Windows 8.1

[Praxius]

I just log into my Windows 8.1 with my old hotmail account and log into my Windows Phone 8.1 with the same email address and that's that. Whichever I use, my info is all synchronized.

One of the things I like is on my phone I have a remote desktop app that links directly to my PC through WiFi and my screen on my phone turns into the desktop of my PC & I can essentially do anything I want on the PC through my phone..... It basically makes my Lumia 925 into a mini tablet with Windows 8.1 Pro. While I use the mouse and keyboard on the PC, using the remote desktop app on my phone makes full use of Windows 8.1 touchscreen features.

Videos can be a bit choppy and you can't play a game like Skyrim or what have you, but web browsing, music playback, browsing the hard drive, copying files from one computer to the next, etc. All work fine. The only restriction is anything that requires intensive graphical requirements like a FPS or other 3d games.

Screenshot from my phone:

Oh hell, one more:

 

[MHz]

r u inside the baloon or outside?

 

[Praxius]

Inside I believe.

 

[shadowshiv]

My main problem right now is trying to find ways to get older games to work on 8.1. Games such as Bioshock, Fallout 3, Doom 3.


I do agree with Praxius that it is quite fast, at least compared to XP (that I had on my old PC) and Vista (on a borrowed laptop that crapped out, necessitating the purchase on my new desktop PC). It probably helps that I have an i7 with 8 gigs of RAM (my old PC only had 1 gig of RAM), LOL!


Also, isn't there a way to update to 8.2 (I haven't seen it on the Update page, so I don't know where you'd find it) that would bring the 'Start' button back?

 

[spaminator]

isn't there a way to update to 8.2 (I haven't seen it on the Update page, so I don't know where you'd find it) that would bring the 'Start' button back?

the latest version of windows is windows 8.1 update 1. if you want to install update 1, you can install it using the windows update option in windows 8.1.

 

[Praxius]

Those games "Should" work with Win8.1

Have you tried the compatibility modes for the games and running as Admin?

 

[MHz]

here is something that might work on the old laptop and to get the touchscreen goodies get a wireless keyboard with a touchpad rather than a mouse Ubuntu and Debian, Red Hat is just as big. use the same installers so the newest games can be had for free.
https://spins.fedoraproject.org/kde/#downloads
Ubuntu PC operating system | Ubuntu
Ubuntu on phones | Ubuntu

 

[Praxius]

Man I tried to use Linux (Red Hat and Ubuntu) a few years back and quite honestly, they were next to useless on their own, the programs available were limited and while the OS is free and somewhat easy to install, anything beyond that required a lot of internet searching for getting things the way I was familiar with, there was a lot of running around to see if my existing programs would work, finding the drivers for my video card alone was a nightmare and half the things I needed to do to get it all up to par involved coding and crap.

It might be something someone might be really interested in doing in order to save a few bucks in the short term, but for me, it wasn't worth the hassle, I went back to Windows 7 (at the time) which was included with the PC I bought and when Windows 8 came out, Microsoft had the special going for a few months of $40.

Plus with so many Linux OS's out there and so many people saying this version is crap or that version is better, etc.... It's just too much of a hassle.

People complain that Microsoft doesn't seem to know what they are doing, but all those people working on Linux around the world need to stop clouding their own market with so many versions, varieties and design setups..... And focus on at least 2-3 versions.....

Distributions | Linux.com

^ There are 79 Desktop OS's alone.... Excluding all the other types they have.

That I believe will continue to be Linux's main problem and why it will be difficult for them to ever surpass Mac OS or Windows in the PC market. Free is meaningless when what you expect and what you want to do includes countless hoops and run arounds the average consumer has to deal with.

You have a better chance and easier process in downloading and installing a pirated Windows / MacOS than you do with a legal and free Linux.

 

[MHz]

Pirated XP makes a great pic on the desktop but support is running out I just did an install in a dual core that that had win7 and mn was it slow, Ubuntu 10.04 installed everything on the first go and it is 4x as fast using firefox. Once you get to the avaikable software for installation that will take you a long time because the list is so long . If you want the old hacker type of desktop that is even faster as you design it from scratch. Wine is the program that lets you run most windows installers inside Linux. Just in the last while two older boxes with OS from the factory failed the validation test even though it has worked in the past. Install was from a 2gb jump drive created from an i386.iso This 2nd win box (Acer) that failed is getting the 64bit version and then I'll resolve the number issue. (update the 6core desktop to win 8.! as an upgrade and install that retail version to this box of get a keyboard with a touch pad and start learning the new OS methods. These Linux boxes should install touch-screen software as the mouse looks like it is about to be replaced by rat tails on the screens,

 

[JLM]

I wish people would quit inventing sh*t, I've been lost ever since the 386 went out of style! -

 

[MHz]

What is that, 'Stop the world I want to get off?' Think of it a your 'bonding time' If the 386 could do what a modern phone does we might still be using them. The part I don't like is you just get used to something and it breaks and the part that breaks is the only part no longer in production. I'd hate to think the old butter churn could be adapted to water purification or the wild wringer washer could be had with a spring driven motor.

 

[darkbeaver]

I wish people would quit inventing sh*t, I've been lost ever since the 386 went out of style! -

I can't even remember my first computer exposure, VT 180, at work , it replaced me, my job was to replace me with a computer. Everything went smoothly, I got promoted, sort of, Win 95 I think was loaded on my first purchase of hardware. I think I must have had a ton of printers by now, literally, slight exageration, What's the average lifetime supply of all this stuff? Why does it have to go faster, I'm way behind, I think stop and have a cigarette.

 

[shadowshiv]

Those games "Should" work with Win8.1

Have you tried the compatibility modes for the games and running as Admin?

Hey Prax.


I was able to get them working. Bioshock was easy to install (I have it at full settings, with 1600x1200 resolution...I could set it higher, but it would be Widescreen, which I don't want) and I have played it. From what it looked like when I played it on my old system to what it looks like now...WOW...what a difference. It looks absolutely amazing, NO stuttering, and loads so fast I don't even have time to read the load-up screens! LOL!


As for Fallout 3, I was able to get it working, and have downloaded some Mods (Fellout, Fallout Street Lights, Enhanced Weather, Bittercup as a Companion, etc.). It looks pretty sweet!


Neither of them needed to use Compatibility Mode (at least not so far), and when the computer was set up, they set me up as the Admin as a default.

 

[darkbeaver]

Bio shock I remember it, good game fun, I need a game now.

 

[shadowshiv]

I wish people would quit inventing sh*t, I've been lost ever since the 386 went out of style! -

My first PC: 386. I upgraded when I could not play Doom 2 (it would freeze).


My second PC: Pentium III 450. I upgraded when I could not play Baldur's Gate without it looking like a slideshow at parts.


My third PC: AMD Athlon X2 3600+ Dual Core. 1 GIG Ram, GeForce GTX 7800 OC(over clocked). I had to upgrade as XP support had ended, I experienced some crashes, particularly here, and could not play any new games.


My fourth PC: Current one. I believe I gave the stats in an earlier post. Now that I am getting a little more used to Windows 8.1 I am hating it a little less.


Besides the 386, I still have my two older computers. I wish I could access the HD of the 450 as there were a lot of MP3s that I would have liked to copy over.

Bio shock I remember it, good game fun, I need a game now.

I just loved the whole atmosphere of the game...and the turning point in the game....holy crap! I won't say it here as I don't want to spoil anyone that hasn't played it yet, but it was surprising to say the least!


I also own Bioshock 2 but did not play it as I don't think my old computer would have been able to run it properly.

 

[MHz]

I also own Bioshock 2 but did not play it as I don't think my old computer would have been able to run it properly.

Steam Community :: Screenshot :: Rapture - BioShock 2 - Debian GNU/Linux - Wine 1.7.9

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=17740&iTestingId=70129

Linux - Install on Windows 7 Virtual Machine using VirtualBox - Windows 7 Help Forums

A few ways to let you try old games with new software and play Linux only games without altering your windows OS

two older computers. I wish I could access the HD of the 450 as there were a lot of MP3s that I would have liked to copy over.
.

Your mission Jim, (should you decide to accept it) is to retrieve said files from hard-drive that is in the land of the enemy by firing up the old machine and network the files over to a better system via a serial cable connection.
Linux on a jumpstick might be all you need to add in the speciality items that would be part of an on-line repository (as long as the drive spins up it should be able to be mounted.

Mission 2 is convert all the atari cassettes programs to mp3's so you can play pong on the phone as texting is way too dangerous.

 

[DaSleeper]

So far.... I simply hate windows 8.1.................
First, they practically want your life story just for the set-up...
Then I never saw a windows system with so many updates in just a couple of years...
When I updated my old xp box to windows 7 a few months ago it took only a couple of hours with a full format and all the windows updates.
with 8.1......at least 2 gigs of updates with multiple reboots.....then the apps might be ok for an appliance with a touch screen, but with a mouse????
The instructions for a classic start/up. shut down screen, from Microsoft didn't work so I had to install an application for that....
Even disabling the bloody password login that Idon't need, was a pain because they had also changed the procedure for that...
Now I will have to find a new mail program, because 8.1 doesn't support POP type mail which is what I have with my internet server and the mail address I've had for 18 years....
Anyone have a suggestion for a mail program similar to outlook express????







Signed: Frustrated with Microsoft............

 

[spaminator]

So far.... I simply hate windows 8.1.................
First, they practically want your life story just for the set-up...
Then I never saw a windows system with so many updates in just a couple of years...
When I updated my old xp box to windows 7 a few months ago it took only a couple of hours with a full format and all the windows updates.
with 8.1......at least 2 gigs of updates with multiple reboots.....then the apps might be ok for an appliance with a touch screen, but with a mouse????
The instructions for a classic start/up. shut down screen, from Microsoft didn't work so I had to install an application for that....
Even disabling the bloody password login that Idon't need, was a pain because they had also changed the procedure for that...
Now I will have to find a new mail program, because 8.1 doesn't support POP type mail which is what I have with my internet server and the mail address I've had for 18 years....
Anyone have a suggestion for a mail program similar to outlook express????







Signed: Frustrated with Microsoft............

there is a package called windows live essentials. part of windows live essentials package is a program called windows live mail. Windows Essentials - Download Windows Live Essentials

 

[MHz]

Anyone have a suggestion for a mail program similar to outlook express????







Signed: Frustrated with Microsoft............

Thunderbird, it keeps a copy on your HD under the 'roaming' folder.
Get ready to ditch the mouse so get a big tab to replace it 6"x6" would not be too large for a desktopand the OS should mirror what any touchscreen does.
Win8 should have the option of showing more icons that need surfing just to find them, only the first time takes a long time.

WinFF is the (Ubuntu) program to change video files to audio in a batch setting.

 

[DaSleeper]

there is a package called windows live essentials. part of windows live essentials package is a program called windows live mail. Windows Essentials - Download Windows Live Essentials

Thanks Spammy, I happened to hit on it as soon as I logged off this afternoon, and it works just like outlook express.
And windows live mail is especially handy because I can access all my mail accounts at the same time.
Another nice thing about it, the mail box I use for bills and business and friends is my <@ntl. sympatico.ca> account, and when I'm out of town like I am now, I can't answer with that account unless I change the smtp address to the server that I'm using at the time, which is rogers right now.
With live mail I can answer using gmail which is not a POP3 server, and show my ntl.sympatico return address in the header so as not to mix up my contacts...lol
It was also easy to import my contacts from the vcards I had brought on a usb stick.
The next PC I set up should be easier...:lol: