Windows 8... 9... 10 is coming next year!

[Compdude787 916]

 

 

I find Aero to be too flashy and distracting visually, and the Aero taskbar sucks because it groups together different windows of the same program, forcing you to click twice instead of only once to toggle between them. I much prefer the basic taskbar which you can make behave essentially the same way the taskbars in 95/98/2000 and XP did.

You can still do that with Windows 7 and 8. Right-click on the taskbar, click "Properties" and set Task bar buttons to either "Combine when task bar is full" or "Never combine". This will make the labels appear again. I've always set this option to "Combine when full" ever since I use Windows 7 (on my university) or 8 (at home).

 

Yeah, that's how I have it set. Basic theme and "combine when full". I'm not sure whether it's possible to do this in Aero or not, I never tried. But when I first got this computer I played with some settings and made my taskbar look like this:

and I like it.

 

You can have Aero enabled and still do this. But personally I like the bigger taskbar that Windows 7 has, so I keep that how it is. I still have it set to show the labels for programs like you do, but only to make it easier to switch to another program I had open. (I always found myself moving the mouse too far to one side and clicking on another taskbar icon by accident, which got to be really annoying.)

[Xenocity 343]

If Windows 8.1 is Windows 9, will that means that we get another bad version next? It seems an oddly occuring pattern in every Windows version: the odd versions (3.1, 98, XP, 7) are usually good, while the even versions (95, ME, Vista, are usually bad or unneccesary. Will this pattern continue?

first off ME doesn't count because Microsoft rushed it to market purposely to take advantage of the millenium celebrations and it never gained mainstream developer support (They all went to 2000 and XP)

ME also has the shortest lifespan of any Windows OS of just 11 months.

 

Vista wasn't a bad OS, it just suffered from Microsoft doubling the specs required to fully run Vista at the last minute.

Remember this sticker?

 

These computers fit the minimum specs Microsoft listed, though you couldn't fully run Vista and all it's features (Microsoft failed to tell us that).

Microsoft and the OEMs lost the suit and paid out millions in damages.

 

Aero UI was created in response to all the feedback from businesses and powers users who hated the XP UI.

XP earned the nickname from these users as the "Fisher-Price" OS, kiddy OS.

They hated the fact that Windows XP was too damn colorful which made it look like a Nintendo game.

They told Microsoft to make a next gen UI that went back to the serious/professional design of earlier Windows.

Thus Aero was born!

 

The two major complaints with Aero is how shiny and distracting the UI is and how it bogs down systems.

 

The only major complaint of Windows 10 is it being too flat for some.

 

----------------

 

Here is the official start menu in 8.1.1 (you need updated 1 installed)

 

 

 

The start menu is on by default and can be turned off.

 

 

---------

Though is Windows 10 fully flat in response to OSX 10.10 Yosemite and the other OSes?

 

Typically Windows has followed Apple's  desktop OSes when it comes to UIs.

A reporter at the Windows 10 event asked Microsoft if they would start using big cat names, since they are at 10 now.

Another reporter asked Microsoft if they chose the number 10 due to OSX 10.10 coming in a few weeks.

 

 

 

 

Coinicidence?

Is Microsoft late to the flat party?

[Nesral Sredna 62]

Lots of creative numbering here, you forgot Windows 1.0 -1.04, Windows 2, Windows 2.1/2.11, Windows 3 and 3.1, omits early Windows NT versions (3,5 , 4 and ME), yet includes Vista and counts Windows 8 twice.(but no XP SP2)

 

The real reason why Microsoft omits the 9, is because of concerns regarding sloppy programming in older software:

 

 

if(version.StartsWith("Windows 9")) { /* 95 and 98 */ } else {

 

Software designed specifically for the Windows 9X family, would detect if it is attempted to run on a newer Windows OS that dont match the number 9. If an OS identified itself as Windows 9 though, this controlcheck would fail as it doesnt look for a second number to be there.

 

 

 

 

A reporter at the Windows 10 event asked Microsoft if they would start using big cat names, since they are at 10 now.

Another reporter asked Microsoft if they chose the number 10 due to OSX 10.10 coming in a few weeks.

 

 

Btw, 1 Apple didnt invent the GUI.Who follows who? 2 journalists are known to be dumb!!!

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

All this flap over desktops is missing the point.  Who cares about the stupid desktop, it is only a small program.  What really matters is what's "under the hood".  With all the lead time, MS could easily cough up a new kernel this time, and this would be a major advance rearward to previously prepared strategic positions.

 

The fiasco with Windows 8 may have been a delaying tactic to cover off the tablet scene that somehow leaked over into the PC group.  Who knows how the devious minds work at MS?

[MandelSoft 2,775]

All this flap over desktops is missing the point.  Who cares about the stupid desktop, it is only a small program.  What really matters is what's "under the hood".  With all the lead time, MS could easily cough up a new kernel this time, and this would be a major advance rearward to previously prepared strategic positions.

This. Whenever I open up the Terminal in Ubuntu, it just feels more modern and integrated in the system. Windows' command prompt on the other hand feels like an old-fashioned relic...

[Xenocity 343]

 

 

A reporter at the Windows 10 event asked Microsoft if they would start using big cat names, since they are at 10 now.

Another reporter asked Microsoft if they chose the number 10 due to OSX 10.10 coming in a few weeks.

 

 

Btw, 1 Apple didnt invent the GUI.Who follows who? 2 journalists are known to be dumb!!!

Xerox invented the GUI, which they didn't know what to do with, and sold it and the patents to Apple for millions of shares of stock before the company went public.

Xerox made loads of money when Apple's stock syrocketed at the IPO.

 

The original key patents held by Apple, IBM, and Microsoft have since expired.

 

Those journalists aren't dumb they were making a half hearted joke, Microsoft main competition has traditionally been Apple admitted by Bill Gates himself.

 

Microsoft has purposely followed Apple and IBM down the rabbit hole when it has come to their product design. 

 

Microsoft's business plan goes as follows:

• Surface Pro is positioned as the main competitor of iPad and Macbook Pro. It is only advertised in comparision to those products
• Xbox consoles follows Sony's Playstation strategy to near perfection
• Microsoft's Smartphones are positioned as the main competitor to iPhone and it advertised as such
• Windows 8 Mobile is positioned against iOS as its main competitor despite Android having the biggest marketshare
• Windows 7 Mobile launched with a funeral burying the iPhone
• Microsoft's Azure servers are positioned against IBM's servers, which are now owned by Lenovo
• Each new Windows launch is launched with a comparision against the newest version of OSX
• Microsoft always positions their enterpising software against IBM.
• Microsoft Office always launches with a comparsion to Apple's iWorks
• Microsoft's Access is positioned as a direct competitor to FileMaker which is subsidary of Apple.
• Microsoft's multimedia software is advertised as the main competitor to Apple's software, with no metion of Adobe.
• Windows Media Player positioned as the superior alternative to QuickTime
• Internet Explorer is advertised as the main competitor to Safari

Microsoft has an unhealthy obession with IBM and Apple.

 

P.S. I never said Apple invented the GUI.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

Yeah, that's how I have it set. Basic theme and "combine when full". I'm not sure whether it's possible to do this in Aero or not, I never tried. But when I first got this computer I played with some settings and made my taskbar look like this:

and I like it.

I use a similar setup, but have also added back XP's "Quick Launch" bar for frequently accessed programs. Quite handy I've found:

 

[MandelSoft 2,775]

I usually put three things on my quick launch bar:
- My internet browser (Firefox or Chrome)

- My media player (VLC, Winamp, etc.)

- Task manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL is usually the slow option). This is the one quick launch application I can recommend to everyone.

 

I usually put nothing more on my quick launch bar. I do the same in Ubuntu, but only adding My Computer an the terminal to the launch-bar. I like to keep room on my task bar for actual applications. Therefore, my desktop is more clogged (yet categorically organised). I also use the Start Menu for quick launches too.

[RipRap 4,400]

I only put an internet browser (namely Chrome) and the Explorer folder on Quick Launch.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

 

<snup>

This. Whenever I open up the Terminal in Ubuntu, it just feels more modern and integrated in the system. Windows' command prompt on the other hand feels like an old-fashioned relic...

 

Actually, I feel more like I am on a UNIX system at that point.  The command prompt in Windows has echoes of DOS 6.  I am afraid that both of them hark back to the 1980s.  However, you can certainly get more done in Ubuntu's console than you can from Windows, probably because MS doesn't want people to use scripting and such.  Their scripting language is out to lunch compared to whichever shell you prefer on Linux.

 

Take a look at the BASH manual sometime.  It can be used as a programming language if you really, really want to.  But then there are so many alternatives it is hard to choose one sometimes.

[Wiimeiser 452]

 

All this flap over desktops is missing the point.  Who cares about the stupid desktop, it is only a small program.  What really matters is what's "under the hood".  With all the lead time, MS could easily cough up a new kernel this time, and this would be a major advance rearward to previously prepared strategic positions.

This. Whenever I open up the Terminal in Ubuntu, it just feels more modern and integrated in the system. Windows' command prompt on the other hand feels like an old-fashioned relic...

 

Do they even need to prohibit <>|^ in filenames? What do they even do? And how about we get rid of all those reserved words as well?

[Blade711 24]

I'm just staying in Windows 7. The Aero theme is the best part about it. It gives it a clean look, especially the transparency around the windows. It's fast in my opinion, faster than XP; I even tested by making my laptop go to an XP theme and let's just say it took about 1 minute to open Google Chrome.    Now I gotta just buy a better wireless adapter...

[mrsmartman 200]

 

 

 

A reporter at the Windows 10 event asked Microsoft if they would start using big cat names, since they are at 10 now.

Another reporter asked Microsoft if they chose the number 10 due to OSX 10.10 coming in a few weeks.

 

 

Btw, 1 Apple didnt invent the GUI.Who follows who? 2 journalists are known to be dumb!!!

Xerox invented the GUI, which they didn't know what to do with, and sold it and the patents to Apple for millions of shares of stock before the company went public.

Xerox made loads of money when Apple's stock syrocketed at the IPO.

 

The original key patents held by Apple, IBM, and Microsoft have since expired.

 

Those journalists aren't dumb they were making a half hearted joke, Microsoft main competition has traditionally been Apple admitted by Bill Gates himself.

 

Microsoft has purposely followed Apple and IBM down the rabbit hole when it has come to their product design. 

 

Microsoft's business plan goes as follows:

• Surface Pro is positioned as the main competitor of iPad and Macbook Pro. It is only advertised in comparision to those products
• Xbox consoles follows Sony's Playstation strategy to near perfection
• Microsoft's Smartphones are positioned as the main competitor to iPhone and it advertised as such
• Windows 8 Mobile is positioned against iOS as its main competitor despite Android having the biggest marketshare
• Windows 7 Mobile launched with a funeral burying the iPhone
• Microsoft's Azure servers are positioned against IBM's servers, which are now owned by Lenovo
• Each new Windows launch is launched with a comparision against the newest version of OSX
• Microsoft always positions their enterpising software against IBM.
• Microsoft Office always launches with a comparsion to Apple's iWorks
• Microsoft's Access is positioned as a direct competitor to FileMaker which is subsidary of Apple.
• Microsoft's multimedia software is advertised as the main competitor to Apple's software, with no metion of Adobe.
• Windows Media Player positioned as the superior alternative to QuickTime
• Internet Explorer is advertised as the main competitor to Safari

Microsoft has an unhealthy obession with IBM and Apple.

 

P.S. I never said Apple invented the GUI.

 

You know Bill Gates' mindset is much influenced by Steve Jobs and Warren Buffett. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs always treat each other as competitors for self-improvement. Bill Gates felt very lonely when Steve Jobs passed away.

Apple system is pretty independent from Windows while Adobe software runs on Windows.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

 

<snip>

Do they even need to prohibit <>|^ in filenames? What do they even do? And how about we get rid of all those reserved words as well?

 

They have a particular parser that uses these characters as delimiters.  Kind of silly and old fashioned, but them's the rules that usually apply to any shell.  So let's see if I can make this clearer:

 

< is an opener for a non-terminal symbol in Backus-Naur formal grammars.  > is the closer in the same system.

| is the pipe symbol that attaches the STDOUT file of the left hand process to the STDIN file of the right hand process

^ is often used as the (invisible) symbol for the beginning of a command line or text.

$ is the symbol for the end of such a line.

 

Now, to make the cheese more binding, < is also a shell symbol for redirection of input, and > is the converse for redirection of output.

 

If any of these symbols were used in a file name, then any such file name would have to have them escaped for proper use.  That is, in a command line a name like ab<c would have to become ab\<c.  It becomes a great nuisance, especially when the normal symbol for shell escapes (\) is used by the file system as a name separator.

 

When using an operating system it is well to stay within the syntax rules set out by the author.  I have used file systems that used the .gt. symbol (>) as the file names separator (Multics, GCOS 6), and the one I am using now uses the solidus (/).

 

There is little point in arguing with the syntax of a computer language (a shell is a computer language), since the designer is likely to have already shuffled off this mortal coil.

[SteveMSim 275]

 

Hmm, I am hoping it will be a worthy replacement for Windows 7. Windows 9 has some big shoes to fill, and I'm not sure if it will be able to do so. 

Windows 7 is vastly overrated.

It is one of Microsoft's best efforts, but still gets more praise than it deserves.

 

I actually love 8.1 and the titles.

I find it easier and snappier to use (I started using at Windows 95)

 

The information that crossed my path is that the internal name is Threshold and that it really is a revision, and not a service pack.

That's what many said about Windows 7...

A revision is a service pack by another name.

 

There is no reason to believe Microsoft actually built Windows 9 from the ground up in under a year with a new kernal.

Currently Windows 8's is Windows kernal is 6.2 and Windows 8.1 is running Windows Kernal 6.3

 

I believe Microsoft is rushing Windows 9 out to match OSX 10.10 Yosemite's new interface and features.

 

 

You have to be the first person I have encountered who actually really like Windows 8.  Every one else I have talked to do not like Windows 8 to some degree, with some, including my mother, hating it and its supposed improvement, 8.1, with a passion.  I have tried working with my mother's Windows 8.1 and I have issues myself, so I am among the legions who dislike it.

 

I still run on XP and if I were to upgrade toady or in the near future, it will be Windows 7.  

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I think everyone should be patient and give Windows 10 a try.  I get the impression that it is Microsoft's apology for Windows 8.

 

The thing that I find surprising is that they didn't hang a moniker on it.  All this numbering has been due to the fiasco with 'Vista' which wasn't very wide.

 

Somewhere in the Microsoft operation there must be a group called Qualify Assurance, and they must be aware of the ISO 9000 series which sets international standards for product quality.  Qualify, by the way, is defined as conformance to specification.  But one wonders if there is ever a locked-in specification of any of Microsoft's products or if the marketing guys are interfering with it right up to the release?  This is the kind of thing that leads to the tragedies of Vista and Windows 8.  If this is the case, then it is truly pathetic. 

 

You can't hit a moving target very easily, and when it comes to computer programs it is a very good way to miss, especially if you forget one of the basic tenets of systems analysis: "The application is for the end users" and an operating system is just another application.

 

I was an editor on the ISO9000 standard before its first adoption.  You get about one foot of paper to read per week when you do standards work, and they are always hard up for volunteers.  Looks good on your resume.  I also did some work for CSA, and even got mentioned in one of the publications on SQL.  However, don't commit to this unless you have the time to slog through all the writing and make any necessary comments and amendments.

[metarvo 711]

Windows 7 is my favorite Windows now (and I'm using it right now).  I liked XP and hated Vista, like many before me.  I've never used 8, so I can't really say whether or not I would like it, but I understand it's geared to tablet-style touch screen use and lacks the tried-and-true Start Menu.  Why fix what's not broken?  Does trendiness outweigh utility?  It seems as though user-friendliness skips a generation when it comes to Windows, so maybe 9 10 will be comparable to 7 (i.e. Start Menu is back by default) but with 8's bonuses.

[Xenocity 343]

 

 

Hmm, I am hoping it will be a worthy replacement for Windows 7. Windows 9 has some big shoes to fill, and I'm not sure if it will be able to do so. 

Windows 7 is vastly overrated.

It is one of Microsoft's best efforts, but still gets more praise than it deserves.

 

I actually love 8.1 and the titles.

I find it easier and snappier to use (I started using at Windows 95)

 

The information that crossed my path is that the internal name is Threshold and that it really is a revision, and not a service pack.

That's what many said about Windows 7...

A revision is a service pack by another name.

 

There is no reason to believe Microsoft actually built Windows 9 from the ground up in under a year with a new kernal.

Currently Windows 8's is Windows kernal is 6.2 and Windows 8.1 is running Windows Kernal 6.3

 

I believe Microsoft is rushing Windows 9 out to match OSX 10.10 Yosemite's new interface and features.

 

 

You have to be the first person I have encountered who actually really like Windows 8.  Every one else I have talked to do not like Windows 8 to some degree, with some, including my mother, hating it and its supposed improvement, 8.1, with a passion.  I have tried working with my mother's Windows 8.1 and I have issues myself, so I am among the legions who dislike it.

 

I still run on XP and if I were to upgrade toady or in the near future, it will be Windows 7.  

 

Well it really isn't that hard to use.

I did go into the systems menu and turn stuff on and off.

[Wiimeiser 452]

Actually, I was referring to Windows use of those characters.

[Huston 5,800]

Okay, just wanted to throw something in. Has anyone had at any point, where Windows 8(.1) asked you for a 'new' product key because you're old one was invalid? At one time, my laptop was almost unusable because it couldn't tell if the W8 software installed was activated (Fortunately, it resolved itself 7 hours later). UGH. I was a much happier PC user when I had W7. And like a few people have said, W8 doesn't seem to play nice with SC4 sadly.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Actually, I was referring to Windows use of those characters.

Writing operating systems mean that you have to have a parser for human interface type-ins.  To this end, reserved delimiters are always needed.  Clearly there is no parser-writing experience in the initial question.  Sometime have a look at the POSIX statndard.