Windows 8.1 & Ubuntu 13.10 Now Available

[AnotherJoe]

Its a good day for OS upgrades today.

Windows 8.1 is now available from the Microsoft Store (free upgrade for those who already have version 8 ).

And perhaps even better news - Ubuntu 13.10 with OpenStack is now available from the Ubuntu website (free)

 

[Papalazarou75]

I just installed my free 8.1 upgrade, fast, very fast pc now , see how it goes :bounce:

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

I'm looking forward to Windows 8.1, let's face it Windows 8.0 is a dog's breakfast - not thought through, aimed at people who would autmatically ditch their old monitors for touchscreens, alienated people used to a "Start" button for the last 18 years, etc. etc.

On the other hand, I think I'll wait until Windows 8.1 Service Pack 1 and finding out whether or not the install will wipe my hard disk again before I risk using it.

After using Windows 8 for my work PC rebuild earlier this year, I switched back to 7 for my media PC build - and guess what? - abolutely NO problems with reliability or compatibility and I really can't tell a difference in speed for every day apps.

 

[fr0g]

Windows 8 on work PC, Windows 8.1 on my tablet now. Windows 8 on my home PC.

(Sticking with 8 on Work and home as I am on Enterprise and it's not fully released yet)

I have never understood the problems people complain about. The start screen does the same pretty much. Click on it then type...just what I did when it was a small pop up.

Took me 10 minutes to get accustomed to it and it is much quicker than 7, start up times to general use...

8.1 is definitely better and well worth the upgrade.

 

[abacus]

Windows 8 always booted up to the start screen instead of the desktop, which theoretically would be fine for Smartphone/Tablet users except for the fact that most of the computers it was installed on did not have a touch screen, thus making it more difficult then it needed to be for those users.

The standard desktop is better for use with a keyboard and mouse, plus most users have been using it for years and putting a barrier to it (Start screen) was always going to get users backs up. (Poor market research on Microsoft’s part here)

Fortunately 3rd party producers provided Start Button menus for Win 8 (Including booting direct to the desktop) which solved 95% of all complaints about Win 8.

Win 8.1 adds a start button (Although its features are different to the Win 7 start menu) and allows direct booting to the desktop, so should now cause fewer complaints from users. (If Microsoft had done this with Win 8 they would have saved themselves a lot flack)

Bill

 

[Anderson]

Have been exclusively using Ubuntu for the last year.

 

[bigboss]

Windows 8 always booted up to the start screen instead of the desktop, which theoretically would be fine for Smartphone/Tablet users except for the fact that most of the computers it was installed on did not have a touch screen, thus making it more difficult then it needed to be for those users.

The standard desktop is better for use with a keyboard and mouse, plus most users have been using it for years and putting a barrier to it (Start screen) was always going to get users backs up. (Poor market research on Microsoft’s part here)

Fortunately 3rd party producers provided Start Button menus for Win 8 (Including booting direct to the desktop) which solved 95% of all complaints about Win 8.

Win 8.1 adds a start button (Although its features are different to the Win 7 start menu) and allows direct booting to the desktop, so should now cause fewer complaints from users. (If Microsoft had done this with Win 8 they would have saved themselves a lot flack)

Bill

My Windows 8 laptop always directly booted to desktop. It is possible even without 8.1.

 

[Dave_]

Switched from Ubuntu to Mint because of the god awful Unity and the advertising in the dash...

 

[AnotherJoe]

Switched from Ubuntu to Mint because of the god awful Unity and the advertising in the dash...

You realise of course that Mint is based on Ubuntu (unless your are using LMDE - which is based on Debian). So its basically Ubuntu with Cinammon/MATE as the desktop environment.

 

[abacus]

Windows 8 always booted up to the start screen instead of the desktop, which theoretically would be fine for Smartphone/Tablet users except for the fact that most of the computers it was installed on did not have a touch screen, thus making it more difficult then it needed to be for those users.

The standard desktop is better for use with a keyboard and mouse, plus most users have been using it for years and putting a barrier to it (Start screen) was always going to get users backs up. (Poor market research on Microsoft’s part here)

Fortunately 3rd party producers provided Start Button menus for Win 8 (Including booting direct to the desktop) which solved 95% of all complaints about Win 8.

Win 8.1 adds a start button (Although its features are different to the Win 7 start menu) and allows direct booting to the desktop, so should now cause fewer complaints from users. (If Microsoft had done this with Win 8 they would have saved themselves a lot flack)

Bill

My Windows 8 laptop always directly booted to desktop. It is possible even without 8.1.

The dealer must have modified it for you, however Microsoft did not make it easy for a normal user to set it up like that, fortunately I have been working with computers (Of all types) for over 30 years so I know the ins and outs.

BTW: did your Win 8 come with a start button, if so then that is why it boots to the desktop? (Most dealers would install it FOC as it increased sales)

Bill

 

[abacus]

A lot of Ubuntu users have moved over to Mint as you don’t get any of the bloatware like you do with Ubuntu. (Ubuntu started to go downhill after Version 10 and for me is not worth bothering with these days, pity really as it used to be pretty good implementation of Linux)

Bill

 

[Dave_]

Switched from Ubuntu to Mint because of the god awful Unity and the advertising in the dash...

You realise of course that Mint is based on Ubuntu (unless your are using LMDE - which is based on Debian). So its basically Ubuntu with Cinammon/MATE as the desktop environment.

No **** (and Ubuntu is itself based on Debian)

But Mint is Ubuntu done right as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Dave_]

A lot of Ubuntu users have moved over to Mint as you don’t get any of the bloatware like you do with Ubuntu. (Ubuntu started to go downhill after Version 10 and for me is not worth bothering with these days, pity really as it used to be pretty good implementation of Linux)

Bill

Indeed.

Unity has been a boon for Linux Mint.

 

[abacus]

I'm looking forward to Windows 8.1, let's face it Windows 8.0 is a dog's breakfast - not thought through, aimed at people who would autmatically ditch their old monitors for touchscreens, alienated people used to a "Start" button for the last 18 years, etc. etc.

On the other hand, I think I'll wait until Windows 8.1 Service Pack 1 and finding out whether or not the install will wipe my hard disk again before I risk using it.

After using Windows 8 for my work PC rebuild earlier this year, I switched back to 7 for my media PC build - and guess what? - abolutely NO problems with reliability or compatibility and I really can't tell a difference in speed for every day apps.

No service packs for Windows 8 (Unless Microsoft changes its mind) as Microsoft has moved over to a similar upgrade system that Apple use. (Effectively 8.1 is Win 8 with SP1)

Bill

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Since I got my SSD today I figured I'd go ahead and upgrade to Windows 8.1. Not sure if I'm under-whelmed, just plain whelmed or overwhelmed right now.

All I know is Kaspersky Pure 3.0 doesn't work with Windows 8.1, which is a PITA given I only bought the anitvirus software the month before last.:wall: :wall:

 

[bigboss]

Windows 8 always booted up to the start screen instead of the desktop, which theoretically would be fine for Smartphone/Tablet users except for the fact that most of the computers it was installed on did not have a touch screen, thus making it more difficult then it needed to be for those users.

The standard desktop is better for use with a keyboard and mouse, plus most users have been using it for years and putting a barrier to it (Start screen) was always going to get users backs up. (Poor market research on Microsoft’s part here)

Fortunately 3rd party producers provided Start Button menus for Win 8 (Including booting direct to the desktop) which solved 95% of all complaints about Win 8.

Win 8.1 adds a start button (Although its features are different to the Win 7 start menu) and allows direct booting to the desktop, so should now cause fewer complaints from users. (If Microsoft had done this with Win 8 they would have saved themselves a lot flack)

Bill

My Windows 8 laptop always directly booted to desktop. It is possible even without 8.1.

The dealer must have modified it for you, however Microsoft did not make it easy for a normal user to set it up like that, fortunately I have been working with computers (Of all types) for over 30 years so I know the ins and outs.

BTW: did your Win 8 come with a start button, if so then that is why it boots to the desktop? (Most dealers would install it FOC as it increased sales)

Bill

No, I upgraded my Win 7 laptop to Windows 8. It did not come with a start button. I installed a third party application for that (pokki).

 

[bigboss]

Just to clarify, I bought Win 8 Pro direct from Microsoft the day it was released (and not from any dealer):

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hot-deals/windows-8-pro-upgrade-edition-%C2%A32499

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Question: how do you get a performance index (or whatever it's called) to see how fast your system is in Windows 8.1?

 

[AnotherJoe]

It was removed in 8.1

If you want to bench your system I'd suggest something like PerformanceTest by passmark which is a much better test anyway.

http://www.passmark.com/

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Was wondering how pre and post Windows 8.1 compared. I smell a rat....

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Whoo-Hoo! :dance: :dance: :dance:

I just got a blue screen of death :dance: :dance: :dance:

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

It was removed in 8.1

If you want to bench your system I'd suggest something like PerformanceTest by passmark which is a much better test anyway.

http://www.passmark.com/

I got a Passmark of 3825.

CPU mark 12598.

2D graphics mark 825.

3D graphics mark a lowly 1108

Memory mark 2288

Disk mark 5017.

The 3D graphics hurt the overall score pretty badly, I'm guessing, as all the other scores were right up there. However, since I'm not a gamer I'm not worried about that.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Question - since I reinstalled on a new SSD I don't know if installing the Windows 8.1 upgrade lets me wipe the slate clean vis-a-vis ghost printers. Any clues? I have six PCs at my wife's business with more ghosts than a series of Dan Ackroyd movies I forget the names of...

 

[Dave_]

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/10/ubuntu-wins-big-brother-austria-privacy-award

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

The only thing I know about Austrians and their privates is that "the other is in the Albert Hall"

Anyway, in a mammoth session last night I upgraded six Windows 8 PCs at the wife's business to Windows 8.1 and I'm pleased to report:

- the ghost printers are GONE :bounce: :bounce: :dance: :bounce: :dance: :bounce: :dance:

- I deleted them before starting the installation and they didn't come back.

- All software on the machines survived the upgrades except Kaspersky Small office Solutions, which didn't work properly under Windows 8.0 anyway.