Fair enough
I got my Windows 7 from the software supplier at my mum's old work, I think they were based in Singapore. I got Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit for about $15
I got Windows 8 for free (legally)
My dad did/does a little work for Microsoft, not sure exactly what, but he gets free product keys from them
Wow, that's awesome
Windows 8 is nice-- with some modifications.
First thing I did: Installed Start is Back. This brings back the start menu and basically forces the desktop unless you change the settings, makes it just like Win 7.
Second thing: Installed a theme patcher and a custom theme. Not necessary, but I'm not a fan of the blocky look
Windows 8 seems faster than Windows 7, and once you use it with these modifications you probably won't want to go back to 7
).
Try it with start is back and a custom theme. Basically turns it into Windows 7 with all of the updates and features of Windows 8 for $3 (or free...
I couldn't stand Windows 8 until I tried SiB.
Yea that's pretty much what I did with my personal laptop & desktop. I changed all the defaults and I'm not using any of the metro apps. Kind of makes it just like Windows7 which then after doing all of that what is the point of the upgrade? but yes the system is very fast and I do like running it like Windows7 so I'm sticking with it for personal use. For business though I only have 2 VP's that are using it finally, made all the changes for them and they are happy with the speed increase, things are much snapper in Windows8. For a multi-user station though, it is way too much hassel to have to do that for each profile; sticking with Windows7 on those for now. I tried it also on phone & a touch screen enabled PC and on thoses I really do like it. On tradition style PC's & Laptops, got to dump the metro stuff; bottom line is if you don't have a touch screen, metro is no fun......Waiting to see what Windows 8.1 brings...got a rough beta copy of it....but I'll wait to see what the final release has.My mobo blew on my old laptop... So my new one came with Win8; at first I was upset b/c Win7 was my cozzy little home. Hower the resume speed from hibernation is so fast that if you blink you can miss it! (or its the quad core
-Problem: There is no "start menu" instead everytime you boot you get the huge metro screen (which IS NOT) too productive for laptop/desktops.
-Solution: Since I prefer a quick start menu on top of my programs I got CLASSIC SHELL its free and skips the metro screen, and straight to desktop with a slick icon: http://oi47.tinypic.com/9stg92.jpg
-Problem: They cram metro apps down your throat (like electron was saying); i.e. Opening a .PDF will launch A SEPERATE metro app environment, so will pictures, movies, etc... Although like most fresh installs of Windows internet explorer is only for downloading chrome/firefox and runing IE only active-x
-Solution: Set your DEFAULT programs
Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Default Programs
*BIG NEW CHANGE: New computers loaded with Win8 have a MoBo that uses SECURED UEFI (instead of BIOS); which makes life difficult if to quickly boot Unix... Sure you can modify grub for it, but I don't want to tinker with it and risk damaging the SIGNED signature that only works with that MoBo (unless you dd the MS partition(s))....
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ALL-IN-ALL it is not a drastic change if you like Win7 yes it has many annoying obstacles; however Microsoft lets you turn off all the unnecessary "jazz/bells & whistles" that pester people who actually use a computer, while fixing lots of problems.
Try it with start is back and a custom theme. Basically turns it into Windows 7 with all of the updates and features of Windows 8 for $3 (or free...
I couldn't stand Windows 8 until I tried SiB.
