Use desktop mode and just don't ever leave it. You'll have to change all of the default programs, cuz MS has them set to use the tiles by default whenever you try to open something.

All of the programs that I use on a regular basis are pinned to my taskbar, including some that I use as shortcuts to get to other places, such as the Control Panel, Command Prompt, Task Mgr, etc. Anything else that I need to get to, I just use "Windows Key + Q" to search, then it takes me back to the desktop and opens what I select.

I can see how the tiles would be useful if I were on a tablet and didn't have a mouse/keyboard. But since I have a mouse/keyboard, the tiles are pointless. My next "laptop" will probably be an x86 Windows 8 Tablet once the price comes down and they get things worked out. It'll be powerful enough for my everyday use and can be used as a full featured laptop just by adding a Bluetooth keyboard.

 

It's so unnecessarily confusing.

 

to technology

 

That's why I like Mac. Once you learn it, it makes life easy.

 

Sometimes I really hate technology.

 

I need to only cause I have so many clients getting them and wanting to use for work

 

You and me both

 

That's your livelihood. Lol

 

Exactly why I hate it.

Spent 5hr of my day scratching my head why my sonic wall wouldn't work, even replaced it and reconfigured everything, vpns and all that crap. AT&T was the issue. And they can't figure it out either.

 

What do you recommend regarding laptops, Scott?

 

Hey Scott, how are you liking the new iPhone?

 

Ill reply in detail when I got a sec

 

It's ten times better than my 4. It calls me scothew the magnificent

 

 

Ok, thanks. Take all the time you need. I'm in no rush.

 

 

Tech people, I can't beleive I am asking this. I used to know about all the new stuff that comes out. But guess I am getting old.

How do you use shortened URLs? Someone gave one to me I tried to type in the address bar and page cannot be displayed. Do I have to have a certain plugin or something to use these?

 

no, usually it will resolve itself to teh full site. there are sites that create the shorter address and such and it redirects. Somethings not right with what they gave you i bet.

 

Nathan on laptops:

This is short cause i dont have alot of free time.

I am a windows guy, i dont ever have issues but i also dont put every pos piece of software on my computer and i know what not to click on and such. I keep my stuff up to date and clean. I do it for a living so its second nature to me. For someone who doesnt want to do all of that, macs certainly have that advantage.

Personally i dont want windows 8 yet. I may load it on my home desktop just to mess with, but for my day to day, im sticking with 7.

now as far as CPU, intel i5 or better. The i5 is a true quad core cpu, meanign there are 4 phsyical cores. The i7 is basically the same, just with a turbo thrown on. it can do hyper threading which means it has 8 virtual cores, 4 phsyical, 4 virt, so yes its better. i7 if you can afford it imo. I havent checked out all of the new AMD and stuff coming out, but chances are its good to. Heck my 7yr old amd x2 dual core is still running strong.

Ram, themore you can get and afford the better. Max that crap out.

on a hard drive, if speed and all is important, go SSD. if your going to be doing data work, like video and such, make sure the laptop has USB3.0 on it and get you a 1TB USB 3.0 external drive. Upwards of 5gbps transfer, it'll be fine for your work. that way you dont keep your SSD full and you can just whip teh external out of your bag and go. That would be my preference.

personally i wont use a laptop under 17" but i do EVERYTHING on mine, so its a preference choice for me.

 

Thanks for the input! I try to keep my computer clean, but I tend to get lazy and sometimes run into problems. I can't recall ever getting a virus (KNOCK ON WOOD) though but I've had tons of other crap go wrong with it. I think the HD crashed in the first month I had it, which Dell replaced for free.

I'm very weary of windows 8. Everything I've seen so far has been a let down. It seems like either way I go, I'm gonna have to learn an all new OS.

Trying to configure the laptops I'm looking at to have at least i7 and 8GB of ram.

I'm pretty sure everything I'm looking at is USB 3.0. I was looking and Seagate has a 1TB external HD that will work between macs and PCs and is USB 3.0 for not too much, so I may eventually get that if I decide to go the mac route with an SSD.

17" is way too big for me. (insert token Lee joke ) I like my 15" but I think I could live with a 13". Need to look at them some more though.