Today
we look at the other side of the same coin- reasons why you should not
upgrade to Windows 8. These are some fairly valid reasons, and if they
do look like fairly big issues, then you might as well hold off, even
though the cost of upgrading or buying Windows 8 fresh isn’t much.
1. Learning curve is steep: With the Metro UI, it is a case of both a boon and a bane. While it does put important information and your apps right up there, you do get somewhat confused as to how to get to the desktop. For most people, working their way around the additional layer of the interface may prove to be quite a learning curve. The concept of active edges is something that adds to the complication. But what may really confuse most people is the missing Start button once you actually trip your way to the desktop, and its absence creates a lot of unfamiliarity issues. The new landing screen UI and the ribbon interface introduced in several applications are rather unique, no doubt, and work towards making Windows 8 better for the touchscreen as well. But, some tweaks still need to be deployed. Maybe getting back the start button will help win back some old users.
2. Initial excitement about Metro UI: Yes, Metro UI looks brilliant. On the face of it, the colorful themes and the constantly updating tiles are very appealing, visually. However, do remember that for most tasks, you need to move away from the Metro UI and go to the desktop mode. Immediately, the utility of the UI fades away. Once the initial excitement about the unique user interface wears out, you will be left with a rather complex UI that needs to be pushed out of the way every time you log in to the PC. On a good day, someone who is more comfortable with the more traditional desktop will not use Metro UI often. On a bad day, abuses and swearing will be the order of the day. Plus, switching between the Metro and desktop modes is via only one button on the keyboard, and that is bound to confuse those users who aren’t techies.
3. The OS needs polishing: We always recommend holding off till at least one major service pack arrives for an OS. With Windows 8, you will regularly get patches and updates for the OS in the tune of 140MB to 160MB each. Device drivers would have been another aspect, but we are talking about patches that either solve a security breach or tweak something that will improve performance and compatibility in various scenarios. There is a lot of work still to be done before Windows 8 is stable and what you would call a polished OS. Good looks can only take you so far. If you are a sucker for a completely stable OS, then you might as well hold off for a while. Certain drivers and applications may not work properly on the new OS, as is fairly common, and some older hardware may have compatibility issues as well. It usually takes Microsoft about six months to one year to polish the OS into accepting wider compatibility and ironing out issues that users may report for specific issues. The biggest indicator of that is when the first major service pack comes out post the OS being available to consumers. Okay, Microsoft says that for the first time ever, Service Pack was released for Windows 8 even before it arrived on shelves. Which begs the question – how bad was the OS in the first place?
If you want an OS that will work seamlessly with all your applications and hardware, we suggest not upgrading to Windows 8 just yet. While most of the stuff may work fine, there is a chance that there will be that one app or device that could create an issue. And that will more than ruin the experience of upgrading. Hold on, and patience will pay off!
1. Learning curve is steep: With the Metro UI, it is a case of both a boon and a bane. While it does put important information and your apps right up there, you do get somewhat confused as to how to get to the desktop. For most people, working their way around the additional layer of the interface may prove to be quite a learning curve. The concept of active edges is something that adds to the complication. But what may really confuse most people is the missing Start button once you actually trip your way to the desktop, and its absence creates a lot of unfamiliarity issues. The new landing screen UI and the ribbon interface introduced in several applications are rather unique, no doubt, and work towards making Windows 8 better for the touchscreen as well. But, some tweaks still need to be deployed. Maybe getting back the start button will help win back some old users.
2. Initial excitement about Metro UI: Yes, Metro UI looks brilliant. On the face of it, the colorful themes and the constantly updating tiles are very appealing, visually. However, do remember that for most tasks, you need to move away from the Metro UI and go to the desktop mode. Immediately, the utility of the UI fades away. Once the initial excitement about the unique user interface wears out, you will be left with a rather complex UI that needs to be pushed out of the way every time you log in to the PC. On a good day, someone who is more comfortable with the more traditional desktop will not use Metro UI often. On a bad day, abuses and swearing will be the order of the day. Plus, switching between the Metro and desktop modes is via only one button on the keyboard, and that is bound to confuse those users who aren’t techies.
3. The OS needs polishing: We always recommend holding off till at least one major service pack arrives for an OS. With Windows 8, you will regularly get patches and updates for the OS in the tune of 140MB to 160MB each. Device drivers would have been another aspect, but we are talking about patches that either solve a security breach or tweak something that will improve performance and compatibility in various scenarios. There is a lot of work still to be done before Windows 8 is stable and what you would call a polished OS. Good looks can only take you so far. If you are a sucker for a completely stable OS, then you might as well hold off for a while. Certain drivers and applications may not work properly on the new OS, as is fairly common, and some older hardware may have compatibility issues as well. It usually takes Microsoft about six months to one year to polish the OS into accepting wider compatibility and ironing out issues that users may report for specific issues. The biggest indicator of that is when the first major service pack comes out post the OS being available to consumers. Okay, Microsoft says that for the first time ever, Service Pack was released for Windows 8 even before it arrived on shelves. Which begs the question – how bad was the OS in the first place?
If you want an OS that will work seamlessly with all your applications and hardware, we suggest not upgrading to Windows 8 just yet. While most of the stuff may work fine, there is a chance that there will be that one app or device that could create an issue. And that will more than ruin the experience of upgrading. Hold on, and patience will pay off!
