Today I bought my first Windows 8 desktop PC
September 9, 2013 10:16 finds me writing this entry
because I am more excited than I thought I would be about this moment. Allow me
to go back, I have been pacing about a new computer purchase so I can be
productive while I apply for state jobs in Sacramento.
I have been to Fry's, then Best Buy, each twice three
weeks apart. I had given up for the time being for lack of a qualified
candidate. Duel-core processor, 6-8 GB of ram and 1T of memory, all for a price
I feel comfortable paying at this time. Those two store could not keep me
interested -- Best Buy was close with a price at $499. Didn't feel it, though,
with some upcoming auto maintenance and limited resources.
I happened upon Office Depot while passing the time to
pick up a friend from school. I found the machine I had been looking for, at a
price I could not walk away from: $299. It was the computer powering the
display monitors. I got it on the cheap and made a good computer contact with
the IT-sales guy in the store.
Here I am, a computer and no monitor. Oh well, I got a
great deal and I will have to save up for the monitor is no problem. I'm game;
because, I got a great deal on this tower with AMD A-6 processor. I take my
friend home and talk about the computer purchase and my subsequent
monitor-problem. Turns out her brother has an extra monitor and gives it to me
for keeps!
So I set it up and realized I got the HDMI cable but no
power cable. But that ain't a problem for a musician like me. I have cords at
that voltage already. Boom, headphones connected and the race is on.
I am the first in my family to run Windows 8.
I am the first NOT to delete the stuff I need on the
computer:
AMD
Catalyst Install Manager
Bonjour
HP
Connected Remote
IDT
Audio
Microsoft
SkyDrive
Microsoft
SQL Server
Microsoft
C++ (multiple apps)
Wi-Fi
Adapter
I am the first to figure out how to delete all the crap
that is pre-installed...
Clear
Desktop of shortcuts
CyberLink
Corp. (multiple apps)
HP
(multiple apps)
Norton
Internet Security
Wild
Tangent Games
This process is time consuming yet productive. I am not
multi-tasking, except on my iPhone to write this entry in real-time as I
experience the excitement of my first Windows 8 experience. The final uninstall
was Symantec, which also required a re-boot. Total efficiency; and, the Giants
won their second extra-innings walk-off in a row. Today was a good day.
Got connected to Wi-Fi. I nearly forgot about that stage.
The last time I had a desktop PC and needed to connect to the Internet was in
high school at my house in Southern California. That particular computer shared a hard-line with our home telephone.
Made some tiles smaller, unpinned, and uninstalled programs. My
new monitor does not have a camera, but I found out how to get out of a program
and back to the tiles. First thing I do is play Solitaire...
Microsoft requires an account I am not in
the mood to set up right now. Since I unpinned Internet Explorer, I have to figure out a
way to get on the Internet, download Chrome and pin it to my start screen.
The programs the Microsoft has created are glich-prone and crash more often than I care to keep track of. Though I am generally pleased with the way content is presented. I don't believe I would be as aware of the crashing if I did not use them as often as I do.
About the apps that load sports, news, and financial data, I do not like that I have no way to access the article through the app if I want to keep the link as a source or archive the article. And, the new app interface and the desktop do not work well together. Like, I can't be reading a story on the Finance app and simultaneously be jotting notes on Microsoft Word via the desktop.
I have no other complaints or comments. Some consumers and IT professionals do not like Windows 8, it doesn't bother me more than the few things I mentioned above. We will get used to it or buy another operating system. I give Windows 8 a neutral rating.
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