[RoddimusPrime]

As the title states I am upgrading my PC and thus reinstalling the OS. A perfect time to upgrade should I do so. I also have access to a legit copy so it won't burden me with having to spend extra money either.

Windows 8 has been out for a few months now. And I am sure drivers will only get better. Metro is mostly personal opinion for User Interface (UI).

For the record, I hated Vista, how slow it was, too many annoying popups (regardless of being able to turn the down/off), and just many things about it. But, I do appreciate a clean interface and a smooth OS experience. Windows 7 was what Vista should have been.

However, I do want to know a few things.

• First, are there any major bugs or performance issues?
• Any performance boosts? Like bootup times, security, etc. (I use an SSD for my OS)?
• Does STEAM and it's games/software run just fine?
• Speaking of games, from what I read it's pretty much the same performance. Is that correct (give/take small margins)?
• Does Adobe CS5 and CS6 work just fine on Windows 8?
• What about third party programs such as VLC, Firefox, Chrome, and LogMeIn?
• Are there any real annoying security/popup features such as the ones in Vista?
• How do the 7950 boost cards run on Windows 8?
• Is networking/home groups easy to use?

TechSpot Review

 

[TK101]

I've been using windows 8 on my pc for months now. To answer the questions i can:

Steam runs literally flawless - never ran into a single issue with steam.
Chrome also flawless, and i use VLC for anime which has yet to have an issue.
Boot time has definitely decreased (Samsung 830 128gb), not to mention i love the way it looks, interfeace/lockscreen etc.
Networking seems to handle the same as win7, havent gone to deep into it.
And no pop ups, minor nitpick is the default programs it uses to view certain file types which you can change easily.

Hope this helped!

 

[Paladin Goo]

If you want the bump in speed and aren't too hard headed to realize the metro screen functions exactly like the start menu before it, yes.

 

[Strider_2001]

I havent used Windows 8 a ton, however for me personally, the only way that I would upgrade to it is if you have a touchscreen enabled monitor...

Mainly because im ok with 7 and cant justify spending the money on it right now...

Will prolly skip 8 and wait for 9

 

[jassilamba]

Go for win 8, in terms of resource management there is a huge improvement, everything works really really smooth even under full load. With an SSD your system will boot in around 5 seconds. All appliucations are average 10 to 15% faster when it comes to loading. And if you do not like the Metro, just download a free tool called pokki and that will put in a start menu and boot you straight to desktop.

 

[RoddimusPrime]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TK101

I've been using windows 8 on my pc for months now. To answer the questions i can:

Steam runs literally flawless - never ran into a single issue with steam.
Chrome also flawless, and i use VLC for anime which has yet to have an issue.
Boot time has definitely decreased (Samsung 830 128gb), not to mention i love the way it looks, interfeace/lockscreen etc.
Networking seems to handle the same as win7, havent gone to deep into it.
And no pop ups, minor nitpick is the default programs it uses to view certain file types which you can change easily.

Hope this helped!

What programs do you use to view various file types?

 

[Rustynails]

don't do it

 

[RoddimusPrime]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustynails

don't do it

That's pretty vague. Most people I know who say this are just going off personal opinion of the interface.

 

[TK101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoddimusPrime

What programs do you use to view various file types?

For instance it has a built in PDF viewer, and/or photo viewer which run through metro instead of like a normal program similar to win7.
But what im surprised is that my slightly odd set up and everything still works fine. I have the catleap 1440p, a Komplete usb audio interface for my yamaha monitors. Was running 580gtx lightning now just my 670 4gb.
I also use ventrilo and fruity loops studio with no issues. Not gonna lie i was scared to use win8 considering new driver issues, but BOOM nothing crazy happened.
Ive only had maybe 3 BSOD's but thats most likely due to me OC'ing my 580s when i had them SLI or my OC'd i5.

 

[newbrevolution]

Windows 8 Pro x64:
No major bugs that I have found. At least nothing worse than Windows 7.
Boot time for me is something like 10 seconds...I think (with SSD for OS drive). Regardless it is much faster than Windows 7.
CS4 worked fine on mine, so I can only imagine CS5/CS6 should work.
VLC, Waterfox, Chrome all work fine.

Overall I have been very pleased.

 

[RoddimusPrime]

I guess it shouldn't surprise me that those actually contributing to the thread mostly support Windows 8 while those purely voting either don't post anything to back it up from personal experience or have nothing of substance to contribute.

As I figured it is probably a user interface experience that turns many of the nay sayers off. I can understand that. However, that was in no way part of my bearing for the information I was looking for. That's why I place more value on actual thought out comments.

I am fairly convinced that Windows 8 is in fact nothing like the Vista disaster, but an improvement over 7 (and will improve more as time goes on), but along with the OS came a controversial interface that integrates new ways of doing things and a cross pollination from their tablets. In no way will the deeper access or desktop experience be eliminated in the near future as we don't have the convient tech to support solely touch and voice command systems yet. So this is not something that I am fearful of, much in the same sense that Ubuntu and Mac have move towards. I actually think that is a nice thing.

So at this moment I am thinking I will simply opt for Windows 8 64 bit Pro (as opposed to Enterprise). More information on editions here.

 

[DigitalSavior]

If you have to buy a new license, why not? If you can reuse your license and keep 7, save some coin. Most people hate 8 because of Metro, but the reality is you don't need to use it. I've used Windows 8 since launch and it has been great.

 

[iamhollywood5]

absolutely. I don't have a touchscreen and I still love Windows 8. I personally love the Metro UI and as others have said there is a definite improvement in resource management. The OS just feels much snappier and more fluid than Windows 7 did. Using my motherboard's Ultra Fast boot settings I get like 3 second boots with my SSD, it's insane. Everything loads faster overall.

 

[jassilamba]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoddimusPrime

I guess it shouldn't surprise that those actually contributing to the thread mostly support Windows 8 while those purely voting either don't post anything to back it up from personal experience or have nothing of substance to contribute.

As I figured it is probably a user interface experience that turns many of the nay sayers off. I can understand that. However, that was in no way part of my bearing for the information I was looking for. That's why I place more value on actual thought out comments.

Where I am standing now I am fairly convinced that Windows 8 is in fact nothing like the Vista disaster, but an improvement over 7 (and will improve more as time goes on), but along with the OS came a controversial interface that integrates new ways of doing things and a cross pollination from their tablets. In no way will the deeper access or desktop experience be eliminated in the near future as we don't have the convient tech to support solely touch and voice command systems yet. So this is not something that I am fearful of, much in the same since that Ubuntu and Mac have move towards. I actually thing that is a nice thing.

So at this moment I am thinking I will simply opt for Windows 8 64 bit Pro (as opposed to Enterprise). More information on editions here.

You will not regret it.

 

[Niexist]

I would highly recommend not upgrading, I'm having to format my hard drive, and SSD right now due to permission errors that are nigh unsolvable. As someone who has upgraded this week I would recommend staying with windows 7

 

[dejahboi]

I switched from Win 7 to 8 back to 7 and back now on 8. TBH I haven't had any issues with any drivers and boot up times for me seem a lot faster with my SSD. The metro UI grew on me ( it took awhile to adjust but I got used to it

).

But overall, I like it lol. I wouldn't pay for the full retail for it but an upgrade price yes

.

 

[RoddimusPrime]

I have been contemplating this a little more now and I figured there must be some reasons not to upgrade to Windows 8 aside from interface/UI. And I am sure some people have issues with certain software (not sure if there is anything I should worry about in that sense though).

But, are there other issues such as poor code, clunky, full of bloatware, security, permissions settings, and the typical trope that defines a good OS under the hood? Vista was largely guilty of many things which made it a bad OS aside from bugs and UI. Thus it sucked. Windows 7 was a large improvement. Again, UI aside, what is the story on the rest of Windows 8?

Anyone have thoughts or intel on this?

TechRadar Review

Here is a review on why Windows 8 sucks for production, but great for consumption from NBC.

Objective Arstechnica review.

 

[newbrevolution]

From what I have experienced across multiple PC's / laptops is that it is no worse off then Windows 7 when it comes to bugs / issues. So in saying that, from my perspective of course, being Windows 8 is just starting off and doesn't have as many years in as Windows 7 to work out issues I believe it is a great OS already! Hopefully it will only get better with time to resolve issues some users may be experiencing. I use Windows 7 64bit on my work PC still, but that is just due to us not being ready to move over to Win 8 yet (lol still working on getting all the XP machines to Win 7!). I use Windows 8 Pro 64bit on my home PC's and my daughter uses Windows 8 64bit on her laptop.