I ignored that as I use a telephone if I need to make a POTS call. My "landline" is a VoIP router anyway, so I don't need skype as a VoIP provider.
As my family and friends are international (I've lived in a few countries), I opted to pay for the a world subscription from Skype, that allows me to do 'unlimited' length calls to various countries rather than pay for anything beyond the connection charge for my landline (to get Internet).
OTOH, Skype doesn't have multi-party video conferences
It does and I use it, it's called "Skype Premium"
and that numerous plugins
I know Skype has plugins, but I don't use any.
from desktop sharing
There is desktop screensharing, but nothing built in to let you remote control the desktop, you'd need to install a plugin for that.
GDocs/Youtube integration
The youtube integration is neat in Google hangouts, but it doesn't work on mobile handsets and getting everyone to switch to the youtube tab in a hangout could honestly be done a little better. Admittedly, I haven't come across the google docs integration yet (which is kind of sad, since I'm in a hang out at least once a week).
Until then, POTs support should be covered by GVoice, at least for some countries.
US and Canada offering only - I don't live in either. The only numbers you can setup for accepting calls are US and Canada only too.
That seems really limited compared to the regular Skype client. I'm not really convinced that buying a Chromebook would be better than buying a netbook because I'd lose out on so much Skype functionality and there is nothing really stopping imo.im from going away like Meebo.
Google Hangouts doesn't support conferencing with an actual real world phone, I also don't believe there is any POTS support at all. That's not really a replacement.
My car isn't an open format either why is this different?
Apples and oranges, duh!
If.doc and.docx work without issue, and they do for most of the world
I would like to see the sources for your "most of the world" metrics for "no problems" with the file formats.
The company I work for recently moved from Office 2007 to 2010 and I had to spend a god awful amount of time fixing my documents and presentations to look 'proper' again and the hilarious thing is that the AD is setup to save the documents in legacy office formats that shouldn't have transitional problems such as these between versions!
Unfortunately, this is the format currently used in businesses so the company I work for won't use other formats. Tool wise - I consider Microsoft Office to be probably the best tool for our type of work, despite the file format hell we have on every version.
Unfortunately for you the world seems to not share your ideological position on file format openness.
I don't have an ideological position on file format openness. You are reading way too much into things, have you considered drinking a cup of tea and chilling out while reading Slashdot? You sound really tense.
Yeah, every standard should be like ODF - the standard is short, but so badly written that it's possible to save an ODF document that fits the standard perfectly but renders incorrectly in every ODF compatible word processor.
How will you verify the identity of the purchaser? It's not like its hard to get gift MasterCard/visa that arent bound to a name and indistinguishable from a regular credit card during online purchases?
I used to use VLC exclusively, but then it began to choke on newer codecs and more demanding resolutions.
You will find that various hardware acceleration features are disabled by default in VLC because they don't work for everyone (as opposed to the non-accelerated methods). If you turn those on, you should find brilliant performance.
Last time I looked at VLC it tried to install some toolbar crap by default so I declined. Fuck that, I'm not installing some advertising shite just to watch some video.
Sounds like you installed a version of VLC from unofficial sources.
It's funny. Almost 100% of the people I've seen that love Win 8 use it almost entirely with the keyboard. This tells me that the UI is actually broken from a usability point of view.
Well, you can take me off that list, I don't love Windows 8. I have issues with it, but it's not the issues that people complain about here, which I find are mostly invalid.
and even among those that do, there is no easy way to get there. You end up having to google for what key combo does what.
I'm not really using key combos... I am mostly using cursor keys which are self explanatory...
You can't just search for what you think somehting is called - you have to know the specific name of the thing.
Not in the case of control panel items. I know because I tried several variations of "password management" with different words and it still turned up the relevant results.
Yes, it's where MacOS was..... 10 years ago.There is not a *single feature* in that demo that didn't exist in the standard Gnome or KDE window managers 5 years ago, and MacOS 10 years ago.
Fine, instruct me how to completely retheme everything like in that video in MacOS from ten years ago. That includes the shelf.
Complaints != lack of understanding or lack of ability to learn
Considering the complaints are invalid... It's entirely possible it's lack of understanding or inability to learn. However, I believe it to be just plain hate for having to learn something 'different'.
Guessing at what one should type into a search box is a horrible design
What guessing? I've tried several variations of typing password management with completely different words and it turns up the same relevant results.
With a gui the whole point is to minimize typing arcane commands (or in this case, arcane searches) into a terminal.
I guess you could use three keys to go into the control panel category as opposed to the eight keys I have to press in windows 7 (through the start menu), but lgw was specifically talking about finding something and honestly, finding something is probably better done by the computer than you (I know, terrible to think computers are better at something!).
Having to switch between typing and clicking all the time,
I don't know what you're talking about, I use Windows 8 almost exclusively with the keyboard (I find it more efficient and faster - It doesn't suffer the drawbacks windows 7 has with using it exclusively with the keyboard either). The only time I use the mouse is when I'm thrown into desktop mode. But, alternatively, I could also just use the mouse exclusively too, I guess?
It's not about knowledge. It's about workflow.
And I got a workflow mostly within 15 minutes of using it. This is all black magic to you, isn't it?
one could get all his work done in microsoft bob, but that doesn't mean it's suddenly the best way to do things
I could give you genuine reasons to complain about Windows 8, instead of your vague bullshit. One example is the fact that neither UI is quite 'complete'. There are some things where you are thrown into Modern UI to use when using Desktop mode, and vice versa (for example, when changing specific windows update settings). I find that experience rather jarring and annoying. The idea you have to know two different user interfaces is just a piss take. That would be a genuine reason to complain about Windows 8, not this prissy non-sense that you guys hate on something you state you canâ(TM)t do and yet I can do it.
Meanwhile, you guys are backing up your opinions with vague statements that hold no grounds to my actual usage of the platform.
And I know people on both sides, I tend to ridicule those who claim to be geeks that are incapable of grasping the interface within a reasonable time frame or bitch about issues that are caused by poor habits and lack of even looking for a way to change the preference. I suspect you are one of those people.
WIndows 8 simply has too steep a learning curve. You need to watch instructional videos to figure it out.
I didn't, I figured out Windows 8 almost entirely within 15 minutes and most of that was through general usage.
While Windows 7 was a bit annoying when you were trying to find somehting in the new control panel, if you knew Windows XP you could pretty much use it right away, and teach yourself the few things that had changed.
Oh dear! Just typing what you want in Modern UI and selecting the settings category, so hard to find things in the control panel!
I'm sure it's a fine phone OS, and maybe if you're used to a different phone OS it's not that strange, but nothing changed for the better for keyboard/mouse users trying to get work done
Actually, the UI is definitely a lot better for exclusive keyboard usage. For one, you don't need to tab through a billion options in the UI like you had in Windows 7, you can just select things quickly with the cursor keys, as well as not having unselected areas etc. Seems like you don't really know the OS.
Why would I want this on a laptop or desktop?
In your case, to figure out better complaints with the OS, because you don't appear to know much about it.
I look forward to seeing your UI design specifications written out for Windows 9 that shows a superior unified interface that can be used across multiple devices, better than Modern UI.
QUESTION: Why'd Microsoft attempt to shove something down folks' throats they didn't, & clearly DON'T, want (and the figures show that much backing me)?
Believe it or not APK, you don't have to use Microsoft software, there is no law saying you must use Microsoft software in the USA.
P.S.=> A cardinal rule of sales: You can't sell something people don't want... & they do NOT want to have to LEARN what they do not want to - get it? Good... now, try make Microsoft understand that, & thanks.
The ribbon doesn't grow on you, I loathe it now, just as much as I loathed it when it was being designed.
I personally love the Ribbon.
Metro has a couple of problems. It works ok with a touch device, but not so much with a mouse.
I actually found it's awesome with a keyboard. The OS is so much easer and quicker to use with a keyboard exclusively now.
Admittedly, the mouse feels clunkier, but it felt clunky for me in Windows 7 too.
A lack of a start menu is HUGE for people who primarily use the desktop (and don't go into this 'use only half the OS thing, some programs are desktop only) Metro is a very poor replacement for a start menu. And not just because it is full screen.
It's two key strokes to open the programs menu (the categorical view in the start menu of programs) in Windows 8 as opposed to three key strokes in Windows 7 and the Programs menu is always sorted now - Seems better to me.
At least from a desktop perspective.
From a desktop perspective, I'm interacting faster with my computer, using almost exclusively just the keyboard.
I have dreamhost, but I don't use their email... At the end of the day, I'm pretty sure that even if bought a VPS and put my mind to it... I couldn't host my email as reliable as gmail.
My VPS on Hetzner has been more reliable than a Google Apps account I manage.
According to my setup on Pingdom, my VPS has had zero downtime according to the authenticated SMTP check (fires off every minute), meanwhile Google Apps has refused logins this year 261 times.
Slashdot Mirror
As my family and friends are international (I've lived in a few countries), I opted to pay for the a world subscription from Skype, that allows me to do 'unlimited' length calls to various countries rather than pay for anything beyond the connection charge for my landline (to get Internet).
It does and I use it, it's called "Skype Premium"
I know Skype has plugins, but I don't use any.
There is desktop screensharing, but nothing built in to let you remote control the desktop, you'd need to install a plugin for that.
The youtube integration is neat in Google hangouts, but it doesn't work on mobile handsets and getting everyone to switch to the youtube tab in a hangout could honestly be done a little better. Admittedly, I haven't come across the google docs integration yet (which is kind of sad, since I'm in a hang out at least once a week).
US and Canada offering only - I don't live in either. The only numbers you can setup for accepting calls are US and Canada only too.
That seems really limited compared to the regular Skype client. I'm not really convinced that buying a Chromebook would be better than buying a netbook because I'd lose out on so much Skype functionality and there is nothing really stopping imo.im from going away like Meebo.
Google Hangouts doesn't support conferencing with an actual real world phone, I also don't believe there is any POTS support at all. That's not really a replacement.
The thing I find sucky about a Chromebook is the lack of Skype.
Shame you did not read my responses.
The nVidia drivers are developed by nVidia, not the Linux community.
Apples and oranges, duh!
I would like to see the sources for your "most of the world" metrics for "no problems" with the file formats.
The company I work for recently moved from Office 2007 to 2010 and I had to spend a god awful amount of time fixing my documents and presentations to look 'proper' again and the hilarious thing is that the AD is setup to save the documents in legacy office formats that shouldn't have transitional problems such as these between versions!
Unfortunately, this is the format currently used in businesses so the company I work for won't use other formats. Tool wise - I consider Microsoft Office to be probably the best tool for our type of work, despite the file format hell we have on every version.
Home work!
I don't have an ideological position on file format openness. You are reading way too much into things, have you considered drinking a cup of tea and chilling out while reading Slashdot? You sound really tense.
Examples?
Note: I am not the grand parent poster.
Microsoft Office still do not follow their own open standards on RTF and they don't do opendocument formats correctly either.
I would say being incompatible with open formats is a big one.
So far your argument has come across weak.
How will you verify the identity of the purchaser? It's not like its hard to get gift MasterCard/visa that arent bound to a name and indistinguishable from a regular credit card during online purchases?
You will find that various hardware acceleration features are disabled by default in VLC because they don't work for everyone (as opposed to the non-accelerated methods). If you turn those on, you should find brilliant performance.
Sounds like you installed a version of VLC from unofficial sources.
Well, you can take me off that list, I don't love Windows 8. I have issues with it, but it's not the issues that people complain about here, which I find are mostly invalid.
I'm not really using key combos... I am mostly using cursor keys which are self explanatory...
Not in the case of control panel items. I know because I tried several variations of "password management" with different words and it still turned up the relevant results.
Fine, instruct me how to completely retheme everything like in that video in MacOS from ten years ago. That includes the shelf.
I can't see any theming capability at all like this on OS X.
That's not command line interface, it's 'search'. Something computers are usually better at than humans.
You were complaining about being unable to find something quickly, that's how you do it.
Considering the complaints are invalid... It's entirely possible it's lack of understanding or inability to learn. However, I believe it to be just plain hate for having to learn something 'different'.
What guessing? I've tried several variations of typing password management with completely different words and it turns up the same relevant results.
I guess you could use three keys to go into the control panel category as opposed to the eight keys I have to press in windows 7 (through the start menu), but lgw was specifically talking about finding something and honestly, finding something is probably better done by the computer than you (I know, terrible to think computers are better at something!).
I don't know what you're talking about, I use Windows 8 almost exclusively with the keyboard (I find it more efficient and faster - It doesn't suffer the drawbacks windows 7 has with using it exclusively with the keyboard either). The only time I use the mouse is when I'm thrown into desktop mode. But, alternatively, I could also just use the mouse exclusively too, I guess?
And I got a workflow mostly within 15 minutes of using it. This is all black magic to you, isn't it?
I could give you genuine reasons to complain about Windows 8, instead of your vague bullshit. One example is the fact that neither UI is quite 'complete'. There are some things where you are thrown into Modern UI to use when using Desktop mode, and vice versa (for example, when changing specific windows update settings). I find that experience rather jarring and annoying. The idea you have to know two different user interfaces is just a piss take. That would be a genuine reason to complain about Windows 8, not this prissy non-sense that you guys hate on something you state you canâ(TM)t do and yet I can do it.
Meanwhile, you guys are backing up your opinions with vague statements that hold no grounds to my actual usage of the platform.
Inspired by lgw:
Cool story, bros!
Note: I am not the grand parent poster.
And I know people on both sides, I tend to ridicule those who claim to be geeks that are incapable of grasping the interface within a reasonable time frame or bitch about issues that are caused by poor habits and lack of even looking for a way to change the preference. I suspect you are one of those people.
I didn't, I figured out Windows 8 almost entirely within 15 minutes and most of that was through general usage.
Oh dear! Just typing what you want in Modern UI and selecting the settings category, so hard to find things in the control panel!
Actually, the UI is definitely a lot better for exclusive keyboard usage. For one, you don't need to tab through a billion options in the UI like you had in Windows 7, you can just select things quickly with the cursor keys, as well as not having unselected areas etc. Seems like you don't really know the OS.
In your case, to figure out better complaints with the OS, because you don't appear to know much about it.
I use it as a keyboard interface, it's fantastic.
I look forward to seeing your UI design specifications written out for Windows 9 that shows a superior unified interface that can be used across multiple devices, better than Modern UI.
Believe it or not APK, you don't have to use Microsoft software, there is no law saying you must use Microsoft software in the USA.
You're just not the target audience. :)
I personally love the Ribbon.
I actually found it's awesome with a keyboard. The OS is so much easer and quicker to use with a keyboard exclusively now.
Admittedly, the mouse feels clunkier, but it felt clunky for me in Windows 7 too.
It's two key strokes to open the programs menu (the categorical view in the start menu of programs) in Windows 8 as opposed to three key strokes in Windows 7 and the Programs menu is always sorted now - Seems better to me.
From a desktop perspective, I'm interacting faster with my computer, using almost exclusively just the keyboard.
I moved my mouse cursor to the lower left corner of the screen, the windows icon appeared to open the start menu?
I don't know, that seemed like an obvious way to discover it if you were an older Windows user?
My VPS on Hetzner has been more reliable than a Google Apps account I manage.
According to my setup on Pingdom, my VPS has had zero downtime according to the authenticated SMTP check (fires off every minute), meanwhile Google Apps has refused logins this year 261 times.