Windows 8.1?

[Jared]

I'm deciding whether to give Windows 8.1 a try, I've never used it.
Would anyone recommend it compared to Windows 7?

I'm not asking for a flame war on which is better, just whether it's worth upgrading to it.

 

[Tekno Venus]

Hi Jared,

Yes - I would recommend upgrading to Windows 8.1. If you have any money to spare, I would also wholeheartedly recommend you upgrade to an SSD at the same time you upgrade to Windows 8, but that's an optional luxury. It does offer a massive performance boost though! This is my SSD, and I love it - Samsung MZ-7TE250BW 840 EVO 250GB Basic SSD SATA 3 7mm UltraSlim 2.5" With Software Suite PC/MAC - Scan.co.uk.

The worst thing you could do when upgrading to 8.1 is rush into it and expect to get using it at the same speed at Windows 7 because you won't. Spend the time getting used to it, setting up the start screen and organising your apps. Make good use of the taskbar by pinning icons to it as well, to save you having to use the start screen.

Here's my Start Screen for example, and this has been organised and re-organised quite a few times but I'm pretty happy with it as it is now:

Spend the time, and get used to it.

Make good use of the Power User Tasks Menu (Win + X, or Right Click the start button), it's very useful and can actually be customised - http://winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-tip-edit-power-user-tasks-menu-142525

Right click the start bar -> Properties -> Navigation. The settings there are very useful.

I recommend you give it a try, and don't give up on it if you don't like it instantly.

Stephen

 

[Patrick]

I've been using it right around since its launch and I would never switch back to Windows 7.

 

[Jared]

I'm thinking of wiping this and trying Windows 8, not as a cure but just to see what it's like.

I've never understood the difference between Windows 8 and 8.1?
(Besides the start menu)
I ask because with my college I get retail Windows installs.
I can get Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 together so wouldn't that make 2x 8.1 seen as (AFAIK) any Windows 8 can get the free 8.1 update.

I get the Windows 7 professional checked build
vista professional
and the best, MS DOS haha, just because.

 

[Tekno Venus]

I've never understood the difference between Windows 8 and 8.1?

Don't even think about 8 - 8.1 is much improved over 8! Yes, 8.1 is a free update for Windows 8.

Wikipedia has a list of changes: Windows 8.1 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

 

[Patrick]

If you stay on 8 anyway you won't be able to receive Windows Updates (can't recall when this goes into effect).

 

[jcgriff2]

Be sure to run the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=261871

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8

 

[Jared]

Thanks for the responses, I'm not sure I can be bothered with yet another clean install for Windows 8 just yet.

I have heard about a wireless connection issue with Windows 8, can any of you confirm this?

 

[Tekno Venus]

No issues with wireless here and I use wireless 99.9% of the time.

 

[Jared]

Hmm... Fair enough.

 

[jcgriff2]

No issues whatsoever with wifi under Windows 8.1

That includes my 2008 HP dv7 laptop that came with Vista. The wifi is Intel 5100 and it has worked flawlessly under Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

 

[Laxer]

I've had no issues with Windows 8 or 8.1 and I have been on them since the beginning.

I do however hate the metro interface on a non-touchscreen device so I have replaced it with classic start on my desktop.

Overall a major improvement over 7. UI itself is considerably more responsive. Better power management and boots a tad bit faster.

Metro UI is great on my surface but, you will never see me actively using it on a normal machine.

As Stephen indicated above, Windows+X is your best friend with 8.

 

[Jared]

Why does everyone dislike it so much?

Is it mainly the metro?
It looks alright but then again, I've never used Windows 8.