Opinion Windows 8?

[Jonathan90]

Hello Guys,

Is it worth getting the Windows 8 Upgrade for my new T530 Thinkpad?

I would like to hear some opinions on it? Are you going for the 14.99$ upgrade?

I am concerned with stability and compatability. I don't want to screw up my new laptop.......

Thanks people

Jon

[tripplec]

For any OS move forward.

1) Install the new OS on a different machine (this keeps what you know and works as a fall back)

2) Install on a different hard drive and redirect to boot from it (if the system will support two HD properly)

3) Install on the existing drive but in a newly created partition. This make the same hardware boot to a OS boot menu which you select which OS you'd want to continue to. Windows 7 -- or --- Windows 8

If you do one of this then you'll ALWAYS have what you know, what works, what all your plug-in peripheral have drivers for and work, and the ability to get done.

You won't be pulling you hair out with the new Windows OS and you and reboot into windows 7 at will. I have such a setup on my HP notebook between XP/Windows 7 (dual boot on the same HD).

 If you've not been through a few Windows changes then I'll tell you. You need to learn it all over again. where to go to do certain things, how to do them, what you can do and where many function appear to be hidden. MS in there wisdom like to change up a lot and that goes for Office as well with each release.

If you WIPE you HD and go straight into it. Odds are you're regret  that move and typically until the 1st service pack the OS need work and patching to stabilize in various area's. I would never ever recommend a ONE only move. You had better have a fall back machine.  Point #1 in my list!!!

[hausman]

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Jonathan90 wrote:

Are you going for the 14.99$ upgrade?

I am concerned with stability and compatability. I don't want to screw up my new laptop.

---

For "conservative" users the general rule with new releases of Windows is that, unless you need some new feature, it's best to wait until the first Service Pack (SP) is released several months after release launch. By then Microsoft will have worked out subtleties that they missed during beta testing and the Internet will be full of sites that offer information and help with installing, configuring and fine tuning Win8. Recall when UAC was introduced in Vista. It took until SP1 for it to become tolerable to most users.

The issue for those of us who are eligible for the $15 upgrade is that this offer will only be available for a limited time (to Jan 2013 IIRC.)

My suggestion is to get the upgrade when it becomes available, download the software and key, then wait until SP1 comes out before installing it. Or as already suggested, install it in a separate partition or spare system first to get acquainted with it before you install it on your main system.

[tripplec]

I additon I would say that a smart OEM would put together an ISO pack including all Windows 8 supporting drivers for the Thinkpad model with a batch installation update for Windows 8.

But I hazard to say thinking that way may be above their pay grade. We'd just have to hunt and patch, installed hopefully getting the systems workng. Cross our fingers it comes together after hours of messing around.

[Jonathan90]

Any other opinions? 

Should I go for the 14.99 upgrade to Windows 8?

What are the pro's and con's?

Thanks guys

[hausman]

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Jonathan90 wrote:

Should I go for the 14.99 upgrade to Windows 8?

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Why wouldn't you get it? It's only $15. You don't have to install it right away.

You could even wait until Win8 SP1 becomes available, then install the base Win8, download/install SP1, etc. and have a Win8 system for $15. 

If you don't get the $15 upgrade under this special offer then it will cost you $40 to upgrade to Win8 under Microsoft's regular offer.

[tripplec]

Of cours getting it whenever its $15 is a no brainer. Then wait to install it somewhere sometime bearing in mind what has been posted already.

[Fullmetal99012]

I like it so far. I'm planning on upgrading, mostly because I'm going to use my developement machine to develop apps for windows 8.  The $15 dollar deal sounds enticing, and I may buy it there too, even though I have access to MSDNAA and Windows from my school bookstore for under 10 bucks.

Pros: From what I've experienced, its faster than windows 7, and on the right hardware, much much faster.

Cons: the UI takes a little bit to adjust to. Some people think its radically different(which it sort of is), but in the RTM version, it has some tutorials to show you how it works.

In my opinion, it's not going to be as bad as people say it is.

[goretsky Community Moderator]

Hello,

I plan on purchasing the low-cost Windows 8 Upgrade as well as the physical media kit for it.  I probably won't install it until I'm sure device drivers are available (either provided with the operating system, from the various silicon manufacturers or Lenovo themselves) for the various pieces of hardware I use on the system.

One thing I read about Windows 8 is that it provides native support for USB 3.0, so this should make installing from a USB flash drive very convenient.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

[RedEd12 Support Specialist - Retired]

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Fullmetal99012 wrote:

In my opinion, it's not going to be as bad as people say it is.

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I agree, I know it's going to be different but I think that a lot of people naturally fear things that are new and unknown, spawning fears and anxiety. I still remember uneasiness folks had when Windows 95 was just about to come out, and although many concerns regarding the changes Windows 8 will have are not unwarranted, I still feel that this is somewhat a normal reaction to change.

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts." - Arnold Bennett.