Windows 8 (Desktop) worth it? Are you using it?

[rmoxon]

Windows 8 is worth it simpley because its faster than windows 7, boots up quicker ect. Also the Xbox live integration is nice, you can download Jetpack joyride for free and earn achievements and stuff. The new frontend is easy to use use too and I personally like it.

i picked it up off microsofts site for ?25.99, if they are still doing the pro upgrade for that price it's well worth it.

[Brad]

It's possible to get Win 8 for ?15:

http://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/

I put down I had a custom PC from Scan and they sent me a code to download for ?15.

Windows 8 on desktop is a pain in the arse. The underlying tech is good. It's fast. Faster that Windows 7 (I upgraded from a fresh Windows 7 install) but Metro will get in your way. Everything about Metro makes your Windows experience worse. Every single one. However, boot up, log in, click the desktop tile and you can largely forget it's there.

Note that (all?) Telltale games e.g. Walking Dead, will break under Win8. No fix last time I looked.

The XBox integration might be great if you have an Xbox, otherwise it's just more crap I don't want to see. Many of the shipped tiles will take you to apps containing adverts. Delete all those though and it's ok.

The only reason to upgrade really is because you can currently do so for ?15 so if you accept you'll have to upgrade eventually then you may as well at least buy the upgrade now so save a few quid.

[charlesr]

I was about to do this and then realised.... Office 2003. Worked perfectly for me for 10 years. But it's not compatible with Win8 (I bet that's deliberate). I could use openoffice, but I need Outlook for syncing my contacts to my DECT and mobile phones, so I'm pretty convinced I'd have to pay for that.

Of lesser importance, my versions of (other paid apps) PhotoStudio, Nero and TVersity fail.

I guess I need to learn gimpshop, but what can I use instead of Nero and TVersity?
Nero has a FLAC plugin that lets me burn my FLAC files back to CDs (for the car) or mp3 - what else can I use for this?
TVersity changed to a paid app after my version - what can I use instead that's not MCE?

It's also whinging because I have a 4:3 screen. Says I need a minimum of 1366 x 768 even though my screen is 1280x1024. Lame.

New screen. New Office. Starting to get expensive....

[sj33]

Does it really not work with 1280x1024 screens?

[charlesr]

Ah I read it again. "Your screen resolution isn't compatible with snap"
All I saw was "Your screen resolution isn't compatible with snap"

I pressed More Info and the more info said "To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768" LOL er...
So what's snap?

[charlesr]

Also found this report from a user that says Office 2003 works fine: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...-3d81b66750eb/

So are MS just being sneaky and that 2003 is "not supported"? If so, I'm ready to give it a shot.

[Brad]

Ah I read it again. "Your screen resolution isn't compatible with snap"
All I saw was "Your screen resolution isn't compatible with snap"

I pressed More Info and the more info said "To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768" LOL er...
So what's snap?

Something you'll never use on a desktop PC.

Burrrn might still work on Windows 8 (for burning FLAC to CD).

[charlesr]

Win8 still has compatability mode options, so it's probably all fine yeah?

[Brad]

Probably...

[originalbadboy]

All my machines I use at home have been upgraded to Win8 .. No major issues to report. Yes Windows 8 does work on a machine other than a tablet, although you wouldn't think so if you talked to some people. But then some people are idiots.

[charlesr]

Downloading now. eeep.

[smouty]

I also bought the ?15 upgrade. I had a quick look but have also just built a Mac pro hackintosh so am not in any real urgency to use it.
We haven't even upgraded to Win7 at work yet.

[Shozuki]

awesome, cheers for that - got the ?15 upgrade too!!

[charlesr]

Win8 up and running now.

There were no worries in the end. Office / Outlook 2003 work fine, as do Nero 7 and Arcsoft PhotoStudio.

[Brad]

Excellent.
Like Smouty though, other than for games I'm all about the Hackintosh. Having a turbo charged Mac is lovely.