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Now that I have seen what Win 8 is about, and installed Stardock's Start 8 and have operated within that to a degree, I decided to dig just a bit deeper. Digging beforehand, without applicable experience, was simply producing information overload. Ten thousand questions without a basis in which to answer the questions or begin exploring solutions is less than useless. Now I have ten thousands questions moderately answered, which... opened up a hundred thousand questions, but with a grounding from which to begin solving. And so, since I am still awake, I began answering those.
I met a gentleman this evening. And in discussing various matters, he suggested another program, free, I think it was called Win Shell, or... such. I haven't looked that up. Yet. At least now, if I remember the name, I can dig into it. However, I think it would have to be very good, and much better than Start 8, for me to choose it. Still, worth a look. Then again, Start 8 is only ~$5. And if my friend doesn't want to buy it... or maybe I'll just buy it while he isn't looking. While free is free, $5 isn't even a meal or a magazine, not even .22 anymore. Bleh.
There is an advanced set of tools with Start 8, but that runs ~$50. I finally looked those over. Now, for me, I might pull that trigger. There are some advanced options I know enough about to appreciate. I like optimizing and some other things. My friend would have no real use. He is not like an ogre, multi-layered... like an onion. Although, the device that allows a sense of movement in the screen art might... Well, not for $50, probably. Unless I could get Brenda Lee jiggling up there or something. Yeah, he was a bad boy too, at one time. I think. Just thought I'd toss that out there. And, reminding, I still haven't looked over win-shell, or whatever. I'll look for that after writing this.
The more I have looked at Start 8, the more I am impressed. I see where I was going wrong, if I am not quite sure how to transition back from Win 8's nasty start screen to a windowed environment. However, Start 8 offers modifications that don't allow a jump to Win 8's screen to start with. Shutting off charms, even disabling the function of the windows key.
One of my huge problems with Win 8, and it's start page, is that multitasking is a pain in the butt. Trying to check mail, while installing drivers, and doing a search on something else, all at once, is more than annoying. Actually, it's not really possible from what I could tell. Oh, it happens, but getting from one screen to the other is madness. Even with a touch screen it would be annoying. What, did MS buy into touch-screen futures? I think they will lose their shirts, and the pc market shares. I would, if my friend were a bit younger and more computer savvy to start, try to dig into Linux or BSD-Open/Free/etc., just for him. As is, if I do that, it will be just for me. I think my friend may be stuck with MS at this point in his life. However, he doesn't have to just take the modernist crap, with a little help.
If I do decide to get a new machine, though, and can't get it with Win 7, I don't feel quite as against it now. I still worry, a bit, about support issues, update problems, and some other things. But, then, with or without even MS, that will always be an issue. Separating out what MS is doing poorly and what is just a grump of life is an issue I won't get into, I have more serious ones to deal with. However, I do know what I like, and I do know what I don't like. That part is simple and I don't like Win 8, stock. I'll leave that for the fools who finger-paint with their dinner, eat glue and lead paint, have nothing to do in a hurry and wouldn't know how, and enjoy a fine drool when thinking. Bleh. *chuckles*
I may not be genius, but given a little task, a few inputs and advice, and doing a little leg or finger work, I can get a few things sorted, still. Today is Monday, so... tomorrow... But I will be ready. And, on whatever is there, I now know how to target specific things, have some goals about installs (FireFox and possibly their email system), perhaps some screen art for the windowed version, making sure the printer is working and figure that out otherwise, and some other things. Hey, it's something to do and someone actually appreciates it, finding my small abilities useful. All good.
Hmm... Later, or good night again.
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Okay, a bit of a quick review leaves me where I started, at least for my friend. Start 8 will be kept and used. However, for my own purposes, I might go with Classic Shell. I don't mind a little bit of digging into tech, whereas I want things as simple as possible for my friend. Here is a post which describes the differences. The other thing, too, is that I won't have my friends computer for hours, or days, in order to set up. So... the ease of Start 8 makes my task of setting the thing up fast much more predictably functional. Any problems and I should be able to reconfig without an issue.
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