Avoiding Windows 8

[Alison]

Just a quick one for you. OH is buying a new laptop, most now have Windows 8 installed which he doesn't want (have yet to meet anybody who likes it on non touch screen applications). I see there is an application you can download to make it work like earlier versions. Has anybody any experience of this and does it actually work properly or have limited functions?

[cardiffsteve]

Hi Alison

My favourite is "Classic Shell".
When installed the laptop boots to the standard desktop view as opposed to the metro ui, as its called.

Hope that helps?

Mind you, you could always upgrade to windows 8.1......

ps you could buy a mac.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'm no tech expert, but I do have experience of a notepad (which has a touchscreen as well as a keyboard - don't know if they are all like that now?).

I was resigned to W8, even though no one that I knew liked it (but I reckoned that this was because it looks different - and let's face it, you get used to anything new after a while ). But the first thing you do when you turn the power on is install W8.1, which is not only much improved, I gather, but also has a button bottom left which turns the display into what it is supposed to look like (i.e. W7! )

Top tip: when you do the upgrade from w8 to w8.1, do not do this over your wireless network, unless you want to look at the 'installing bar' inch with the speed of continental drift; use an ethernet cable to directly connect the laptop to your hub. Still took about 3hrs to do all the updates on my notepad, but at least this wasn't three days or something.

[Patchninja]

We had to get it and i thought it was the spawn of the devil at first, but it's just 2 screens overlaid, so you can use it like 7. The second one is just a pain in the arris but can be ignored. You just have to play around with it for an afternoon and you'll be fine. There are U tubes about how it all works that I found useful.

[Alison]

Thanks folks, he just wants something as similar as possible to his work machine so he doesn't have to swap his brain around every time he boots up. I think he's been scarred by hearing me complaining about how unintuitive my work iPad is and doesn't want the same problems himself

[skeggijon]

If you go to pc world and tell them you want w7 and not w8 installed, they should be able to help you. My OH wanted a laptop for her business and they were only too happy to oblige.

[Alison]

Hmmm, not the PC World near us, they have pretty much zero product knowledge . We have found a few that have Windows 7 but the spec tends to be lower which is why we were wondering about the fake it option of the applications.

[cardiffsteve]

I think he's been scarred by hearing me complaining about how unintuitive my work iPad is and doesn't want the same problems himself

ipads "shudder". Dont be an isheep.

classic shell, its easy, search online, download, install, restart, happy pc

[Alison]

ipads "shudder". Dont be an isheep.

classic shell, its easy, search online, download, install, restart, happy pc

So does that make it exactly like 7? If so sounds the way to go, anything we need to look out for?

I didn't chose to have an iPad, it's a work thing, hate the iPhone they gave me too, my Android is much more logical and does things in a sensible way rather than the arrogance of Apple.

[Florence Fennel]

Oh dear, oh dear. I'm taking delivery of a new desk top tomorrow with Windows 8. Now I'm scared!

[Patchninja]

Don't be! You managed to learn to use other windows - this is no harder. Just think of it as 2 screens, one of which is a bit unnecessary. If you google how to use windows 8 you'll get some really good Utube tutorials.

[Kirk]

The problem, if it is a problem, is that it will always change, and no doubt everyone will "like" Windows 8 when Windows 9 comes out and not want to change.

XP to W7 was the same and W7 to W8 now.

[chilli_grower]

I am using 'classic shell' on my win 8 laptop, works perfectly, and now looks identical to win 7.

[Florence Fennel]

Well it's here, but not installed yet. Obviously this one is running perfectly now, even though it's 12 years old. Luckily I have to learn lots of different systems at work, so although I'm still a bit apprehensive, it's encouraging to read your positive comments and I dare say I'll get there. I suppose the old saying of "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is really an old wives tale. Mind you, I am an old wife

[RedThorn]

If you think of it like a smart phone it ain't too bad....


Remember click and hold at top and swipe down to shut program ( or apps as they're called in win8aglese) there's not a lil x to shut on most apps now.....