Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

5 Reasons You Should Upgrade to Windows 8


By Michael Muchmore

October 26, 2012 02:34pm EST


Windows 8 brings significant advantages to those who are upgrading existing PCs or purchasing new ones, thanks to features that better take advantage of the new OS's capabilities. The operating system offers improvements in performance, existing capabilities, and is cheaper. For an indepth look at the OS, read my review of Windows 8, but here are a few of features that make upgrading worthwhile.

I should mention, however, that there are some cases in which you probably shouldn't make the move. The OS has a new look and requires some adjustment in the way you interact with your PC. If you don't like change or learning new ways of doing things—even if in the long run they turn out to be more efficient—you should probably stick with what you're using. Also, if your PC's specs are extremely outdated—less than 1GHz processor or less than 1GB RAM in particular—you won't be able to upgrade. And obviously, if your PC is for work use, your employer may not allow the upgrade. If these issue don't apply, read on.



Microsoft Windows 8













1. Faster startup. On my tests comparing Windows 8 performance with that of Windows 7 on the same computer, Windows 8 started up more than twice as fast as Windows 7. In a comparison with Mac OS X Mountain Lion, running in Boot Camp on a MacBook, Windows 8 even started up faster than Apple's latest desktop operating system. And it's not just startup time: Windows 8 ran several benchmark performance tests quicker than either Windows 7 or Mountain Lion. Microsoft has clearly put work into improving performance in Windows 8.

2. A whole new world of apps. Windows 8 gives PC users a whole new world of full-screen, touch-friendly, Web-connected apps to explore. And these new apps can even display relevant information on their Windows Start screen tiles, something impossible in Windows 7 or just about any other operating system around, save Windows Phone. The new Windows Store—analogous to Apple's iTunes App Store—makes discovering and installing these new-style apps a breeze. The update process is simple, and you can install purchased apps on multiple Windows 8 devices without paying again, provided you're signed in. Finally, uninstalling the apps is streamlined by the Store, with no Registry complications as in past Windows versions' apps.

3. SkyDrive integration. Microsoft's cloud service has become way, way more than just online storage. Sure, it still lets you save and access files to an online space that's accessible from a Web browser or apps that run on not only Windows, but also Mac OS X, iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. But with Windows 8, SkyDrive is accessible to any app that wants to use it, just as though it were a local drive. It also backs up your PC's settings, letting you replicate your environment should you get a new PC.



4. Better Security, Less-intrusive updates. PC Magazine networking and security analyst Fahmida Rashid considers Windows 8 "the most secure version of Windows yet." This stems from a couple of things, starting with Secure Boot. ExtremeTech's Sebastian Anthony explains secure boot succinctly as follows: "Windows 8 stops a computer from loading an operating system that hasn’t been signed by the publisher (in this case, Microsoft or an OEM)." Another security gain is that all apps in the Windows Store are scrutinized for security issues. Finally, Windows 8's default Web browser, Internet Explorer 10, was rated best in a recent test by NSS Labs, detecting and blocking over 99 percent of malicious downloads without any help from a third-party antivirus program. This compared with 70.4 percent for Google Chrome, which uses the same Safe Browsing API as Firefox. Opera and Safari only managed to block about 4 percent of the malicious downloads.

5. First-class touch input, but still fine with keyboard and mouse. In some ways, touch-screen input on Windows 8 is superior that of the Apple iPad. For example, you can do everything you need to by swiping with your thumbs, making a tablet easier to use by holding it by the sides. Also topping the iPad interface is Windows 8's ability to snap a sidebar to the side of the screen with a touch gesture, so that you can keep tabs on two apps at the same time.

But mouse and keyboard are hardly forgotten. The full complement of keyboard shortcuts still works, and navigating through the new interface with the mouse and mouse wheel is almost as intuitive as touch gesture input—though there are certainly some actions where touch is a better fit. Using the Windows Key becomes particularly important, as it summons the Start screen and offers key combinations that let you search, share, change settings, access devices, and more.

FINUCANE how many have been murdered by the state

Dreams and T.

Thank you.

I will think about it.

Thanks Fred, another idea might be say a Pc world gift voucher (if there is such a thing ) seems a shame to buy the wrong pc for your relative, then atleast he/she can have a demo and decide what they want.

Yes, but my daughter is more hesitant than I am.

8--)

Tanker, for what it is worth, you must be ukips worst dream. To have u spouting your views,which could not be supported my any intelligent form of life.In fact over the years I have been able to ignore Fred for his lack of reasoning , but you are even worse.

Go and pick a pink one then Fred, they work well. lol

Fred,

"5 Reasons You Should avoid Windows:"

1-5.. because it's Windows!

As always Fred.. get a Mac and forget about upgrades, security software etc etc.. And a whole shed of down time and money.

Best model on the market skinny. Pink ones work far better than black or silver. :-))

Macs are much, much more expensive. Bang for bucks, you can't beat a PC with windows.

Fred, only wants a door not windows. lol

This has got to be one of the funniest threads on the internet. Thanks chaps :-)

I should add, in all seriousness, that when I go to my local Sainsburys I can get my car handwashed there for £5 by one of the Polish guys who do a great job. At least with some immigrants you know that they are not making bombs in their spare time.

You get what you pay for, buy cheap and you buy twice, "you can't beat a PC with Windows" What proven nonsense you do come out with H/S. Year after year Macs come out top in independent consumer surveys.

Just warn the polish guys not to stand to close to the motor with the high powered jet wash guns as they blew the lights on mine and my sisters with water penetration to the back lights. lol

Ps doodlebug, bring your car to Bishops Stortford Homebase and for £8 more they
wash and hoover the car and destroy all the seals around the lights. Make sure its before lunch otherwise you have no lights to drive home with. I just love 'em'. lol

The sales of PCs are approx 17 times as many as Macs. I don't know who these satisfied Mac owners, but they are being oubought by PC owners somewhat,. I have been in IT since 1965 and have never felt the least temptation to buy a Mac. They are overpriced, underpowered for the money, difficult to upgrade, not much use for gaming, irritating to use and long overdue for the scrap heap.

Dreams.

Read back and you can see why I took what you wrote with a good pince of salt.

But possibly I was using computers when you were in nappies, but haven't bothered to update for 3-4 years and liked buying operating systems tested by the brighter boys.

============
Stan,

Maybe, but I was playing with a MAC yesterday and it means that like myself my daughter would have to relearn hotkeys etc.. To lazy and can't be bothered to change over 30 years of accumulated junk,

=================


Stable,


Are you still backing the tories?

Maybe you should not the horse has bolted,

You guru, Cameron, is being written of as "yesterday's man" and not fit for purpose.

He is do incompetent that he can't even control his own party leave alone the country.

He has been christened the "Mistake a Day Past Minister".


8-)

As usual H/S talking tripe again, this time on Computer platforms when evidence proves him wrong.

Stable,

Leave Tinker alone.

He represents the Right wing of the torie party.

Many, will align themselves with UKIP and the BNP.

I wonder if cash from the Cayman Isles will flow in the party coffers.

Mind Cameron should be able to borrow a bob or two from Beccy's setlement.

The evidence on computer platforms is firmly against Macs. You can't really say that Macs sell less because they have poorer advertising when Apple are better at advertising. People just do not buy Macs. They are too expensive for what you get. They are prettier but poorer value.