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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 10:50AM
#1
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Out of curiosity, I decided to download and install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. I've heard all kinds of horrible things about the new Metro interface, and I wanted to see for myself.
Twenty minutes in, I've decided it's not as bad as some people make it out to be. That's not to say it's great, just that it's not the hellspawn I'd heard it was.
I'm not convinced that Microsoft's decision to focus on touch controls over the tried-and-true M&K was the right move at this time, but they didn't make it so it forces you to get a touch screen for your PC to use their OS either. There seems to have been a unilateral shift in thinking among OS developers toward the idea that everyone wants their PC to look and feel like a giant-sized smartphone or tablet. Fortunately, the familiar Windows desktop hasn't gone away completely. You can access it from the start screen, which replaces the old start menu. Internet Explorer 10 even still has a "view on desktop" option, just in case some of you still use Microsoft's web browser. That's a good thing if you're at all like me in having to keep an eye on a half-dozen applications at a time. The default "everything opens at full-screen" is cute, but I strongly suspect it would become a rage-inducing irritation if I were actually trying to get any work done.
I'll play more with it and see what I can learn. I'm almost sure there must be hidden gems here somewhere. Right?
So, who else has tried the Win8 preview? What did you think?
Boraxe wrote: "Knowledge of the rules and creativity are great attributes for a DM, but knowing when to cut loose and when to hold back, when to follow the rules and when to discard them, in order to enhance the enjoyment of the game is the most important DM skill of all."
Keeper of the Sacred Kitty Bowl of the House of Trolls.
Resident Kitteh-napper.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 11:29AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Mar 22, 2012
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I'll play more with it and see what I can learn. I'm almost sure there must be hidden gems here somewhere. Right?
Wrong. I cannot think of one thing that was good, much less gem-like in Windows 7. Plus, Windows 7 was completely incompatible with programs that I use. If its not broke, don't fix it. I thus am still running XP. I would love to get a new computer, but the ones they sell now don't work - so I spend my money on something else.
I would like for Microsoft to remember that they are writing an operating system. If my stuff does not operate, their software fails the test. All that other nifty stuff, is play - not work, and I want my computer to work.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 11:32AM
#3
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I cannot think of one thing that was good, much less gem-like in Windows 7.
Thanks for the feedback, but this is about Windows 8. 
Boraxe wrote: "Knowledge of the rules and creativity are great attributes for a DM, but knowing when to cut loose and when to hold back, when to follow the rules and when to discard them, in order to enhance the enjoyment of the game is the most important DM skill of all."
Keeper of the Sacred Kitty Bowl of the House of Trolls.
Resident Kitteh-napper.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 11:42AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Apr 17, 2008
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lolol what are you running Terish? Windows 98 crap?
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 1:05PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 17, 2007
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lolol what are you running Terish? Windows 98 crap?
Nut Eating Resident Sociopathic Eye Forker
2346-strong Squirrel leigon of DOOM
Squirrel Overlord of the House of Trolls
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy. ~Ernest Benn
The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it. ~P.J. O'Rourke
"I actually held public office and I left the only way a politician should, in handcuffs." ~ Chael Sonnen
It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it! ~ Upton Sinclair
Kicked Adam and Eve out of Missouri.
Wears flip-flops in church buildings.
Official troller of Kolob.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 3:20PM
#6
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Date Joined:
Mar 22, 2012
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lolol what are you running Terish? Windows 98 crap?
I was loading a game yesterday that demands a DOS prompt. Might not have the graphics, but I would wager that it has more creativity.
Anyway, my stuff I wrote myself (some probably as old as that Atari). They now hum along, really saving me time (and money). They would hum even faster, if I could run them on the newer machines.
The new stuff has so many special features that doing the basic stuff is difficult.
Associate: How did you do that?
Me: Well, I didn't do it the way you would.
Also, I HATE Office 2010. Nope. Went back to 2000. No, Microsoft is no longer meeting my needs. Luckily, I know computer repair, so I will keep what I got running as long as I can.
I have a running joke, in that running the new software on the new machines takes just as long (if not longer) than running old software on an old machine. Microsoft is not making better software, but holding things at par -- AND SUCH IS MY COMMENT ABOUT WINDOWS 8.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 3:24PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Apr 17, 2008
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Sure it is.... let me know how amazing your mere 3gb of ram computer is next to my up to 320gb of ram.
If your computer is a dinosaur, sure XP is better. the moment you hit over 3 gigs of ram (not terribly hard to do) you need windows 7 if you have any intention on using it.
Also, they do sell alot of DOS games on Steam for pretty cheap that will work on windows 7. And windows 7 does have an Xp Mode so you can run DOS programs on it. Not Win 7s fault you bought the wrong package for your "needs".
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 3:35PM
#8
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For a guy that claims to be a programmer and a repair technician, you seem to be sadly misinformed. There's no reason you can't run XP on new hardware. Heck, there's no reason you can't download Virtualbox and run whatever OS you want, including DOS. Virtual machines are fairly small, too, so you can have a dozen different operating systems at your immediate disposal. Couple that with multi-booting from several HDDs and/or partition, and there's no reason not to upgrade your hardware if you can afford it. All that said, I suspect you're broke and don't want anyone to know it. There's no shame in having other things to spend money on than computers. Lying about your reasons is just sad, however. Oh, and Micha, send me some of that RAM. You don't really need it all, do you? I freely admit to being flat broke. Help an OTTer out. I'll put in a good word for you with the penguin. 
Boraxe wrote: "Knowledge of the rules and creativity are great attributes for a DM, but knowing when to cut loose and when to hold back, when to follow the rules and when to discard them, in order to enhance the enjoyment of the game is the most important DM skill of all."
Keeper of the Sacred Kitty Bowl of the House of Trolls.
Resident Kitteh-napper.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 4:04PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Apr 17, 2008
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hehe. I don't have 320 gigs, (however Win 7 can go that high) I've got a modest 8gigs of DDR2 (which is still overkill).
If I get around to upgrading my Rig we'll see what happens. The Doom Truck is getting hungry again so I might need assistance from the Penguin...
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1 year ago ::
Apr 10, 2012 - 4:17PM
#10
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I'm sitting at 3, which just covers my basic needs. Fortunately Ubuntu isn't as much of a RAM hog as some operating systems. I'd love to double it, but, as cheap as RAM is, I can't justify the cost.
Oh well, it can't stay bad forever. Eventually the Penguin and the Doom Truck will set aside their differences and the world will become a paradise.
Boraxe wrote: "Knowledge of the rules and creativity are great attributes for a DM, but knowing when to cut loose and when to hold back, when to follow the rules and when to discard them, in order to enhance the enjoyment of the game is the most important DM skill of all."
Keeper of the Sacred Kitty Bowl of the House of Trolls.
Resident Kitteh-napper.
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