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Gates: New Windows 8 system is 'very exciting'

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southsakaiSep. 29, 2012 - 09:34AM JST

You've already lost IE browser share you once dominated and held to new comer Chrome.

In time soon, MS will loose Windows dominance as well.

Apparently you've been drinking the Apple "post-pc" and Google "chrome" KoolAid. Statistics actually showed a significant increase in IE users, and in fact IE9 is the single most popular browser if you split all by version numbers, and number two otherwise. Windows numbers have actually gone up quite a bit, with Windows powering 92% of web connected personal devices and just over 50% of servers (which have traditionally been unix/linux, and many data center/web servers are).

For all the hype about the UI change, you can see that there's not a single negative review about the OS itself, only the UI. I remember when people railed on XP for having changed all the start menu configurations and control panel, now they hate the old Win98 style. From a kernel standpoint, Microsoft has made one of the most stable OSes ever built, and certainly the best Windows kernel ever. Adding Windows RT and the unified layout though will be where they create a new ecosystem, one where tablets and pcs aren't thought of as different devices. It should really change the way people work, far more than the iPad ever hoped to accomplish.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I'm not so sure Windows is finished. Tablet and smartphones are getting much more powerful and will soon be able to run Windows - which they couldn't in the past. And Intel will start making chips for them. Certainly they are playing catchup but they have deep pockets. The trend in CPU / Ram might be in their favor.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@southsakai: windows not dead yet, it's still alive.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

FrungySep. 29, 2012 - 11:14AM JST

... I don't want "exciting", I want an OS that works. The BSOD (blue screen of death) was "exciting" (and infuriating).... let's hope exciting isn't a code-word for "See our exciting new error messages"

You know what? I've seen exactly one kernel panic on my Windows 7 computers ("blue screen"), and it was actually due to hardware failure. Windows 8 further improved on stability, so even bad drivers/hardware failure isn't sure to lead to a crash (though mobo/cpu/ram failure can, but can on ANY system). Go ahead and download the release candidate from them for use on an old machine. You'll be pleasantly surprised that it just works, no fuss or anything.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Sorry MS but windows is dead, or had been dying slowly and rapidly. Your Era is gone.

That's a funny comment. Every office and facility I visit in my work has rows and rows of computers: every one of them running Windows. And you can be sure they'll be running Windows for many more years to come.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

With Windows 7 whenever the pointer moves to the bottom right corner internet explorer closes up and show the desk top which is annoying.

You may not be aware that that is a feature - it allows you to hide whatever (naughty?) Websites your're looking at instantly whenever someone comes into proximity. My son seems to value it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

wipeoutSep. 29, 2012 - 11:57AM JST

At work, I have to rely on whatever software my employers provide me with. In every workplace I've been in, that has always been Windows. When offices abandon Windows en masse, then Windows will be dead. There's little sign of that yet.

Very true. For medium and large businesses, the network setups and windows server integration is a godsend for IT people. The amount of money businesses save year after year with the platform is high enough that the end of windows (without another OS that has the same features, which currently none have or even can have without massive overhauls) intel system means the end of computers in every office. That's not going to happen.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Come on Techno-Scientologists. Calm Down. Especially the Apple cultists. I remember a Japan MAC user's group named your guy's mail server "Woz". Yeah! If I were in a Windows user's group I would call our mail server "Bill"!!! And when they got together their first agenda was slamming windows while eating doughnuts. See the difference and your co-dependency?

My Era? You are the one sounding like a cult follower. I use Windows but I have a healthy relationship with it since I will let it go when the right time comes, but it won't be for MAC. Because I'm looking forward to using more and more opensource and free stuff like when Linux desktop becomes almost as good as Win/MAC someday. Or perhaps Google Corp. will come out with a good free OS (Chrome already kicks butt and I mostly use that). I enjoy using less and less Microsoft and happy. I don't use MS Office anymore and don't miss it a bit since I use Open Office. Mac and Win are both good. But I don't use MAC for an important reason - you can't legitimately build one yourself like you can with Win or Linux.

Both MAC and Win are both as good. And in the future there will probably be others, and there have been. It's too bad IBM had poor marketing with their robust OS years ago. If you go out of your way to slam something you don't use then there is something wrong with you!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If Bill Gates is excited, I am worried.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

By no way I can like or support the guy who invented PowerPoint!

Millions and millions of people are now suffering of this software, wasting hours and hours making useless presentations! Shame on you Bill!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

But I really enjoy the nice blues PP presents while the lights are out. Helps me catch my sleep during presentation meetings.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Personaly i do not like the new windows 8 layout.

I plan to buy a couple of windows 7 disc/codes for computers i build over the next few years.

I still use outlook express on a old computer running XP for my emails because i do not like the mail program introduced with vista, W7

But as with all things, it is personal preference.

i will wait for windows 9 to see if they changed things back to how windows has generaly looked since windows 95

Why did they not give windows uses the choice on which to boot upto. If it had the option of booting to the old look windows or the new click boxs (or what ever they are called) i would be tempted to upgrade to it.

But the new look i don't like and when support stops for windows 7, i will most likely change to another operating system, unless they bring back the old look windows as an option at lest.

. . .

WilliBSep. 29, 2012 - 03:07PM JST

If Bill Gates is excited, I am worried.

Only thing he is excited about is the $$$$ going into his pocket. . .

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The best operating System is Window XP. WinXP system is nothing less or nothing more. Most of peoples are still running their computer. That's why Microsoft can't sell other operating system what they expected. However, I'm looking forward to taste Beta version if it's available.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

After having been disappointed in Vista, I scrubbed my notebook and installed WinXP. Much better. I'll wait to see if Win8 runs lighter than Vista.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

hey Basroil, I agree to everything you said, except Aero. It's still there, but they toned it down a little with a retro feel. It's just faster because they have optimized more for modern hardware. The only major change from Win 7 is the Metro home screen in place of Start menu, not any drastic difference though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

blackrockSep. 30, 2012 - 10:47AM JST

hey Basroil, I agree to everything you said, except Aero. It's still there, but they toned it down a little with a retro feel. It's just faster because they have optimized more for modern hardware.

Aero is actually gone, they just replaced it with something that has a similar look without the similar effect (translucency). The effect will be better battery life while still looking better than the no-aero version of windows 7. Also means no classic desktop, but haven't used that since the days I ran Windows XP on a Pentium II

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sorry, you got it right. They abandoned the glass. As for the classic theme, just let it go, but it will stay on windows server for a long time I guess.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

basroil, thanks for the insight. My mrs notebook runs Vista(which she hates but is reluctant to do anything about it), and my OLD notebook running XP is faster. I'll look into Win8 for more details.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Herve Nmn L'EisaSep. 30, 2012 - 05:05PM JST

My mrs notebook runs Vista(which she hates but is reluctant to do anything about it), and my OLD notebook running XP is faster

I think your problem has nothing to do with vista OR the computer. Just copy needed files and reformat the vista one, then update to newest service pack and install only the programs needed. The most common issue with slow computers is the users, and having managed everything from 95 to Win7 (and used everything in between on personal computers), even the newest computer can be slower than the oldest one if you install garbage and viruses.

Luckily Windows 8 makes it even less unlikely to have viruses thanks to checks on file copy, so all you need to worry about is installing poorly written programs with a ton of services.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

zichiSep. 30, 2012 - 06:43PM JST

Although I'm an Apple man I do use Wins 7 which impressed me. I run both OS X and Wins 7 Ultimate on my mac mini server using parallels and in coherence so the systems run together. I tried out Wins 8 but didn't care for it much. Maybe in a year or two I'll update to Wins 8?

Try Windows 2012 Essentials. It's Windows 8 with out home screen and better file serving capabilities. Best to use it without boot camp though, the drivers are a mess with kernel 6.1 right now.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

LagunaSep. 29, 2012 - 01:55PM JST

You may not be aware that that is a feature - it allows you to hide whatever (naughty?) Websites your're looking at instantly whenever someone comes into proximity. My son seems to value it.

I always prefer Windows+M (minimize all, around since 98 days) or Windows+D (show desktop, new feature in kernel 6, which Windows 7 and 8 have), but yes, you can have any of the corners be equivalent to Windows+D. Windows 8 offers a similar thing to bring up the home page, and as with everything else you can disable it and do it manually or via icon link instead.

Personally I would tell your son to change the background to a screen capture of Word/excel, helps much more than the awfully suspicious normal desktop. Even better if it's a video screenshot and you have the blinking courser.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Yuck! Last time I saw windows it was still starting with pixelated text I remember from MS-DOS. Thank you Mac for an elegant difference!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Win8 is, shall we say, definitely a new way of doing computing...........

Some say it's making computing even more simpler than the Macs (no need for a desktop GUI).............

But it's too simple for me, methinks. Good thing they're keeping the usual desktop interface as an option. As long as they keep that desktop option for us, then we don't mind about the Metro interface.

And Intel will start making chips for them.

Yeah, Intel is planning on entering the tablet market and take on ARM chips, once they produce Atom-like chips fit for tablets and/or tablets robust enough to run 'em. So like everything else these days, there'd be convergence of computers and tablets eventually.

The BSOD (blue screen of death) was "exciting" (and infuriating).

BSOD hasn't been a big issue since Win7, thank goodness.

(For me personally, it hasn't been an issue since Win98 long ago, but I'm a tech-head. I was actually more annoyed by the "Mac-bomb" errors back then, remember those?)

But yeah, so long as businesses need to run business applications, there'd be room for desktops and Windows. Plus, internet and intranets aren't gonna run themselves without mainframe and servers backbone, though I prefer UNIX-based ones.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Does very exciting translate as very efficient?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

a very exciting new product

... I don't want "exciting", I want an OS that works. The BSOD (blue screen of death) was "exciting" (and infuriating).... let's hope exciting isn't a code-word for "See our exciting new error messages".

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Looking forward to Windows 8. With Windows 7 whenever the pointer moves to the bottom right corner internet explorer closes up and show the desk top which is annoying. Hopefully Windows 8 will fixed that.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

AzzprinSep. 30, 2012 - 02:29AM JST

i will wait for windows 9 to see if they changed things back to how windows has generaly looked since windows 95

Apparently you've never used XP or Windows 7. Neither looks anything like 95. Personally I would take home screen over Win95 start menu any day, and really that's the only UI change from Windows 7.

Kobuta ChanSep. 30, 2012 - 02:52AM JST

The best operating System is Window XP. WinXP system is nothing less or nothing more. Most of peoples are still running their computer. That's why Microsoft can't sell other operating system what they expected. However, I'm looking forward to taste Beta version if it's available.

Windows XP still kept too many legacy functions to be stable. Windows 7 is actually FASTER than windows xp for most tasks, including startup. Windows 8 is supposed to have further improved start up performance, and the new Direct X 11.1 completely revamped 2D functions (like drawing your web page, or Word) making them up to 400% faster on the same hardware. You can find the downloads here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

Herve Nmn L'EisaSep. 30, 2012 - 07:34AM JST

After having been disappointed in Vista, I scrubbed my notebook and installed WinXP. Much better. I'll wait to see if Win8 runs lighter than Vista.

Vista pre-SP2 was a bit clunky, but SP1 improved base Vista a lot, and SP2 made it faster than XP finally. Both it and Win8 will run lighter than XP if you turn off kernel 6 functions like caching, but doing that is pointless even if you need a lot of memory. I've had programs take up 3.4 of 3.5GB memory in Vista (one of the reasons I got a new computer that could support 32gb), and no crashes or slowdowns. However, Win8 does run lighter than both Vista and Win7 due to the fact Aero is no more. No more graphics slowdowns for a cool but pointless UI.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

zichiSep. 30, 2012 - 07:15PM JST

Does that update Wins 7 or its a separate OS? I use Parallels not Bootcamp so I can run both systems in coherence which means I can use which app I want.

Doesn't sound like a server then. In fact, it sounds like a regular computer with shared folders.

For a real file server/ home server, Windows Server 2012 should be installed separately, as you can log into it from any Windows computer. It comes with virtualization as well though, so not recommended for parallels. In fact, neither is any OS, as it slows down everything that requires graphics through directx, which in Windows 8 is everything.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I agree with Southsakai-san,

The gap's too wide for them to catch up now.

R.I.P. Windows.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

zichiSep. 30, 2012 - 11:04PM JST

The Wins Server 2012 won't fit my needs.

It can actually, and you can control that from absolutely anywhere on earth, I've done it from the other side of the globe. Bit overkill if you are using apple products exclusively though, they don't support any of the good features.

When you upgrade everything to windows (RT tablets, 8 laptops), win server 2012 is quite impressive.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Sorry MS but windows is dead, or had been dying slowly and rapidly. Your Era is gone. Now it's time for the new boys with the new toys.

You've already lost IE browser share you once dominated and held to new comer Chrome.

In time soon, MS will loose Windows dominance as well.

Computer users are getting smart and nifty! They no longer have to rely on a software that they have used for ages and users can now switch to a new platform quick as a wink.

Stick to Xbox and Kinect

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

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