new laptop: Windows 8.0 or 8.1?

OK, another question for the hive mind. I just got a new laptop. It came with 8.0, but MS is offering a free DL of 8.1. Should I do it or stick with 8.0? Intended use: wordprocessing and GoPro Studio.

Oh, yes, I'm aware of the fine apple products, and I know how much you apple guys love your machines

I'm aware of *nix variants, and may do that to my older laptop, but not the one I just got.

Windows 7

Windows 8.1 is almost useful once you dump the Metro UI, but then why not stick with 7 and not worry about it?

Also, Linux on new devices rocks. Well worth a look.

as far as I can tell... can't you just update any 8.0 machine to 8.1 for free, and easily? I just did with SWMBO's mother... and it was simple.

8.1 is a worthy upgrade, imo.

JoeyM wrote: OK, another question for the hive mind. I just got a new laptop. It came with 8.0, but MS is offering a free DL of 8.1. Should I do it or stick with 8.0? Intended use: wordprocessing and GoPro Studio.

So tell me why you're sticking with Winbloze again? Seriously, for those needs, nearly any Android decent tablet/laptop could do that as long as it had a USB port on it (and many do).

foxtrapper wrote: 8.1 is a worthy upgrade, imo.

+1

I like 8 and see no reason to dl 8.1 no matter how many times the stupid thing prompts me to.

nicksta43 wrote: I like 8 and see no reason to dl 8.1 no matter how many times the stupid thing prompts me to.

Seriously, you want to perform the upgrade or eventually you'll rebuild the system due to the crap that will get on the system much sooner than later.

In reply to turboswede:

Edit GoPro video on a Chromebook? That sounds non-awesome.

I upgraded to 8.1 and the only issue was my touchscreen going out. That was quickly taken care of. Otherwise I don't know what the hell the difference is.

You might want to try 8.1, especially if you like 8. I've got both a touch-enabled machine that came with 8 and have to run 8 as my main Windows install. In both cases, the update to 8.1 was an improvement.

In reply to turboswede:

Unless you want to print something. Or need Office, since no decent substitute exists.

turboswede wrote:

JoeyM wrote: OK, another question for the hive mind. I just got a new laptop. It came with 8.0, but MS is offering a free DL of 8.1. Should I do it or stick with 8.0? Intended use: wordprocessing and GoPro Studio.

So tell me why you're sticking with Winbloze again? Seriously, for those needs, nearly any Android decent tablet/laptop could do that as long as it had a USB port on it (and many do).

hey, I was a fairly early linux adopter, back around 1993-1994 or so...might have even been 1992. (1st computer was one of the slackware "darkstar", installed off a pile of floppies. 0.15 kernel) In a former life, I was an HPUX sysadmin, and later on a CISSP.

I realize that with jumping through some minor hoops, I could get stuff to work. I no longer care about computers, though, and would prefer not to jump through ANY hoops. (The car build is enough "doing things the hard way" for me.) Work is a windows environment, with everyone using MS Office (both in their office computers and in the classrooms) and that's enough reason for me. YMMV, especially if you care more about computers than I do. Now I talk about critters for a living, and work with computers as little as possible.

I'm perfectly happy with having gone from BOFH to mere user.

pres589 wrote: In reply to turboswede: Edit GoPro video on a Chromebook? That sounds non-awesome.

I have a chromebook. No, I'm not even trying to use it for that

I work on Windows computers on a daily basis and supporting them is part of my job and I've built Windows XP HTPC's for most rooms of our house. I'm all about stuff just working without jumping through hoops, etc. Quite honestly, all of the Windows systems I've worked on and around require constant attention that it shouldn't need and I'm just tired of fighting with them. Between Microsoft patching, Adobe's patches, Java, viruses, mal-ware, etc. and its just a pain.

So the HTPC systems will be replaced with Raspberry PI's or Roku's, we both have iDevices to use for general browsing and my own personal systems (aside from my work system) will move to Linux.

I've made a great living dealing with Microsoft's products, but I don't see any reason to continue supporting or dealing with their broken and insecure products if I can avoid it.

It can't be worse than 8.0 so... what the hell. My son has it on his - it's irritating as hell but he seems to get around in it fine for schoolwork.

FWIW, I'm running Debian on my brand spankin' new Thinkpad. The first thing I do with a new machine is hit newegg for a clean drive and put the original on a shelf. I'd have wiped the boy's too - but he protested because he wants to use some music authoring package he paid money for.

I just got home from the microsoft store so I'm learning 8.1 now lol

All I can say between using 7 on the PC and 8 on a laptop is this:

Windows 8 sucks the sweat off a dead man's balls.

turboswede wrote: I work on Windows computers on a daily basis and supporting them is part of my job and I've built Windows XP HTPC's for most rooms of our house. I'm all about stuff just working without jumping through hoops, etc. Quite honestly, all of the Windows systems I've worked on and around require constant attention that it shouldn't need and I'm just tired of fighting with them. Between Microsoft patching, Adobe's patches, Java, viruses, mal-ware, etc. and its just a pain. So the HTPC systems will be replaced with Raspberry PI's or Roku's, we both have iDevices to use for general browsing and my own personal systems (aside from my work system) will move to Linux. I've made a great living dealing with Microsoft's products, but I don't see any reason to continue supporting or dealing with their broken and insecure products if I can avoid it.

I have a Roku 3, as well as an HTPC. In 4 years, the HTPC has needed the HD replaced.....and that was only because I wanted an SSD.

The Roku 3 in ~6 months, is almost like a crummy router/modem. Constantly needs unplugged to be restarted, been on the phone numerous times with tech support (In India reading from a script) when the resets don't work. It's a cool little device, but it hasn't been nearly as bulletproof as a well-built Windows 7 system.

Then again, I don't find clicking "Update" and going to the bathroom, grab a beer, make a dinner, particularly troublesome.

YMMV

I bought this laptop/ultrabook right at a year ago... came with win8... I upgraded to 8.1 and it wasn't bad... but last week or so I finally got around to installing win7 on it... it's a much better computer now...

turboswede wrote: I've made a great living dealing with Microsoft's products, but I don't see any reason to continue supporting or dealing with their broken and insecure products if I can avoid it.

It took you that long? I've been on mainly Linux for a long time. And not Android/Linux or Chrome/Linux, real-deal GNU/Linux on everything except my gaming PC. Even my phone.

GameboyRMH wrote:

turboswede wrote: I've made a great living dealing with Microsoft's products, but I don't see any reason to continue supporting or dealing with their broken and insecure products if I can avoid it.

It took you that long? I've been on mainly Linux for a long time. And not Android/Linux or Chrome/Linux, real-deal GNU/Linux on everything except my gaming PC. Even my phone.

Well, like I said I've made a good living at it and my prior toe-dips into the IX world were unsuccessful and frustrating. Now that my company is offering to help with some training, I'm taking the ball and running with it. Plus I'm getting older and I just don't have any interest in broken junk anymore as it is the same stuff different day with Microsoft.

My laptop came with 8 and I immediately upgraded to 8.1. Works fine and it's a CAD and 3D rendering workhorse that rarely shuts down. I really don't see what the problem with it is.

XP Pro