Windows 8

[Kageru]

I think some of the systems with windows 8 pro (for which I assume you pay a healthy premium) allow you the "advantage" of downgrading to 7 if you jump through some hoops.

Apparently that's where a lot of their "sales" are coming from. Corporate licenses they can downgrade for more windows 7 desktops. Consumer enthusiasm and surface sales seem to be getting a pretty weak response for all the money they've spent promoting it.

Though I also think part of it is that Windows 7 is "good enough" people just don't care in general. Which is not so good for Microsoft when their model is based on one-off box sales for a shrinking (but still huge and lucrative) market. They knew this was coming though. They've wanted to move to a subscription model for ages but the consumer is not remotely interested.

[Fabricated]

They're sticking to their guns on Metro in their public-face.  We invested quite a bit developing apps for the platform, and MS was pretty clear that they feel the tablet/Metro style of computing is what they feel the future of computing will be.  I suspect that if they continue forcing this down our throats for the next iteration, we're going to see Linux/Ununtu development skyrocket. 

Metro simply isn't officework friendly. 

Ahahah you believed Microsoft when they said they were dedicated to a platform. Ask everyone who ever bought a zune about that.

[Surlyboi]

 

[Chimpy]

They're sticking to their guns on Metro in their public-face.  We invested quite a bit developing apps for the platform, and MS was pretty clear that they feel the tablet/Metro style of computing is what they feel the future of computing will be.  I suspect that if they continue forcing this down our throats for the next iteration, we're going to see Linux/Ununtu development skyrocket. 

Metro simply isn't officework friendly. 

Ahahah you believed Microsoft when they said they were dedicated to a platform. Ask everyone who ever bought a zune about that.

Or any Windows Phone.

[calapine]

Not quite sure where to put this, using this thread as it's Mircosoft related:

Microsoft to shut down Messenger on March 15, move users to Skype

End of MSN Messenger.

[rk47]

man times change.
mine used to be ICQ.
AIM.
Then X-Fire
Then MSN
Currently steamchat.

Guess what'sapp n other mobile shit is replacing MSN pretty soon,..stlll...100 users.

[calapine]

Oh stop that. You make me feel old.

I still remember my ICQ number, despite not using it for 10+ years...

First ICQ than
MSN
Skype

Nowadays Trillian (=MSN+Skype+IRC), Whatsapp and Steamchat.

Steamchat is nifty, but not having a log is annoying.

[Fabricated]

I still use AIM for like 5-6 people.

Other than that I use SteamChat and IRC. Someone made a free fork of XChat (HexChat) so I've switched to that as my IRC client from good old mIRC which sits in the pantheon of "programs everyone used and never ever paid for" next to WinZip and WinRAR.

[Nebu]

Question:

Just bought parts for a new system.  Should I use Windows 7 or spend the money for Windows 8?  The system is primarily for working at home (Office Suite and journal writing/reading) and gaming.

Anyone know where I can get a free/cheap copy of Windows 7? 

[HaemishM]

Windows 7. 8 is a fucking abomination unless you have a touchscreen.

[Hammond]

Windows 7. As far as cheap goes if you know anyone that goes to college you can get a discounted copy through college books stores. As far as free well there is always the Internet.

[Fabricated]

If you still have access to your college email account you can go hit Dreamspark and see what is offered.

[Nebu]

I work at a university.  I always have a college email address!

I'll check it out.  Thanks.

[Hammond]

Employees of universities typically get a further discount on Microsoft products.  Depending on how lax the bookstores are they do not even track the sales.  I have heard of a couple professors that made decent money on buying software over the years and reselling it.

[Fabricated]

I can get licenses for Win7/Win8 for $20 a pop as university staff through our online store, but students recently were forced to get their MS software from Dreamspark.

Dreamspark does however have a fuckload of stuff we didn't used to offer. We mostly offered Office, Windows, Visual Studio. Our deal with Microsoft on Dreamspark includes like everything they make under the sun.

Edit: Let me see what I can get right now as staff since I'm thinking about it...

Win 8 Professional, Win 7 Ultimate - $19
Office 2010 - $19
Adobe Suite 6 Master Collection - $575.79
Adobe Suite 6 Design - $200

Then a bunch of Statistics/flowcharting/etc crap only students really need.

I've been half tempted to buy CS6. That's a crazy discount.

[schild]

I'm half tempted to find the money to get CS6 through you. And might.

[schild]

Man, Microsoft typically fucks up and lets me register with my terpalum email for shit like this.

Not this time.

:(

[Raph]

I have finally seen a Surface in the wild. A Surface Pro is now incredibly tempting.

Are there any other Intel-based PC tablets with superthin keyboards, with stylus and pressure support, that run all Windows apps?

[Morfiend]

Remember the battery life on those Lum. Its quoted by MS as "up to 4 hours". Thats scary short.

[schild]

I can't think of a better way to blow a bunch of money on something totally pointless than to say "Yes, I'd like to purchase a Surface Pro."

It is the actual technological equivalent of burning money.

[Raph]

That's why I am asking i there are others that are comparable.

My current (work-issued) laptop is an inch thick and I avoid using it whenever possible. When I travel for work, I set it on the desk at the office I am visiting and leave it there until I fly out. The iPad has spoiled me for portabilityr, & I would very much like to be able to actually use Windows in that form factor.

[Hawkbit]

I don't own one, but I work with one of our dev units occasionally when customers need help with our apps.  To me, it lost everything I like about the Windows platform, yet didn't quite do enough to make itself different than having an iPad.  I can't see myself coding or working on either unit, though email/browsing and the occasional app would be neat.  It just feels like a step backward in productivity and flexibility for me.  But then again, I'm likely doing it wrong.

[schild]

That's why I am asking i there are others that are comparable.

My current (work-issued) laptop is an inch thick and I avoid using it whenever possible. When I travel for work, I set it on the desk at the office I am visiting and leave it there until I fly out. The iPad has spoiled me for portabilityr, & I would very much like to be able to actually use Windows in that form factor.

What are you doing that you need the windows platform when you aren't at your desk that a regular old $100-$400 tablet can't do?

[rk47]

I can get licenses for Win7/Win8 for $20 a pop as university staff through our online store, but students recently were forced to get their MS software from Dreamspark.

Dreamspark does however have a fuckload of stuff we didn't used to offer. We mostly offered Office, Windows, Visual Studio. Our deal with Microsoft on Dreamspark includes like everything they make under the sun.

Edit: Let me see what I can get right now as staff since I'm thinking about it...

Win 8 Professional, Win 7 Ultimate - $19
Office 2010 - $19
Adobe Suite 6 Master Collection - $575.79
Adobe Suite 6 Design - $200

Then a bunch of Statistics/flowcharting/etc crap only students really need.

I've been half tempted to buy CS6. That's a crazy discount.

I would like the win7 ultimate key if it's possible.
How do I paypal u the money?

[Chimpy]

He can't resell those.

[MahrinSkel]

What are you doing that you need the windows platform when you aren't at your desk that a regular old $100-$400 tablet can't do?

As I recall from complaints on facebook, working with .psd's and .ppt's. Composing/editing, not just viewing

--Dave

[schild]

Can't see a reason for doing that on anything other than a laptop. Like, at all.

[Raph]

Multiple pounds of weight in my bag, basically.

I suppose an Ultrabook would be just as light, but I'd really like to have the stylus and I haven't seen many Ultrabooks with a stylus.

[rk47]

He can't resell those.

profound.... SADNESS.

[Ingmar]

Remember the battery life on those Lum. Its quoted by MS as "up to 4 hours". Thats scary short.

Lawl?

[Salamok]

I can't think of a better way to blow a bunch of money on something totally pointless than to say "Yes, I'd like to purchase a Surface Pro."

It is the actual technological equivalent of burning money.

Oh shit, this means that the surface is bound to be a huge success right?  On a Microsoft related side bar I have been working through learning Microsoft MVC and for the first time I can recall MS feels like they are headed in the right direction with a web development tool, that viewstate shit needed to die in a bad way.

[Fabricated]

He can't resell those.

profound.... SADNESS.

Unfortunately it's true. Like I said though; if you have a usable university email account you can always try to hit Dreamspark and see if your campus has some sort of deal with MS. I think they imply that they try to see if you're staff or if you're enrolled currently, but I call bullshit on that since it can't be automated.

[Hammond]

We have a couple Samsung Ativ tablets coming with windows 8 pro for work.  I am not holding my breath on them being anything spectacular.  The battery life is supposed to be around 4 hours with a I5 processor.   I think we are still a generation away before the power / battery life is good enough for me.

[Ingmar]

FWIW Consumer Reports has a lot of nice things to say about the Surface, pretty much low app availability was the only knock. (Well, and that it was a little heavy for a tablet.)

[calapine]

Unfortunately it's true. Like I said though; if you have a usable university email account you can always try to hit Dreamspark and see if your campus has some sort of deal with MS. I think they imply that they try to see if you're staff or if you're enrolled currently, but I call bullshit on that since it can't be automated.

I have no interest in Win 8, so no ulterior motives here, but isn't it possible to set up a fake university account? Or use someone's who has no desire to buy Windows? Or enroll into some free clases for a student-pass (that's great for the ego too, so much better than being a waitress!).

Just asking!