The Glade 4.0

Right now I'm looking for a reliable manufacturer. I will worry about specs later.

_________________

Asus has been gaining popularity over the years and Toshibas are known for their durability. Alienware makes good gaming PC's and Vizio/HP/Samsung are trying to compete with Apple on the design side. All depends what you want to do with it, man.

I love my Lenovo W520 (work issued).. it's a beast... Has worked flawlessly, despite have an official company provided Win 7 Image. Has decent battery life too.

I wouldn't use it for serious gaming though.

If you go with a new Samsung laptop you'll get start menu bloatware included!

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/28/sams ... windows-8/

That isn't a laptop... I don't know wth that is...

_________________

I got the word on Monday that they are bringing back product activation.

_________________
I prefer to think of them as "Fighting evil in another dimension"

Bah, saw "Series 7" and thought of the laptop line. My bad, that's an all-in-one. Safe to assume they'll put it on their laptops anyway.

Yum!

http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/29/32767 ... ne-8-specs

Not with those rounded corners and three buttons they aren't!!!

_________________

Windows 8 is launching in 15 days.

Here's a cool video about why someone might like a Win8 tab over an iPad:

http://cleveland.metromix.com/music/art ... 15/content

Anyone going to try out the new Xbox Music store/app?

_________________

I replaced my Zune subscription with it about a month ago. XBMusic app wasn't fully functional at the time in Win8 but my phone has continued streaming and downloading normally.

Is it as good as iTunes? (The only Apple product I still use... because there's nothing better... or even really equivalent.)

_________________

Holy shitsnacks!

Zune has been better than iTunes since the day it launched. Xbox Music is rebranded Zune, so... Yes.

IGN has a decent video showing it off: http://www.ign.com/videos/2012/10/15/xb ... es-trailer

Since they are changing things for all users dramatically (since 95 with removal of start button) it would make more sense for WIN P to be Programs (people don't call them applications) WIN S for Search, Win F for Files

Most commonly associated names and instances of using should have letter priority. Anyone using previous shortcuts would be a minority compared to new users who need it to be simple to remember.

_________________
"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Which is what people will do if the transition to 8 is not easy, if basic windows fundamentals are not there (or extremely easily replicated) as in a check box on initial install of "Would you like a Start button?".

You don't force consumers into your paradigm. You offer people the option and make it impossibly simple for them to not take your option ( clicking through options that are not instantly presented or having to install 3rd party application or having to install ANYTHING is not "impossibly simple").

When you offer an asethetic and functional component for as far as most consumers are considered - the lifetime of your company's interaction with them (start button) you do not remove it as default.

_________________
"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Anyone planning on buying Win8, Amazon is running a promo right now through the 20th. Preorder Pro for $70 (down from $199) and get $30 store credit too.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008H3 ... PDKIKX0DER




It's as easy as it can be. You look up how to do things differently one time and you're on your way. Nothing has been removed, things have just been moved. A new computer form factor is on the rise, and I for one am glad that Microsoft is ahead of the curve this time instead of being far behind. Win8 on a tablet is a joy to use. Certainly moreso than iOS or Android.

I don't think that is as good a deal as the $39.99 upgrade offer.

_________________
Go back to zero, take a pill, and get well ~ Lemmy Kilmister

I don't know Shel, I'd price check that on Amazon.

(get it? Because that's what Best Buy and hh gregg and all the other brick and mortar stores are accusing Amazon of?)

_________________

No that is is not "as easy as it can be", I gave an example of it being easier for the average user. Moving things aggravates people because no one wants to have to relearn how to do the same thing. These are lessons Microsoft and any developer that has iterations of its software is going to have to learn - especially having to do so every few years.

_________________
"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Interfaces change and people need to come to terms with that. If you want the same software interface from 1995 then keep your computer from 1995, I guess. You learn new things every single day, it shouldn't be that big of a deal to learn, "Oh. This is where _____ is found, now." After you accept the changes, you'll be just as efficient as you are now. Maybe more so!

Hopefully 5 or 10 years down the road you won't be one of those, "I'm not really a computer person [because I refused to relearn anything]."

I understand people don't always like change but this is an inevitability. We live in a time where technology is outdated by the time you open it.

A very large group of non-daily users and some daily users will disagree.

A computer's job as a tool is to make tasks easier. If the learning the operation of that tool becomes harder then it fails partially in doing its job because it creates disincentive to use it or to learn it only to have to relearn its operation.

I have dealt with these people daily. They exist and the are not as small a subset of all users as most people in IT would like to believe.

Microsoft could increase its profitability by learning a few key things and doing away with its assumptions or they could not. My few shares of Microsoft aren't enough to motivate me to try to bring it to their attention but the fact remains.

Not making transitions as easy as possible for all levels of users is a negative - always will be and always has been. Hand-waiving doesn't change this.

Also interfaces don't have to change on every iteration of improved software. It is entirely possible to have the option of Please check which basic interface you would like (95, 98SE, etc.) and then apply it.

_________________
"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Say all you want about users not wanting this change, but who do you think is driving the market? Users are demanding tablet PC's and Microsoft has stepped up to provide both the form factor and an operating system capable of using the form without losing any function.


It hasn't. Prior to Windows 8 every single "update" to Windows has hardly been more than a security and graphical update. Everything has always been 95% identical. This is the first time that the usage of Windows has actually changed and that's why everyone is so up in arms about it.

Driving the market are the power users who are on the cutting or bleeding edge and to whom adaption is a way to separate themselves from those they dislike - at least insofar as applying tablet interface design to a desktop/laptop OS.

Most users don't communicate their desires or demands to any company in any way - that is why market research has to be performed.

I've said my peace.

_________________
"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

Well, here are some actual numbers backing up my claims. The world is going the way of the portable and desktops are on the way out. Sorry.

http://www.webpronews.com/pc-growth-to- ... er-2012-06
http://www.inquisitr.com/268658/tablet- ... pd-report/