Not trying to troll; honest question. I get the hostility toward open systems part, but how is Apple openly hostile toward free software? (By the caps, I'm assuming you refer to open source rather than monetarily free.)
It closes the hung program. In the new task manager, the actual executable is hidden under a disclosure triangle, so the application title is the executable (if that makes any sense).
UAC was also incredibly annoying in the way it nagged the user. 7 and 8 made it a lot more bearable.
My biggest upset with Vista was the way that, by default, it would restart your computer for updates without confirmation from the user. So if you didn't notice that little popup at the bottom-right corner of the screen, or forgot you told it to wait hours ago, then you were in for a nasty surprise.
The new task manager is nice? Are you kidding? There have to be close to 50 processes running on the machine, so why does it show a blank window in its default view? Terrible. In its more functional views, it wastes desktop real estate with that tons-of-white-space-and-large-font trend that's infecting everything.
The new task manager is loads better than the old one. It clearly distinguishes between windowed apps and background processes, shows more stats by default (in "More details" mode), has much better startup modification abilities, uses color to show resource usage, etc. etc. I welcome the whitespace, as it makes it easier to read the data. These days, with higher resolution monitors, space isn't as much as a premium as it was when the XP task manager (which is largely unchanged in 7) was made.
Also, its default view isn't a "blank window". It's a list of windowed applications, which is probably the most important data for the average user. For those who want/need more information, clicking "More details" is trivial, and it remembers your preference for next time.
I actually like the new start screen quite a bit. Same search functionality as before, only now I can have more icons and have much better spatial organization. Metro apps are absolutely pointless on the desktop, yes (except for the great new Minesweeper game), but you never need to use them.
Alas, I have to use Start8 now. I bought two more monitors for gaming, and AMD Eyefinity makes the system think it's one huge desktop instead of three normal ones. Thus, the start screen appears on the far left, which is just too annoying to deal with (as is constantly switching desktop modes).
Re: It's not the 3DS, but the change of a generati
on
How Can Nintendo Recover?
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· Score: 5, Informative
I think you overestimate how quickly consoles sell. You point to the 4.2 million and 3 million figures as evidence of declining console sales, and yet, the PS4 and Xbone had the best launches in the history of the industry.
I'd argue that no, it actually doesn't trump it. IME it is *far* easier to switch between two completely different systems, than to switch between two systems which are exactly the same, except for one or two minor parameters.
Agreed. I can switch between QWERTY, Dvorak, and Workman on-the-fly without any ramp-up time, but a one-month stint in Germany with QWERTZ threw me off for at least half my stay. And then it took time getting used to QWERTY again when I got home.
The innovation I would really like to see from laptop keyboards is to make them mechanical. It doesn't bother me that most desktop keyboards are membrane crap, because I can replace them with a good keyboard, such as the Das Keyboard (yes, I know the redundancy of "the Das"). But attaching a mechanical keyboard to a laptop largely defeats the purpose of a laptop.
At the same time, I'm not sure it could be done in a way that's satisfying. You could never replicate a desktop mechanical keyboard perfectly without drastically increasing the thickness of the case. I'm not sure if a "low-travel" version of mechanical keys would be as satisfying or worth the extra cost. For the time being, my favorite laptop keyboard is Apple's. The keys aren't mushy or sticky like on a lot of keyboards, and their low travel distance lets you bottom out quicker (which is important for this type of keyboard, if not mechanical ones).
On the other hand, would you support Slashdot implementing a "kill" button that effectively "shoots" the person via the intarwebs who holds a wrong opinion or is guilty of wrong thinking?
Pretty sure the GP isn't in favor of random murders over simple disagreements in opinion.
Now, apart from global warming, the related issue that always gets short shrift is ocean acidification, which is also caused by an abundance of CO2 in the atmosphere, and which appears to be a huge threat to life on Earth. But it's harder to understand than warming, so let's not talk about it.
Actually, I think that ocean acidification is easier to understand. People can handle a wide range of temperatures, such that many will scoff at the notion that a difference of a couple of degrees is problematic for the planet. But acid? People understand that acid can be dangerous. Tell them the ocean is becoming acidified, and it will make sense to them that that's probably not good for the things that live there. (Even though the most pH change, according to Wikipedia, also looks like a tiny number at -0.12).
Your comment (and others above it) have me thinking I misspoke or underestimated desktop Linux's current usability (I run Arch, but on a headless Raspberry Pi).
What I do find disingenuous, though, are people saying they can't be bothered to try one of the shell replacements (such as Start8 or Classic Shell), but then say in the same post that Linux is great because you can change WMs. That is a strength, certainly, but I feel it hurts their overall argument. Not saying you (or the others that replied to me) did this, but others in this overall thread have.
The best part is that the Windows 8 charms menus are hardly necessary. The only thing it's "preferred" for is shutting down the system, but you can always use Alt+F4 for that.
OS X hot corners aren't enabled by default, and, in a bizarre twist, are more customizable than the Windows 8 hot corners. Personally, I can't stand them, but I'm sure some users like the feature.
... horizontal scrolling instead of scalable content or vertical scrolling (you know, that thing every mouse has a wheel for, unlike the other type)...
Scrolling "down" on a mouse's scroll wheel scrolls Metro content horizontally.
For me there are no showstoppers, though. I'd go as far as saying that I slightly prefer using 8.1 + Classic Shell (with filetype associations re-assigned to non-Metro applications) to a stock Windows 7 installation. Startup is quicker, the file copy dialogue and task manager are improved, and I never liked Aero Glass. There's certainly no compelling reason to 'downgrade' to Windows 7, any more than there is to 'upgrade' a Windows 7 system to 8. Of course, if I were stuck with a locked down Windows 8 installation with its horrible default configuration and jarring interface shifts, that would be an entirely different story. Windows 8.x is still an awful experience out of the box, but there's nothing serious that a knowledgeable user with an admin account can't fix in 10 minutes (or at least, nothing that has affected me so far).
Pretty much this. The worst part of Windows 8, out of the box, is the interface shifts for tasks such as looking at image files. But fixing those is pretty easy. When the lousy "Photos" app opens, close it, right click the file, "Open with...", and change the associated app for all files of that type. Do it once and never think about it again. I can't remember the last time I was shunted into Metro.
If you don't like the start screen, install Classic Shell or Start8. (I actually prefer the start screen, but due to a multi-monitor issue--well, Eyefinity issue--I'm now running Start8.)
What I like is the number of suggestions to "just install Linux", as if Linux needs less configuration than the above. I think people who make that suggestion are ignorant, biased, or would always recommend Linux simply because it's their preference. The last one is fine in certain circumstances, but those people should be honest about it.
Maybe he should have provided some sources, but everything I've read indicates that his assertion is correct. See this site. Granted, you shouldn't base your conclusions on one site alone, but some of the evidence and conclusions listed there (and on other sites) is pretty damning.
My mom uses one and enjoys it. I wouldn't say she loves it, but I don't think she has loved any piece of technology ever. I love it, because I never have to give tech support for it.
I have to agree with this. I actually prefer Windows 8(.1) over 7; however, for average users, Windows 8 does present some irritations. For instance, opening image files on Windows 8, by default, goes to Microsoft's "Photos" app, which is Metro-based, slow, and terrible for quick image browsing/viewing. Now, it's trivial to change the default application in any version of Windows, including 8, but the problem is that the average user just doesn't understand that it's even possible to do so, let alone the mechanism for it.
Windows 8 is filled with little niggles like that. All told, it takes about 5 minutes to fix it back to Windows 7's behaviors, but as I said, many, if not most, people don't know how to do that.
Honestly, as an iOS user, I don't really see the need. I have jailbroken in the past and just didn't see much that was worth the effort or the inevitable wait for official updates. For those that do want/need/"need" root, then this is a good option (or just buy an Android device).
There are a few cool apps/tweaks on Cydia, but userland iOS also has tons of cool apps. For the vast majority of iOS users, jailbreaking isn't necessary.
This doesn't really fit the OP's requirement of running MS Office (and being Vista...), but it really is a good option for many people who are tired of tech support calls from parents. We got one for my mom, and I don't think I've ever needed to "fix" it except for one time it lost the network configuration for some reason.
Slashdot Mirror
Not trying to troll; honest question. I get the hostility toward open systems part, but how is Apple openly hostile toward free software? (By the caps, I'm assuming you refer to open source rather than monetarily free.)
It closes the hung program. In the new task manager, the actual executable is hidden under a disclosure triangle, so the application title is the executable (if that makes any sense).
UAC was also incredibly annoying in the way it nagged the user. 7 and 8 made it a lot more bearable.
My biggest upset with Vista was the way that, by default, it would restart your computer for updates without confirmation from the user. So if you didn't notice that little popup at the bottom-right corner of the screen, or forgot you told it to wait hours ago, then you were in for a nasty surprise.
That pattern is broken from the start - 98 sucked until 98SE.
I must be an outlier, then. For me, it's a tie whether 98SE or ME caused more problems.
The new task manager is nice? Are you kidding? There have to be close to 50 processes running on the machine, so why does it show a blank window in its default view? Terrible. In its more functional views, it wastes desktop real estate with that tons-of-white-space-and-large-font trend that's infecting everything.
The new task manager is loads better than the old one. It clearly distinguishes between windowed apps and background processes, shows more stats by default (in "More details" mode), has much better startup modification abilities, uses color to show resource usage, etc. etc. I welcome the whitespace, as it makes it easier to read the data. These days, with higher resolution monitors, space isn't as much as a premium as it was when the XP task manager (which is largely unchanged in 7) was made.
Also, its default view isn't a "blank window". It's a list of windowed applications, which is probably the most important data for the average user. For those who want/need more information, clicking "More details" is trivial, and it remembers your preference for next time.
I actually like the new start screen quite a bit. Same search functionality as before, only now I can have more icons and have much better spatial organization. Metro apps are absolutely pointless on the desktop, yes (except for the great new Minesweeper game), but you never need to use them.
Alas, I have to use Start8 now. I bought two more monitors for gaming, and AMD Eyefinity makes the system think it's one huge desktop instead of three normal ones. Thus, the start screen appears on the far left, which is just too annoying to deal with (as is constantly switching desktop modes).
I think you overestimate how quickly consoles sell. You point to the 4.2 million and 3 million figures as evidence of declining console sales, and yet, the PS4 and Xbone had the best launches in the history of the industry.
Bayonetta is an exclusive sequel, not a port.
From a feature standpoint, I quite like the Magic Mouse. From an ergonomic standpoint, not so much.
Agreed. I can switch between QWERTY, Dvorak, and Workman on-the-fly without any ramp-up time, but a one-month stint in Germany with QWERTZ threw me off for at least half my stay. And then it took time getting used to QWERTY again when I got home.
The innovation I would really like to see from laptop keyboards is to make them mechanical. It doesn't bother me that most desktop keyboards are membrane crap, because I can replace them with a good keyboard, such as the Das Keyboard (yes, I know the redundancy of "the Das"). But attaching a mechanical keyboard to a laptop largely defeats the purpose of a laptop.
At the same time, I'm not sure it could be done in a way that's satisfying. You could never replicate a desktop mechanical keyboard perfectly without drastically increasing the thickness of the case. I'm not sure if a "low-travel" version of mechanical keys would be as satisfying or worth the extra cost. For the time being, my favorite laptop keyboard is Apple's. The keys aren't mushy or sticky like on a lot of keyboards, and their low travel distance lets you bottom out quicker (which is important for this type of keyboard, if not mechanical ones).
On the other hand, would you support Slashdot implementing a "kill" button that effectively "shoots" the person via the intarwebs who holds a wrong opinion or is guilty of wrong thinking?
Pretty sure the GP isn't in favor of random murders over simple disagreements in opinion.
"Office for the Harmonization [...]" sounds very sinister, for some reason.
Now, apart from global warming, the related issue that always gets short shrift is ocean acidification, which is also caused by an abundance of CO2 in the atmosphere, and which appears to be a huge threat to life on Earth. But it's harder to understand than warming, so let's not talk about it.
Actually, I think that ocean acidification is easier to understand. People can handle a wide range of temperatures, such that many will scoff at the notion that a difference of a couple of degrees is problematic for the planet. But acid? People understand that acid can be dangerous. Tell them the ocean is becoming acidified, and it will make sense to them that that's probably not good for the things that live there. (Even though the most pH change, according to Wikipedia, also looks like a tiny number at -0.12).
Your comment (and others above it) have me thinking I misspoke or underestimated desktop Linux's current usability (I run Arch, but on a headless Raspberry Pi).
What I do find disingenuous, though, are people saying they can't be bothered to try one of the shell replacements (such as Start8 or Classic Shell), but then say in the same post that Linux is great because you can change WMs. That is a strength, certainly, but I feel it hurts their overall argument. Not saying you (or the others that replied to me) did this, but others in this overall thread have.
The best part is that the Windows 8 charms menus are hardly necessary. The only thing it's "preferred" for is shutting down the system, but you can always use Alt+F4 for that.
OS X hot corners aren't enabled by default, and, in a bizarre twist, are more customizable than the Windows 8 hot corners. Personally, I can't stand them, but I'm sure some users like the feature.
... horizontal scrolling instead of scalable content or vertical scrolling (you know, that thing every mouse has a wheel for, unlike the other type) ...
Scrolling "down" on a mouse's scroll wheel scrolls Metro content horizontally.
For me there are no showstoppers, though. I'd go as far as saying that I slightly prefer using 8.1 + Classic Shell (with filetype associations re-assigned to non-Metro applications) to a stock Windows 7 installation. Startup is quicker, the file copy dialogue and task manager are improved, and I never liked Aero Glass. There's certainly no compelling reason to 'downgrade' to Windows 7, any more than there is to 'upgrade' a Windows 7 system to 8. Of course, if I were stuck with a locked down Windows 8 installation with its horrible default configuration and jarring interface shifts, that would be an entirely different story. Windows 8.x is still an awful experience out of the box, but there's nothing serious that a knowledgeable user with an admin account can't fix in 10 minutes (or at least, nothing that has affected me so far).
Pretty much this. The worst part of Windows 8, out of the box, is the interface shifts for tasks such as looking at image files. But fixing those is pretty easy. When the lousy "Photos" app opens, close it, right click the file, "Open with...", and change the associated app for all files of that type. Do it once and never think about it again. I can't remember the last time I was shunted into Metro.
If you don't like the start screen, install Classic Shell or Start8. (I actually prefer the start screen, but due to a multi-monitor issue--well, Eyefinity issue--I'm now running Start8.)
What I like is the number of suggestions to "just install Linux", as if Linux needs less configuration than the above. I think people who make that suggestion are ignorant, biased, or would always recommend Linux simply because it's their preference. The last one is fine in certain circumstances, but those people should be honest about it.
Maybe he should have provided some sources, but everything I've read indicates that his assertion is correct. See this site. Granted, you shouldn't base your conclusions on one site alone, but some of the evidence and conclusions listed there (and on other sites) is pretty damning.
My mom uses one and enjoys it. I wouldn't say she loves it, but I don't think she has loved any piece of technology ever. I love it, because I never have to give tech support for it.
I have to agree with this. I actually prefer Windows 8(.1) over 7; however, for average users, Windows 8 does present some irritations. For instance, opening image files on Windows 8, by default, goes to Microsoft's "Photos" app, which is Metro-based, slow, and terrible for quick image browsing/viewing. Now, it's trivial to change the default application in any version of Windows, including 8, but the problem is that the average user just doesn't understand that it's even possible to do so, let alone the mechanism for it.
Windows 8 is filled with little niggles like that. All told, it takes about 5 minutes to fix it back to Windows 7's behaviors, but as I said, many, if not most, people don't know how to do that.
How is "desire to tinker" not a real need?
Because "I want to do this" is not the same as "I need to do this."
Honestly, as an iOS user, I don't really see the need. I have jailbroken in the past and just didn't see much that was worth the effort or the inevitable wait for official updates. For those that do want/need/"need" root, then this is a good option (or just buy an Android device).
There are a few cool apps/tweaks on Cydia, but userland iOS also has tons of cool apps. For the vast majority of iOS users, jailbreaking isn't necessary.
This doesn't really fit the OP's requirement of running MS Office (and being Vista...), but it really is a good option for many people who are tired of tech support calls from parents. We got one for my mom, and I don't think I've ever needed to "fix" it except for one time it lost the network configuration for some reason.
There's a big difference between typing on a keyboard and typing on a phone.