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Windows 9 confirmed to be free for owners of Windows 8

BibiMaghoo said:
A way to shut down my PC without using a tablet control method would be a great start. It genuinely annoys the fuck out of me doing that with a mouse, because half the time it doesn't work.
Click to expand...

ALT+F4 and then Enter (while on desktop) unless you have previously used that for something else.

Alternatively you can right click the start button and then press shut down.
 
VisceralBowl said:
ALT+F4 and then Enter unless you have previously used that for something else.

Alternatively you can right click the start button and then press shut down.
Click to expand...

Tried alt+ F4 and it shut down my browser haha.

Didn't know you could right click on the start though, that is genuinely helpful to me, thank you.
 
BibiMaghoo said:
A way to shut down my PC without using a tablet control method would be a great start. It genuinely annoys the fuck out of me doing that with a mouse, because half the time it doesn't work.
Click to expand...

Right click the start button.

EDIT: late, but yea once they added that stuff getting anywhere actually became easier than Windows 7.
 
Thanks Apple. I'll probably pick up 8 to get this. 9 will probably be more expensive than an upgrade.

Vista and 8 apologists need to appreciate that Microsoft were victims of their own success with XP and 7.
 
BibiMaghoo said:
A way to shut down my PC without using a tablet control method would be a great start. It genuinely annoys the fuck out of me doing that with a mouse, because half the time it doesn't work.
Click to expand...
You don't need to use the charms bar to shut down (I assume that's what you meant by tablet control method).

You can either
a) Use the power button located beside your profile name/pic on the home screen
or
b) Win+X -> Shut down from anywhere
 
Sir TapTap said:
If it's only free for win 8 users, it's probably not a massive profit drop as:

A) This is probably win 8.2 rebranded, as mentioned, and would have been free anyway if that were the case
B) The target audience of Windows 9 is all the win 7 (or older, bless their poor souls) users out there too scared of Win 8 to buy anything with it's name on the label.

They'll get their money from win 7 upgraders and win 8 people won't have to pay extra, seems win-win. Sure, they're doing some damage control, but that's to be expected. As much as I'm okay with win 8.1 now, at launch it was not a polished or well presented product (by which I mean it was very easy to not realize how to do quite a lot of things, eveni f they were still possible).
Click to expand...
True that.

Some of windows 8 are tablet/laptop. I could feel more margin than windows 7.
 
Would be nice if they'd also let us install Windows 9 directly, instead of first installing Windows 7, then installing a Windows 8 upgrade and finally downloading Windows 8.1/9.
 
BibiMaghoo said:
A way to shut down my PC without using a tablet control method would be a great start. It genuinely annoys the fuck out of me doing that with a mouse, because half the time it doesn't work.
Click to expand...

dont you just right click on the little windows logo in the task bar and choose shutdown??
 
VisceralBowl said:
ALT+F4 and then Enter (while on desktop) unless you have previously used that for something else.

Alternatively you can right click the start button and then press shut down.
Click to expand...

I would add something without a keyboard shortcut or a hack program would be even better. If I pay for a UI I want to be able to use it, not have to bypass it with shortcuts.
 
MightyHedgehog said:
Yep, don't get the hate for it because it's a perfectly fine OS. Still, I don't know why I'd want to go up to Win9, but I'll take it for free.
Click to expand...

Willy Wanka said:
I really like Windows 8.1 so probably wouldn't have upgraded if it was going to cost me but free? Yes, please.
Click to expand...

I agree.

I installed Classicshell and it now looks and functions just like Windows 7 AND contains all of the under-the-hood improvements.

Its flawless.

Windows 8.1 with classicshell is my defacto OS.
 
iceatcs said:
It would be good for windows 8 users but could be massive profit drop for MS. I'm betting still afford from them anyway. Lol
Click to expand...


I think they are also trying to avoid further segmentation between OS's. While Windows 8 adoption is actually growing steadily, it still hasn't overtaken the Windows 7 userbase yet. W3 shows Win 7 with a 51% install base, Steam statistics show a 48% userbase witch is slowly declining, mostly because 7 has been out of retail for so long and people who purchase new PC's. Having Windows 8 as a free upgrade might be a really good way to phase out windows 8 rather quickly and it may even entice some users to jump off the Windows 7 bandwagon. It seems like a pretty good business plan for Microsoft overall.


Netherscourge said:
Meh - I spent 10 years on XP.
Click to expand...

I remember using Windows XP from 2002 till 2007, then I got bored of it and switched to Linux exclusively from 2007 to 2012 with no dual booting. Currently I'm using Windows 7 and I don't have much incentive to upgrade. I will wait and see how Windows 9 turns out, I guess.
 
Ziffles said:
I would add something without a keyboard shortcut or a hack program would be even better. If I pay for a UI I want to be able to use it, not have to bypass it with shortcuts.
Click to expand...
How is using built in Windows keyboard shortcuts considered bypassing the UI, they are part of the UI.

Even then, as of 8.1 there is a power button right on the home screen.
 
Like, all you guys knew about the other shutdown menus. I've had this PC over a year :/

Granted, I don't use the home screen - boot to desktop, don't use WS apps - so wouldn't really use the shutdown in there, but the right click makes me feel pretty stupid.

Thanks Gaf.
 
Cool. I have 8.1.

I was initially resistant because I absolutely hated 8.0 when I tried it at the store. I heard that 8.1 was better but I still didnt care.

Even though I was content to stick with 7, I was building a new computer and figured that the longer I'm a stick in the mud, the more out of touch I'll be with modern tech. Got 8.1 for the new rig.

I actually quite like 8.1, it fixed my main concerns with 8.0 and now I'll get 9 for free. Good deal.
 
ElNino said:
How is using built in Windows keyboard shortcuts considered bypassing the UI, they are part of the UI.

Even then, as of 8.1 there is a power button right on the home screen.
Click to expand...

Because simple keyboard shortcuts became workarounds to what should be a robust GUI. I don't expect grandma to learn keyboard shortcuts or know to have to right-click on the start menu to shut down. I mean, what the hell?

This is why people don't like Win 8, and it left a bad taste in everyone's mouth even with the 8.1 update. You can continue to dismiss it all you want but the weak sales have spoken.
 
I can't start threads so I guess I should just ask what the hell is so much better about W8 compared to 7. Mind you I already have 7 installed on an SSD so I don't know how that affects differences in speed between the two.

If you strip out Metro and just get back to it being a desktop, what's actually better?
 
I'm using 8 at work on a machine w/o touch control and absolutely hate it. To this day I still feel like a 65 yr old man learns how to use a PC the very first time.
 
RedSwirl said:
I can't start threads so I guess I should just ask what the hell is so much better about W8 compared to 7. Mind you I already have 7 installed on an SSD so I don't know how that affects differences in speed between the two.

If you strip out Metro and just get back to it being a desktop, what's actually better?
Click to expand...

There are more stuff under the hood but here are some of the reasons why i like it. The start screen is just better than the old menu. Desktop interface is cleaner and you can access most things faster and with less mucking around. The power management, boot modes, hybrid boot etc. work perfectly and are lightning fast. SSD and other storage support is better and more optimized (trim etc). Support for latest hardware. Superior task manager and many other configuration apps are improved too. The windows update is much less a hassle and works like it should. Great backup features. Last time i saw a blue screen was when i was testing overclocking settings for my cpu. Never saw one after that and the os is super stable. I can't remember having any bigger os related compatibility issues either. I have actually played many games from dx7 period and most of the work out of the box with just compatibility modes. Modern games work fine too and 8 is usually the recommended os by the devs.
 
Ziffles said:
Because simple keyboard shortcuts became workarounds to what should be a robust GUI. I don't expect grandma to learn keyboard shortcuts or know to have to right-click on the start menu to shut down. I mean, what the hell?

This is why people don't like Win 8, and it left a bad taste in everyone's mouth even with the 8.1 update. You can continue to dismiss it all you want but the weak sales have spoken.
Click to expand...
Fortunately for Grandma, there is a power button located right on the home screen so she doesn't need to right-click or use a keyboard shortcut if she doesn't want to.
 
I'm just waiting for Cortana more than anything...because Threshold is gonna be under the hood for Xbox OS as well and Cortana with it, making Kinect understand me better. I'm just thinking of telling my Xbox to set an alarm for me on my phone (because it's all through your MS acct) is what the future is. That and being able to develop for Xbox apps (without XBOX@ID). Can't wait for the next //build/
 
I kind like Windows 8. Sometimes I think that the Metro interface to a desktop user is almost useless (but I use a lot of its email app), but overall I think its pretty good and clean.

Will happly upgrade to W9 though! :D
 
Kssio_Aug said:
I kind like Windows 8. Sometimes I think that the Metro interface to a desktop user is almost useless (but I use a lot of its email app), but overall I think its pretty good and clean.

Will happly upgrade to W9 though! :D
Click to expand...

I loved the Metro Email app until some update forced my computer to require a password on startup. I have never restored my computer to an earlier point so fast
 
martino said:
it is applisation / androidisation of windows
Click to expand...

You install programs just like in windows 7. Sure there is the store and mobile/RT apps but in desktop use, linux and osx app managers are actually closer to how phones do things than this.
 
Ziffles said:
If I pay for a UI I want to be able to use it, not have to bypass it with shortcuts.
Click to expand...

What the.. You are actually serious aren't you. For an oldschool IT guy it's even worse to read stuff like that, breaks my heart, LOL.

"Shortcuts" is THE comfortable and efficient way to navigate any OS or application. For most people "shortcuts" should be the main method to handle an OS in my opinion. Try it, I can guarantee you that after a while with repetitions, you'll never want to go back.


Anyway, I don't shut down my computers, don't see any reason for it, they are up and running 24/7
 
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