Upgrading to Windows 8 from XP

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

i love all this anti MS garbage.... XP got loads of bad press when it came out, but now it's so stable i don't want to upgrade. When i first got XP, the interface wasn't straightforward in the least, but it was new interface... one has to learn their way around it... of course something new isn't going to be straightforward... it's a new operating system, not a new bike.

I considered the £25 upgrade... but didn't bother in the end. XP works for me, it runs all my software, it's not broke, why fix it? ... it's not the OS, it the software we run on it that matters

You clearly haven't used W8 if you think it's only the software that matters.

 

[MacB]

thanks folks, I think!!!, maybe I'll just leave you to carry on trashing without me for a while. I will report back if I have any actual problems and what, if any, workarounds I had to use.

Thankfully, despite the dire warnings, neither my PC nor my eyeballs have exploded due to using W8 and, so far, I've been able to access all my files and my experience doesn't feel much different. I don't have a problem with turning off bits I don't want as I go through a new setup and I even know how to turn them back on if I want to.

 

[MontyVeda]

You clearly haven't used W8 if you think it's only the software that matters.

i think you grabbeth the wrong end of the stick... it's only the software that matters, which after running the W8 upgrade assistant, i'm sticking with XP... why upgrade to a new OS when some of my software wont run on it?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

i think you grabbeth the wrong end of the stick... it's only the software that matters, which after running the W8 upgrade assistant, i'm sticking with XP... why upgrade to a new OS when some of my software wont run on it?

Yes. And W8 as an OS is complete and utter shite,before you consider software compatability which had problems from 64Bit XP onwards. I recently upgraded from 32bit XP, as there were graphics related features in vista that are needed to play COD Black Ops2. If it wasn't for that,I'd still be running the ultimately superior XP

And that was many many years ago!

W8 is trying too hard to be a smartphone equivalent(Nokia Lumia anyone?) on a desktop environment. Not a good combination.

 

[MontyVeda]

ah but do you recall the days when XP was the latest bit of garbage MS were trying to sell us? We do get the same repetitive whining with every new version.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

ah but do you recall the days when XP was the latest bit of garbage MS were trying to sell us? We do get the same repetitive whining with every new version.

I do. But I have loved XP from first install all those years ago, and still do.

 

[MontyVeda]

same here!

 

[MacB]

there we go, I knew you could find the love boys, oh and it's a Nokia Lumia I've just been learning to use, maybe that's why I preferred 8 to 7...or maybe I'm just weird

 

[Crackle]

Considered Windows 8 for son2's new build but a lot of stuff they use, Minecraft etc.. is not certified for it. Microsoft are trying to push stuff into a certified app store, like Android and Apple, it's too early to say yet if it will work and there's probably the usual no drivers for legacy hardware, yet. If none of that is a problem, I'd say go for it, though my initial feeling is this release won't catch on but we'll see.

 

[ian turner]

If you don't eventually upgrade your os then you'll be on the forums asking where you can get an xp driver for your new piece of hardware. Or complaining that new software won't run on a 32 bit os.
The OS market is competitive so they have to bring out regular upgrades or be written off as irrelevant. Hopefully at some point they will give up on the current windows based operating systems and make a giant leap to an entirely new way of doing things that will push forward the development of operating systems beyond the demands of conservative users who reject change.

 

[Octet]

I personally think Microsoft went down hill since NT 6.0 (though promise not to say it's name in fear of conjuring bad memories... but it starts with a 'V').

Windows 7 pulled it up again, and was a fresher and more welcoming approach but as others have said, Windows 8 was designed for mobile architecture, and they then slapped a stripped down Windows 7 on the underside. If you are looking at a touch screen device then I think Windows 8 shall do a decent job, however if Microsoft is moving primarily into the mobile market like recent press releases suggest then I think I shall be happy sticking with Ubuntu - Linux.

I would suggest moving to Windows 7 if you can, you shall have the features of a modern Operating System and it shall keep you in line with new technology but you won't have the troubles that I think desktop users are having with Windows 8. There is too much change in a single release of an OS for me to become accustomed with it.

 

[Doseone]

Haven't used 8 but got some geeky mates who seem to like it. Be aware though that if you upgrade it won't support older versions of MS Office, so you may end up shelling out for a new version of Office.

 

[MacB]

well I reloaded my MS Office 2010 and it is working just fine, all my beloved spreadsheets are there.

I have read a few more reviews now and a lot of the negatives seem to relate to things I wouldn't be doing anyway. Though I have downloaded the app to get my start button back

 

[shouldbeinbed]

No official support for XP makes it easier to hack and infiltrate. I've recently changed an old XP netbook to Linux. It's working for me.
Oh and I'm very happy with my Nokia Lumia 800.

 

[MacB]

Well there's a problem I didn't expect, when on conference calls and the like I am often to be found playing solitaire or similar.....they aren't there on Windows 8.......yes I know I can get them as an app but it's not the same.