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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Bargain Win8.1
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| hitsware Guru  Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
Already Activated ! |
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Herry Senior Member  Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
Sorry. Wouldn't touch Windows 8 with a bargepole! Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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| hitsware Guru Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
Are you Linuxy ? |
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BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935 |
Is not too bad but probably not good enough to pull the skin off a rice custard. edit: I don't mind Win 8.1 at all. I have three of them. I find Win 7 rather crude now. |
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| hitsware Guru Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
> pull the skin off a rice custard as long as it will PRINT my only ongoing problem with Linux bizzare printing issues |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
That's very impressive, for the price, considering it has Windows on it too! @ Herry - Is it the forced Metro GUI that makes you want to keep away from 8 or 8.1, or is it just cos it is Windows? The Metro GUI and Start Screen are hopeless on a desktop machine, but you can easily circumvent that with free tools such as Classic Shell, which will push Metro into the background, and boot directly to the desktop. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935 |
Grogs even without Classic Shell Win 8.1 will boot to the desktop. The choice is yours not Windows. I have machines with and without CS it is just as easy to navigate both. I do keep away from Metro apps as I will not login to Microsoft. One of my machines has a touch screen and I can use touch on the desktop also. The main hazard is that the touch targets are not big enough for fingers because the apps were not designed with touch in mind. A stylus is a handy accessory. Bob |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Hey, Bob. 
Yes, you are right about being able to boot to desktop if you want, but Microsoft did NOT make it easy for you to do it. The check-box for that option, is buried about 10 deep in menus. 
I prefer CS, cos as well as booting to desktop, it gives you back a full START menu, which was my main want, with Win8 or 8.1 The link above is wrong, so here is another one. Working Classic Shell link Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
I just click on the 'Desktop tile' takes about 10ms.:) The programs i use most i put on my taskbar. Always ready to go at the bottom of the screen without using a 'start' 'whatever'. Temporary shortcuts are on the desktop. Because a start menu is just as slow to use as is the start screen. Why switch when you can have it all accessible right away. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
...so there's that. 
It's all good.  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Herry Senior Member Joined: 31/05/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 261 |
Yes, I admit to hating it (haven't tried out the classicshell yet), but that's not the only reason. I have a lot of software which is apparently incompatible with 8.1. I firmly like 7. Missed Vista thank goodness. Loved XP (but not as much as 7). You're talking to a bloke who remembers DOS 5.0, and earlier/later! And how about 'error in line 295'. Who remembers that? Senior?! Whatever it says, I'm a complete and utter beginner... |
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bigmik Guru Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2956 |
They are currently sold out, What price were those little PC boxes? Mick Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Direct-Access 5 menu, Commander Keen, Lemmings, The Incredible Machine, Professional Write, Xtree Gold - just a few of the DOS-based programs I remember using. Direct Access 5 menu was actually a great little menu system, IMHO. Yes, there are some compatibility issues with Win 8.1 and some stuff. In my case, only one thing did not want to work, so I like and use 8.1, but if you have a list of things that won't or don't have 8.1 drivers, then I can see why you would want to stay away from it. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Mick - I seem to recall seeing the figure as about $180 or so, which for the hardware AND a copy of Windoze, is pretty damn good. ....assuming the Windoze is legit.... Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5129 |
I'm with Henry, I loath Win8 as well. Yeah I know you can turn off all the stupid desktop options and just get back to a regular start button, but problem is a lot of people dont know how to. Every time I get a neighbour or relative asking me for help to do the simplest of tasks on a Win8 machine, I'm reminded of my hate for it. Most of these people had a WinXP machine until recently, and just want to use the computer as they did before. Win 8 is a big change from XP, and trying to do the simplest tasks is a nitemare for these people. End rant. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| bigmik Guru Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2956 |
Hi Herry, Gizmo, Now, I do NOT want to be seen to be on Microsoft's soap box singing their praises but I do prefer 8.1 over win7.. I run CLASSIC SHELL and never see the `metro' screen unless I click on it, which I rarely do as I do NOT like that mode as I do not have a touch screen monitor.. Things I like (over Win7) are: Seems faster/snappier. When copying you get a nice graph bar with pause/resume options. When accessing my NAS drive it `syncs' MUCH faster.. It is better with auto installing drivers than 7. Boot time (with SSD) is around 10sec compared to my old win7 of around 20sec (but they are Different boxes.. but both i7's) Is it worth an update from Windows 7??? NOPE, but if you need a windows OS it is better IMHO than 7. @Grogs (G- now as no Grog anymore) Geez $180 I might have bought one of them, pending postage costs. Regards, Mick Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
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| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Don't forget one drive. It is intergrated in windows 8.1. Works like a treat.Also file history saved me a few times. I think it took me about a day to get used to it. Now whe3n i am behind a windows xp or 7 computer i can not find a thing.:) I have everything i need under window key + x. Beats rummaging through screens and 'properties'. I think if someone gives it a try and stick to it for a few days and just accept how it is now done instead of giving up, you probably not want to go back. Metro? I do like the fact i can turn my surface pro into a tablet. Just surfing the net for fun is very easy. My iPad is in the drawer,what a piece of s... compared to this. I even bought a windows phone and dumped my samsung android. Not that it did not work ok, but i like the integration with onedrive and my easy integration (mail, office) with my work needs. What apple really does wrong is that it does not allow for multiple users on the ipad. On win8 i can make accounts for kids, and i can even control on which days for how long they can use the computer, does not matter if they use my wifes computer or mine, once they log in with their account it is under cpntrol. Even allow/block websites and videos/games (also xbox) that are not appropriate for their age. I guess it all depends in what platform you invested, once you get all your account info, pictures, music etc in one environment it is usually easiewr to just stay with that. I just feel with microsoft i am less locked in as there are many third party alternatives. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| hitsware Guru Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
$169.99 |
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| hitsware Guru Joined: 23/11/2012 Location: United StatesPosts: 535 |
> assuming the Windoze is legit I think it is. I think Bill Gates is changing direction. Supposedly Win10 will run on a Raspberry Pi ....... And then there's the fact if (with that machine) the OS is the usual ~$100, that nowdays, with advanced technology, the hardware can probably be built for $70 ...... |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9641 |
Yes, these things certainly are an attractive option. $169.99 is $234 or so in our money, which is not bad for a full PC-compatible including shipping WITH windoze pre-installed, and a case and PSU to run it - quite hard to beat, actually. Looking very seriously at getting one of these to play with. (but then, i have enough toys already!) One of many reviews of this thing.... Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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