An update on the technical difficulties: after five years of faithful service my old computer is not fixable, so that's the bad news. The good news is I managed to find a new tower -- on sale, no less -- and swapped it out last night. Today I'm transferring files and software to the new system.
A couple of early observations:
Overall I think Windows 8 is beyond stupid. I already hate the jumpy picture thing that replaced the start and program main menu. It took me like an hour to get rid of all the vendor crap that came factory-installed, including the idiot XBox games. Don't even get me started on how much fun it is to try to get out of a window you don't want to be in, or the fact that every living thing I close still saves itself as a miniature window on my task bar, so I have to close it twice.
I have nine zillion apps. I don't want any of them. Why are there apps on my damn computer anyway?
I'm now having to jump from using Word 2007 right into using Word 2013. Prayers requested.
I love Adobe Acrobat. I pop in the disc, install, done. No problems. No having to go online and register my life away. Adobe should be designing Windows.
My ancient photoshop program installed and is operating with no problems, which was kind of a miracle when you consider it's almost ten years old. I expect this will be the last computer I'll be able to install it on, so I'm going to have to make an effort to learn the Adobe photoshop program now.
I'm on a connected cloud thing now -- I don't know how, why, or even what that is -- but they connected me. To something cloudish. Look, don't tell me what it is, okay? I'll probably freak out.
Oh dear, sounds dreadful. I'm hanging on to my laptop for as long as it works, and it was purchased in December 2006. XP is no longer supported and I have to go into google chrome for some things because I can't get to that site any more from Internet Explorer because that software is so out of date. But it works and I know how to use it, so I sticking with it till the end. Good luck and don't forget to tell us about your progress.
ReplyDeleteOn the old computer I had to use Chrome for a lot of things too, Fran -- same problem getting certain sites to work with the 14 year old browser I prefer. I've kept my photoshop program for so long because I do know how to use it inside and out, and I'm tired of relearning programs every few years as I have to do with Word for work. Hang onto that laptop as long as you can, because none of this new stuff is an improvement.
DeleteThe cloud scares me, too. I don't want my personal stuff up in some amorphous, ambiguous 'cloud'. It's not like hard drives these days aren't HUGE enough to hold everything I need.
ReplyDeleteYay for getting a new 'puter, though, even if it's kind of a pain in the buns. Soon, I will need to follow you into that dark shadowy place, but not today. :knock on wood:
I opened the cloud window and it looks like I have to do a bunch of stuff to actually use it. So I closed the window and I'm not going back there. If it's another drive I don't need it; I keep everything backed up on stick memory drives as well as an online storage service.
DeleteI avoid the cloud. I don't care what promises they make. When I bought the latest version of Photoshop, I had to go on Ebay to buy the disc since Adobe no longer sells it except by the cloud. I wonder if you're connected to the cloud because you're using Word 2013? When I bought my computer earlier this year, it kept forcing Word 2013 on me even though I have a perfectly good disc of Word 2007. I paid extra for a Geek to remove all the trash computers come with now.
ReplyDeleteI hated to pay for it, but the transfer was painless and less stressful.
Sending you some virtual Tylenol. Good luck!
That might be it, Maria -- I did have to download Word 2013 (another stupidly complicated process) without a disc. I figured I'd get it and learn it because I have clients who are using it, and I need to be in sync with their software. I go through this angst every time they change Word, too.
DeleteHugs! I dread the day my computer dies. I don't want apps. I definitely don't want to be connected to the cloud!
ReplyDeleteWishing you luck at getting everything cleaned up.
I'm still not clear on why Microsoft assumes I want all this app crap, Deb. Have smart phones taken over the business world?
DeleteI 'splurged' on my retirement present to myself and got a Mac and haven't regretted it a day. I bought an el cheapo laptop to test things for my graphic arts classes and it came with Windows 8....HATE IT! Good luck with the new system. You have my sympathy.
ReplyDeleteI never understood why so many people have migrated to Mac, Judy, until yesterday. :)
DeleteAt the end of the month Windows is moving to Windows 10. You should get an automatic upgrade, and you should feel better then! I have Word 2013 on my laptop, but I've kept Word 2010 on my main computer, because I like it better. Best of luck with your new system!
ReplyDeleteYou're going to laugh at this, Lynne, but while I was starting the new system Microsoft offered me a free upgrade to Windows 10, and because I hated the idea of having to learn a new OS a month after buying this one I declined.
DeleteFirst, buy this: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
ReplyDeleteI've been a Stardock member for oh...12 years? Love the company, customer service is the bomb and buying Start8 will be the best $5 or $10 you'll ever spend on Windows 8, which I hate with a passion.
You can uninstall a lot of those apps, but it's tedious and time consuming and the whole idea of Windows 8 was to cater to the touchscreen phone crowd. Unfortunately, that doesn't translate to towers and most full size laptops (which I use.) And now, I can't wait for Windows 10! *drips sarcasm with that comment* But I do hear and read that it's supposed to be better than their dismal failure that is 8, so we'll see.
In the meantime, I'm so glad you're back! :)
Theo, I love you. Thank you.
DeleteAnd once again, I think I missed checking the darned Notify Me button. grrrrrrrrrr
ReplyDeleteThat's okay. I love you so much for start8 I might fly up tonight so I can hug you. Ha.
DeleteYou're not alone. Everybody hates/hated Windows 8.1 so much that Windows 10 will be out the end of this month. According to Microsoft, they heard the complaints and went back to the old desktop. Windows 10 is supposed to be free for 7 & 8.1 users when it comes out.
ReplyDeleteNo I won't tell you about the Cloud ... because you would freak out.
I appreciate that, Fiona. I've been freaking out all weekend, and I need a break. :)
DeleteWhen my last PC died four years ago I bit the bullet and jumped to a Mac. Haven't looked back (so far) because although Apple do the annoying update stuff, they all blend together okay and learning curves are gentle short slopes.
ReplyDeleteYou know who invented the Cloud, don't you? Skynet.