I'd rather go hunting through a few start menu submenus for an old app than scroll around in a stupid start screen looking for an app whose icon I have no clue what it looks like. At least with the start menu you can quickly rule out most folders because you know it's not there.
I'm not quite that much against pinning to the taskbar, but I do dislike it, for exactly the same reasons. The only thing I keep pinned is Explorer. I also always set the taskbar to "never combine", because I hate having to mouse hover for 5 seconds just to find the window I want to switch to. (At work, it's even worse because the PC is too shitty to run Aero remotely well.) In many ways, I think the XP UI is still better than any newer version of Windows. Even after getting used to Windows 7, I still say XP is more efficient and more intuitive overall.
Then you have the product you want and you're happy with it.
Yes, he's aware of that. You missed his last sentence. At some point, MS is going to drop support for Win7, and we'll basically be forced to switch to a newer version or some other OS entirely. Guess which route most of us will go, if MS doesn't get their shit together in the mean time.
Windows 8 can be easily configured to work the same exact way, now without any third party software in 8.1.
Really? Windows 8.1 gives you a start menu that has easy, uncluttered access to all your programs, as well as Control Panel, Computer, and various other shortcuts right there in easy-to-find locations?
Your use of bold and italic emphasis makes you seem very indignant about an issue which is at best, a minor issue of system configuration.
And the fact that you personally don't mind the changes doesn't mean they aren't a major deal for many users. Your perspective is just that, yours, and it does not seem to be shared by most people. Your condecension just makes you look like a tool.
I use the start menu for more than just launching apps.
The main problem with eliminating the start menu in favor of the stupid Metro screen is that it's not an improvement. Change for the sake of change is not a good thing. And that's all it is. Windows Vista and 7 had some of that too, which is why not everyone is/was all gungho about making the leap from XP. I switched to 7 from XP because there were enough improvements that made it well worthwhile, despite the changes that were worse instead of better. There are no such improvements in 8 or 8.1 over 7.
Let me know when I can use it on a desktop without ever seeing any part of Metro for any reason, AND has some improvement over 7 that makes it worth buying. Until then, I have no interest in even trying it.
When you're sitting next to someone who's on the phone non-stop for the entire flight... and you're unfortunate enough to have no headphones and no earplugs.
First, you need a source for your information. Second, you're right, MS has no handheld. They also don't care about them. Third, They also don't care about Nintendo, as Nintendo has been targeting an entirely different market and is almost 100% irrelevant. Fourth, if you are actually close on your numbers, the only reason Sony has the share they do is because of previous generation sales of the PS2.
The bottom line is, in this generation, for the console market they are targeting, MS does indeed have a virtual monopoly. Almost every console gamer I know has an XBox 360. A very small number of them also have a PS3. I know almost no one who has a PS3 and no XBox 360, and the few I do know aren't really the target demographic and only have a PS3 for one or two specific games.
That's the problem with continued updates... it allows the manufacturer to bait-and-switch legally. What they did with the PS3 is exactly the same as an auto manufacturer removing four-wheel-drive from your vehicle after you bought it, or a radio manufacturer disabling the cassette deck, or TV manufacturer disabling USB ports, or any number of similar examples that could be made.
While true, it's also probably moot. The PS4 reveal is definitely Sony trying to put all the nails in the XBone coffin, and for the non-techie console gamers this should pretty much do it. Even if Sony changes things later, it'll probably be too late for the XBone.
Well there's that, but there's also the fact that just because you're good at making pretty art, doesn't mean you're also good at making a fun game experience.
I personally would rather play a fun ugly game than a beautiful boring game.
I don't know about you, but any time I connect my Android phone to a device that tries to use the data lines in the charging cable I have to choose how my phone uses the cable.
The general public has never driven 300 miles (without stops of far more than 5 minutes) in their life.
Irrelevant. The vast majority of the people who do drive 300+ miles at a stretch don't stop for half an hour during that stretch. The general public you're talking about don't drive far enough to need a charging station at all. Either way, these stations are going to prove a large waste of money.
Yes you can. That's only 12 gallons in a typical car that averages 25mpg highway. I've done fuel stops before that took 5 minutes or less while on a trip. Yes, I actually timed some of them.
And that's exactly ALL you'll get with your 30 minute charge. Maybe not even quite that. Your first 4-5 hours will be on a full charge. After that, you're stopping for 30 minutes about every 2 hours to recharge halfway.
For myself, the only time I ever make a stop longer than 15-20 minutes is if I'm on an all-day road trip. If it's just 6 or 7 hours I won't stop at all unless I have to for fuel.
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I'd rather go hunting through a few start menu submenus for an old app than scroll around in a stupid start screen looking for an app whose icon I have no clue what it looks like. At least with the start menu you can quickly rule out most folders because you know it's not there.
I'm not quite that much against pinning to the taskbar, but I do dislike it, for exactly the same reasons. The only thing I keep pinned is Explorer. I also always set the taskbar to "never combine", because I hate having to mouse hover for 5 seconds just to find the window I want to switch to. (At work, it's even worse because the PC is too shitty to run Aero remotely well.) In many ways, I think the XP UI is still better than any newer version of Windows. Even after getting used to Windows 7, I still say XP is more efficient and more intuitive overall.
I find your ideas intriguing and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Then you have the product you want and you're happy with it.
Yes, he's aware of that. You missed his last sentence. At some point, MS is going to drop support for Win7, and we'll basically be forced to switch to a newer version or some other OS entirely. Guess which route most of us will go, if MS doesn't get their shit together in the mean time.
Windows 8 can be easily configured to work the same exact way, now without any third party software in 8.1.
Really? Windows 8.1 gives you a start menu that has easy, uncluttered access to all your programs, as well as Control Panel, Computer, and various other shortcuts right there in easy-to-find locations?
Your use of bold and italic emphasis makes you seem very indignant about an issue which is at best, a minor issue of system configuration.
And the fact that you personally don't mind the changes doesn't mean they aren't a major deal for many users. Your perspective is just that, yours, and it does not seem to be shared by most people. Your condecension just makes you look like a tool.
In summary, you're an idiot.
I use the start menu for more than just launching apps.
The main problem with eliminating the start menu in favor of the stupid Metro screen is that it's not an improvement. Change for the sake of change is not a good thing. And that's all it is. Windows Vista and 7 had some of that too, which is why not everyone is/was all gungho about making the leap from XP. I switched to 7 from XP because there were enough improvements that made it well worthwhile, despite the changes that were worse instead of better. There are no such improvements in 8 or 8.1 over 7.
Actually, the most compelling Windows upgrade was from ME to XP. There's still things that are more logical and better in XP than any version since.
I use the start menu quite frequently.
Let me know when I can use it on a desktop without ever seeing any part of Metro for any reason, AND has some improvement over 7 that makes it worth buying. Until then, I have no interest in even trying it.
When you're sitting next to someone who's on the phone non-stop for the entire flight... and you're unfortunate enough to have no headphones and no earplugs.
24/7 3-4 days a week
So then you don't go on those 3-4 days a week. Problem solved.
So to paraphrase: "We're not patent trolls because that's such an ugly term and no one should be called that".
Many newer TVs have the ability to play media files right off a flash drive or external HDD plugged into a USB port.
That's great for you. But that's not very common in the US, even in many of the largest cities.
First, you need a source for your information. Second, you're right, MS has no handheld. They also don't care about them. Third, They also don't care about Nintendo, as Nintendo has been targeting an entirely different market and is almost 100% irrelevant. Fourth, if you are actually close on your numbers, the only reason Sony has the share they do is because of previous generation sales of the PS2.
The bottom line is, in this generation, for the console market they are targeting, MS does indeed have a virtual monopoly. Almost every console gamer I know has an XBox 360. A very small number of them also have a PS3. I know almost no one who has a PS3 and no XBox 360, and the few I do know aren't really the target demographic and only have a PS3 for one or two specific games.
That's the problem with continued updates... it allows the manufacturer to bait-and-switch legally. What they did with the PS3 is exactly the same as an auto manufacturer removing four-wheel-drive from your vehicle after you bought it, or a radio manufacturer disabling the cassette deck, or TV manufacturer disabling USB ports, or any number of similar examples that could be made.
None of these things should be legal.
It's an easy choice for me. I don't like console gaming much anyway so I'll keep upgrading my PC like I always have.
I expect gaming on cheaper android based devices to catch up and even take over within this generation.
I've been making that prediction as well.
While true, it's also probably moot. The PS4 reveal is definitely Sony trying to put all the nails in the XBone coffin, and for the non-techie console gamers this should pretty much do it. Even if Sony changes things later, it'll probably be too late for the XBone.
Well there's that, but there's also the fact that just because you're good at making pretty art, doesn't mean you're also good at making a fun game experience.
I personally would rather play a fun ugly game than a beautiful boring game.
That sounds like incredibly poor design. Why wouldn't it just reject all attempts to send or recieve data until approval is given?
Charge Only. Was that so hard?
I don't know about you, but any time I connect my Android phone to a device that tries to use the data lines in the charging cable I have to choose how my phone uses the cable.
The general public has never driven 300 miles (without stops of far more than 5 minutes) in their life.
Irrelevant. The vast majority of the people who do drive 300+ miles at a stretch don't stop for half an hour during that stretch. The general public you're talking about don't drive far enough to need a charging station at all. Either way, these stations are going to prove a large waste of money.
Yes you can. That's only 12 gallons in a typical car that averages 25mpg highway. I've done fuel stops before that took 5 minutes or less while on a trip. Yes, I actually timed some of them.
And that's exactly ALL you'll get with your 30 minute charge. Maybe not even quite that. Your first 4-5 hours will be on a full charge. After that, you're stopping for 30 minutes about every 2 hours to recharge halfway.
For myself, the only time I ever make a stop longer than 15-20 minutes is if I'm on an all-day road trip. If it's just 6 or 7 hours I won't stop at all unless I have to for fuel.