Microsoft Windows 8 Pro - Upgrade [Old Version]

I started reading the reviews here to decide whether to reinstall Windows 7 or go for an upgrade. After seeing the large number of negative and derisive comments about Windows 8, especially from experienced and professional users, I almost decided against it. Fortunately, I also reviewed some you-tube videos from some professional developers and read reviews, which dispelled my fears of an "impossible to navigate with the mouse" and unwieldly graphic-intensive user interface.For the record, I've been around PC's before there even was a Windows or even a mouse for that matter, and I'm a professional database developer and an IT manager. So, when I say this is the best Windows yet (8.1), I'm going waaay back for comparison. To you touch-screen types, you'll feel right at home with the tile-oriented start screen and application menu. To you power-users high-end work station types, no worries. You can boot right to the desk top on two monitors, and a simple click of the start button (8.1) can put you right into the application menu. I have no loss of productivity, and navigation is just as fast once I quickly got used to clicking in a couple of different places. I really like the new functionality, the clean look of the new interface, and just enjoy the new colors! As for the "missing" start menu, just put your most used programs on the task bar so you don't even have to use a menu. (If you use the "small icon" option on the task bar, you can easily fit at least 20 icons there.)What I've determined is that most all of the negative reviews are from people who don't like change, period. But that's just silly, especially when you can make it function essentially just like Windows 7. The computer culture marches on (I've been in the middle of it for 35 years) and if you dig in your heels and refuse to change, you'll just get left behind. Then there's the people who have a problem with this or that device, or some crash on the install. Well, that's just life in the OS upgrade world. If you search the net for any OS from Apple or MS, you can find hundreds of things that went wrong on the install. But the problem is not the OS itself--it's just some unforeseen variable or peculiar configuration of your system. And then there's the comparison to Vista. Well, it's not Vista, it's a rebuilt Windows 7. Yes Vista was bad, really bad. But Windows 8 has had much praise for the nuts & bolts stability and quickness.A few words about installing Windows 8:-I bought Windows 8 here then upgraded through the app store to 8.1 because it saved me a hundred dollars. But if money is no object, just get 8.1 and be done with it.-Install on a drive with at least 100 GB free. Yeah, I know, they say 25GB is all you need, but believe me, Windows system drive will grow and you definitely do NOT want to run out of room on your system drive. Always a good idea to run Windows disk cleaner first.-I installed Windows 8 with the "don't save anything" option for the cleanest install.-If you are trying to install on another hard drive, be forwarned that Windows 8 will install as a dual boot without asking you. Not a big deal, because you can get around it with a little research.-Once you're up and running with Windows 8, go straight to the Window's "Store" tile and hopefully you will see a big tile inviting you to upgrade for free to 8.1. Lucky you, go for it! But probably you won't see that, at least for the version I got from Amazon (must have been sitting on the shelf a while). So just run Windows Update and let it do it's thing. It took me quite a while because there were tons of updates. But you have to do this before you can see the invitation to upgrade in the app store. (Actually, there's just one update they say you really need, but it's not for the average user to try and isolate it.)Side note: I always opt for a re-install rather than upgrading existing files. Sure, it takes longer to re-install applications, but it's so worth it to end up with a clean and maximally stable install. Why ask your brand spanking new Windows to bend itself over backwards to accommodate a bunch of old settings and configurations? It really complicates things behind the scenes. Plus, there's usually a whole bunch of stuff I don't really need any more. Just back up your data, or, if possible, dedicate your system hard drive to Windows only, and put everything else on a different one.There are lots of nice preferences and fun things about the new graphical interface to play with. If you're savvy with a smart phone, much of this will be pretty intuitive. One thing I'll mention that may help a lot: when you want to close one of those full screen apps and don't see a way, know that you can "grab" (click and hold) the top of the screen and drag it down to the bottom. Closed! (Alt-F4 also still works).So, enough said. Don't pay any attention to those detractors who say they can't navigate or that it's clunky or that they'll be dammed if Microsoft is going to dictate a new look and feel! You can enjoy all the new stuff you want, or you don't have to use it at all. I never thought I'd say it (I hate a lot about Microsoft), but Microsoft has hit a home run! Well done.

I read many of the reviews which discuss the Windows 7 to 8 upgrade and the usability of Window 8. I recently upgraded one of my computers to Windows 8 (8.1) to be able to make some assessments for myself before moving any of my other computers. Here is what I observed.1. Windows 8 v. 8.1. There are a number of shortcomings in Windows 8 that were addressed in 8.1. I feel that 8.1, as an OS for personal use or business, is ready for prime time – in fact there are some nice usability features which I believe many people are just not aware of yet.2. Upgrade path. If you want to go from Windows 7 to 8.1, you must go through 8 if you want to retain your applications (not have to re-install them all). This is unfortunate – there should have been an option to go directly from 7 to 8.1 without having to do a total re-install of all of your apps. So, the best path to take (to preserve most of what existed in 7) is to go from 7 to 8 to 8.1. For now at least Microsoft is not charging for the second piece – you can buy 8, install it (choosing to keep applications), download the upgrade to 8.1 (free), install it, and you are there (8.1) with your existing apps.3. Compatibility. Most of my apps handled the upgrade without much problem. I had to upgrade a couple of apps first to a version that was supported under Windows 8, and once that was done they worked just fine. I had to re-install a couple of apps (3) when I got to 8.1 – same app as I had on 7, just re-installed. I am not sure what that was all about, but it was not much of a problem. I have LOTs of applications so I would have to conclude Microsoft did a pretty good job of making this part of it work. There is a compatibility app you can download for free from Microsoft which tells you what apps won’t run without being updated and which might need to be re-installed. A lot of headache can be avoided by running this – reduces problems during the upgrade by allowing you to do the app upgrades before starting the Windows upgrade.4. The Windows 8.1 experience (I did not stay on 8 so I can’t speak to it directly). In reading reviews, there was a lot of gnashing of teeth and unhappiness – which I now believe is largely unjustified. There are a couple of differences, but they are largely non-events in my opinion.a. No Start Menu. The biggest difference between 7 and 8.1 is the absence of the familiar Start Menu. At first I was a bit put off by this, until I realized that it was kind of still there, just in graphical form. When you go to the start button, it brings up the Metro tiles instead of the tabular menu. Accordingly, you get a somewhat more “flat” approach to program organization – in other words, all of the options and suboptions appear at the same level instead of being able to drill down into them as you could with the Start Menu in Windows 7. I did not like this at first, but discovered a couple of things about it that were quite useful. If you bring up the Metro screen, choose the down arrow to list all of the apps and simply type a couple of letters, it brings up everything that starts with or contains those letters in the name. So, for example, for Time Matters (a case manager I use), if I type “Time”, the list of apps on the screen (a bit busy – I have LOTs of apps) is replaced temporarily with only those apps that have the word “Time” in them – easy to find/pick the one you want. Thus, there really is a Start Menu, it is just a flat graphical version - once you get used to it it is actually fairly functional. Also, you can re-arrange the apps in a couple of ways, and the main Metro page (the one you start on when you hit the start button) can be arranged anyway you like – remove buttons from the menu you don’t use often, put them in any order you like, size them (each one – not all at once) any way you like (small, medium, or large), and change display characteristics (to/from active – updating/not updating constantly – I find the constant updates distracting so I mostly turned them off).b. New features. There are several. What I like the most (after just a couple of days) is the search capability you get with Windows 8. Whether it is music, apps or anything else, once you are on the Metro page (the new Start Menu), you just type a little bit and it finds the thing you are looking for. So, for example, if I type “word” it lists “Microsoft Word” – both versions I have – and all I need to do is arrow to the one I want and it launches. If I type “I’m so afraid”, it brings up this song (my favorite Fleetwood Mac tune), and I just hit enter and it plays.c. Speed. I put Windows 8.1 on my laptop which ran painfully slow under Windows 7. Under Windows 8.1 it runs considerably faster – seems to use less memory. Good stuff.d. Control panel. One of the major complaints I read was the supposed absence of the control panel. Not true – as a matter of fact you can get there a couple of different ways. If you right click on the start button, it is in the list of options (along with “run”, command (with and without admin privileges), the programs and features option from the control panel (standalone) and a couple of other useful functions).e. Mouse support. Not sure where this complaint comes from, but I don’t have a touch screen and the mouse works just fine – no different than in Windows 7.Overall impressions. Many of the complaints I read about Windows 8 are exaggerated or just not true. It is a bit different to be sure, but it took me all of an hour or 2 to figure much of it out and once there I am reasonably happy with it. I am a techy to be sure, but I think almost anyone could navigate it in fairly short order if they choose to – and have an open mind about it. It’s not Windows 7 – if you want something that looks JUST LIKE Windows 7, stay on Windows 7. If you are even slightly adaptable, Windows 8.1 is a pretty good option. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I was irritated I had to go from 7 to 8 to 8.1 - there really should be a direct path from 7 to 8.1.