Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: tjhkkr

ORIGINAL: Shark7

Well I went out and did some looking, finding reviews that have both pictures and videos and have come to a conclusion, and reading comments from folks that have made the switch...

No, just NO! Windows 8 is not for me at all. What a nightmare. Old men like me who don't even like text messaging will get nothing out of a Win 8 upgrade, there is just nothing added to it I need. Compiling and organizing all your social media...well I refuse to do Facebook, Twitter or their ilk...no benefit there.

Desktop set up like an ipad or smart phone...I hate smart phones and their interface. Again, no benefit for me.

The start up shut down times. I guess I'm old, but the 10-15 seconds you save is nil. I'm not in that big of a hurry to do things, part of getting older I guess. [;)]

I just honestly see zero benefit for me, total waste of money and I don't see any need to put myself through having to learn a new OS interface when the one I have already suits my needs well. Some of you guys may like it, but I don't like change to start with, and Win 8 is too big of a change.

Ok, guess I'm done with my little rant now. [:)]

Okay Shark, you sound like me: I cut my teeth on punch cards when I was 14 started on an IBM 360 transister machine.
Where were you in this?

Not quite that far back, but I started with a Commodore 64 when I was a kid and can remember when an IBM 8086 Desktop was the greatest thing since sliced bread....we thought those things were lightning fast. Now they are only useful as a trot-line weight or boat anchor. [:D]

Not that I don't know what an IBM 360 is, we got to go on a field trip when I was in 1st grade and got to see one in action. Man that was a long time ago...and probably dates me fairly well.

ORIGINAL: pipewrench
Windows 8 is a very good platform that will lead to new ways of doing things. Touch pad, voice and mobility is the future and both Apple and Microsoft know this. The cloud will completely take over large data storage and that is why there is a mini-boom in data protection by IT firms.

Is there any reason to have touch controls on a desktop though?

The mobile/desktop split that apple is doing seems a lot smarter.

ORIGINAL: unclean
Is there any reason to have touch controls on a desktop though?

The mobile/desktop split that apple is doing seems a lot smarter.

Yes,

With windows 8 you have multi-monitor touch support. So for instance, you could redesign Distant worlds to place only the star map on one large monitor, a full view of what you want to see on another and place all the user interface buttons on a third ie: Microsoft surface. The surface now is a modified keyboard with only the buttons you need for the game. This UI can change and have animation running with what happens in the game. In my opinion, all new monitors will soon be designed flat as to take advantage of touch so that you can have 26' keyboards if you want.

Apple has a great UI and it will be interesting how this works out.With touch and voice coming into mainline UI it finally gives users of the PC market a touch keyboard that is graphically designed for the application.

Shark7,

Your not stuck in the past. Your carefully observing and not spending your money foolishly. When all this really takes off in 2 years the software offered will make things clearer on what to buy. The mouse will have relevance but the Keyboard might be on its way out. Mobile started this and now it is moving into PC. Voice is next and you and I know HAL is just around the corner. [;)]

ORIGINAL: pipewrench

With windows 8 you have multi-monitor touch support. So for instance, you could redesign Distant worlds to place only the star map on one large monitor, a full view of what you want to see on another and place all the user interface buttons on a third ie: Microsoft surface. The surface now is a modified keyboard with only the buttons you need for the game. This UI can change and have animation running with what happens in the game. In my opinion, all new monitors will soon be designed flat as to take advantage of touch so that you can have 26' keyboards if you want.

While I agree that sounds really cool and all, why would I want to use a tablet to emulate a keyboard when I have a perfectly good keyboard now? And having a 26" keyboard would simply mean that I'd have to stretch my fingers that much further...

It's ok - I sort of know what you mean. It makes it possible to have a custom interface without having to rely on keyboard mappings. I think it would have fairly limited appeal though.

ORIGINAL: Algon

While I agree that sounds really cool and all, why would I want to use a tablet to emulate a keyboard when I have a perfectly good keyboard now? And having a 26" keyboard would simply mean that I'd have to stretch my fingers that much further...

It's ok - I sort of know what you mean. It makes it possible to have a custom interface without having to rely on keyboard mappings. I think it would have fairly limited appeal though.

Think of the tablet not as a keyboard but a complete step up in input. Software can now design user input that has animation built in, relevant only to whats needed and graphical in nature.

ie: selecting a ship brings up a graphical orders page in the tablet with animation for you to input options while freeing up the main screen.
Selecting a planet would again bring up an planetary orders page in the tablet with animation for you to input only planetary orders.

Your keyboard becomes irrelevant as the tablet takes over with a streamlined user input and help prevent errors. Only what is needed to input for a selected task is shown and it can be designed graphically and with animation.

Once the hardware goes fully mainstream the software will follow. This will change PC applications drastically. Apple should follow suit quickly and hopefully within 5 years we have true voice recognition.

Full voice might be nice, but when you talk like I do...let's just say that I hate using automated phone systems that rely on voice, those systems never understand what I'm saying. I usually end up having to get to a real person to get anything done. It's going to have to be a lot better than that.

As for me, the keyboard is still the way to do it. I can type ~100 words per minute on a keyboard, give me one of those fake keyboard tablet things and I'm totally lost. I need to feel the keys on my fingertips.

Don't worry Shark7.
Windows 7, Apple Lion and Linux are safe and so is your pc. Grab the popcorn and watch the war over the next 2 years as hardware changes and software catching up will rule the day. If you ever need a book to read just pm me[;)]

Well that should be entertaining.

And I'm good for books right now, in fact I'm in the middle of reading 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", funny,[:D] funny book.

The problem with voice recognition is everyone else can hear what you are writing. Imagine an office where everyone was talking instead of typing, oh god, lol.

Ummm... If my computer EVER heard what I say to it (yelling!)... it would just refuse to do anything for me. heheh

ORIGINAL: Shark7

ORIGINAL: tjhkkr

ORIGINAL: Shark7

Well I went out and did some looking, finding reviews that have both pictures and videos and have come to a conclusion, and reading comments from folks that have made the switch...

No, just NO! Windows 8 is not for me at all. What a nightmare. Old men like me who don't even like text messaging will get nothing out of a Win 8 upgrade, there is just nothing added to it I need. Compiling and organizing all your social media...well I refuse to do Facebook, Twitter or their ilk...no benefit there.

Desktop set up like an ipad or smart phone...I hate smart phones and their interface. Again, no benefit for me.

The start up shut down times. I guess I'm old, but the 10-15 seconds you save is nil. I'm not in that big of a hurry to do things, part of getting older I guess. [;)]

I just honestly see zero benefit for me, total waste of money and I don't see any need to put myself through having to learn a new OS interface when the one I have already suits my needs well. Some of you guys may like it, but I don't like change to start with, and Win 8 is too big of a change.

Ok, guess I'm done with my little rant now. [:)]

Okay Shark, you sound like me: I cut my teeth on punch cards when I was 14 started on an IBM 360 transister machine.
Where were you in this?

Not quite that far back, but I started with a Commodore 64 when I was a kid and can remember when an IBM 8086 Desktop was the greatest thing since sliced bread....we thought those things were lightning fast. Now they are only useful as a trot-line weight or boat anchor. [:D]

Not that I don't know what an IBM 360 is, we got to go on a field trip when I was in 1st grade and got to see one in action. Man that was a long time ago...and probably dates me fairly well.

Well to put it in perspective, it took chilling a room at 58 degrees. AND...
A 4k add on memory module was as big as a coffee table... and that is no exaggeration.
To play Star Trek (I was 14 at the time) required a 300 baud modem, and at peak hours, running the star trek game would bring the system to its knees.