Topic: Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space

[Nemesis]

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On Valve’s interest in Linux

“The big problem that is holding back Linux is games. People don’t realize how critical games are in driving consumer purchasing behavior.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for the 2,500 games on Steam to run on Linux as well. It’s a hedging strategy. I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space. I think we’ll lose some of the top-tier PC/OEMs, who will exit the market. I think margins will be destroyed for a bunch of people. If that’s true, then it will be good to have alternatives to hedge against that eventuality.

[Javora]

I've said for years that the only thing holding Linux back was not having support of the video game makers.  Heck I've probably even said it here before.  But if Steam holds true to this it could spell major problems for Microsoft and to a lesser extent Apple.  I think Google would love to put some money into a project like that just for that reason.

[Nemesis]

Link to full article

Not only has Valve Software successfully ported the first-person shooter game Left 4 Dead 2 to Linux, but it actually runs faster on the open source OS than on Windows.

Using high-end hardware, a version of the game running on Ubuntu 12.04 renders at 315fps, Valve's Linux team reports. That's a 16 per cent improvement over the Windows version, which only clocks at 270.6fps on the same configuration.

Normally, the Windows version of Left 4 Dead 2 uses Direct3D, Microsoft's own, proprietary 3D graphics API. But when Valve developers built a new Windows version of the game based on OpenGL code borrowed from the Linux version, that version also ran faster than the Direct3D version, at 305fp

[Javora]

Now if they port over a game with a strong multi-player following and I can see hard core gamers dumping Windows for Linux.  16% is too much of a gap for gamers to ignore.  This should bring back OpenGL from the dead if you even believe those claims of it's death in the first place.

[Sirgod]

I saw where they where practically giving it away, if you still had an XP license.  I still  think I'll pass.

Stephen

[Nemesis]

Where is Toasty0 to explain to us why Win8 is great and everyone will need to have it?

[Strat]

I'm in the dev crew to patch SFC to Win Vista/7/8, and I have been developing in exclusively Windows 8 on this project since the Win 8 RC was out. It's verrrrrrry different.

Some of it is irritating, some unfinished. I think a lot if it will take time to get used to. But I also think calling it a catastrophe is a exaggeration with a agenda.

It's definitely the biggest transition in Windows UI I've ever seen. Time will tell if it takes with the public. I will say that I'm personally getting used to it, and use it daily with no gripes. But I do not like the included metro apps for use in desktop mode.

As said in other articles, this could be a make or break for Microsoft. The biggest thing I see they have for themselves is that most apps today are written for Windows, and even Windows Phone is moving to share the same core as Windows 8. But I can not say weather that will overcome the initial cringe when people see the new UI.

[Brush Wolf]

I haven't tried W8 but from my reading here and there it comes off as a touch screen OS first and a mouse & keyboard OS second. That alone could be a huge stumbling block for many people if MS doesn't make it easy for the mouse & keyboard people to operate in an environment friendly to them.

[Strat]

The start menu and metro apps are geared to touch screens. When used as a desktop everything works just like normal.

Switching apps and the start menu have completely changed, and although geared toward touch screen, works with mouse and keyboard with no problems. Just have to get used to the new stuff. Such as, in Win 8, you move the mouse to the top left, and it will open the task switcher. The Start Menu is only a list of icons, no search or 'my computer' buttons. If you move to the top right, it opens a slide on the right side with the things missing from the start menu.

So everything is there, and works for mouse and keyboard, just in nee places. Well except, again, for metro apps, which are really geared for touch. I use my pc solely in desktop mode with no problems. I never use a metro apps. All my Windows 7/back apps work just like normal in Windows 8 desktop.

[Javora]

Regardless, if Linux can sustain a 16% increase in frame rates across the board over Windows than Microsoft is going to be in a bind.  Ease of use and lack of game support was the primary reasons IMHO that Linux never took off in the first place.  Now Steam looks to be removing (finally) one of those roadblocks.  I can easily see Google throwing money on to the fire and with Android starting to be popular who could blame them??!?

[Dracho]

Windows 8 is great for portable device developers who are using touch screens.  It sucks for corporate app developers who have to make business applications somewhat usable on PCs without touch screens, and no company is going to invest in a bunch of new monitors just to run Windows 8.

Ultimately, I think it will end up as a leading edge OS for tablets and phones, and something slightly better than Windows ME for PCs.  Companies will stay on Windows 7 until Windows 9 comes along, or they'll be willing to try Linux at the end of the next depreciation cycle.

[Strat]

I have a feeling once everyone gets past the "what I'm used to for the past 15 years" factor, Windows 8 will take off.

I've been using it for a while now, and while not 'perfect' (and that is highly relative), the new interface has its percs. Mind you I use it strictly on a PC without a touchscreen. There is a lot now I can do with fewer clicks and as a result, must faster. And the the responsiveness of the UI has improved more-so since Windows 7! And to be clear-- unless you've used it for a few months and have seen it, I can tell you first hand: I have- and it works as a desktop OS perfectly fine. In fact, its percs are growing on me.

I mean yeah, it's a diversion from what has been ingrained since Microsoft hit the modern UI with Windows 95. But once you get over that fact- the new, while different, is not in itself a failure. It is a well though out, fast, dynamic, easy to use UI.

All I can say if that if we keep an open mind to the likes of iOS or Linux, it's not so bad in principle to being open to Microsoft with a new UI. I mean, geez, I can remember a time I preferred Norton Commander (I'd like to see who remembers that, it was a DOS UI), over Windows 3.11.

I think most of it boils down bias. Which in the big picture, is definitely a part of the tech society. I've seen a lot of change in the PC world since i386 PC. My best advice is to keep an open mind. If you absolutely hate the new Start menu after having tried it for a while, there is nothing in Windows 8 preventing you from using the old one.

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

I've been running Windows 8 for about 2 weeks now, Honestly the main change for windows 8 and others is you use your Windows key on the keyboard instead of clicking start UI wise... Windows 8 is very responsive and Ive had improved load times on most everything (including boot time of windows). Take 10 minutes to setup the new "start" page how you want it and then all your programs are pretty much right there without cluttering up your desktop picture background either. Been running Windows 8 Professional 64-bit full release version just for reference btw.. I get it early since I have a DreamSpark Premium Account.

I doubt Windows 8 is a catastrophe.. that was Windows Vista. I'm not terribly suprised there is increased fps in Linux.. Linux is different strucutre approach than windows but Linux still has the problems of a trillion different flavors of it.

[Javora]

I can remember a time I preferred Norton Commander (I'd like to see who remembers that, it was a DOS UI), over Windows 3.11.

Barely.  I think we used it at the beginning of our Assemblers class but DOS seemed to work better with TASM so the university switched over about the second week of class.

[Sirgod]

Time to load up OS2/warp.

Got SFC running on that yet Strat.

Stephen

[Strat]

It probably has better net code than SFC 2 could handle.

So I present this!

SFC CE: for OS2 /Warp

EGA Trek Dos gameplay

  (ok I'm kidding, but that ring any bells for anyone?)
ohh the memories... when my 286 was a beast.

[knightstorm]

Well, I'll probably continue to use MS Bob.

[Strat]

HAHAHAAHAAaaahhaa!! 

[knightstorm]

I'm not joking, MS Bob will actually run on vista and windows 7, and the Bill Gates Smiley guarantees that my system will be evil enough to suit my needs.

Microsoft BOB unter Windows 7 (Teil 1 von 3)

[Sirgod]

It probably has better net code than SFC 2 could handle.

So I present this!

SFC CE: for OS2 /Warp
EGA Trek Dos gameplay



  (ok I'm kidding, but that ring any bells for anyone?)
ohh the memories... when my 286 was a beast.

Oh man, that brings back memories also. Nice retro find buddy.

Stephen