Microsoft experimenting with free version of Windows 8.1

[deathjester]

Depends can I still use my Win 7? If so, yeah I will load this dumb OS to play the new DirectX games only, on their new DirectX on another partition. That is about all I would do with Win 8.1 though. 

 

If I can't use my Win 7 install anymore? No thanks. Win 8 is intrusive enough before all these dumb aps. I am still hoping game devs go OpenGL. 

[Me1z]

One of the silliest things I've read all day. Win8 is strikingly similar to Win7 in almost every respect, with a number of performance improvements, and many of the complaints people were having with Win8 were fixed with Win8.1, which they are now offering for free. I fail to understand your logic.

 

Its not that difficult, really. Some people want an actual pc operating system on their pc. Windows 8 is an operating system designed from the ground up for tablets and unless you are on a tablet its an unnecessary pain in the ass. I tried Windows 8 for a month before I couldn't take it anymore and for the most part, everyone I've asked feels the same way and wants to switch back to windows 7. Another good reason is I despise Microsoft's push for a "walled garden" OS with a burning passion. I don't need microsoft's approval before I can use my PC the way I want to use it. 

[Jaybird]

still wouldnt take one off the shelf. I love my windows 7. 

[TopWargamer]

If it's free or super cheap, I may get it. 

[Zeruel]

People are still crying over widows 8...Its a damn computer and if you even remotely call yourself an enthusiast you would customize it to your liking. There are so many damn ways to make windows look better. Windows 8 is faster and more stable that 7, sure it looks ugly but you can always fix that.

[Yoinkerman]

I got windows 8 for $40 when they had the upgrade sale thing going. Bought a couple. At $40 its a great value

[deathjester]

Its not that difficult, really. Some people want an actual pc operating system on their pc. Windows 8 is an operating system designed from the ground up for tablets and unless you are on a tablet its an unnecessary pain in the ass. I tried Windows 8 for a month before I couldn't take it anymore and for the most part, everyone I've asked feels the same way and wants to switch back to windows 7. Another good reason is I despise Microsoft's push for a "walled garden" OS with a burning passion. I don't need microsoft's approval before I can use my PC the way I want to use it. 

 

Yeah did the trial. No games ran faster except BF4. No work software ran faster. The only thing it did better was boot faster. Everything else ran slightly worse, or gave me no reason to upgrade, along with compatibility issues. The "lower ram usage" is BS. You can tweak 7 to use less. 

 

Unpark cores on 7 = same damn thing in all games as Win 8.1, and you don't even need to do that on a 4 core like an I5. 

 

When the only reason to upgrade is 1 game (BF4) that runs slightly better, due to MS withholding the new DirectX from 7, when the new DirectX could run on 7. No thanks.

 

In addition I also put the trial on wife/kids computer. They hated it.  Also I am so sick of the MS astroturfers calling tech people "non tech savvy" and all the other BS, that I refuse to get it on principle alone. Maybe if MS spent more money on software people liked, treated their customers well, instead of propaganda? Win 8 wouldn't be such a turd. 

 

In before I get called a "non enthusiast" by a shareholder, employee of MS on my crappy OC 4770k, as someone that has used MS OS's as far back as MS-DOS. 

[GoodBytes]

Software does start and perform faster on Windows 8. Doesn't show if you have a over the top high-end computer like yours.

But people that are not uber rich like you, who can't afford a new computer every 6 months. The performance is visible.

My laptop really shows this. I get in games like StarCraft 2, a full 10fps more.. that's from barely playable at minimum setting, to playing the game comfortably.

Every other game on my laptop and desktop got a nice 5 to 10fps increase with Windows 8. Fraps confirmed.

Anything that runs on Windows 7 runs on Windows 8.

http://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/The-Defrag-Show/20140219Defrag

DirectX 11 is available on Windows 7.

You put no one on trial. You lie. You are closed minded. Every point I fully proved you wrong on any other posts, you continue to repeat the same false info.

I won't be surprised if you were part of the group of people complaining, up to day how GUI OS is inferior in every single way, and that terminal is ay easier to use, more productive, and all that crap. The world moved on.

[rashdanml]

People are still crying over widows 8...Its a damn computer and if you even remotely call yourself an enthusiast you would customize it to your liking. There are so many damn ways to make windows look better. Windows 8 is faster and more stable that 7, sure it looks ugly but you can always fix that.

If I wanted endless customization, I'd pick Linux over Windows.

[Suika]

I would get it. 

 

I'll be fair here, the tiles are what prevented me from getting it, but seeing all of these tweaks convert it back into a true Windows environment, I'm curious into trying it.

[Kuzma]

If windows 8.1 becomes free there's literally no reason to NOT recommend it.

[dtronicsuk]

hello guys 

 

just read that windows 8.1 could be made free to compete with google's chrome os

 

according to the verve microsoft are planning on releasing "windows 8.1 with bing"

 

full artical is here --->   http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/watch-out-chromebooks-windows-81-could-go-free

 

so whats your opinion would you change from windows 7 to 8.1 when becomes free or would you stick to windows 7

 

 

[Nineshadow]

I like how Windows 8 looks compared to 7.(not the Modern UI)

[Nineshadow]

Soo repost.

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/121782-microsoft-experimenting-with-free-version-of-windows-81/

[MegaDave91]

Where's "maybe"?

[91Chris]

Everyone pirates it anyways

[dtronicsuk]

Soo repost.

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/121782-microsoft-experimenting-with-free-version-of-windows-81/

sorry i couldnt find that post when i searched

[dtronicsuk]

Where's "maybe"?

poll updated

[neon]

I updated to Windows 8.1 for a few reasons, one - I had a pirated Windows 7, and the upgrade to 8.1 was free.

 

Also, Microsoft has stated they are stopping support on Win 7 ASAP. They hated how long Windows XP lasted, and refuse to let 7 last just as long.

 

Extended support until January 14, 2020 (security updates), so people have plenty of time to upgrade, I doubt they will extend it further like they did with XP but they are committed until that date.

[mr.squishy]

I don't like 8.1, but if it's free I might snag a copy just in case I do another build and don't want to use a pirated copy of 7. 

[LAwLz]

But Windows 8.1 is faster,has DX11.2 , better task manager,snap feature,notifications, and more.

Windows 8.1 is better then Windows 7 in every way.

I don't like the start screen. I tries to get used to it (uninstalled Windows 7 for a few months) but it annoyed me every single day.

If they will let me be on the desktop without ever leaving it then I would gladly upgrade. Right now though, you need to open up the terrible start screen every time you want to search for a program.

[onionring]

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

wow...

you don t change because the last iteration doesn t work, you change because it s better, just like how a axe works for cutting a tree, yet most are using a chainsaw.

win8 is just faster than win7 w/o any drawbacks.

BUT this isn t the real win8 we re talking about here, it s probably a crippled bing filled version that no one wants.

maybe even just a renamed windows RT.

[samuel]

Windows 8.1 is awesome for a normal human being...but It's the overclocker worst nightmare-> ireversible "user service cannot be loaded" after an unstable OC... 

[onionring]

I don't like the start screen. I tries to get used to it (uninstalled Windows 7 for a few months) but it annoyed me every single day.

If they will let me be on the desktop without ever leaving it then I will be fine with it. Right now though, you need to open up the terrible start screen every time you want to search for a program.

not rly, i use win8 and never see that screen, just create shortcuts on your desktop. or a thing like start is back.

also idk why people hate win8 menu that much... it isn t eyegauging or anything, it s just a fullscreen search box.

[LAwLz]

not rly, i use win8 and never see that screen, just create shortcuts on your desktop.

Oh God no. I don't want a cluttered desktop. I would need something like 50 shortcuts on my desktop (compared to the 3 I got today) to have quick access to all my programs. It's actually faster for me to press the Windows button, type a few letters and press enter than it is to move my mouse to the correct icon and double click. Having a ton of shortcuts would make my desktop a lot less organized, and also slower to use.

 

 

also idk why people hate win8 menu that much... it isn t eyegauging or anything, it s just a fullscreen search box.

It's really jarring when it appears. I don't get why it's a full screen search box. In Windows 7 I can have several programs open at all time, and always be able to monitor them. Having all programs suddenly become hidden for like a second is completely pointless.

Just let me launch programs without having to hide the programs I am working with for crying out loud.