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We, at TECH-NET, always have to have the latest and greatest! We need to make sure we can support our customers that will be moving to Windows 8.
Most of us don’t worry what Window version is on the new computers we buy. We do not advise you to upgrade to Windows 8 unless you’re technically inclined and you are interested. We suggest you buy the computer with Windows 8 installed. That way you are assured to have the compatible drivers for Windows 8.
I went out on Black Friday and looked for a deal. I use a couple of websites that are always looking for good deals and telling us. Check these out before going anywhere else. No, I don’t make an money off them. LOL Update Part Deux: My Windows 7 desktop crashed. Well, sorta, it started running so slow and would not run programs. Oh, Oh, I had to out pull my Windows 8 desktop that just turned 1 yr old and start using it. I know it is a long time to put off using a computer, but setting a new system up is just so much work. The adventure begins. Getting familiar with Windows 8 in an emergency is a bit of a horror show. Nothing is in the correct place, NOTHING!! I had to start loading all of my software to get to my standard operating mode. My old computer was still on the network and I could transfer a few of the important files slowly with a bit of work. Luckily I had just backed up all of my working data a couple days before. But the files that are put somewhere else on the computer were a bit difficult to get, like the old emails. When I moved the computers I lost the network connection. It was tortuous to try and get anything off the old computer. Luckily I have one of those hard drive reader things that allow you to put in the hard drive and use it as an external drive. I got all of my files. I will probably get my Windows 7 computer fixed, the days of giving away the old XP are gone, you can now actually keep the early computer successfully. Now that my data was available I was ready to go. Got everything off the hard drive. Now to upgrade my software. I signed up for Office 365, you know they really made the interface of the programs a bit cold. Outlook, Work and Excel up and running. Hmmm do I have the time to explore all the featured offered in Office 365. I really don't think I am that smart or motivated. Are there folks out there that have the time to really make their life more productive? Social media, the cloud, all of the Office applications, etc??? It is overwhelming!!! I upgraded my CAD programs, IronCAD and ZW3D all working well in Windows 8. Upgraded my PaperPort for $99.00 (2009) and found my license for Camtesia (2013). But I had one problem. Frontpage would not work with the 64 bit Office 365!!! But a miracle happened and you will not believe this!! Microsoft Expressions Web 4 is now free and it is just like Frontpage. Every thing was running smoothly, then something very weird happened. My system did an unexpected reboot. My AOL mail didn't work correctly. I recognized this problem and had to restore my system to an earlier version. Okay that was done and I was back to normal and had to reload a few programs. Ran my Norton and, of course, had some obscure virus. I had just bought a new HP 17" Laptop. My old one had a screen failure. The son is happy using it as a desktop running his Mine Craft and GTA, yes I know, but he promised not to do anything violent (I roll my eyes). I then decided to upgrade to Windows 8.1. First test was with the Laptop. It was successful. I will give my opinion later. I then upgraded my desktop. All went well. Then my daughters Windows 8 laptop was a bit of a horror show, she says yes on every link. Had to take it back to the default. After she got it running with the instructions "Don't say okay unless you come and get me" then we upgraded hers to Windows 8.1. After 12 days I am back to normal. The stress probably took a couple years of my already old life. Now for what you have all been waiting for my opinion of Windows 8.1, now that it is my current system. The Windows 8.1 upgrade really doesn't offer much, but for us desktop and laptop computer users it is a must. It just makes things a bit more familiar. Truly Windows 8 has two completely separate user interfaces. That ridiculous start page which you have to use once in awhile is just silly. They have changed the name of programs to apps. Windows 8 and 8.1 is more than an operating system. It is like a huge application. I would say half of the focus of this product is to market you something. If anything makes you consider Apple, it is Windows 8. It wants to control your life. If you are like me and are a user and only learn any system stuff because you have too or you have no idea how you're networked to the other computers in your house and you just keep pushing buttons until it happens, you are basically stuck in the world that Microsoft has designed for you. There is just too much to learn, it is all just too obscure. They think you have the time or interest to investigate all of their little productivity tools. I suggest you stay with Windows 7, Windows 8 really does not offer much in the form of more productivity, actually it is more of a distraction. Sad to say all of my CAD products run on Microsoft. But for the first time in my life those Apple Fanbois don't seem so crazy. Just this morning 11/26/13: Some of my applications in my Start Menu have little "x"s in the lower left corner and do not do anything. Sigh.. I don't care!!! Update: I was out to lunch with one of my associates and she had a Windows 8 Surface Pro Hybrid Tablet. She showed me how it worked. It is clear that the new interface is more for fingers than the mouse. It was very cool. It had 4 gig of memory, full Windows 8 and 64 gig storage. A very nice keyboard, with a finger pad. USB port for my mouse is a must, to work with my CAD programs. This truly is the future of mobile computing (I will never give up my desktop). Patiently waiting for the 17' Windows 8 Surface tablet, LOL.
I bought a Dell as configured below for $931.00 including shipping and tax!
1 225-2645 XPS 8500
1 317-9193 3rd Gen Intel Core i7-3770 processor 3.40 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.90 GHz
1 317-9211 12GB DDR3 SDRAM AT 1600MHZ-2x2GB + 2x4GB
1 331-9341 Dell KB213 Wired Multimedia Keyboard, US-English
1 320-9396 AMD Radeon HD 7570 1GB GDDR5 for Win 8
1 342-4106 1TB SATA Hard Drive 7200 RPM
1 318-2610 XPS 8500, White Chassis w/19:1 media card reader
1 421-8687 Windows 8, 64-bit, English
1 330-1158 Dell USB 6-Button Laser Mouse
1 430-3628 Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet
1 318-1677 16X DVD+/-RW
1 430-4735 Dell Wireless 1703 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0+LE
And it included this Monitor.
1 320-2676 Dell UltraSharp U2412M 24"W Monitor, 24.0 Inch VIS, Widescreen, VGA/ DVI/ DP
So it really pays to look for the good deals.
Getting Started with Windows 8
Turning on the computer and running through the setup is painless and you end up having the start screen above. Oh, oh, yes there is something to figure out. I didn’t use any intro just started pushing buttons as usual. But quickly started figuring things out.
If you look at the above picture you can see this screen to the right is in the lower left corner. You actually have two places to select your programs. On the start page (above) and the desktop (right)
If you have the desktop displayed you just move your cursor to the lower left corner and an icon will popup for the start screen.
There are a few more hoops to jump through but I am sure it is to get us ready for the new interface.
I had to go to Google to figure out how to shut it down. There are things you are going to have to figure out but all in all it is somewhat of a pleasant experience.
Running the CAD Programs
I first loaded IronCAD, it loaded without a glitch. Up and running and noticeably quite a bit faster. Now, I am not sure that it is because of the processor or Windows 8.
ZW3D loaded fine but when I tried to run it nothing happened. I finally had to run the "troubleshoot compatibility" and it ran fine it in another configuration.
So both CAD programs are up and running and I am ready to start using my Windows 8 computer.
Now for the other programs, hmm where did I put those disks?
TECH-NET, Inc sells IRONCAD/INOVATE and ZW3D and provide Engineering Services. We would like to invite you to our Webinars or to talk about an engineering project. Just send us an email to get on the mailing list. We really enjoy doing these presentations and being in contact with you and hope you take advantage of these meetings. It is great fun and very easy.Please give us a call and we can set up a meeting for you to see our products. Feel free to give me a call 206-842-0360 or send me an email at jb@tecnetinc.com for any questions you may have. See you online. Joe Brouwer
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