Windows 8 forum: Poll: Will you be upgrading to Windows 8?

Like you, I'm loath to upgrade just to say I upgraded. WinXP Pro has served me well for eight years. I see no need to upgrade until It's necessary, and right now it isn't. If I take a couple of days' worth of vacation, I prefer it not be to install a new OS I don't need.

Upgrade for only $40 to Win-8? Ask yourself WHY is MS pushing this OS so hard? Perhaps its to get as many systems upgraded as possible in order to see what bugs are in it. An SP-1 will surely follow soon. I'm not going to be their "guinea pig". Are you?

XP is the work-horse of Windows, so is 2000 to a lesser degree. XP is the preferred OS in millions of businesses around the world. Unfortunately support for XP ends sometime in 2014.

I say boycott Win-8, demand XP support to continue, writing to MS to let them know this!

One last thought: Why must there be only ONE OS??? Why not keep XP AND Win-8? Give consumers a choice and you will have a lot of loyal happy customers!

{Can someone supply the appropiate address for this write in campaign, please?}

Thank you, Pro 88

I have 64 bit vista home premium and it's doing everything I need and never gives me any trouble.....Digger

Deep inside Windows 8 works about like you'd expect it to, incorporating good things from Windows 7. But there is a strong learning curve for those of us who are used to exploring the depths of the system, and familiar names have different names. So if you're used to using the best ver. of Windows, stick with Win 7 64-bit and lots of RAM memory. There is a "learning curve" to adjust to with version 8 that takes awhile to get used to.
for an experienced user to get used to.

But if you're an android user, Apple user or basically computer "illiterate," then you may well like the Win ver. 8. What is all comes down to is two things: 1. Like a previous user pointed out, the way the company goes usually dictates which way you have to go. 2. Which interface are you most comfortable and likely to use? Bottom line is what works best for your needs. Windows 8 LOOKS different; for many, that may make all the difference.

Can moonfire please explain just what Random Access Memory memory is?

Could it be anything like those Automatic Teller Machines machines?

Since Windows 8 seems to be such a radical update from previous iterations, I along with a lot of other people may want to hold off on doing that even at the low price quoted. I have my Windows 7 computers set up just the way that I like them, and Windows 8 will may present me with a computer that I am not happy with. I will go to the computer stores and look at the Windows 8 computers when they are released and see if I really want to go in that direction. For a lot of us Windows 7 users, W8 looks like it might shock us just like taking a cold shower. This may have led them to offer the low upgrade price. A lot of current W7 computers are being sold with an even less expensive upgrade to W8, but maybe the people purchasing them want to get the last of the W7 computers and stay with that system. I think most of us may not be happy with losing the Start Menu and the Windows that we have been accustomed to in the past. Most of the previous upgrades have been Evolutionary, this one looks to be Revolutionary.
I will just hold off updating until I get a good look at W8!!!!!

Pay money for an OS that wants to shove that ridiculous "Metro Start" down my throat? Maybe some people work that way, but I surely do not!

Far as I can tell, Windows 8 is just one more example of Microsoft unilaterally deciding what they think we ought to want and then charging us a lot of money for the privilege of letting them jerk us around--again. Admittedly, this is a lot less money than they will charge later, but what is the point of a "bargain" that actively interferes with how I use, & want to use, my computer?

Windows 7 is actually one of the better MS operating systems--superior to XP in some ways, worse in others & comparable stability. What little I know of Windows 8 disinclines me to go anywhere near it--& hope by the time I have to switch they will have come up with something better...

Sounds too good to be true so there must be snags. The most likely of these is that, as always, MS is making this offer to the US ONLY. How parochial and selfish can they get? As always - no limit I guess.

I, for one, am undecided. I've read just about every post/ blog on the "New Windows 8". Other than the new screwy Metro screen, I haven't seen a whole lot of talk about the "under the hood tweaks and just gotta have improvements". What are they? What are they? HELLO! Can anybody elaborate on the "Super Improvements" that I just can't seem to live without??

I did see/ read that in Windows 8 that it "appears" that Windows is trying to lock down the system much akin to Apple. Why? So they can make even more money by selling you the newest to die for "Metro Apps!" Hint! If they give you the OS for peanuts but will rake in gazillion bucks selling you the Metro Apps. How is this a steal?? This reeks of 3 card Monty. It's like dangling the carrot in front of the mule to make it move/ go faster!

Some people claim it boots so fast, that just by thinking about booting it and "Bingo" it's booted. My own "dumb and stupid" read on the upgrade is, it's dumbing down a whole Desk Top OS for a one size fits all OS. For me, "IT DOESN'T FIT!!"

Why do I need a quad core or higher processor to run a dumbed down OS?? Metro to me is TOTALLY DUMB AND STUPID!! "OH, it looks just like my "DUMB PHONE"! Isn't it cute? It looks like being in Kindergarten all over again! Kinda reminds you of Kindergarten finger paintings that dumb Metro screen! YUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It supposedly does this faster or that faster. Why does it have to keep switching between Metro and the conventional screen? Microsoft appears to be trying to "ram down our throats a new OS(?) whether we want it, like it or not!!"

My own personal opinion is that this is more of a service pack for Windows 7 camouflaged with a new "Metro" screen to make it look like anything but a service pack. It's not a service pack, look it has a new screen so it "Must Be New and improved! WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's hard to charge for a service pack so "Lets put some lipstick on the old pig", now it's new and improved!! Therefore we can now charge "EVERYONE" for it. Ka-ching There goes the MS till bringing in even more money. If the coffers are full we'll just rent more coffers!!!!

Hell, even if they were to give it away for free but you "pay through the nose" for the Metro Apps "they still win"!! Gullible people. EGAD! At the very least, they can run around and say looky, looky, I got me the newest and greatest!

That's right people. I'd like to reveal my last name (to prove this claim) because my distant cousin of the same name is one of the foremost authors & "in-the-trenchs" programers in the world. He is under contract on occasion for MS to design (but mostly FIX!) their products. He told me 2 months ago that W9 is well into the basic operational stage, AND . . .

. . . that IE11 is finished! But, IE11 won't be released until MS feels version 10 is worn out, or a competitor's browser starts to outshine IE10. Incredible.

In the electronics industry, the philosophy is "Never release a product unless you have a better version ready to replace it with". That's what Steve Jobs did. How else do you think all those improved "hand-held" devices came out so quickly. Makes you want to puke.

I mean why should I running Win XP Pro SP3 on my ancient PIV-3.2GHz desktop?

A 3 to 5 min boot means something is wrong, - Fix it! My six yr. old XP-Pro Media Ed. boots in 93 seconds. Here's a few things you can do that will have a major effect:

(I strongly advise setting a RESTORE point FIRST before doing anything) I assume you delete your temp internet files weekly. They're the biggest cause of a slow PC, especially if you go to U-Tube, etc. Everything you watch is loaded into that cache and stays there forever. You should also delete the cookies once a month. Those 2 actions will also resolve many browser issues. Be certain to do the above for ALL USERS if the PC has multiple User desktops. Now, on to bigger things:

1- Increase size of Virtual Memory. The whole PC will run faster. Rt-click My Computer>Advanced tab>Settings: put a tic in "Let Windows choose what's . . ." Then click APPLY. Now click next tab Advanced. Tics should be next to Programs under "Processor" & "Memory". Next, under Virtual memory click Change: Put tic in Custom>set/use the "Recommended" size as seen below at bottom of window. Type that # in box Initial size. If recommended # already being used, add 100 to it, & put it in Initial Size. In Maximum Size box type in # that's approx 1/3 higher than Initial. >Now click SET>OK.

2- You likely have too many start-up programs during boot on Automatic instead of Manual. There's likely several that can be Disabled from starting, as few PC's need/use EVERY start-up process that it comes with. Open TM and have a look at what processes are running. Google the process to find out what it does, & if you don't have/need it you can stop it. HOW? Go to Start>Run>type in: services.msc then hit Enter. Will bring up running processes where you can change start-up parameters. This window that opens gives you full control over what runs at start-up. To Disable you have to rt-click Properties. WRITE DOWN all the changes in case something gets messed up, then you'll be able to go back in and 1-by-1 undo the changes.

If increasing Virt Mem makes a big improvement, I wouldn't do step 2 if you're a Novice.

You're done. PC should run like a NASCAR winner. (If changes by some chance make things worse [they shouldn't] use System Restore. If S.R. doesn't work, hit F8 repeatedly during boot until a giant menu appears. Select "Last Known Good Configuration" and re-boot)

I think I will do an upgrade to w8.

I am running W8 on my tablet PC (touch screen) & love the touch features. W8 is the reason I bought the tablet PC. I think it works fine, altho' there are a few "bugs" (as always w/ a new O/S) to be smoothed out. I am definitely willing to pay $39.99.

I recently bought a Samsung AIO (touch screen) desktop which I am dual booting between W7 and W8, and for it I can get the W8 for $14.99. Yes, I will upgrade!!! A touch screen monitor should be especially appreciated by those with children (yes, you do have to clean the screen occassionally) and for locations such as in a kitchen.

Windows 8 reputedly runs more efficiently than Windows 7, and from what I have observed, it does. W8 is not all that different from W7, and I have not found the absence of the Start button to be much of an issue. The more I use W8, the more I like it.

For those who do not like change, fine - keep using what you are accustomed to, but do not fault those of us who are willing to experiment and learn something new.

Janice (who loves gadgets)