norvik1943 Loc: Jenks, OK and Domazan, France

I now have Win/8 on one laptop and desktop replacement. I'm disappointed and frustrated with it. I didnt' want to buy an I-Pad or I-Phone, I want a personal computer easy to operate, easy access to program of my choice without getting the feeling I have to purchase an ap all the time. I've set mine up to go back to the desktop, minus the Start button which should return in some fashion in mid-October.

Once I find my program icon, ie Photosuite 13 or IE, Chrome, then it's OK, it's just getting there in the I-Phone looking screen environment and trying to navigate without the expected touch screen on the Win 8 icon based screen.

I'm on my Win/8 laptop right now and have my familiar icons across the bottom line, just no Start. Right click the lower left corner though to bring up a semblence of the Start button functions such as Control Panel.

No problem at all processing photos though. I attached a 1TerraByte external drive on USB3 interface and access graphic/photo files dating back to Win3.1 that I still cherish. Much faster access too than the 386SX running a 3 Msec clock. That was a fast PC back then.

My only complaint is that my favorite games such as Solitare, Hearts, and Chess are no longer available. I can find equivalent "APs" which allow me to "check them out" but want to to buy the aps to continue. I tried uploading the Win/7 versions from and they will not even load. Incompatible file errors. Thanx a lot Microsluff for a bloated pig so fat it's inedible.

StephenVL Loc: Los Angeles, USA

In Windows 8 starting any installed program is easy.
1. Get to the start screen. If the start screen is not active just hit the "windows" button just to the left of the left alt key.
2. Start typing the name of the program. Windows will show a list of programs that match your typing.
3. When the program you want shows up just hit enter.

Once you get used to it this is actually faster then the old start menu.

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

Running windows 8 in desktop mode any problems?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Its not a mode. Its where all windows applications except those specifically designed for the Metro screen run. No different then Windows 7. I'm in the desktop 99% of the time. And no, there are no problems.

RJM Loc: Cardiff, S Wales, UK

Was going to say the same thing!

Works brilliantly.

DaveHam Loc: Reading UK

Windows 8 is a difficult operating system to use with a number of products. Also Microsoft is following the lead of Apple and restricting use of some applications to those bought via their store so there are some freebies that worked with versions up to Windows 7 that do not work with Windows 8.

What these greedy people will do to screw more money out of the user!

The suggestion of buying a PC and loading Windows 7 is probably the best at this time.

Windows 8 has not been well received by the IT industry in general and may possibly suffer the same as the infamous Windows Vista.

I for one will not be going the 8 route.

QuickShooter101 Loc: East

Here's a tip for those that are still using windows XP or who are thinking about going back to XP . Microsoft has announced in april 2014 , they will no longer be supplying updates to XP. I have let all my computer customers know this in the past and now . Just wanted to pass this tip on to help my friends here .

RJM Loc: Cardiff, S Wales, UK

Windows 8 has a fast start up.

It was doing my head in until I installed the 'classic shell' to run alongside it. Now I slip between Windows 7 and 8 at a whim and am happy.

I suspect it isn't liked as it's so different.

When I first got my Olympus OM-D I was pulling my hair out with it's menu system..........but now I'm used to it, I like it.

As with anything, it's what you are used too.

tommyf Loc: Vero Beach, FL

Very simple solution.....OS10.8.4; the absolute best and most reliable system out there, especially for working in LR5 or any of the Adobe products. And I have both systems, Mac in Fl, stupid PC in Maine, which will change soon.

Tisdale

If your laptop has a touchscreen, Windows 8 can be a breeze unless you do serious work on your machine. If you do, you have to go back to school. I had it on my HP Desktop for a week. I finally gave up, sent it back and had Windows 7 Installed. You may wish to read David Pogue's Review of Windows 8. Pogue writes the Tech Column in the New York Times and is also author of the "Missing Manual" series of books on Windows Operating Systems. Sage Advice.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Microsoft is going to stop supporting(i.e. no more updates) windows XP soon, so I wouldn't get that. Some new computers are still available with windows 7.

JoeG Loc: Tampa, FL

I spoke to many people using Windows 8 with Touchscreen before purchasing one for my wife. I use Windows 7. I would trade her in a heartbeat for her Windows 8 with touchscreen. It's fast, it's stable, and the touchscreen, keyboard, and mouse give her (and me) great flexibility working with pictures, documents, mail. I'm honored to be the first person to tell you positive experiences with a Windows 8 touchscreen.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

I dual boot my computer, win7 on one drive win8 on another, makes it easier to get use to 8 at your on pace.
When 8.1 comes out, I will decide whether to go all 8 or
stick with 7. It's a learning curve for 8 but you will get it.
It is faster than 7, as stable if no more than 7, works very
well once you get use to it, all the horror are unfounded.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

Not sure why you've heard horror stories "in the real of post processing." Maybe you can expand on that a little.

Easiest way to move pictures (and music in my case) to a new computer is to never keep them on the computer's hard drive. Instead, buy an external USB hard drive and keep them there. When you buy a new computer, all you need to do is unplug the external hard drive from the old computer and plug it into the new computer. Works like a charm!

I recently bought a Lenovo computer with 4 GB of RAM and a 1 TB hard drive with Windows 8. I'm not a big fan of the metro look (or smart phones for that matter), but progress is progress. Then I discovered that one doesn't need to progress with the look if one doesn't want to. Once your Windows 8 computer is up and running and the metro screen appears, simply hit the Windows key on your keyboard (lower left corner usually) and the metro screen magically reverts to a screen looking very much like Windows 7. Then carry on.

Windows 8 is awesome as far as its speed and multi-tasking goes. Each time I move to the latest Windows (and I've been through Windows, Windows 3, Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11 for Worksgroups, Windows 95, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and now Windows 8), I've never been disappointed. As with anything new, though, there's always a bit of a learning curve. Suck it up and learn!

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Dumb question: Do you need a special monoter for a PC to use the touch screen feature?