To hate Microsoft for trying to make Windows more 'user friendly'?

[unlucky83]

Long term Windows user...from 3.1 days.
Think there have been some improvements over the years but some things give me the rage -
Like Libraries - have found a workaround that only causes minor irritation now...
At the moment I'm archiving/sorting out stuff - moving files between different folders -so several windows open. (And no using libraries wouldn't mean I didn't have to do this ...about getting stuff off my PC not hidden somewhere!)

I have it set up double click to open a file from a folder - but every so often as soon as I select a file to drag and drop it opens it... so I can't move it...and once it has done it with a file it keeps wanting to do it again and again and again . I have to move another file and then come back ...

But the thing that really gives me the rage is when it maximises a window when you are trying to move it on the screen - not even sure when it does it - near the top of the screen or something?
You minimise a window, size it to fit, move it so you can have another open window visible next to it and bosh -its maximised again...so you minimise, try to move it and it maximises it again ...and again and again...
This is in Window 7 but on my mum's Windows 8 there is a similar thing when you try and access the shut down bit from the touch screen.

So am I being unreasonable thinking MS should stop trying to make Windows 'user friendly' and just let us do what we want to?

(And before someone says Macs are fantastic - have used them too and they have their own irritations....)

I agree. Bring back DOS, I knew where I was with that!
I'm stayng with Windows 7 now, will only upgrade when Windows 9 comes out (if that is any good).

You do realise (caveat in the last sentence acknowledged) a dog whistle to every Mac fan boy and girl on the internet who will clog up this thread with claims that Macs 'just work' and are 'better' but rarely able to substantiate this beyond 'they don't get viruses.' Which isn't true.

Have a look at this:

windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/how-do-i-turn-snap-on-or-off

Oooh, the maximising windows thing really gives me the rage. And, I'm sorry mac users. For the job I do, macs don't just work.

If you don't like windows then there are plenty of other operating systems. (Ie. Linux, apple, google andriod.) I like windows 7 and I feel its easy to forgot quite how crap and unreliable Windows 3.1 was. Other variants of Windows like Windows 95/98 used to suffer from DLL hell. Installing software would gradually corrupt the system. Windows 7 got away from the DLL hell by having automated updates.

Just one piece of advice altenating versions of windows tend to be crap. (Ie. Windows Millenium and Vista were good examples of upgrades to avoid. I have chosen to avoid Windows 8)

"I agree. Bring back DOS, I knew where I was with that!"

There is a DOS emulator if you really want it. I don't want a return to DOS. You can install Microsoft Virtual PC and use FreeDos to see what DOS was like.

can i double this with word, in the old days you wrote some stuff, and it stayed where you put it. if you tried to insert an image that was too big it just overlapped now it "helpfully" move everything else screwing up all your formatting

Windows 10 is annoying, but try the snap screen it is actually a useful function.

I think XP was the best Windows OS. Reliable and loads faster than Windows 7.

I agree. I need a new laptop but they've all got Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 now. I liked XP & Windows 7, but they've saying they're going to withdraw support from Windows 7 soon, aren't they?

Am using a macbook at the moment - DH's - & it's OK but I don't love it enough to want to spend that much money myself.

When is Windows 9 due out - does anyone know?

They have withdrawn support for XP, but I think Windows 7 support is likely to last for about another 10 years or so (not sure though). Rumours are that Windows 9 will be out in 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2015 and will bring back some of the well-loved features of Windows 7 etc.

'I need a new laptop but they've all got Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 now'

You can still order new Windows 7 laptops online from Dell or HP etc by buying from the business section rather than Home User sections.

Thanks, claig - that's really helpful.

No problem. Very good prices still for brand new Windows 7 laptops from HP Business section. I bought a new Windows 7 HP desktop last year and will probably get a new Windows 7 laptop soon too.

They have a £75 cashback deal on a £290 or so Windows 7 laptop, and you get the cash back after a month or two I think it is.

I've got a MacBook which I love (sorry!)

DH has a laptop with Windows 8 on it. I had to use it last night and wanted to shoot myself.

DH raves about it though, to the extent that when my mobile died he bought me one of those horrible Nokia Windows phones. I hate it but he thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread

I'm an IT engineer and I can assure the jury that Macs do not 'just work'. I spent two hours on one yesterday for a task that would usually take 30 mins because Mac OS hides things it thinks aren't useful. Bastarding thing.

9 is due out in beta next year. 8 makes more sense if you have touchscreen functionality but most people don't and even Microsoft have all but admitted 8 was a clanger.

Nothing will ever beat the monstrosity that was Millennium Edition, however. Utter piece of toss.

"Nothing will ever beat the monstrosity that was Millennium Edition, however. Utter piece of toss."

Surely Vista was a close contender, but I think I agree with you that Windows Millennium was shite.

Thanks for the advice re Windows 7, claig - we need a second laptop with soon having two DDs in secondary school and would like to stick with Windows 7. Our current laptop is a Dell and it has been faultless.

I get on with windows 8 ok. I don't understand all the hatred for it.

'Thanks for the advice re Windows 7, claig'

The great thing about buying from the business section is that you can buy 3 years' next day business support for your Windows 7 machine (from Dell or HP etc) and they can also replace the disk etc if it ever goes wrong all for an extra one-off cost of £50 or so.

Windows 7 will still be supported with bugfixes etc until 2020.

Thank you DrDre - that worked!!! It doesn't do it anymore!
slug you can turn it off too - yay!
My language and humour and productivity will now improve vastly...
(I couldn't do it when DCs were around just in case - when they aren't I can and do tell Windows 7 exactly what I think of it!)
Why do they put things like that on automatically - surely it has pissed off many users...do they not trial them before?
And they could make more obvious how to turn it off too...
I think XP was better than 7 too!

Still agree with Sheldon though (and thanks I hadn't seen that clip )...

I use Libreoffice - have fired MS office off all together - didn't like the ribbons or the £400+ price tag for the 'professional' version so I could keep using Access..haven't worked out how to use Base yet - so still use my 2002 version of Access - which according to MS woudn't work on 7 but actually does!
Interesting that Libre Office will open and save as a word file etc - but MS office can't open Libre offiice files ... wonder why???

I have just switched from XP to 8.1 and the first couple of weeks were awful, still finding my way around but not finding it too bad now. Have just retrieved some lost files that disappeared as I was moving them , it seems to me which ever system you use it will find ways to confuse you.

Be careful if you are using Libraries -
as I understand it (From Windows 7) the files aren't actually in the libraries folder - it is almost like a short cut menu or an index ...the actual files could be anywhere on your PC (or a memory stick/cd/dvd/ etc)
So if you find a file 'elephants' on the C drive - and you have the same file elephants in your library - don't delete the c drive copy -that is the real file - if that makes sense!!