Windows 8

TC is not a fan of Windows 8. He thinks Microsoft made a huge mistake by trying to make one operating system that works on PCs, phones, and tablets. But they’re not backing down — Windows 8.1 offers a few changes, but none are going to drastically change the way the public views Windows 8.

EB likes Windows 8 and thinks the tiled start screen is great. She may not be in the majority, but she really does like it. There may be others who feel the way she does as well.

But TC, who doesn’t think Windows 8 is a great operating system, thinks it’s as good as Windows 7, which is a great operating system, if users add a simple (and free) start button to it. We’re using Classic Shell which is a strange name for a really good start button replacement. Once you install it you’ll find you boot directly to the desktop and never see the tiled start screen unless you really want to. After using a Windows 8 computer with Classic Shell, you’ll think you’re using Windows 7. All the familiar items are on the start menu – including your most frequently used programs, Control Panel, Computer (This PC), Documents, etc.

We are getting a lot of emails from XP users who feel the coming demise of Windows XP (April 8, 2014) is a death knell of some sort. But it’s really not. Windows 8 is different, but if you add a start button to it, you’ll be able to use it without any major problems – everything is basically where it was in Vista and Windows 7 – but not where it was in Windows XP. For example there is no c:\user name\documents and settings. There’s no Add or Remove programs in Control Panel, it’s now Programs/Uninstall a program. But it’s been that way for a long time – since Vista came out, in fact.

There’s a lot things you’re not going to be familiar with, but there are more things you will be familiar with — especially if you install Classic Shell or another start button replacement on Windows 8.

It’s not going to be so big of a change you won’t be able to use your computer. You still double-click on a program’s icon to open it. You can still find your documents in Documents. You’ll find Notepad is there as well as a much improved version of Paint. The task manager is different – it’s actually improved.

While I’m not a big fan of Windows 8, I can tell you that some of its features I really like. I like how fast it boots up – no more 2 to 3 minute boot times, my dear Windows XP users. I like the System Refresh feature which allows you to re-install Windows without losing all your personal files, folders and settings (you’ll have to reinstall your programs, but Windows 8 leaves a list of the programs you’ll need to reinstall right on your desktop after you’ve successfully run System Refresh).

In fact, most XP users will find more things familiar about Windows 8 than things unfamiliar. The Control Panel still looks about the same. Folders look the same. You can drag and drop and point and click and use Windows 8 the same basic way you use Windows XP. It’s not as big of a leap as if you say, switched to a Chromebook or a Mac. It’s still Windows.

If you’re using Windows Vista right now, you really need to move to Windows 7 or Windows 8. Vista uses a whole lot more resources than Windows 8 and substantially more than Windows 7. Vista wasn’t ready for prime time when it was released.. And Windows 7 really could have been Vista Service Pack 3 if Microsoft wasn’t so anxious to keep their shareholders happy and fill the coffers with more money.

If you are using Windows 7 now, you may not find any compelling reason to move to Windows 8. But Windows XP users have about 7 months to make a decision. If I were a Windows XP user right now, I’d buy a Windows 8 computer while computer prices are very depressed. I’m using a computer right now that cost nearly $800 less than a year ago (and that was a sale price) – right now this same laptop is selling for around $500 – and that’s not a sale price. EB and I have seen laptops with a 350GB hard drive, 4GB of RAM, a decent graphics card (and just about everything most people would need) selling for less than $300. Those of you using XP probably have less than 160GB hard drive and less than 2GB of RAM — so for $300 or less you could move to a faster, more powerful computer, with twice as much hard drive space.

But we realize that $300 is more than some of you can afford right now. And you’ll have to stick with XP as long as you can. We understand, we’ve been pretty low on funds too. But to use a Windows XP computer past April 8, 2013 is just inviting disaster. It will become increasing vulnerable to infection and attack. Software vendors will no longer update software for a dead operating system. If you don’t believe that, go try to find software for Windows 98 right now. And eventually you won’t even be able to find a viable anti-virus for Windows XP.

We are not anti-Windows XP. We both think it was the crowning achievement of Bill Gates and Microsoft. And its longevity proves that. It’s was a great operating system – perhaps the best Microsoft will ever produce, but it’s time has passed. And we remember how many emails we received from Windows ME and Windows 98 users who were happy with ME and 98 — and were reluctant to move to XP. XP was a bold departure from ME and 98 — everything was changed. In fact. XP was as big of a change for Windows 98 users as Windows 8 is for Windows XP users. But some of you reading this were using Windows 98 or Windows ME and you made the switch and fell in love with Windows XP.

Don’t let the doomsayers and naysayers tell you how terrible Windows 8 is. I’m not a big fan of Windows 8 — I think Microsoft made a huge mistake by trying to make a one-size-fits-all operating system. But they’re not going to change Windows 8 enough to make a difference and they are going full steam ahead with their one-size-fits-all. But Windows 8 is still Windows and it has a lot more things which will be familiar to an XP user than things which are not familiar. You can easily learn to use it and you can continue to do the things you love to do on your computer. And that’s the important part — you can use Windows 8 and still enjoy your computer just as much as you do your Windows XP computer.

My favorite five words are: “See I told you so!” I want to hear from all of you former Windows XP users about a year from now — those who took the plunge and moved to Windows 8. I want to hear you say – “you were right — it’s not as bad as I had heard”.

Above, you’ll see Windows 8.1 with Classic Shell start button installed. It looks pretty much like Windows – doesn’t it? The start button itself is rather odd-looking (but functional) in Windows 8.1. On Windows 8 it looks just like the start button on Windows 7. But hey, it works!