Windows 8, early grade

Hello all,

Most of my life revolves around technology, both professional and entertainment.  I work on and make technology work for pay and for fun.  So when new stuff comes out, I try to get the jump on it before anyone else, so that I kinda know what people are talking about when they ask me questions.

I have been working with Windows 8 since closed beta.  I do have to start out by saying that I haven't been using it on a surface or tablet, but rather a laptop.  I have put at least 40 solid hrs in the saddle with Windows 8.

I have waited for such a long time for many reasons, but mainly, in a nutshell, either I can't figure out what I am doing when it comes to technology (sometimes true) or Windows 8 is a POC!  I think the latter, and let me tell you why.

Now, I can probably write a book about this, so I'll just keep it to some of the key points.

The very first thing that I noticed about Windows 8 is that the UI (User Interface) had so completely changed and gave me little direction on how to do any of the old familiar things.  In fact, YOU CAN'T do many of the familiar old things.  You need to forget just about anything you knew how to do from Windows 95 through Windows 7 and start from scratch.  The last time that I experienced this was going from DOS to Windows 3.1.  Yet, even then, I could drop out of Windows 3.1 to keep working.  Going to Windows 8 is like going to a completely new OS, like Mac or Linux.  It took me longer to figure out how to do some things in Windows 8 than it did to learn both Mac AND Linux combined.  So if you think you are merely "upgrading" you are going to be quite pissed.

Computers have had two basic purposes in my life, both equally important.  To "Produce" something or to "Consume" something.

Typically, I'll go on a computer to accomplish something, make something, or fix something.  Unlike other people who will pick up a computer or tablet to play solitaire, some other RPG, or watch Netflix.  They are consumers.  I usually pick up my iPad if I want to consume, and if I want to get something done, produce something, I'll go on my desktop or laptop.

With Windows 8 on my laptop, I couldn't produce a darn thing!  I could consume all kinds of stuff, but if I wanted to get to work and actually feel like I am going to earn my pay, I couldn't figure how to actually get to work. It kept wanting to play.  Oh....look at the weather!  Oh look, your son just said on facebook.  Oh, the President is speaking again.  It kept interrupting me, bothering me!  Being OCD and ADHD....oh look a chicken.  What was I saying?  Oh yes, I was so distracted that I wasn't even sure I accomplished anything.  I can't even tell you how many times I was working when all of a sudden I got side tracked and couldn't remember what I was doing until a few days later and realized I didn't finish what I started.  Look, a SQUIRREL!

Now, I have all these apps that I need to use.  I wish I could do everything I need to do with web apps, but the promise of Web 2.0 has been long coming.  I have all the up to date apps that run on Windows 7 64 bit.  One would think that they should be able to run on Windows 8, right.  NOPE!  Some do, some don't.  So, if I need to run an app that won't even install on Windows 8, I have to RDP into my Windows 7 computer to do my work.

Now, there is a list of SO many other things that really tick me off about Windows 8 (that Brian Boyko gets right  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTYet-qf1jo ).  I think he is a bit much but right on

However, the one thing that really ticks me off is that I if I am going to purchase a new computer, I can not purchase it anything OTHER than Windows 8.  Microsoft is FORCING me to buy a computer with Windows 8, and I don't like it.  Why can't I buy a computer with Windows 7?  Why would I upgrade to Windows 8?!  Has anyone figured out how to downgrade yet?

So, what are my personal options?  I can go into my office where I have my Mac, and start to use it as my production computer.  Even though the mouse only has ONE button, and it is Apple, I can at least get things done on it.  Professionally, in a business setting, Apple Mac hasn't been known to play nicely in multi-user environments and isn't easily managed.  Things have progressed quite a bit with Novell ZCM and many Mobile Management product.  But Mac still isn't nearly where Windows management products are currently.

In 1998, when all my friends were going to tell me Microsoft was going to take over the world, I talked about how, while they have great shiny beads that are going to attract users, they don't have long term technology strategy.  Microsoft will win lots of battles, especially with Active Directory, but they won't win the technology war.

The only long term technology that will win the technology war is one that is open and available to anyone.  Open Source wins the war with Linux OSs.  It doesn't matter if you use SuSE, Red Hat, Ubuntu, or any of the other distributions, it gives you options to do what you want to do with your technology.  In fact, most of you use some form of linux without even knowing it.  Smart TV's microwaves, stoves, cars, and even your thermostat in your house have a form of linux (linux kernel) which is free.  And then some computer nerd, like me, takes the kernel and libraries and adds stuff to it, creates a product, and then sells it to you.

In my opinion, Windows 8, so far, gets a D+.  Even Apple is smart enough to know there is a difference between a device that primarily consumes (iPod, iPad, iPhone), and a device that produces (Mac).  As an OS that is trying to do both, Windows 8 gets a preliminary F.  I too wonder if Windows 8 is the beginning of the end for Microsoft.

http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-ballmers-nightmare-is-coming-true-2012-11?op=1

So far, the only saving grace for Windows 8 is that it isn't Windows ME or Windows Vista.  If, a million years from now, and natural selection begins working again, an alien life form comes to earth and only finds a copy of either of these two OS systems, they will no longer wonder why our civilization failed.  It will be apparent that there was no signs of intelligent life form on Earth.

What do you think?

Tom