No, XP was released in late 2001, Vista in early 2007. That's just over 5 years.
Ken: Vista was a funny one. It involved a lot of new features, but the GUI on top was very familiar. Unfortunately, several areas of its design were poor, plus it was released before either it or the drivers were ready. Result: an annoying, slow and buggy OS. Windows 7 proved that if you took the good foundations, fixed the design flaws and added in more mature drivers, you could end up with a decent, stable, and pleasant OS.
That's my issue with Windows 8. It's another Vista in that there's a lot of good foundation stuff, but just too many rough edges that are likely to rile and annoy people.
I agree with you about Vista and 7. I don't think I agree about 8. I see 8 as mostly cosmetic. What is really different underneath? I /think/ it's 7 underneath with a new (metro) GUI on it. They haven't, as far as I know, improved security (7 was actually very good already). They did make it boot and shut down faster, and added in that wipe/reset feature, but how many times are you going to actually use that over the life of the OS? One or 2? The drivers from 7 and Vista continue to work with 8, so I know that hasn't changed. So I guess I'd like to know what really has changed underneath, and I suppose I could Google it, but I'd prefer Patch or Rendle to come tell me all these fantastic things while calling me stupid and stubborn!
How long must I put up with the unholy sound of your gun?
The UEFI + signed OS stuff is new, the signed apps thing (the ability to do it, it's only enforced in certain versions (so far)) and DirectX 11.1 will be Win8+ only.
So yeah, all good if you like locked-down closed systems for cheaper than Apple do them.
Ah, right you are. And also a new version of IE! Oh joy! Oh and a market! I was really having a very hard time finding software to install on my computer, so I'm very thankful (on Thanksgiving) for that!
How long must I put up with the unholy sound of your gun?
I certainly wouldn't want to install software that hasn't been approved by microsoft. Nor would I want anyone but them to profit from selling me software.
Stubborn, maybe, but I wouldn't call you stupid. (Not about this, anyway, but if you're going to keep insisting on living in America...)
I don't really have a problem with you not liking Windows 8. I'm sure you've got some very valid reasons, and I haven't read enough about Windows 8 to know any different, certainly about things like security and all that. It just amused/confused me that you were complaining about things like not being able to re-arrange stuff on the Start screen when you actually can.
If you come up with some sufficiently complex-sounding bollocks they'll hail you as a genius. They may even name an undiscoverable subatomic particle or planet after you. They're like that.
I was working on a Windows 7 PC at a customer site on Friday, and I genuinely do not like the Start Menu any more. It's just so... small. The only thing they really changed that I'm not happy about is that Apps and Settings are segregated in Search, so you have to click "Settings" to get to stuff like Device Manager. That should be changed.
I've bought it as an upgrade for my soon to be upgraded/built PC. I have a Windows 7.5 phone already. I'm considering going right down the rabbit hole and getting a Surface.
I guess the look of TIFKAM just really clicks with me.
Number 1 thing I do right away on all Windows 7 machines is to go into the Start Menu options and increase the size of it. The piddly default size is tiny I agree.
Peter Boughton would most certainly approve. A little too colourful, maybe, but you're definitely heading in the right direction. Link it to a CF back end and you win!
Other thoughts; If I do go down the rabbit hole and fully adopt the Windows 8/RT/Mobile side of thing, I'll need to disentangle myself from Apple and iTunes.
*Sighs*
I must be getting old, sometimes I just can't be bothered with it all.