As I sat down to write this article on my brand new PC with Windows 8 installed, it occurred to me how frustrated I am with this new release. I had anticipated continuing the series of road tracks in the US but I can’t seem to get passed this operating system, it’s a speed bump that’s hindering my creative process. I haven’t seen a blunder from Microsoft this large since it released NT. I’m not one of those MS bashers that vengefully lash out at every new release. I’ve actually been a pretty big fan of the Seattle Gun Slingers since Cassius Clay knocked out Sonny Liston. In my estimation however, Windows is on its way out as computing functionality continues to move to the cloud. There isn’t a need for a complex operating system other than to interface with the information super highway.
Win 8 is a last ditch effort of Goliath to please the tablet crowd. If you dare own a laptop and or desktop (All hail you die hard gamers) the ones who actually get the work down, sorry pal, you’re taking a back seat to those app driven web surfers. My advice to you, go purchase a slingshot.
There’s a lockout screen even before you log on to your PC. You have to escape simply to log on. Did MS recently partner with an orthopedic practice because there’s more clicking in this lastest operating system than in the final minute of an ebay auction blitz. After escaping and logging on, you then click again to get to your desktop, then scroll to one corner of your 27 inch monitor and hover for some time hoping the charms icons will appear. As you slide to the lauded icons, make sure you mouse action is silky smooth or they’ll go the way of the dinosaur lickity split. Now it’s time to point, click search and type some more.
Using Control Panel, rebooting and shutting down…good luck with that. You’ll figure it out in a day or two with some patience and web surfing. Next be bold and try creating a desktop (shhh, not so loud, that’s an eee-vil word ‘round these parts) shortcut. “ Ahhh, it just takes some time getting used to,” the fanboi’s say. It’s without a doubt the most unintuitive operating system I’ve ever used. Mind you, I go back to the pre-windows computing era. Don’t dare try and install a Pop mail account, it will likely detonate your disk image. They still have office and I love those applications, but the writing my friend, is clearly written on the wall in a fairly large and bold font.
My advice, don’t pay any amount of money to upgrade to Windows 8. In fact, they should be paying you handsomely to tackle this monstrosity. Put the money in your gas tank or take the kids to lunch. There is only one place this OS belongs, in the recycle bin. Bill Gates must have seen this coming a mile away. The charmed one could not have bowed out of the technology rat race at a more opportune time.
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