Windows 8, 8.1 & 10 versus Windows 7

"Apple and Google are on a completely different level to Microsoft in terms of mobile computing and web search innovations; Microsoft should simply wave the white flag here and accept defeat in these domains."

I can't disagree more with that statement. Idea that OS should span across different devices and make same (or some) applications work in same or similar manner on all of them, if they manage to pull it of would be a very good thing. There's no reason that a mobile phone should = Android or Apple. I can't see Google making an OS for all the devices including desktops any soon, if nothing at least because of enormous base of programs windows has.

Wenda said:

Sadly, the more I see of Windows 10, the more I like Windows 8.1.1


Wenda.

I am with you there. I really really like Windows 8.1

Jody Thornton said:

I am with you there. I really really like Windows 8.1

, but we are a small minority

It did take some, maybe most users, some time to get used to new type of start and new approach to starting programs and get used to "Mobile look" and Apps. Consider also millions of people that are not used to smart phones and tablets. I didn't have a smart phone till a year ago and tiles in start menu didn't associate me with tablets or anything else. I also didn't use Start menu in W7 and long time in XP because of shear number of programs installed and was pretty hard to find anything thru old Start menu. All in all, Metro/Modern start didn't make me any problems, specially with 8.1.1 where I customized it to be very handy and fast to find programs. Looks of those tile notwithstanding, it was good for me.
In W 10, combination of tiles and Start menu is even better although I still stick to old habit of making folders on desktop with names according to type of program that has links in them. So now I have 5 places to start programs from, whatever I'm closest to.
Looking at all of that, that way, W8.1.1. and specially W 10 is much closer to desktop computer OS than to portable device OS.
Desktop (and laptop) OS with mobile part just starting to catch up functionally and looks wise.

Windows said:

My point is this. Microsoft appears to be prioritising the mobile user in terms of the design of its latest operating system products (with the exception of the Windows Server line). For example, Windows 8.0 with "Metro" (or "Start") and the removal of the Start Menu clearly indicates that it was designed for the tablet user, which greatly annoyed desktop PC and laptop enthusiasts (including myself), hence the reason why it was such a resounding commercial failure.

Many think the start screen is more for tablets, but it works just as well with keyboard/mouse, I do agree that it annoyed a lot and was seen as a failure

Never been a big user of 7, but what is it that 7 can do that 8/10 cannot, what productivity software cannot be used?, what can a power user not do in 8/10?

Why do you feel that 8/10 are more for mobile/tablet people?

I am sitting here now using 8.1 on the desktop, apart from the start menu its virtually the same as any other version of windows

Just trying to understand why 8/10 get classed as mainly for tablet/mobile users as I don't see it

paulsalter said:

Just trying to understand why 8/10 get classed as mainly for tablet/mobile users as I don't see it

1. It's not.. Win10 is more of a Desktop OS that WIn8.1 was. You have a new start menu that is reminiscent of WIn7 and the start screen from Win8.1 is gone.

2. Adding a third party start menu also makes Win8.1 more geared toward the Desktop user than tablet.. ClassicShell and Start8 are two great examples.

Bottom line is Win7 was not the only OS that was aimed at Desktop users.

Jeff

paulsalter said:

Many think the start screen is more for tablets, but it works just as well with keyboard/mouse, I do agree that it annoyed a lot and was seen as a failure

Never been a big user of 7, but what is it that 7 can do that 8/10 cannot, what productivity software cannot be used?, what can a power user not do in 8/10?

Why do you feel that 8/10 are more for mobile/tablet people?

I am sitting here now using 8.1 on the desktop, apart from the start menu its virtually the same as any other version of windows

Just trying to understand why 8/10 get classed as mainly for tablet/mobile users as I don't see it

Because of ugly (arguably) multi colored squares with ill defined icons in them. On a smaller, portable device, you can't see them in all their "glory" but on a big screen is different story, when couple of square inches of nondescript eyesore stares you in the eye. If MS made them look like proper icons, at least half of dissenters would not complain.

BunnyJ said:

1. It's not.. Win10 is more of a Desktop OS that WIn8.1 was. You have a new start menu that is reminiscent of WIn7 and the start screen from Win8.1 is gone.

2. Adding a third party start menu also makes Win8.1 more geared toward the Desktop user than tablet.. ClassicShell and Start8 are two great examples.

Bottom line is Win7 was not the only OS that was aimed at Desktop users.

Jeff

CountMike said:

Because of ugly (arguably) multi colored squares with ill defined icons in them. On a smaller, portable device, you can't see them in all their "glory" but on a big screen is different story, when couple of square inches of nondescript eyesore stares you in the eye. If MS made them look like proper icons, at least half of dissenters would not complain.

still doesn't make sense to me, win 8 is just as much a desktop os as 10 is or 7 is, it just has a different way to launch programmes

I have been in 8.1 on the desktop all day today (last 9 hours or so), not once have I seen the start screen or any metro apps