Gone to Linux, thanks to Windows8

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belardo

belardo

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Yep... Vista made some people do it... others like myself stuck with WindowsXP and luckily, Windows7 was a worth replacement.

But with Windows8 and the direction of Microsoft as a lost and slowly sinking ship, its time to move on. I showed others Windows8 on one of my notebooks (ThinkPad) which ran flawlessly. Then I downloaded LinuxMint and from there - I murdered Windows8 and had Linux running in 15minutes with pretty much all the software I need to use.

This is not my main computer, I'll be using Windows7 for a few years at least. But I have a full time Linux system now which my computer novice Wife uses for her work and browsing. No complaints. I am able to share data between it and my Windows7 computer.

If you decide to give it a try, go for LinuxMint with the MATE desktop. You can change the skin for a more WinXP stylish look. Yes, the controls and settings are a bit different but geez, so is Win8.

Microsoft is down to about 24% of the computer market (tablets and Smartphones are counted as computes nowadays and people are using them over the traditional desktop/notebook computer). MS missed the mobile boat. They are late with MSOffice for Android & iOS, they have failed with Win8, WinRT, Surfaces and phones. They failed us with overpricing Office2013... they failed us with PC Gaming by making AAA tiles ONLY for their xbox console (Halo 3+ / Gears of War 2~3), the list goes on. I'm getting the PS4, why should I reward MS for killing desktop gaming? Windows8, its ugly, its badly designed, its over priced.

And with that... there is little reason I or many other people actually needs Microsoft anymore.

No more spending $100~150 for an OEM Windows or $200~300 for a Pro/retail versions. I have no plans to buy anything from Microsoft ever again.
 
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Corelogik

Corelogik

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If the Adobe suites were available on Linux, I'd have jumped ship a while ago. It's the last application suite I need to be able to ditch Windows permanently. In the meantime, I'm sticking with Windows 7 and dual booting with Ubuntu, expanding my Linux knowledge and trying to learn Gimp and Inkscape.

Unless a future update from Microsoft fixes the Windows 8 UI, I don't see myself ever moving off of Windows 7 to another Microsoft OS,... which is a shame, a lot of the improvements in Windows 8 I like, just that UI is horrible.
 
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belardo

belardo

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I've been doing some research... People are not having problems running Adobe Photoshop under Linux.... they are using WINE, which re-created a fake C: drive and simulates some key Windows DLLs and such enough to allow Photoshop and many other WinX86 software to run. MS is sticking with METRO.... period.

Windows 8.1 is coming out in a few months... Its already known that the end game is to migrate OFF of x86 software to Metro ONLY Apps.

It is the only way for MS to make loads of money.

I'm good for Linux... I grew up with Amiga... so learning something new is not difficult.
 
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Corelogik

Corelogik

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When I think of all the software written for x86 to do all the stuff that it does,... being rewritten for Metro,.. I laugh at the notion that Microsoft thinks this could ACTUALLY work in less than at LEAST a couple of generations. Not software generations, human ones.

Imagine Adobe trying to rewrite Photoshop to be pure Metro,... or AutoCAD or Avid or any heavy duty creation software.

As to running Photoshop in WINE, my CS 4 doesn't seem to want to, I may need to try parallels or something,... visualize Win7 for it.

 
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belardo

belardo

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With Windows sales dropping by 14% in a the past quarter... and its expected to get WORSE, Microsoft and Windows = irrelevant. Even actual industry "pros" thinks Windows will be pretty much dead in 4 years. Not 100% dead, just regulated to areas where a full blown desktop is needed.

Windows8 had double the speed of the death of the "PC". Pretty much as I expect it would after getting opinions of Win8 first hand from friends, family and clients when I let them played with it on my notebook (before I stuck Linux on it).

But yeah, we need Photoshop and other pro video tools to be on Linux. AutoCad would do well to convert as they are not considered to be the best anyway. AVID is tricky as they are owned by Microsoft.
 
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MidnightDistort

MidnightDistort

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It seems that everyone is switching to Linux these days with Windows 8. I myself already tinkered around with Linux Mint and i'd have to say i haven't had this much fun with a new OS before. Windows 8 was just a headache to use, it's like playing a Where's Waldo game with that. But with Linux it's just exploring and trying out stuff. Sure Linux isn't supporting everything yet but that's why i'm dual booting all my machines with XP/7 and Linux Mint. I'm also checking out the other distros & to me that's all i really need. I thought Windows 8 was bad, but the fanboys are just crazy over that OS they'll pick a fight with anyone who doesn't like it. Anyway Linux will get better once more developers jump on the Linux platform. Linux at first seemed like a good idea but had lack of support and functionality, but it's getting better over the years. It's good for certain functions when you don't need to use Windows.
 
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mkasatkin

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My notebook came w/Windows 8 and I have been trying for 2 days now to download Ubuntu 13.04 - with NO LUCK. There is lots of advice and how to's - none worked for me.
Do you have any advice on how to download Ubuntu along side oem Windows 8?
I have experience building desktops and now am considering rebuilding my notebook to accommodate win7 and Ubuntu. What needs to be replaced - the processor, the motherboard, or both?
Thanks
 
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Souvik Re

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True Man,Not Only Microsoft,Windows 8 Is A Sinking Ship Too,It Will Sink Your Pc Into Death :pt1cable:

As Im Suffered,I Think Im Going For Linux Too,Can You Tell Me The That Which Linux Os I Should Use? As Im Going To Use My Pc As A Media Center....
 
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EManU3LXX

EManU3LXX

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I hate to butt in, but personally I really like Windows 8 (I LOVE Linux Mint tho, with Cinnamon tho, not MATE)
I do see why people wouldn't like it, but usually the people who don't like it are all older than me (I'm turning 16 in the fall) In college, everyone I go to class with has a Windows 8 PC, and they love it. I embraced Windows 8 for the changes it tried to do, I guess I looked at it at a standpoint of a completely new thing, not an upgrade to Windows 7. It's amazingly fast, and multitasking and multi monitors are awesome to work with. I love Windows 8, I love Windows 7, I love Linux, and I love MAC, I have some specifics things I might not like about each, but I have them all, and they all suite me just fine for the needs I have :) I liked reading your points and arguments tho.
 
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Tseg

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Ha! I spent 6 years tinkering with Linux (Ubuntu, Suse, Mint, Bodhi Linux, etc...)... I did not even own a Windows computer. Finally I found myself retinkering my tinkering and gave it up for photography. The best RAW conversion applications are on Windows so made the switch to W8 several months ago and have been loving it. Unfortunately, for photographers it looks like MS may be taking a step backwards with W8.1... I am hoping some of the proposed changes to their Photo App are reversed... and IE11 is a mess with many websites still, but is lightning fast on sites it plays nice with.

Searching for the perfect Linux distro is like that of the search for the perfect camera... it doesn't exist. Between the distros and applications there is so much that always remains rough around the edges... until you remember you can get that long sought polish simply with Windows or OSX.
 
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spankmon

spankmon

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Although I've never used a Linux distro for sophisticated tasks beyond some video editing and encoding, sound recording and typical daily usage... I've never done anything sophisticated on Windows either. But for those computer users who like to learn new things, Linux provides a great educational experience whether casual or intense in nature. For me, the biggest fun is watching Linux evolve over the years. I'm continually installing a new Linux distro and trying it out for a number of days, then replacing it with another that I haven't tried out yet (distro hopping). I do dual-boot or triple-boot along with Windows 7, but seldom even go into Windows unless I feel the urge to play some games that don't work on Linux.

I also build new desktops frequently and would rather spend the $100+ on hardware rather than a Microsoft operating system... Linux is free and works nicely for my needs. Not bashing Windows.... Not defending Linux.... just happy they both exist and I get to choose.
 
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EManU3LXX

EManU3LXX

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I like how you put it at the end, me a few friends were talking about this on facebook today, it's not about which one's better, it's about the choice you can have and the cons and pros that come with each one.
 
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MidnightDistort

MidnightDistort

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Well i am 33, however i don't really have any issues learning new things. I mostly don't like the overall look and feel of 8 and they removed features that i liked in Windows 7 (like the Aero Glass - glossy look/feel) and i like the search feature in the start menu. Windows 8 works better on a tablet or touch device than a desktop imo. I don't really see the whole necessity with having a desktop using touch. Then again the hybrid laptop/tablets seem to be the ideal device for Windows 8. If you tried putting Windows 7 on a tablet or phone it wouldn't feel right so it's pretty much the same with a tablet UI on a desktop. Some users like it but Windows 8 would have done better if there was a desktop only mode for well.. desktops (with an optional start screen/modern app option) and i think the modern apps should have been windowed on the desktops. I think the developers for Windows 8 just don't seem to understand that or what they were doing when they designed 8.

They did an outstanding job with Windows 7 and Vista was mostly just buggy. Microsoft's one size fits all doesn't seem to work really well and they seem to want to try to unify the desktop and touch environments in one without considering the fact that desktop users like me, like the windows where you can move it around, resize it to your liking and not being distracted by going to a new screen just to find a program you want to load. I don't like my desktop cluttered with icons and i like my task bar free of clutter and the least amount of startup programs as much as possible so my system will boot up quickly.
 
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EManU3LXX

EManU3LXX

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I love how well you laid out your argument. I do agree that Microsoft should have separated Windows 8 into touch and desktop, or mobile and touch and desktop or w.e but from how I've used it so far, I'm very glad they have. I do see why people don't like it, and I myself don't like certain aspects of it. I think they could've done a better job with settings and control panel integration for example. Is it a big deal for me? No. For others? Maybe, and I completely understand that. I do believe Windows 8 was a HUGE risk for Microsoft, but they don't seem to understand that. I don't believe Microsoft will go under though, if anything, they'll sell more copies of Windows 7. That, and the fact that Windows 8 is shipping with pretty much ALL new laptops, they'll make TONS of money, ship the laptops with 8, PLUS sell a copy of 7.
 
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MidnightDistort

MidnightDistort

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I think the main problem is now what will happen with future Windows systems. It'll be whether the new UI will stick in future versions or they will force it into hiding. Microsoft is continuing to make Windows 7 sales and people who buy new laptops or desktops with Windows 8 pre installed so at this point, no they are not going under yet. However if MS continues on with the new OS format they could lose quite a few users along the way. Generally when i hear people talk about Windows 8, in some of the conversations Linux is thrown around into the mix and going Apple is another one (possibly from those who are either unaware of Linux or are not that technical to use Linux). It's still fairly early to tell what will happen in the future and when/if Windows 7's support will be dropped and whether users will adapt to the new format or go elsewhere. I think it's best to just build a desktop that's Windows 7 capable instead of buying a Windows 8 machine.
 
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EManU3LXX

EManU3LXX

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I think Microsoft will end up doing what they did with the Xbox One. Firing public faces, addressing concerns, and splitting Windows 8 into Windows 9 and Windows 9 Touch, obviously, I don't work for Microsoft, and this is just my opinion, but from previous experiences, and what I've heard from Microsoft, this seems to be the way "they do business." Windows 8 might just be their test bed, sorta like Vista was.
 
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egilbe

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Windows 8 isn't all bad, just the UI and how you have to keep switching from Metro to launch apps, back to the desktop to work. They really dropped the ball with that. I have a Window's phone. WP8 works well for a phone or tablet. I've used several distros of Linux as well. There's good and bad with that, too. I started playing with DOS back in 1987, so I've had some experience with Windows OS's and 8 is by far the most frustrating I've ever used. Worse than Linux command line, for me.

*sigh* Microsoft done goofed
 
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EManU3LXX

EManU3LXX

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I know someone's gunna wanna say something, but hear me out.

In Windows 8 there are ways for you to completely forget about the new Start Menu and the Metro UI.
You don't even need it to launch apps, and (for me) it's faster than the start menu.
All I have to do is *Windows Key* Type the name of the program Press Enter. Boom Done.

 
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egilbe

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that's not easier than clicking start, and then my most commonly used programs, or start, programs and then search through the program I'm looking for. Or even just clicking on the shortcut on my desktop. Or clicking start, run and type what I want. All from the same interface. Win8 uses a counter-intuitive design for desktop computers. I went from using DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.1 to Win 95 with no trouble at all. That was a logical prgression that improved the UI. Win8 is a step backwards and is alienating a lot of people.
 
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