[eye30]

Microsoft is reportedly on course to ditch its troubled Windows 8 operating system in 2015.

According to tech blogger Paul Thurrott, the world's biggest software maker will confirm at its Build conference in April that a project titled "Threshold" will deliver a new operating system, Windows 9.

It was scheduled, he said, to launch in April 2015 following an update to Windows 8.1 this year which would also include phone software improvements.

http://news.sky.com/story/1194785/microsoft-windows-9-will-launch-in-2015

[ToMoCo]

I specifically bought a couple of retail versions of windows 7 when 8 was launched just so I could easily avoid it.

I was so impressed by Windows 8 I brought a Mac!!

[Dazzler]

I specifically bought a couple of retail versions of windows 7 when 8 was launched just so I could easily avoid it.

I was so impressed by Windows 8 I brought a Mac!!

 I can relate to both those comments (not a big fan either, although some have been converted and reckon it is ok now) 

[Phil №❶]

I wonder how many employees of Microsoft are batting for the other side. (And I don't mean gender preference).

[AlanHo]

I am running Windows 8.1 on my Desktop PC and my Notebook with no problems at all.

However - I don't use the Metro touch screen interface - I have installed the Windows 7 desktop using Start8 third party software.

Hence I have a computer that looks and behaves like it is Windows 7 - but is much faster to boot, has better integrated anti malware and a few other bells and whistles I can't identify because I have now forgotten which ones were not already in Win 7.

I am very happy with Win 8 and frankly don't understand what all the fuss and palaver is all about.  It seems that there is something in the human psyche that compels some people to try and knock success off its rightful podium. Some technical journalists have made a well paid career out of knocking companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google etc who are each World leaders in their field.


Rant over - I'll get me coat........

[Dazzler]

But, but I'm very happy with Win 7  and can't see any reason to upgrade. If I am forced to when I upgrade one of our laptops or main PC I will be in touch Alan for guidance in customising it 

I do have a 2 page list of shortcuts that make it more user friendly (I must find and scan and post them at some stage)

[diablo]

I mainly use my Win 7 laptop but my desktop has Windows 8 but use a front-end to make it look like 7. Seems to work pretty well usually.

I wonder if Windows 9 will be better or worse ??

[FatBoy]

I use a Mac.

Something to look forward to in my retirement     

[eye30]

I'm still using XP.

Does what i want do why change and have issues..

I'm still using XP.

Does what i want do why change and have issues..

I'm currently trying to make a bootable USB with an XP installation.  I want to use it for my weather station and website plus solar system monitoring.  XP is less resource hungry and more dependable.

[Aussie Keith]

Excellent. Sounds like a challenge to me. I'm interested in the weatherstation, can you tell us a bit more about that.

[succulant]

I am running Windows 8.1 on my Desktop PC and my Notebook with no problems at all.

However - I don't use the Metro touch screen interface - I have installed the Windows 7 desktop using Start8 third party software.

Hence I have a computer that looks and behaves like it is Windows 7 - but is much faster to boot, has better integrated anti malware and a few other bells and whistles I can't identify because I have now forgotten which ones were not already in Win 7.

I am very happy with Win 8 and frankly don't understand what all the fuss and palaver is all about.  It seems that there is something in the human psyche that compels some people to try and knock success off its rightful podium. Some technical journalists have made a well paid career out of knocking companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google etc who are each World leaders in their field.


Rant over - I'll get me coat........

Here here, I rather reluctantly bought a new laptop a few months ago which has Windows 8.1 and frankly don't see what the fuss is about.  It works fine and after installing a 3rd party piece of software to bring back the start button I have to say I prefer it to Windows 7 due to its ultra fast boot up time.   

[Dazzler]

I run SSD drives on my Laptop and Desktop, making win 7 boot up much faster anyway (so i guess less benefit for me switching) 

[AlanHo]

I run SSD drives on my Laptop and Desktop, making win 7 boot up much faster anyway (so i guess less benefit for me switching) 

You might have a problem then - Windows 8.1 is so much faster than Win 7 - it might boot up before you switch it on....................

[Aussie Keith]

I suspect they have by default install the setting that if applied to Win7 have the same result.

On SSD drives, I have them installed on all the machines here including the router and htpc. The desktop pc's are set to sleep rather than fully shut down and spring back to life as soon as you touch the spacebar or mouse. So startup time concerns are well and truly a thing of the past - if the machine is configured accordingly.

Windows 8 Speed Tests: It's Faster at Pretty Much Everything

The article does show that Win8 performs faster but I doubt its significant for day to day desktop computing.

So for Win7 choose sleep instead of shut down or right click on the start button, select properties, choose sleep for the power button action. Voila. Win7 now starts about the same as Win8.

[Phil №❶]

That's what I do, probably cold start once weekly after I clean the registry & history etc.

[Surferdude]

That's what I do, probably cold start once weekly after I clean the registry & history etc.

I have my laptop configured to hibernate on closing the lid.
Works for me.
But I let my PC start up normally. Doesn't take too long.

Excellent. Sounds like a challenge to me. I'm interested in the weatherstation, can you tell us a bit more about that.

Firstly, I gave up on the bootable USB with XP.  Win 7 is much easier to install from a bootable USB as MS has a tool to create it for you.

Since May 2010 I've had a private weather station running and reporting to a website Karoonda weather.  I've recently upgraded from a basic Fine Offset (Chinese) setup to a Davis Vantage Pro2 (US) weather station.  I use Cumulus software to record data and upload it to the web.

Until recently I had a complex website with heaps of info but have gone back to a basic website. I intend to add features to it in coming months.

[Aussie Keith]

Highest Temperature    46.9 °C 

[eye30]

Highest Temperature 46.9 °C 

My.  That a hot bit of software

[Aussie Keith]

So I checked out the weatherstation on the internet. It sounds like a very serious bit of kit.

[Dazzler]

So I checked out the weatherstation on the internet. It sounds like a very serious bit of kit.

I'm on my tablet at the moment but will check it all out later Bob. I am happy enough with the unmodified weather station I bought off ebay. Just use the info screen supplied.

I might go the next step, computer link or even website when I retire...

Highest Temperature    46.9 °C 

That was last week in the heat wave that came through.