Windows 8 News, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

03/12/13-Windows 8 News, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

The Good.  No such thing as bad media.
Windows 8 continues to dominate Tech News and is on the minds of all it's devoted detractors.  I don't know why the outpouring of negative news concerning Windows 8.  I have received positive reviews from nearly 100 percent of my colleagues and clients who are using the latest OS and other than a couple of devices that were not supported, implementations have been trouble free.  In shops that took advantage of the unbelievable $39.99 upgrade special to Windows 8 Pro, they have experienced increased performance out of their old hardware.

and for all you Windows 8 warriors a couple of good links to enhance your experience.

http://blog.laptopmag.com/15-essential-windows-8-keyboard-shortcuts

http://blog.laptopmag.com/top-10-windows-8-apps

The Bad.  Microsoft screwed up.
I have been using Windows 8 since it first came out as a beta version in 2011.  I bought an Acer Iconia W500 tablet with Windows 7.  The tablet was too sluggish with Windows 7 plus it lacked the pizzazz of an iPad or Android tablet.  I immediately jumped on Windows 8, upgraded the tablet and voila!  I have loved the tablet and OS ever since.

When the OS was released the bad press and false statements surfaced.  There has been enough false press and statements to stall both Snopes.com and urbanlegends.about.com fact checking servers.

You must have a touch screen, FALSE.
They did away with the Desktop, FALSE.
yada, yada, yada, FALSE.

In fact it is very ease to navigate the OS with mouse and keyboard only.  The familiar desktop is alive and well.  It is accessible via Windows key, alt+Tab or simply clicking on the desktop tile.  Everything was great to me but then I read an article about consumers and computer users in general that made me think that I had been wrong about Windows 8 and the associated backlash.

Computer users defined:

·         A tiny percentage (say one percent) of users are experts, with a high tolerance for learning.
·         A few more (say nine percent) of users are willing adopters — they have an expectation that the product will meet their needs, and some (albeit low) tolerance for learning.
·         The remaining 90 percent of users just use technology to get a job done and have no tolerance for learning at all. These are mainstreamers.  (remember this term I will used it later).

After reading this article I concluded that Microsoft did make two glaring mistakes that I hope they fix and soon.

1.  The default interface on boot is the Metro UI.  This is an assemblage of Tiles for Apps which is great for Tablets and Phones and there is a Tile for the Desktop that upon selection opens the familiar Windows 7 desktop which computer users are accustomed.  No problem for me but why not allow a choice of which interface to be the default upon Start up.  Also Microsoft, allow the user to easily turn off the Charm Bar and all Metro Apps that keep causing the user to jump from Desktop mode to the Metro UI interface and consequently wondering how to close the App and return to the desktop.

2.  The second needed change is to return the Start Button if only for the sake of continuity between Windows 7 and Windows 8.  This is a prime example of the 10 percent and 90 percent users.  Why the drastic change in the way to do basic tasks?  The basics should just flow from one OS to the other.  Both of these miscues have been addressed by 3rd party sources but these changes should be incorporated into Windows 8 right out of the box.  Consumers don't want to have to research or make these changes nor should they.

I have a 12 year old Apple iMac with OS X v10.2 (Jaguar, see Note A) and with each successive new Apple OS that has been released since then, the basic way of navigating and performing tasks have remained the same.  This allows users to do what is important, get their work done and check out the new features later rather than having to relearn the basics of how to perform tasks and where these tasks are located.

The link below explains what I consider the Bad.

http://www.zdnet.com/will-90-percent-of-users-always-hate-windows-8-7000012348/?s_cid=e539

The Ugly.  The Media is biased towards Android and Apple.
I have listed 3 news links after my comments below.

The first link is to an article about a CEO who wanted to implement Lenovo's Yoga Ultrabook running Windows 8 Pro as the tool of choice for her traveling staff.  She wanted the combined effectiveness of a tablet for presentations and a notebook for productivity.  The negative points for her was 1.  Dropbox which her company relies on.  The Dropbox App did not sync properly and lacked the synced file folder she was accustomed to.  2.  She did not like having to sign into Windows using a Microsoft account.  She had to use a long-abandoned Hotmail account and 3.  The Lenovo's screen orientation (rotation) did not work properly in Tent mode for presentations.

Several posters as well as myself responded that points 1 and 2 were wrong.  On point 2, Windows 8 during setup gives you the option of signing in as a Local User rather than using a Windows Account.  She was obviously in too much of a hurry to read the screen when setting up and the columnist was in too big of a hurry to check the facts and verify this.  It makes you wonder if the journalist had even used Windows 8.

I don't know about the Dropbox App but I do know that in Desktop mode you can open a browser, download and install Dropbox as before with the synced File folder, no problem.  Don't know why the columnist didn't check this either.  As far as the her 3rd point about the screen orientation problem with her Lenovo Yoga, I have a Lenovo Twist which does not rotate properly in tablet mode.  However, I look at it as more of a manufacturer/driver issue than a Windows 8 problem.

I can't fault the CEO of the company, the screen rotation would be a huge problem for her needs and she stated that she was not an IT person.  I do fault the journalist for failing to check and report facts rather than spread innuendo.  I guess he didn't care.

The second link is to an article by a journalist who I enjoy reading but he has a slant toward Linux.  I use Linux and it has apps and browsers that allow me to enjoy the internet, compose a letter, create a spreadsheet and check email without problem.  However to run Windows programs which I need for my accounting and for compatibility issues I have to use a Terminal or emulation program both of which are detrimental to performance.  My clients who are Apple based use Parallels to run Windows programs.  They pay 3 times more for the Apple hardware simply to run Windows programs more slowly, go figure.  

His main points in this article are about the useless Metro Interface and that there are no new innovations in the Desktop.

While I think and stated previously that the user should be able to push the Metro interface to the background rather than front and center, I don't think it is useless.  Trying to print from an iPad or iPhone is useless without an Apple AirPort or a restrictive work around App.  That is what Metro is about, the inclusiveness of Tablets and phones in the IT environment.

a little good with the ugly, Window Phone Kid Test, http://news.cnet.com/8301-33620_3-57573982-278/will-they-switch-the-kid-test-windows-phone-vs-iphone/?tag=nl.e404&s_cid=e404&ttag=e404

The Desktop not being innovative is kind of Apple like good, continued familiarity for users (mainstreamers) who don't like change.

The third link is by the same columnist who writes another article lamenting the fact that he can't dual boot his Windows 8 machine into Linux because Microsoft UEFI, Secure boot prevents ual booting of non Windows OSs on new machines.  The fact that dual booting the leading manufacturer machines because of Microsoft UEFI, Secure boot that prevents Dual booting of OSs on new machines points to the lack of demand for Linux technology by the 90 percent of consumers who just want to accomplish their work, the mainstreamers.

I will build a machine this week using the latest all new parts and put to the test this controversy about not being allowed to dual boot OSs that are not Microsoft.  I will use either Ubuntu's latest distro or Mint and report back upon completion with my findings.

Funny how there are no complaints about not being able to install Apple's IOS on Intel hardware that costs two thirds less than the same hardware from Apple, because it is illegal to do so and Apple will sue.  No complaints at all.

The Ugly:

http://www.informationweek.com/smb/hardware-software/windows-8-convertible-my-3-month-test-dr/240150093?cid=nl_IW_daily_2013-03-07_html&elq=7610a86edd5b4eb3877710c549dba153

http://www.zdnet.com/five-reasons-why-windows-8-has-failed-7000012104/

http://www.zdnet.com/linux-on-windows-8-pcs-some-progress-but-still-a-nuisance-7000010697/


Notes:
a.  In 2002 Mac OS X v10.2 Jaguar, replaced Puma which replaced Panther and although with the exception of when Apple migrated from the Power PC chips made by Motorola to Intel (remember they told us they had the fastest chips but for some reason changed to Intel), I don't think Apple has ever come out with a completely new operating system.  Rather Apple's  "new Releases" are bug fixes which incorporate new features to keep pace with the marketplace.

b.  I think one of the reasons many clients have been so satisfied with Windows 8 has to do with the performance of the new Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 desktops.  The 64 bit OS coupled with the increase in available RAM dramatically improves the computing performance for all users.

New Mac Malware threats

I was contacted yesterday by a client whose Mac was compromised and her identity was stolen.  She asked me to check her Windows computer at work since she had used the Mac via GotoMyPC to access it remotely from her home.

We have anti-virus software installed on all the workstations at her office and the server, however it is always good to cross check with a top notch program like Malwarebytes which we can run manually when needed. Fortunately the workstation and SBS 2003 server were both clean, unfortunately for Mac users, they can no longer sit back smugly because of the erroneous perception that  IOS is invulnerable.  It wasn't a target before because it was too small of a market for hackers to target.  Today is a different story, as of January 2013 Apple's OS X has gained 7.08% and iOS has 60.56% of the Mobile Operating System market (as per Wikipedia), and there are new malware threats emerging every week targeting Mac users.

http://www.techspot.com/news/51689-new-mac-virus-skirts-gatekeeper-initiates-creepy-reverse-shell-connection.html

http://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/new-targeted-attack-on-tibetan-activists-using-os-x-discovered/

http://blogs.computerworld.com/malware-and-vulnerabilities/21807/yes-mac-malware-real-even-apple-hacked-itbwcw

Which brings me to this, What anti-virus software is available for MAC users?

Intego is at the forefront of tracking and reporting new MAC malware threats and apparently has a very good product.  Their Mac Internet Security 2013 Standard is available at $37.48 online.

If you use a Mac you have already made an investment in hardware and you need to protect it to prevent what happened to my client which required wiping the system clean and re-installing everything.  Most importantly you can prevent the trouble and time to reclaim your identity.

The link below ranks the top 5 Mac anti-virus programs.  If you use a Mac and it is unprotected you owe it to yourself to at least check out what is available.

http://www.technewsdaily.com/best-mac-antivirus-software/

and Thanks for reading!

Google's $199 Chromebook. What is slowing Windows down?

Acer C7 Chromebook from Google Play, $199


What can  you get for $199?

Dual-core Intel Celeron Processor
2 GB DDR3 RAM
320 GB hard drive
Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2x2
Built in Ethernet/audio/HDMI/VGA/3 x USB 2.0
100 GB of Google Drive Cloud Storage for 2 years.

Allegedly, a hassle-free computer. Starts in seconds. No annoying updates. No expensive software to buy. Built for everyday use and perfect for sharing with others.

That's what Google says but is a Chromebook for everyone.  If consumers are having such a difficult time figuring out Windows 8 how will they ever adapt to the Chrome OS and life in the cloud?

It's not that hard really.  The Chromebook boots in seconds, stays up to date without the annoying update process.

The Chromebook is an excellent choice for those who need more than internet access or email.  It has a built in keyboard which allows for more productive tasks.  The Chromebook combined with remote access sites such as LogMein allow access to your office/home PC while on the road at an affordable price.

If at a minimum you have an Outlook.com account then you can create Word, Excel or Powerpoint docs using the built in Applets that come free with the account.

Let's face facts, if I have access to a good desktop I am not going to use a notebook and I know many of my clients are the same way.  So why have an expensive notebook that is under utilized when for $199 you could purchase a ChromeBook?

Sound back and let me know what you think.

What Does Slow Windows Down Over Time?

(A reprint of a Dec 28, 2009 article)

http://lifehacker.com/5435523/you-dont-need-to-regularly-reinstall-windows-heres-why

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that your Windows PC will never slow down—because for many people, they almost always do. What actually slows your PC down are too many poorly written applications that stay resident in memory and waste CPU cycles, having too many badly written low-level applications that hook into Windows, or running more than one antivirus application at a time. And of course, if you've run your PC's hard drive out of space, you can hardly blame Windows for that.
If you aren't getting the picture, the problem is usually the person behind the keyboard that installed too many junk applications in the first place. More gently put, it's often that (very well-meaning) person's gradual easing of their safeguards and cleaning regimens as time goes by.

Stop Installing Junk Applications

Installing software should be thought of like feeding your PC. If you constantly feed your PC garbage apps, it's going to get sick and won't be able to run fast anymore. These poorly written applications clutter your drive with unnecessary DLL files, add always-resident Windows services when they don't need to, bloat up your registry, and add useless icons to your system tray that waste even more memory and CPU cycles. Usually you can get away with using a few terrible applications, but as you continue to install more and more of them, your PC will slow down to a crawl.

Be Smarter About What You Do Install

We feature and recommend a lot of software applications around here, but you should keep in mind that we aren't trying to tell you to install every single one of them at the same time-just install the applications that you actually need and you'll generally prevent the dreaded format and reinstall.
Here's a few tips to help you know what applications you should be careful with:

• Apps that function as an Explorer plug-in, because they directly hook into the shell and any problem will make your entire PC slow or in the worst case, crash repeatedly.
• Antivirus applications are notorious for slowing your PC down, and you should never, ever, ever use more than one real-time antivirus application at a time. We recommend Microsoft Security Essentials as a free, fast, and awesome antivirus tool.
• Anything that says it will "Speed Up Your PC" or "Optimize Your RAM" will most likely slow it down, or best case, do nothing at all. Avoid these like the plague.
• Make sure to install official system drivers from the manufacturer website. Drivers have a huge impact on performance, and you want to have stable, updated drivers.
• Registry cleaners are a mixed bag, and really aren't going to speed up your PC in most cases. The biggest problem, however, is that too many of the commercial registry cleaners set themselves to run at startup in the system tray, wasting your memory and CPU cycles.
• You should strongly consider the idea of using portable applications wherever possible, since their self-contained nature means they won't clutter up the rest of your PC with things you don't need.

Keep Your Computer Clean and Trim

Once you've rid yourself of your junk application habit and resolved to only use healthy, useful applications, you'll want to make sure to keep your PC clean of any remaining clutter that doesn't need to be there. You can set up a shortcut to manually run CCleaner silently with the push of a button, but your best bet is to set up CCleaner to run automatically on a schedule, so you don't have to remember to do it.
Since CCleaner is only going to clean up temporary files, you'll still need a good solution for keeping the rest of your PC clean-and Lifehacker's own Belvedere can help you automate your self-cleaning PC or automatically clean up your download folder.
With all of this automated file deletion going on, your hard drive is likely to get a bit fragmented. If you're already running Windows 7 or Vista, automatic defrag comes out of the box and probably shouldn't be messed with, but Windows XP users will need to use Windows Tasks to setup a schedule and automatically defrag their drives.

Use a Virtual Machine or Sandbox to Test Software

If you still want to test out all of the latest software, including apps that look a bit rough around the edges, your best bet is to use a virtual machine to test out anything before putting it onto your primary operating system. You can install all of your software in an XP or Windows 7 VM just like it was a real PC, and with the latest VMWare player releases, you can even enable Windows Aero in a guest VM. If you are new to the idea and need some more help, you should check out our beginner's guide to creating virtual machines in VirtualBox, or Windows 7 users can check out our guide to using XP Mode. If you don't want to go the virtual machine route, Windows XP and Vista users can alternatively use Windows SteadyState to protect their PC and roll back all of the changes on a reboot.

Windows 8 Pro, $69.99 last chance to save

It's over!  The opportunity to save $160 passed with the end of January 31, 2013.  If you access the download site today you will find that the purchase price of Windows Pro upgrade is now $199.99.  They have added the basic Windows 8 version for $119.99 which can only upgrade Home versions of previous Windows OSs.  You cannot use this version to upgrade Windows 7 Business or Professional editions.

However if you missed your opportunity to save $160 by purchasing Windows 8 download for $39.99 you possibly have one last opportunity to save $130 but you must hurry.

Last night when it became hopeless to attempt to download the version from overtaxed credit card processors (PayPal was the only sure option), I visited the local Office Depot to purchase 2 copies of Windows Professional with media for $69.99.  I ended up getting only 1, the last copy the store had in stock.  However, the manager informed me that consumers would be able to purchase the product from existing stock through Saturday 02/02/13.  As of this a.m. the Perimeter Store still had the $69.99 version available.  I checked with Staples and the $69.99 edition is still available in stock.

This last chance is apparently available at brick and mortar retail stores since I have been unable to find the $69.99 version at any of the online retailers, TigerDirect and others.

Where else can you get such great information than the Driving Force Blog.  Happy savings!

And if you thought Windows was dead, here are the latest statistics on the installed base of desktop Operating Systems.  The clients I have who actually use their MACs to work (aside from the ones who only surf the internet and use email) all have Windows emulation software, either Parallels or WinDoze so they can actually be productive.  The performance isn't the same but at least there are applications for what they need.

As of 01/31/13, updated with release of Windows 8

Windows 8: Key Features by Version

Feature name	Windows 8	Windows 8 Pro	Windows RT
Upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium	x	x
Upgrades from Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate		x
Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles	x	x	x
Windows Store	x	x	x
Apps (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, SkyDrive, Reader, Music, Video)	x	x	x
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote)			x
Internet Explorer 10	x	x	x
Device encryption			x
Connected standby	x	x	x
Microsoft account	x	x	x
Desktop	x	x	x
Installation of x86/64 and desktop software	x	x
Updated Windows Explorer	x	x	x
Windows Defender	x	x	x
SmartScreen	x	x	x
Windows Update	x	x	x
Enhanced Task Manager	x	x	x
Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs)	x	x	x
Better multiple monitor support	x	x	x
Storage Spaces	x	x
Windows Media Player	x	x
Exchange ActiveSync	x	x	x
File history	x	x	x
ISO / VHD mount	x	x	x
Mobile broadband features	x	x	x
Picture password	x	x	x
Play To	x	x	x
Remote Desktop (client)	x	x	x
Reset and refresh your PC	x	x	x
Snap	x	x	x
Touch and Thumb keyboard	x	x	x
Trusted boot	x	x	x
VPN client	x	x	x
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go		x
Boot from VHD		x
Client Hyper-V		x
Domain Join		x
Encrypting File System		x
Group Policy		x
Remote Desktop (host)