windows 8.1 comments wanted please.

[WVaRN]

I finally broke down and ordered a desktop computer.  I usually surf on my ipad but my H's laptop bite the big weeny and he takes online classes so I had to get something for him. Well I bought a Alienware X51. I figured if I was going to have to buy a computer I might as well get one I will like also.  Anyway to my question.  It comes with windows 8.1 and I have never used it.  Anyone have 8.1? Do you hate it? Should I have paid the extra $70 to get windows 7 professional on it? Also I am going to attempt to not get sucked back into the WOW world but I can't make any promises.  lol

[those3words]

Hate it. It took a long time to figure out. I didn't find it intuitive. Apparently, it isn't as bad if you have a touch screen. Now, 7 months in...I'm ok with it.

[WVaRN]

Jan 21, 2015 4:52:00 GMT -5 those3words said:

Hate it. It took a long time to figure out. I didn't find it intuitive. Apparently, it isn't as bad if you have a touch screen. Now, 7 months in...I'm ok with it.

I'm worried I'm going to hate it also I kick myself for not paying the extra $ to change it.

[those3words]

You'll get used to it. Everything is made for it now anyway. It may take time.

[SheilaTheTank]

Personally I love it BUT it did take me a little bit to get used to. It's kind of like when you get a new phone and it takes a couple weeks to get the hang of things. I use it on my desktop at work. My husband uses it on his work computer, his desktop and his laptop. I still use windows 7 on my Alienware laptop but I'm thinking of upgrading to 8.1. We both also have Windows phones and are kinda Windows junkies.

Here is what I suggest: Use your husbands laptop for a week or so before you decide to make the switch. You can always revert back if you want to.

[piccyami]

I hate it, but I only use it when I'm fixing someone's computer. I haven't spent long enough on it to really get the hang of it, but I prefer a computer I can easily fix if I need to. We're trying to hold out until the next version of windows comes out, so we're limping along on a 5 year-old laptop and an 8-year old laptop, neither of which is actually mobile anymore.

[longhornwino0907]

I love it, but I do have a touchscreen laptop, and I imagine that helps. It took a couple of weeks to get used to, but now I absolutely love it.

[WVaRN]

Thanks for all the replies. I Guess I'm just nervous about change. Lol The computer shipped today so I'll have it Friday.

[renbee]

I hate Windows 8! We just got a new laptop at Christmas and we get so frustrated trying to use it! Does anyone have a good resource for learning tips and tricks? Maybe I should just start looking for tutorials on YouTube?

[abc531]

I really like it, to me it's pretty intuitive, but H and I also both have windows phones. I do know that it has some quirks that make it a little more difficult without a touch screen but it can definitely work.

[joy]

I have a version of Windows 8 on my Surface. I hate it. I don't need tiles or things flipping by all the time. Just give me my clean desktop and let me install programs as I see fit. Having them in two places at once is maddening.

Disclaimer: I have the stripped down version of Windows 8 called Windows RT. It has a lot of restrictions on it so my opinion is biased and may not apply to full Windows 8.

[easilyunamused]

Took some getting used to, but on my laptop there's the option to have the desktop look like windows 7. So I usually stick with that.

[piccyami]

My big thing is that I don't want to learn to use the tiles and navigate that way only to revert to the old style of doing things (mostly) when they finally release the next version.

[getzystark]

You'll get used to it. MH has a touch screen lap top and he doesn't have any issues using it. I on the other hand can't figure it out, but I have a Mac. If I worked at it, I'm sure I'd figure it out eventually.

[chibiyui]

I went from a mac to windows 8. It was a long adjustment period, and their ate still things that irk me.

But generally the desktop is fine. I never use tiles on my desktop computer and rarely on the Surface.

[almachs0786]

I think every new version of windows is hated at first, the changes are always so great that it makes it hard to figure out at first. Like every new version though, I'm now starting to hear good things about it since it's been out for a little while.