|
|
|
Because, like so many people, I'm a chump
There, I said it. Blearily packing up my bag before CES 2013 I thought nothing of a suggestion to cover the world's biggest technology show using Windows 8.
"It'll be fun - and be a good chance to really put the operating system to the test," someone opined.
I glanced forlornly at my cheap and cheerful MSI netbook, a loyal servant for the last two years and agreed that yes, it would be interesting to use Windows 8 to cover CES.
So into my bag went the Lenovo Yoga 13in, a snazzy looking bright orange laptop that can fold back on itself to become a tablet. Gloriously, when you fold it into 'tablet' mode the keyboard is on the bottom of the device. Admittedly the keyboard does disable itself at this point, but it is hardly going to win any design awards.
Covering an event as big as CES puts a certain strain on the technology used to report on it. From the off Windows 8 wasn't up to the task. Switching between touch apps and traditional desktop mode got annoying inside five minutes. To get the proper Windows 8 experience I also felt compelled to use the touchscreen as much as possible; this was an error.
After one day, I'd had enough. It is partly my fault for not giving it more time, but Windows 8 is a painful, broken experience.
For the first time in many, many years I found myself standing in an Apple store, smiling wearily at an Apple Genius as I handed over money I scarcely had to buy a Macbook Pro. It wasn't a totally impulsive decision - I did need a new laptop and lower taxes in the US (8% here vs 20% in the UK) mean that technology is significantly cheaper.
So I type this on a Macbook Pro. It is easy to use, it doesn't have a stupid touchscreen, its screen doesn't fold back on itself and it doesn't run Windows 8. And yes, I'm a moron.
A new home for the Caps Lock Alert program
Hosting the files for the Caps Lock Alert program on Dropbox wasn't really working. Not least because...
Gmail users: The dot in your email address is irrelevant
For the last few months I've been getting someone else's emails. Recently I received an invitation to...
Minecraft comes to the Raspberry Pi
Great news for all Raspberry Pi owners, especially those hoping to keep their children interesting in...
The broken promise of smart TVs
Smart TVs, or internet-connected TVs as they should really be called, were supposed to make watching...
by Garryjames on A new standard for cooling fans?
by Edgar Mills on A new home for the Caps Lock Alert program
by Dave on Windows 8 - readers' first verdicts
by dave batter on Computeractive Caps Alert Update
Updating your subscription status 
Save money by switching to fast 3G broadband
I don't believe your story
If you had no money, why did you buy a Macbook Pro instead of a Macbook Air? Alternatively, you could have bought a much cheaper Windows 7 laptop. I don't doubt that your dislike of Windows 8 is genuine. But I very much doubt that you bought a Macbook as a direct result of Windows 8. More realistically, you bought a Macbook because you simply wanted one, which is absolutely fine. But why not just say so, instead of inventing some kind of story to justify your purchase.
Posted by WP7Mango, 10 Jan 2013
Oh
I guess having to bite the bullet and go for a MacBook was tough, but given the alternative Win 8, I can understand. I've just bought a 'non' touch screen Win 8 machine on a budget, and to be honest, I got on better with my Win 7 Laptop that I upgraded - figure that one out. I do like 8 and I know Microsoft are not going to budge on this OS and with talk already of 'Blue' coming out sometime this year, I as many, just hope that this upgrade will prove a better investment. I just hope that MS will allow us Win 8's the cheap upgrade price as before. But, if I had the money?? I probably would go for a MacBook too.
Posted by Caroline, 10 Jan 2013
windows 8
Switch to Ubuntu20.10 for trouble free computing mate,and have just renewed my NIS 2013 in seconds,downloaded the trial pack as stated some time ago cost free,bought NIS 2013 for £24,renewed in 50 seconds cant be bad
Posted by Edgar Mills, 10 Jan 2013
I loath W8
I paid the £14.99 (refundable) for a copy of W8. Took 4 hours installing it. Played with it for 20 minutes, then spent 10 hours putting W7 back on my ultrabook. W8 looks like a Fisher price toy computer. Its so unprofessional. Who would use that interface in an office? The desktop clone of W7 that W8 has in the bottom left corner tile lacks functionality and a Start button! Given that 40% of the worlds PCs still use XP why produce a stupid interface, just improve the OS.
Posted by John, 13 Jan 2013
I loath w8
Can't agree more with previous comment I too downloaded up date for my 2 month old laptop lasted 15 min and took it off and got a refund, back to my mac
Posted by John, 24 Jan 2013
Worst window yet
Bought a Acer i3 would be very good but for the toy windows 8 op system. Will probably upgrade to XP. Microsoft should be forced to do it as free upgrade.
Posted by David, 29 Jan 2013
W8 back to W7
Recently bought new Toshiba laptop c/w W8. Load of rubbish!!Tried to instal a new copy of W7 without success. Any suggestions please.
Posted by Ron Cutts, 20 Mar 2013