The best part of Windows 8 is not Windows 8
You’ve probably heard a lot about Windows 8 and maybe you’re contemplating a new computer. Here is my experience.
I’d been operating off a computer for 4 years that has gotten slow, a bit glitchy, and the memory was pretty much full. Since I spend all of my time in front of my computer, I decided I should upgrade just for the pure reason of time efficiency.
I’m tech savvy, but most of my computer use is traditional business stuff. I had been wrestling with switching to Apple for a while. I ultimately decided not to because of the cost of entry level Mac laptops, I really like the 10-key that’s built into many Windows laptops now, and some of the business programs I use are designed predominantly for Windows.
I went to Best Buy to see what the latest and greatest in laptops was. I looked at all of them and played with Windows 8. It was not intuitive to a business user. I asked a few of the people in the laptop department to show me where the Start menu was. Nobody could consistently make it show up (you’re supposed to be able to drag the mouse up and to the corner in the left or right for it to appear).
The sales people and online reviews said that Windows 8 worked best with touch screens. This is definitely true, but the laptops on the market don’t work best as touch screens. I don’t want to be typing on my keyboard and then have to reach up and swipe my screen. I also don’t want all the greasy finger prints on my computer screen all of the time. Microsoft’s Surface tablet may be a solution to this, and it is pretty cool if you actually use it, but it only runs ‘Apps’ or Internet-based programs. So I can’t download other software to it and won’t have access to Word or Excel files unless I’m actually connected to the Internet (or at least that was the understanding I got from the Best Buy associate). The touchscreen computers that turned into laptops were cool but at the price range of going Mac and I had already decided against that (I can buy two good laptops at $600 which equals the cost of one Mac).
I asked if I could down-grade the computer to Windows 7. You can’t (technically you can, but it involves an equally large nightmare of buying Windows 7 and finding drivers that make your new laptop work on the old system).
After using Windows 8 for a couple of weeks, I’m starting to get the hang of the new Windows 8 system. I know how to make tiles bigger or smaller and arrange them. I've arranged the desktop so I can use it without ever having to see the tile screen. I have figured out the trick to finding the Start menu: ignore the mouse method and press Windows+C. I also have figured out that turning off the computer nearly requires a call to your IT department (try finding the restart or hibernate function – you’ll see what I’m talking about) unless you setup the power settings to just shut it off when you close the lid.
I’ve also figured out the best part of my new Windows 8 computer. It is not Windows 8. It’s the computer. The laptop manufacturers realized they have to compete with tablets. Instead of taking 5 minutes to boot up, the new laptops can take 5-10 seconds. The battery life is getting much better. Screen resolutions have improved. Most laptops have HDMI standard so you can hook it up to TVs with ease. They’re also integrating more multi-touch functionality into the mouse pads (personally, I find this annoying – but some people may appreciate it).
I will say there is one really good thing about Windows 8 though. It’s convinced me that I’m going Mac for my next computer.
About the author: Carl Hirschman is a serial technology entrepreneur with successful exits and founder of CareTree.me, which is participating in the TigerLabs Health Accelerator. CareTree is an online platform to replace the paper records in the home health and senior care industries to make communication easier for all of the branches of care stakeholders (family, caregivers, doctors, and hospitals).
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