontinued XP for Vista and nobody was having that shit. They wound up extending support for some period afterward. I have Windows 7 on one of my laptops and I like it. Putting that (Windows 8) on a desktop or a modern, powerful laptop is just...it's just an insult. It's a paradigm shift away from usability.

But for the new tablets Microsoft is coming out with Windows 8 may be just the ticket. Problem is, not everyone's rolling like that.

PB

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Ubuntu and Opera....a joy to use.

I quit Microsoft after Windows 98.Never had to go thru all the tortures of Vista and 7 and having the machine stutter to a halt after it got bloated to death.
'Course, we old fogies out here in the sticks don't use tablets and Android...just basic DSL is good enough.

[Posteritatis]

66. Pity it's going to be the default on laptops and desktops too. (nt)

[jsr]

2. It's a piece of garbage

[Logical]

4. LOL, MAC FAN BOY I ASSUME

[jsr]

5. Wrong.

[Hugabear]

11. It doesn't take a "Mac fanboy" to see that this is a colossal failure

This new system makes perfect sense for tablets and smartphones.

But for PC's, which are still primarily keyboard and mouse based? Doesn't seem to make any sense at all.

[Aerows]

15. No, it doesn't

And I AM a Microsoft fangirl. It's a pile of shit for keyboard/mouse use.

[Logical]

36. You should work for Microsoft since you seem smarter than them

[Hugabear]

54. You should work for Microsoft since you seem such a good kiss-ass

Many people who have seen Windows 8 on PC seem to think it's confusing at best. But you probably thought that Vista was awesome as well.

You're no better than the Apple fanboys, attacking anyone who dares criticizing your beloved product.

[Logical]

57. I write Mac, IOS and Windows code. They are not much different. And those like you who whine like...

a baby about one or the other prove you have no idea what you are talking about.

It is an OS, either someone is too stupid to use a computer or they are biased like you!

[Hugabear]

61. Oh for fuck's sake

Did you even bother to read the OP?

Windows 8 was designed with touch screens in mind. It's a completely different way of interfacing with the PC. You don't just take years of people being used to something and turn it on its head without causing a lot of confusion.

And sorry, most of us who use computers aren't code writers, guess we're all just too fucking stupid.

[Logical]

63. I would agree.

[tessar]

79. Surface tablets have built in keyboards and mouse ports

And are back ordered already...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57536675-75/microsoft-surface-tablet-back-ordered-as-new-ipad-looms/


Desktops will become portable. Smart move from MS.

[Initech]

42. I'm a PC guy all the way and I think Windows 8 is a POS.

At least the Metro interface is and that Xbox live bullshit is. But the cell phone crap can be disabled - and that's one thing the publications aren't telling you.

[RomneyLies]

47. It could in the beta, but not in the RTM

They removed the ability to disable the Metro interface when they went to RTM.

[hoboken123]

56. LOL AND CAPS?

What is this, AOL 1996?

[tessar]

58. Actually it's more like The Apple Store, 2012. n/t

[hoboken123]

104. Ummm, burn?

This is sadness on top of sadness.

[Hugabear]

3. First time I read about Windows 8, I thought 'what the fuck is MS doing'

It might make sense for smartphones and tablets. But not for PC. Windows Vista was a flop, but Windows 7 seems to be a pretty good system so far (I've had no problems with it). Why would they go and mess with a good thing?

It's like MS is determined to have every other system be a total flop.

[Poll_Blind]

9. " It's like MS is determined to have every other system be a total flop." Too true.

It's freaky how long that "rule" has been in action.

PB

[Hav]

22. Exactly my thoughts.

The article used the right word, one is just "baffled" that Microsoft would release such an OS for a desktop when it's clearly made for a tablet. I suppose that Microsoft sees a big shift from desktops to tablets in the future and maybe that is the result. Just imagine your typical system administrator (no offense meant) accessing a server and seeing that...

I think/hope that we will see a repeat of what happened to Vista. Consumers will be fine staying with Win7 which was rightfully a big hit for Microsoft after many consumers just didn´t see any sense in changing from WinXP to Vista. At least I hope that is what happens.

Also, there is nothing wrong in changes or new functions. My problem is with being forced to use the new functions. I'm talking about the missing start button in particular, which was a central element for all these years and that was just removed. Now you have to wander around in the edges of the screen and search through some menus to shut down your computer? Horrible. Microsoft managed to make such an essential function harder to use. I wonder, how many users will call the poor souls in their IT department asking them how to turn off the computer...

[emulatorloo]

43. The screen shots I've seen of 8 looks like they got the look from Xbox 360

Colored squares.

[Bolo Boffin]

48. Yes, the XBox 360 adopted this long ago. That's exactly what Windows 8 is now.

This is going to be a grand, glorious mess to watch happen.

[aletier_v]

72. "Why would they go and mess with a good thing? "

Income.

They need to force more payment, ergo you get a new system whether you need it or not.

[randome]

76. It takes more effort to design a robust system than it does to change the interface.

[aletier_v]

83. all the better to keep me employed, my pretties... heeheeheee

[Odin2005]

6. I'll stick with Win7.

[RomneyLies]

20. I'm with you.

I predict the same thing will happen with this OS that happened with Vista. New PC sales will slump when nobody wants to buy a new PC unless they can get it with Win 7 (which is a fantastic OS).

[ProudProgressiveNow]

112. Same here!

[Siwsan]

8. I still miss Windows XP

It was so user friendly, and I hated losing or having to repurchase my software when my old laptop died.

[bluesbassman]

30. Wrong spot.

[winstars]

46. Nice P-Bass!!! n/t

[arcane1]

52. Still using XP at home, and we're still using it at work too

I haven't yet come up with a reason to change that.

[Third Doctor]

10. I have Vista (problems) and 7

on both computers I use and for right now that's enough. The sad part is that after a while they will stop support services for 7 which will force you to upgrade. I'm personally not into the touch screen thing.

[hobbit709]

38. Just because they won't support it doesn't mean it will magically stop working

I know someone with an old Compaq laptop that has Windows 95 on it. It does what she wants and she sees no reason to get a newer one.

[HopeHoops]

12. It's like making a Chevy Suburban with a 4cylinder to try to get 40 mpg out of it.

All benefits of both worlds evaporate by its very existence.

[Aerows]

16. LOL!

Best analogy ever.

[HopeHoops]

64. Nah. I've had better. That's all I could think of in five seconds.

[RC]

21. That is a good analogy.

Someone needs to tell Microsoft the GUI does not need to be the same on everything for the software to communicate with it.

[HopeHoops]

65. Getting the GUI to work on ONE platform would be a nice start.

[Strelnikov_]

40. Hear, Hear!! n/t

[laundry_queen]

50. LOL. spot on. nt

[DJ13]

13. All they need to do is make the desktop view option more prominent

Then you can use it as a normal PC without (much) complaint.

I mean its there already, but some of the reviewers seem to be rather ignorant of it.

[Silent3]

14. I don't want my desktop or laptop pretending to be an oversized cellphone

I'm a bit worried that Mac OS X is trying to head in that direction too, although I'm still happy with the latest OS X, Mountain Lion.

For Windows, Window 7 is fine with me. I imagine a lot of people aren't going leave 7 any time soon, just like many hung onto XP when Vista was the new alternative.

Even when I'm running Windows 7, I have the desktop customized to look an awful lot like XP.

[watrwefitinfor]

26. I'm still running XP, and have it configured

to look like Windows 98.

Wat

[krispos42]

90. *fistbump*

Me to. Fuck that pastel shit.

[SteveG]

91. Corporate isn't going to rush to Win8

except very gradually if at all. Too many of their accountants, secretaries, and other office personnel don't work at tasks that can easily be done on phones and tablet's. The interface get too much in the way of working with applications such as Word, Excel, databases, etc.

[begin_within]

17. Is there anything that Microsoft has ever done that was any good?

Windows XP was passable, and the Xbox is nice, but as far as software, have they ever really done anything outstanding?

[quinnox]

18. its easy to avoid, you don't have to be forced to get it when buying a new pc

Lots of independent computer builders out there who will build a computer that doesn't come with an operating system, and then you can install windows 7 or XP or whatever you want on your new computer.

[RomneyLies]

23. The biggest problem is with laptops

I build my own workstation/desktop boxes, but not laptops.

And if my only choices are Windows 8 on a laptop or no windows laptop at all, I'll opt out of Win8 and probably move to a Mac for the first time in my life.

[quinnox]

29. this is an independent company that makes laptops I'm going

to get a new computer with, and they are reputable and have good prices, and you can buy their laptops with no operating system as an option and then load the windows OS yourself. http://www.malibal.com/

[RomneyLies]

32. THANKS!

That's a definite option for me!

[quinnox]

34. you are welcome

[RC]

25. The problem with that is that too many people are just computer literate enough to kinda surf

the net and get E-mail. So they will struggle through a Win8 machine because they can get it at Best Buy, along with a maintenance contract and have the Geek Squad maintain it.

Ubuntu (and similar) needs to be a little less geeky and advertize more widely.

[quinnox]

31. you are right, but it really isn't hard to do

Hell, I'm no computer whiz either, but anyone can search on the internet "How to install Windows on a new computer" and it is easy to do, and many sites lay it out step by step.

[RC]

41. I know how easy it is.

I once ordered all the parts I needed from the internet and assembled one of my own. I finally retired it when I moved to KCMO. (read that misplaced it in all the boxes in moving - moving company faulty box marking. I have since found it.)
I had acquired another newer, better computer a year so before the move and I had them both set up with dual monitors on the other. That worked out great.
I am now retired from computer wizing for other people. Just 3 and a laptop at home and 3 more at a workplace. Enough of fixing other people's computers.

[wickerwoman]

51. Except I don't get to choose which OS I use at work.

At home, I can use whatever I like, but at work I'm stuck with Windows 2003 and now possibly this OS whenever they upgrade.

[Ms. Toad]

24. I'm shocked. They've never done this before.

***cough*** Office Suite ***cough***

[Hutzpa]

27. WTF is Ubuntu? nt.

[RomneyLies]

28. It's a Linux distribution

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Probably the most user friendly version of Linux, but has the same problem of limited software choices all Linux distributions have.

[Hutzpa]

37. Why are people living windows?

windows is the best operating system, I wouldn't change it for anything.

[RomneyLies]

39. Well, Windows 8 sucks hard.

I'll stick with Win 7 personally because I don't want a cell phone operating system on a laptop or desktop.

[aletier_v]

86. Ubuntu is awesome for me.

it's simple, free, it takes me 15 minutes to complete rebuild my system if I need to, and one CD to back it all up anyway instead of 15 DVDs. It's fast and the only Windows software I've missed is Paint, everything else works as well as I care about (OpenOffice, etc).

[bluesbassman]

33. Windows is going the way of the IBM Selectric typewriter.

For those of you that remember that wonderful machine.

I used to be a technician for a large bank, and the first Selectrics were awesome. However as electronic typwewriters and word processors started hitting the market, IBM tried to match features on the Selectric. By the time they rolled out the Selectric III's, it was so over engineered that we could barely keep them running. Pretty much the same with Windows, they just keep adding stuff to the platform and I have serious doubts that it will be stable.

[IDemo]

35. I've been using it in testing for awhile

It will definitely not be going on any of my home systems. Win7 / Linux Mint dual-booting for the foreseeable future.

[upi402]

44. Win 7 could NOT transfer files from Vista

window.old where aaaaare you?

[War Horse]

45. Been using the "preview" (Beta) version on my laptop

Insanely unstable. You can actually configure it to be a bit more like win 7, though. I'll be buying win 8, as a part of the "recently bought something with Win 7" deal, and see how it performs on my vista laptop. Maybe with an Ubuntu dual boot.

Win 8 is a phone/tablet OS. Probably a good one at that. MS shouldn't have bothered with a pc version. They got it right with Win 7.

If new PCs will have Win 8 as the default OS MS are in for a world of trouble.

[AngryOldDem]

49. Just great.

I have trouble enough working with the CURRENT version of Windows.

[ropercarmine]

53. ditched M$ for linux

haven't used a M$ product since 2005. Never looked back....

[RomneyLies]

55. I'm a gamer, so I must have Windows on my gaming box

Nothing works on Linux to give me the graphics I'm after in games, so I have no choice.

Of course, my only choice for OS in gamin will be Win7. It's rock solid and is not designed for a cell phone.

[Egnever]

59. It wasnt made for desktops... the trend is moving away from desktops

But yes it is pretty bad on a desktop.

On a tablet it will be much better and when people can suddenly use all their favorite software on a tablet it will be a game changer.

If you look at it from the point of view of a desktop you are looking at it wrong.

[tessar]

60. Exactly. Portable hybrids will replace them for the most part.

MS is leaping ahead.

[Egnever]

78. Yup and for a tablet win 8 makes a lot of sense

It just doesn't translate well to mouse driven devices. MS would be smart not to try to force it there. As someone said above win7 is a good desktop OS. There is no reason to move to windows 8 on the desktop.

[tessar]

62. "Microsoft spectacularly fails" is spam. It is NOT in the original AP article. n/t

[quinnox]

67. it is not required to post the exact title in general discussion

people can alter news titles however they want in this forum, its not like the late breaking news forum.

[RomneyLies]

68. But, it's true.

Microsoft has failed spectacularly.

It's the Vista of this decade.

Most businesses will NOT upgrade. PC sales will fall off until an option to alloow Win7 as the OS is allowed.

It's Vista 2.

Or more aptly, it's Windows Millenium 3.

[Egnever]

84. No it is not close to true

The fact that you fail to see what this OS was designed for does not make it a fail.

This is designed to bridge the gap between mobile devices and desktops and for that it works brilliantly. Currently businesses are trying to make apple or android mobile devices play well with their windows based infrastructure and it's causing IT departments nightmares. When Win8 is released on mobile devices those problems largely go away. This release will instantly make MS a player in the mobile market where they currently are failing.

I would say your inability to grasp what they are doing makes you a fail. You can at least take comfort in the fact that you aren't the only fail out there you have lots of company.

[RomneyLies]

85. I see EXACTLY what it was designed for

It was designed for phones and tablets.

It was NOT designed for desktops and laptops.

I refuse to use a phone OS on my desktop. Fuck Microsoft. I won't buy it. If I have no other choice, I'll move on to MAC where I'll still be able to play most of my games.

I grasp precisely what they are doing.

They are failing miserably.

As a IT consultant, I will be recommending my clients to NOT upgrade to Windows 8 and to wiat until they release a REAL OS for the desktop or laptops.

edited this post to add the following:

The training shift to adjust to Windows 8 alone makes it a complete failure for the enterprise, especially when the costs associated with BYOD are being questioned at every level of the large corporations and are making targeted mobility the only real solution for moving forward. since Apple already owns the space, MS is late to the game and Windows 8 is further proof that Windows 7 is the last stable environment enterprises should standardize on for the desktop and laptop environments while moving highly mobile sales staff to the iPad for extreme mobility requirements.

[Egnever]

93. As an IT guy you should know better

No one is going to force businesses to buy win8 machines. Just like no one forced them to buy vista or win 7 machines.

In most business settings the computers are run on volume licensing and you buy whatever flavor you want and install it on all the machines.

The Idea that they are going to force business to buy win8 machines is ludicrous.

That said having mobile devices that integrate with the current windows infrastructure pretty seamlessly will be a godsend for business. As an IT guy you should be able to see all of this very clearly.

[RomneyLies]

94. As an IT guy, I don't buy crap.

Windows 8 is crap. It ois crap on the desktop and it is crap on the phones and tablets.

Apple owns the tablet space. Microsoft is late to the game. they lose. windows 8 means they lose even harder.

[Egnever]

96. LOL

As an IT guy you are myopic and seem to have a platform bias that is not helpful to your clients. How do you know win 8 is crap on tablets it hasnt been seen on any tablets designed for it yet.

Sorry you are spewing biased uninformed garbage. Whoever takes serious IT advise from you needs to seriously re-evaluate their decisions.

[Egnever]

95. Wow you explain it yourself in your own post but cant see the forest for the trees

Sorry but people who hire you are shooting themselves in the foot. You say this

The training shift to adjust to Windows 8 alone makes it a complete failure for the enterprise, especially when the costs associated with BYOD are being questioned at every level of the large corporations and are making targeted mobility the only real solution for moving forward. since Apple already owns the space, MS is late to the game and Windows 8 is further proof that Windows 7 is the last stable environment enterprises should standardize on for the desktop and laptop environments while moving highly mobile sales staff to the iPad for extreme mobility requirements.

You recognize the difficulty at the moment of trying to work cross platform but dont seem to understand the benefit of windows 8. I find that frightening in an IT consultant.

The office desktop doesn't need to be win8 for it to work well with the win8 tablet.

[RomneyLies]

98. There is zero benefit to Windows 8

Microsoft is two years late to the game. They lose. All app development is geared to either IOS or Android. Microsoft already fucked themselves. It's too late.

[Hugabear]

102. So the OP is false?

Consumers were not having a difficult time using the new OS?

[Posteritatis]

69. "Spam" != "non-verbatim headline in a forum which doesn't require them." (nt)

[justiceischeap]

70. As a web developer and Mac user, I just want Microsoft to make a good browser

one that I don't have to create separate stylesheets for, one that I know if I look in Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Opera, it's going to look the same when I fire up Parallels and take a gander in IE.

[aletier_v]

71. I switched to Ubuntu over two years ago.

Microsoft's employees need job justification, so they have to rewrite and re-invent something even if it's working just fine.

I've seen this all too often since the original big tech crash (2001).

[randome]

77. Oh, screw Ubuntu.

Microsoft is a colossal pain in the ass but everyday users do not want to put up with the hassle of fiddling with the details of an OS.

[RomneyLies]

82. that's what solid Windows users said about Vista

and Millenium....

and Bob....

Skip every other version of Windows and Office and you cannot go wrong, as long as you're on the right schedule of skipping.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

114. too true. nt

[aletier_v]

89. ha. I spent far far less time on ubuntu than I ever did with Windows.

I can't believe how simple and easy it's been.

Go ahead and goof with 50 gigabytes of conflicting APIs if you like.

[randome]

99. Maybe it's as easy as you say. I haven't bothered to try.

But the consensus seems to be that an enormous amount of fiddling is needed to get it to work well.

[aletier_v]

101. not true.

I had to goof a little with 10.04 torecognize my verizon usb wireless modem on lenovo x200. zero issues with 11, 12 on lenovo x210 and droid tethering. I hate dicking with tech, i did it for 20 years really. Ubuntu is simple and clean.

[Egalitarian Thug]

111. " Oh, screw Ubuntu.", " I haven't bothered to try." Another missive from the giant intellect set.n/t

[TroglodyteScholar]

117. Bingo.

Ubuntu has worked out of the box pretty reliably for a few years now, and many other distros do, too. But "Someone said it's difficult" and "There's a command line, ooh scary" seem to overshadow all of that.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

88. I installed ubuntu on an old computer,

it breathed new life into it, I like using it and can switch back and forth between ubuntu and windows, the best of both worlds!

[Nye Bevan]

73. This is baffling. Microsoft has such a great track record of producing intuitive, user-friendly,

innovative software. Who could forget Windows Me, for example. Or better yet, Microsoft Bob. And even in those rare instances when "a problem has been detected", Windows is thoughtful enough to "shut down to prevent damage to your computer". My guess is that these complaints are exaggerated and that Windows 8 is every bit as good as all the software that Microsoft has released in the past.

[Canuckistanian]

74. I love good snark

[RomneyLies]

75. .

[dionysus]

80. SP1 will fix it.

[randome]

81. Then SP2 will fix SP1. SP3 will fix SP2. And so on and so on...

[2ndAmForComputers]

87. It's like they're trying to imitate all the awful things in the Apple world...

...walled garden, development limitations, condescending UI... and none of the good things.

Fuck them. I've been happy with varied Linux distros for years and am NOT looking back.

[hoboken123]

105. You should try the Mac UI

It's very sharp.

Overall, Apple's focus on design has been a key factor in its success. Its break away from beige boxes coincides with its return from the grave. Jonathan Ive was huge with that.

[Gore1FL]

92. I was in a pre-release demo a while back

The first thing they said was "Before anyone asks, no you cannot disable Metro."

If that's the top question they kept hearing, it makes you wonder why they didn't step back for a moment and ask themselves why that question kept coming up, and what they could do to have a better answer.

[LTR]

97. I think Microsoft is doing this to push more Windows Phones

And those aren't exactly setting the market on fire.

Still, I think WinPhone took the right approach in competing with Android, IOS and Blackberry - an interface for people intimidated by smartphones. And all the reviews I've read have been positive. The people that use them love them.

Still, I just don't see how this will transfer to PCs. I took one look at the interface and half-expected to watch "Ow! My Balls!" on it (bonus points for those who get the Idiocracy reference) .

[tessar]

109. The Nokia Lumia 920 will catch fire. It's outselling iphone in Europe

Even Woz loves it.

[jrandom421]

100. Works just fine for me

Been using it since the Developer Preview, and while it was not totally intuitive at first glance, worked just fine with a keyboard and mouse. Don't know what all the angst about giving up the start menu for a start page is all about.

In the Enterprise version, one of the really cool things is Client Hyper-V. I can run virtual machines on Windows 8 and not have to pay an additional $300 to VMWare for Workstation.

Can't wait for my Surface Pro tablet and my touch enabled laptop.

[midnight armadillo]

103. Are you praising Ubuntu's Unity desktop?

What a great big stinking pile of pigshit. After many years using Ubuntu and GNOME I quit it for xubuntu and XFCE when they pushed that Unity desktop without any notice. Next stop is probably Windows 7 on the old machine, or maybe i'll just replace it with a Mac Mini. I am tired of having to battle the failure of the Linux desktop to get audio to work in a predictable manner.

[Poll_Blind]

106. Sure, but only compared to Windows 8 and that whole paradigm- which is similar, IMO.

The point of the article was there was a paradigm shift and people were having trouble adjusting to it. Over the course of week or maybe two at the most, I installed Ubuntu on my family's laptops/netbooks and even two or three kids who come over regularly.

Everyone picked it up in a few days.

Now whatever problem you're having with the sound drivers (presumably), that's not related to the desktop. That's related to some problem you're having with Ubuntu on that system. Separate issue. This thread is about the paradigm shift Microsoft is forcing on how people use their Windows computers.

PB

[gvstn]

107. I only tried Windows8 develoment preview for a few days

I have no problem with being forced to move forward as all new computers will use win8 and it will improve.

My main problem with it was that it was buggy and the main selling point for me was that System Restore was a whole new concept. It could revert you back to day one initial install. It could revert you back to your working system saving as much personal information as possible. Even better than a third party software that imaged your system at regular intervals.

I blue screened and wanted to revert back to day 1 but could never get it to work. I had nothing to lose because this was just a trial but none of the new improved options got me back to a bootable system. If that didn't work, I had no reason to go further with testing. MS still needs to make recovering from a severe crash easy to recover. That would eliminate most MS hate.

"I might lose some photos but my netbook still works." They have never done this and it is sad that thousands of websites exists to show workarounds for their deficiencies.

[jackbenimble]

108. People don't like change...

I've heard the same 'POS' protest about just about every OS release since the PC became available. You'll learn how to use it and then the next version will come out then you wont want to give 8 up.

[Egalitarian Thug]

113. I think you left out the qualifier "Microsoft OS release". And in each case the built-in idiocy

served to nullify the radical advances achieved by the hardware manufacturers. M$ has always, and without exception, produced substandard, buggy, insufficiently tested, bloated software that's primary claim to fame is its ability to bring the very bleeding edge of hardware technology to its knees resulting in performance comparable to a system two generations obsolete.

[Poll_Blind]

116. As a person who has used Microsoft Windows since it came out, I agree.

The thing I can't underscore enough is your phrase "primary claim to fame is its ability to bring the very bleeding edge of hardware technology to its knees". The truth in that statement cannot be overstated.

Some bright spots: NT 4, Windows 2000 Professional, XP Professional and possibly Windows 7- but I don't have as much experience with it.

The most astounding thing to me is how they make this new OS and then throw in so many bells and whistles that is eats up any gains you would have gotten from advanced hardware. It's a crime, IMO.

PB

[Egalitarian Thug]

110. "Computer companies will make Windows 8 standard on practically all PCs that are sold to consumers."

They say that is if the computer manufacturers have a choice.

I never thought I'd say this but, as shitty a developer as Gates ever was, at least he had a clue about what a computer is, how it works, and what its capabilities are. Balmer is the fucking digital anti-Christ. A vapid marketing leech with the intellect and morals of a brain damaged meth-head, he has set the world's largest software company on a path toward irrelevance at warp speed.

On the bright side, there has never been a better time to explore the advances of Linux. It works faster. It works better, It leaves you to do what you want however you wish to do it, and it's free.

[factsarenotfair]

115. One culprit could be stack ranking.

Stack Ranking, the practice reported by Vanity Fair of forcing managers to rank their employees and get rid of the bottom ones, did not start with Microsoft (MSFT). I don’t know when it did start but former General Electric (GE) CEO, Jack Welch, popularized it — dubbed Rank and Yank — in the 1980s.

Vanity Fair does a wonderful job of explaining how this practice damaged Microsoft. Stack Ranking focused product developers away from getting industry-leading products to market faster than the competition. Instead, it directed them to prevent their peers from getting outstanding performance reviews and brag about their accomplishments to each member of the management committee that determined their relative ranking.
...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2012/07/13/why-stack-ranking-worked-better-at-ge-than-microsoft/