Discussion on:

Infographic: Who's making the move to Windows 8?

I wonder of those that said yes the Windows 8 Surface was the reason? In theory that should be a better fit than an iPad in an Active Directory environment.

demographic, it would be nice to know if the survey is of IT Manager types or the IT trenches types who have to make the darn thing actually work, or a mix, and if a mix - what percentages. I mention this as some of the IT manager / CIO types and marketing types I've spoken to are considering Win 8 in the work place, while non of the trenches people I've spoken to want anything to do with it. I'm sure the level of involvement making the nuts and bolts work would affect their thinking and point of view on the issue.

It would also be nice to have the info broken up to Win 8 on the desktop and Win 8n on consumer devices like tablets and phones, as that would also vary a fair bit.

At first sight, by reading the title the reader gets the feeling that the graphic is about those who plan to deploy Windows 8, and naturally would expect the first segment to show those who plan to deploy. However, the first segment of each bar represents those who do not plan to deploy. Only when you read the legend that you realize that less people plan to actually deploy. I would suggest flipping the two, or more preferably, only show the share of those who actually plan to deploy in a simple bar chart; and the rest is obvious. This should increase readability.

As I'm just starting my own business, personally I will be upgrading to 8 on my laptop and tablet (Aspire 5750, laptops are best suited when they have multi-touch imho, with tablets like the Microsoft Surface BEST suited for 8 - my desktop, might stick with 7 but upgrade to 8 when I get used to the UI); As for in-house business computers, I find it more viable to use a custom distro of Linux

The poll doesn't say does it?

For us, workstations, not a chance in hell, even if Windows 8 wasn't so fugly, our Win7 systems are less than a year old, and clients are only about 25% converted to windows 7.

But for the tablet, its possible, there is nothing preventing us, so if some Chief something something wants one, it will probably happen.

Most of the people I deal with are fed up wasting time with change just for the sake of change. Time is money in business, and wasting time is not acceptable. Only a very small percentage of users will actually need to upgrade to W8. The rest are satisfied with what they've got because it does the job and makes money for the company.

With Win8, there is a market hype to mandate your migration from WinXP, at least to Win7. But tablet and mobile market pickup will require a very long and hard shove by Microsoft.

nt

Touch-controlled LCD screens should probably be the next hype.

this percentage tell us some new begin for how we change from old to new to get chance to be better as we could perhapse some time better some time not.

Odd that [by percentage only] more Windows 7 organizations will go to Windows 8 than those with Windows XP even though Windows XP support dies in 18 months.
Only conclusion I can see is a small sample for either.
Wondering when mentioned on WHEN will the organizations upgrade to Windows 8. By history, many organizations wait until the first service pack or about a year.

is the huge cost involved in major core software because it will NOT run properly on Win 7 on Win 8 due to arbitrary changes in command codes by Microsoft (again), and in some cases it will because there is no version of the software for Win 7 or Win 8.

I also suspect a lot of the answers are from senior staff who see the Win 8 phones and Win 8 tablets as the force to move over, but may find major difficulties in doing so.

intelligent to say against it. It's sad they get so hurt by the truth, but don't have the guts to be connected with their attitude.

I upvoted you. The core systems are one reason why we don't even want to attempt to upgrade. Heck, we've got some core applications that won't run well on Windows 7, so we keep those workstations on XP. Sure we can get them to run with tweaks and sacrificing small animals, but if they run well on XP, why go through the hassle?

but I gave you one anyway

think down voting without saying why is a gutless thing to do.

Simply because their software doesn't run on anything newer.

I have just picked up a new class of customer who have Diagnostic Equipment that runs on older Software that has never been rewritten for newer OS's.

So now I can expect the Car Clubs and so on to be chasing me to load computers with 98 and Com Port devices just so that they can plug these NB's into their cars and see what is wrong with them. They will be added to the list of earthmover's who require older OS's to run their Mission Critical Site Work applications.

Col

all the old serial port cards and connectors etc I have? If so, just email me about it and you can have the lot for the fright only.

That need well when they where new needed Com Ports and Win 98 as a Diagnostic Tool.

In the case I'm referring to Peugeot supplied a lead that plugged into a Comm Port and you plug that into the Car's Diagnostic Port. My Mercedes have the same type of thing under the bonnet where a Desktop may be useful but I've never seen the Diagnostic Lead that was available for them back in the early 70's and even then it was a Monster Box about 8 foot high and 7 feet long that was wheeled to the car to plug it in.

Peugeot being very forward thinking or maybe just after more money have made a Lead and 95/98 Software available to the Car Club Members as well as Ferrari I'm told but I honestly don't expect many calls from that car club.

Currently I'm using USB to Comm adapters which will most likely run out sooner rather than latter. So I've made a small order on Jaycar of everyone that they currently have. Sure it's only 20 and I have another 40 on Back Order with 30 current sales in excess of what's coming.

When I started with Classic Cars I never thought I'd be needing a computer to see why they ran badly.

I suppose now I'll need to ask Mercedes Germany what they have available and how much while I'm at it now.

Col

it is interesting to show that India and Media industries are more likely to go to Win8...
For people working in media publishing, they may need to write articles for this new OS, so they are likely to upgrade and use it daily to gain experience?

I may upgrade my desktops to Win 8, but not until the price of touchscreens come down. I have no plans to upgrade my laptops as none have touchscreen. The only advantage to Win 8, it appears to me, and I have taken a good look at it, is if the user has access to a touchscreen. Win 7 will do for the forseeable future on all my machines.

The benefits of Windows 8 go beyond the touch screen. Faster boot-up, inbuilt Hyper-V, redesigned Explorer, and it's not such a jarring leap as many scaremongers like to troll about.

nt

He's right about the benefits. There is also "Pause Copy", something Windows has needed for years. I like the enhanced Task Manager and of the others, but all these are improvements that have nothing to do with Metro. I don't like that the Ribbon interface has made it into the OS though. Now , if only they would include something like ycopy which allows you to complete a copy even when it hits a file that Windows can't copy due to the file being open or locked for some reason.

He's wrong about the "scaremongers." I and I suspect most of the others who don't like it don't like it because of Metro. It's a real hindrance to useability. We are not "scaremongering", we just want a choice.

As anyone who has read my comments on Win 8 on TR over the last year or so knows I despise Metro. It's ugly and cumbersome. I don't have any touchscreen devices so I don't care about that.

Having said all that, I'm going to buy the $15 (US) upgrade to Win 8 Pro as I finally had to replace the laptops we use at home and they qualify for the upgrade. I'm also going to install this and see how it works: http://tweaks.com/software/start/. If it works, great. If not, $15 is not that much. I wouldn't pay full price for it.

The desktops will stay with Win 7.

By the way, I voted you up as you said nothing that deserved a negative vote. That happens to me sometimes as well. Some comments deserve negative votes without comment as they are obviously deserving, but not yours.

Also, in another post a bit earlier I went through all the stuff that's taken out. Going through the detailed list of what IS in Win 8, it's got heaps it you are a consumer user doing almost everything over the Internet; BUT if you are not, it hamstrings your productivity left right and centre due to restrictions in what you can and can't load, what has been and has not been included in the OS.

In short their are only two real versions of Win 8 worth looking at for any reason -

1. Win RT for strictly consumer use and no connectivity except via the Internet.

2. Win 8 Enterprise for use in business and home productivity capability.

But, with either you have no DVD playability unless you obtain an extra program for your Win 8 Enterprise system.

However I look at this, it's a cut back in productivity from the Win 7 systems we have at FHC and a major cut back from my Zorin OS Linux system at home. I see no point in paying out money for less capability.

Add to that some vendors are already saying they're going to ship Win 8 systems with a locked UEFI and won't hand out the codes to unlock it.

I'm with you. I read your other comment. Good points. But, for what I do now (not in IT anymore), Win 8 will work if I can get rid of that awful Metro. If I don't like it, I'll go back to 7. And I looked on that site and I can't see where they charge for it. We've had to go third-party for years to get Windows to work the way we want.

If I recall correctly, Media Center will be available as a free download for DVD/Blu-ray watching as part of the upgrade. They should have left that one in the OS. And Media Player should have the ability to play them.

Like you, I have no use for the Windows Store, touchscreen or any of the other things you mentioned. If I want to change the OS, I'll do it on one of the older laptops I have. I also don't like the UEFI lock downs.

I wouldn't pay for it if I didn't have the option for the $15 upgrade. That's the only reason I'll get it.

revised and finished DiD Shiloh ready to go live, hopefully in another couple of weeks, as it's now a collaborative effort - just in case you're interested

I've not heard of it. I may be interested.

sometimes writes to me about the stories I post at Stories On Line, and that last post relates to what I'm doing writing wise at the moment. I write as Ernest Bywater and Ernest Edwards.

Wrong Mudpuppy. Sorry.

- Classic Shell
- Ex7ForW8

I've tried "Classic Shell" on W8 Ent and it worked for me (I'm not planning to buy W8 though).

"Ex7ForW8" restores the W7 shell and apparently you can switch it off if you want to use the W8 version (I haven't tried it).

Really I don't understand why people are scared about the start menu, the mouse still works and I'm on the desktop right now

In some ways I think the mouse is better, I used a touch screen at jb hi fi the other day and I found it awkward, but its probably because I used the consumer and release previews already. Plus the benefit of only having to pay 14.95 for the upgrade was enough to convince me

Some of our users still haven't figured out what the 'Start' button is yet, If I rolled out Windows 8 I think they'd all run away scared and work would stop. I have Windows 7 on nearly everything now and that's the way it will be staying for some time. Windows 8 will just cause me a massive headache. I'll probably consider it when users have got used to it at home, but I see no real business benefits at the moment, as all of our workers are office based on desktop PC's. I'm sure Windows 9 will be out by the time I need to move away from Windows 7!

Upgraded my main desktop (Asus P8Z77 board, Intel I5, 16 GB RAM) from W7 U - no issues. Upgraded my main laptop (Dell E6400 W7 U) the only problem is I lost my internal Bluetooth card - no W8 driver. Once you get a handle on the navigation everything works great. I had to reinstall VMware 8 on both PCs.

a

I may do a TRIPLE BOOT
XP Pro; 32 bit for OLD XP-only apps; Win 7 Ult 64 bit for workhorse apps until I suppose ALL have Win 8 compliant underpinnings, and Win 8 64 bit to TRY OUT
I will NOT be using or buying a touch screen; Win 8 and all these smart phones are designed for BOOBS who cant get themseles out of a paper bag. I DESPISE the tile interface and will eliminate as soon as I can get it installed

You sound like a noob

Why would I?

95% of my usage is Office and browsers, and the remainder is utilities that mostly deal with th shortcomings of Win7. Even if Win8 removed the nuisances, what possible benefit might I reap from a costly, complex, and risky upgrade.

While this upgrade (sic) will NOT be installed by 75% of the users (surveyed), alternates and alternate means of computing will continue replacing classical Windows machines. I don't predict the demise or failure of Microsoft (and lack creds for doing so!), but wonder how this dynamic will affect the balance of Win/OSX sales of new machines? The replacement market for older XP/Vista/Win7 machines seems better for Macs than for PCs, at least in the home sphere. In the enterprise world, not so much, but then, their huge investments in interlocking pieces of complex systems seem to speak more to stasis than change. Win8 is simply not compelling in either sphere, at least it seems so to me.

Healthcare IT is realatively behind the curve taking advantage of the latest operating systems. We are starting to move from XP to Win7 only because Microsoft is sunsetting the operating system.

Why spend the money when it doesn't do anything for you?

nt