I’m not sure Microsoft appreciates how much some users hate Windows 8

"I’m not sure Microsoft appreciates how much some users hate Windows 8" is the title of an online opinion piece that can be fond here: http://bgr.com/2013/12/04/windows-8-hatred-explained/

When I came upon this paragraph, I laughed out loud: "Take two of my friends who recently made the upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows 7. Upon installing the software, one of them said that “the only way they could make it worse is if the right mouse click [would] be replaced by smashing your right thumb with a hammer.” Another one simply said that he “took my CPU back because of that crap” and switched back to Windows 7."

For the record, I am neither a lover nor a hater of Windows 8 after my first few days on my new PC which came with Windows 8 (not Windows 8.1).  Re-confirming my plan I am going to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after I get a little more experience.

What I have come to realize so far is that most of the new stuff in W8 has to do with the user interface. MOST of what we had gotten used to is still there, typically down a level or two. However, what irks the most is that the old "START/ALL PROGRAMS" method we all got so used to does not seem to have an acceptable replacement, and the old way is definitely gone and I have not figured out a way to get to the old familiar list. Instead, this, which I consider a major disppointment at best, is the replacement for START/ALL PROGRAMS:

 

This new ALL PROGRAMS list goes on and on to the right, and since I have a touch screen, I can easily scroll to the right with a simple swipe of my index finger.

So, bottom line, I like what I see but one must be prepared for some disappointments in the new user interface, especially after I/we have spent so many years getting used to and accepting of the old versions of Windows.

Stay tuned for more updates as I move forward with my W8 experience.

Biting, NO, Bit the Bullet

I have been struggling for a very long time about when or whether I should buy my next PC. I did NOT want to rush into Windows 8. Then along came Windows 8.1, and I gave a little. W8.1 supposedly fixed a lot of the issues that were complained about in W8. I will find out soon enough.

And then there was my concern for my PCDOC customers and students I am teaching. Some, now many many of you, have purchased or will soon purchase, new PCs,

Then there is my stubbornness about making Windows XP last. I have been (publicly) determined to have my XP systems last well beyond the end of support for XP in April of 2014. So my current status is that I have 2 machines that are running Windows XP. One of these has been my workhorse, but for the last 2 months it has been slowly dying on me, and I knew it wouldn't last forever. So it would be more correct to say I have one and a half XP machines!

The new machine I bought is a Dell Inspiron 15R. It has Windows 8 (not 8.1 - yet). It has a 1TB disk drive, 8GB of RAM, and a touch screen. It has an Intel Core i5-4200U CPU. This should last for a few years. Initially I will use it to document (in class handout form) a Windows 8 supplement to my growing library of student materials (now XP, Vista, and W7).

Once I am comfortable with W8 I will upgrade to Windows 8.1 - a free upgrade. At that point I will feel current. I have been falling behind.

After just an hour or so on my new machine I am playing music that lives on my W7 machine. I am also quite surprised at how easy it is to switch back and forth between the fancy W8 desktop and the traditional Windows desktop. I have added 2 photos below, one of each desktop window.

Much more to come - obviously, as I gain experience, but so far, so good!

  Traditional Windows Desktop displayed

New Windows 8 Desktop

Windows 8 Update

I saw this on thenextweb.com. It must be rather disturbing news to Microsoft, but I suppose it is a sign of the times?

Windows 8 falls to 6.66% share as Windows 8.1 hits 2.64%, but combined the duo barely grows to 9.3%.

Check out the full article here.

 

Thanksgiving 2013

Boston Strong

Congratulations to our Red Sox, the new World Champions!

The Best Android Phones

I can't believe that I don't own a smartphone yet. It just boils down to the monthly charges for a smartphone. Right now I pay $35 a month to Verizon for virtually unlimited voice and text messaging. I just don't see the value - again for me - in doubling that fee or worse for the benefits I'd get. What surprises me is that I do like being out there on the technology curve and reaping the benefits. I guess in my old age I just struggle with the costs. Add to that the costs of cable, high speed internet, and land line and it gets rather ridiculous.

Nonetheless I have decided that if I do take the plunge it will be to an Android phone, and thus this post meant for me and like-minded others.

This article comes from pcmag.com.

"These days, it seems like there's always a smarter, faster, bigger Android phone on the horizon.
 
Google's mobile operating system has managed to capture a record 80 percent share of the global smartphone OS market, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. That's thanks to Android's competitive licensing costs, a large, ever-growing app store, and numerous hardware partners—HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung, and others offer multiple Android handsets on each carrier.

And that's one of the best things about Android: Choice. At any given time, on Verizon Wireless alone, there are at least 20 different Android handsets to choose from. AT&T sells just as many, and Sprint, T-Mobile, and the regional carriers also offer plenty of choices these days. But how do you decide on the right one?"
                                                            Read more.....

The Top 6 New Features in Windows 8.1

This is a good review of 6 of the top new features in Windows 8.1. For those of you on Windows 8, this is must reading. I think 8.1 looks pretty good. I'd probably wait 2 weeks or a month and watch the press for issues.

"Microsoft's just-launched Windows 8.1 upgrade is way more than a service pack, even though it's a free update for Windows 8 users through the Windows Store. And, let's be frank, even the operating system's most vocal supporters will probably agree that Microsoft needs an update bigger than a service pack to change Windows 8's somewhat rocky narrative. Yes, a lot of the changes are tweaks and tightenings, but there are also plenty of new capabilities like built-in support for 3D printing, Miracast display sharing, and a new Web radio feature in the included Xbox Music app."

More here.....

TECH NOW: Decoding all that processor lingo

This comes from USA Today and will maybe help you figure out all the language concerning the microprocessors in today's electronic devices.

"Who cares about core processors? We do, and so should you if you plan to buy a new computer this year. Here's why:

If you've been in the market for a new gadget lately, you've likely been bombarded with tech jargon that sounds like a cross between a football audible — i3, i5, i7 (hike!) — and a choice of Ivy League schools (Snapdragon, Haswell, Ivy Bridge). I'm talking about various types of core processors, which are like the heart and brains of our favorite gadgets. Why should you care? For one, which one you choose makes a big difference in cost — sometimes by thousands of dollars. Also, core processors can play a big difference in how fast your gadget goes and how long the battery lasts."

More here....

Windows 8.1 update arrives with fresh changes

I wouldn't want to be the first one on the block to install this, but give it a week or two to see what issues may arise first.

This appears in USA Today:

"NEW YORK — Not quite a year later, Microsoft's Windows 8.1 arrives with considerably less drama than Windows 8, and that is to be expected—the changes are far less radical than they were for consumers who made the leap from Windows 7 to Windows 8.

But the latest software promises to be a worthwhile update for anyone who bought a PC and/or tablet with the Windows 8 operating system. And it represents a critical test for Microsoft as it attempts to satiate critics, address Windows 8 shortcomings, and ultimately improve the company's standing in both the tablet and more traditional PC businesses.

The 8.1-update starts to arrive in the Windows Store at 7 a.m. ET Thursday, and will be rolled out globally over the next 24 hours, Microsoft says. Windows 8.1 will be available on new devices and in standalone retail packaging on Friday.

So what doth the upgrade bring? The newest version is more customizable than its predecessor, with more background colors, and more variable sizes for the live tiles that have come to define the Windows 8 experience, on computers and for that matter smartphones.

Perhaps the biggest change you'll notice is the return of a familiar Start button, located in "Desktop" mode in its customary location at the bottom left corner of the taskbar. It's not like you're completely going back to the future — clicking on the new Start button returns you to the default tile-based Windows 8 Start environment, known as the Modern UI with those colorful rectangular and square tiles, some with live data for such things as weather, stocks, e-mail and so on.

Microsoft in 8.1 also lets you boot up your PC in the more traditional-looking Desktop environment if you prefer, or stick with the default tile interface.

Microsoft's better-integrated Sky Drive cloud-based locker takes on a more prominent role in 8.1, and so does Bing search. If while searching, say, for a performer such as Alicia Keys, you'll be able to stream some of her top tracks in their entirety for free, provided via XBox Music. You'll also see pictures of the artist, her birth date and a link to her Wikipedia bio.

Multitasking gets better too in 8.1. Depending on the size of your computer screen, you can display up to four apps side by side, with the ability to alter the sizes of the windows that those apps appear in.
The Windows Store where you'll find the new upgrade also gets a design makeover. Microsoft says there are now 110,000 apps in there, up from about 10,000 about a year ago. New and updated apps are also continually being delivered to the place, a list that includes Evernote, Facebook, Hulu Plus, Netflix, and NOOK.

It remains to be seen, of course, how consumers and critics take to the changes, aesthetically and feature-wise. But if you already bought into the Windows 8 ecosystem, the 8.1-update is in the end a pretty big deal."

Essential free software you can't afford to miss

Now you're talking!

"Free doesn’t have to mean cheesy, especially when it comes to freeware. A developer’s passion project can become something you can’t imagine being without, and the fact that you don’t have to lay out any cash to acquire it is a major bonus. Some developers accept donations to further development, so consider giving what you can if you find value in their efforts."

Check out the whole column from PC World

Facebook Building Its Own Small Town So You Can Live at Work

Amazing!

This version of this story came from http://valleywag.gawker.com/

If you work at Facebook, your employer will already wash your underwear, cut your hair, and feed you—now it's getting into the landlord game. The Wall Street Journal says Zuckerberg will usher in the 21st century version of company towns, a place where you can never truly leave the social network. Read…

Recommended Security Baseline Revisited

It amazes me that this baseline security profile continues to work on all of our home systems, two Windows XP and two Windows 7. It has been a while since I have had to make a change. Note that these are all FREE programs!

From time to time I refer to my security baseline. My security baseline is merely a list of programs I use (all free) and recommend for anyone to use to keep their systems secure. This applies to YOU if you use Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. I do not yet have much experience with Windows 8, but have noticed when I get some hands-on time that Microsoft has replaced its Security Essentials with a built-in anti-virus called Windows Defender. For those of you who have been using Windows XP for a while, note that this is the same name as once used by Microsoft for its anti-malware program.

Remember, all of these products are FREE, but will do as good a job as any fee products you may use. I make that statement and stand by it based on 45 years of experience with computers.
 
1. Microsoft Security Essentials. This is a very impressive anti-virus program and can replace any you have now. DOWNLOAD HERE

2. Windows Firewall (Standard part of your operating system. Check the Security Center to be sure it is on.)

3. MVPS HOSTS File - download the current month's version and update monthly DOWNLOAD HERE

4. CCleaner - check for newer version than you may already have. Run weekly. DOWNLOAD HERE by clicking on Download Latest Version in the upper right hand corner of the page.

5. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - run bi-weekly. DOWNLOAD HERE

6. SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition - run bi-weekly in the off week after #5. DOWNLOAD HERE

7. Spybot Search & Destroy - run monthly just before downloading new HOSTS file.  I recommend, for now, downloading Version 1.6.2 under "old versions". DOWNLOAD HERE

I will be happy to assist you with any or all of the above installations. This can be done remotely.

Questions?  Comment below or write me, pcdoc at brpcdoc dot com