Direct X 11.1 is Windows 8 exclusive, no plans to retrofit

[Foxi4]

People use the Start menu?

Apparently they do, as its lack is the most popular complaint users have againts Windows 8.

 

[porkiewpyne]

Apparently they do, as its lack is the most popular complaint users have againts Windows 8.

Thought it was the button which brings you to the menu which pissed many people off? Meh I could be wrong.

Tbh I actually do use the Start Menu sometimes to find stuff which I don't create a shortcut for as I don't use it often enough and if I forget the name. I think of it as a mini-widget for My Computer.

And I guess another gripe is that the Start Screen takes up the whole page as opposed to a quarter. But I don't really mind it all that much. Regarding the "more clicks in Start Menu", it's kinda debatable as your most popular programs will be at the top of your list anyway and you can easily pin it there otherwise.

 

[Qtis]

People do enjoy complaining about a missing start menu, but the missing features of say, iOS, is just fine. I don't see why upgrading to the new Windows 8 is a problem for most since the upgrade was basically free (15€?).

ps. What start menu? OS X doesn't have a start menu and I've actually never missed it. The new metro UI is a lot smarter imho for opening programs and such. It's still possible to open the desktop interface on Win8 so it's pretty moot.

pps. Running Windows 7 via Bootcamp and WinXP via Parallels :3

 

[FAST6191]

They can shove it up their ass; I'm not getting windows 8 as dx 11 is working fine for me don't need 11.1. Win7 and dx 11 work just fine and will still be supported for ages anyway so no loss to me.

Technically certain versions of windows XP are supported until April and they lack DX10 let alone anything newer.

I did some reading over the afternoon and 11.1 does seem to be enough of a step up from 10(.1) that someone might pay attention as well. I suppose much like DX10 it will depend upon takeup of the relevant versions of windows and whatever chips the PS360 successors end up rebadging (assuming we hear about things this E3 I would be half surprised to see 11.1 grade chips over 11). I would agree it would probably be the foolish dev that limits their game (either completely or might as well have) to DX11.1 at any time in the near future though.

Re the internet button and clicks- quick launch, desktop shortcuts (hover and click has been around for years) and keyboard shortcuts all exist so I am not sure that is the greatest example.

 

[the_randomizer]

Unless someone can convince me or explain to me how Windows 8 is better than 7, I refuse to get it.

 

[Valwin]

Windows 8 is not better that W7

 

[RodrigoDavy]

I wouldn't see Directx 11.1 being Windows 8 exclusive as a problem. I see Directx itself being Windows exclusive as a problem. Developers should choose to work with OpenGL instead, it is easier to port to other OS, consoles and mobile devices.

Unless someone can convince me or explain to me how Windows 8 is better than 7, I refuse to get it.

I heard it consumes less resources than Windows 7, has a little better battery life, etc, etc...

 

[chris888222]

I don't HATE windows 8, I just find that it doesn't suit every computer, including my old one.
It's going to be damn awkward trying to drag around those tiles.

The only time when I'll upgrade to win8 is when I need a laptop replacement (which will probably take about 4 - 6 months more as mine is starting to screw up). Otherwise, I don't see any particular reason why I should upgrade.

But I'll say: MS's move to integrate computer and tablet UIs are surely a drastic move. Some people will definitely need time to get used to it.

 

[Arras]

Unless someone can convince me or explain to me how Windows 8 is better than 7, I refuse to get it.

It has DirectX 11.1.
It boots much faster.
It can sync accounts between PCs.
Better support for multiple monitors.
Better file transfer box that can pause and resume.
Better Task Manager.
Has a Refresh function which is basically a reinstall without having to actually reinstall the OS itself.
Features some sort of built in RAID-like mechanism for external storage.
Improved checkdisk.
It has File History which allows you to keep backups of files in certain folders and restore them to older versions.
Takes less system resources.
Improved hardware acceleration for graphics.
Better printer discovery.
You can put it on and run it from a USB stick.
Centralized search.
The new Mail app is pretty nice.

 

[Jamstruth]

I fail to understand the animosity towards a system that's simply better than 7.

You'll excuse me if I prefer being able to run 2 completely resizable program windows side by side (as I am actually doing right now) rather than being forced to use 1 application at a time with the option of having one of them in a miniature, feature reduced form.
I see Metro as a step back in terms of workflow and convenience. Its great for tablets, don't get me wrong, and including it on the PC version to add cross compatibility is brilliant but for full scale computing its just not as convenient. I wouldn't say that Windows 8's system is "better" more...different. The rest of the OS is great, features added, kernel streamlining etc. but I'm never that sure when I use Metro.

As for using the start menu? I use the start menu all the time to search for programs or documents I don't want pinned to my desktop or taskbar. I'm going to install Start8 when I get my Windows 8 disc downloaded (shitty internet... 2 nights and halfway there) just for the convenience of not going into a fullscreen menu to load up another desktop app.

It has DirectX 11.1.
Has a Refresh function which is basically a reinstall without having to actually reinstall the OS itself.
It has File History which allows you to keep backups of files in certain folders and restore them to older versions.
Centralized search.

(I removed ones I had no issues with)
1. That Refresh button is going to be HELL! Imagine how many people are going to phone Tech Support because they pressed that button. Imagine.
2. Windows 7 has a backup feature, not sure whether it has selective restores though.
3. Umm... yeah Vista and Win7's start menu says hi. I can search my computer just as easily here as on Windows 8.

 

[the_randomizer]

It has DirectX 11.1.
It boots much faster.
It can sync accounts between PCs.
Better support for multiple monitors.
Better file transfer box that can pause and resume.
Better Task Manager.
Has a Refresh function which is basically a reinstall without having to actually reinstall the OS itself.
Features some sort of built in RAID-like mechanism for external storage.
Improved checkdisk.
It has File History which allows you to keep backups of files in certain folders and restore them to older versions.
Takes less system resources.
Improved hardware acceleration for graphics.
Better printer discovery.
You can put it on and run it from a USB stick.
Centralized search.
The new Mail app is pretty nice.

I stand corrected

 

[Janthran]

...and? What's wrong in that?

Microsoft made it clear that they are going to phase out old-style Windows in favour of the new style - Windows 8 is *better* at a variety of tasks and if you're so sacred of Metro, you can always use a third-party start menu. I fail to understand the animosity towards a system that's simply better than 7.

Knowing life, the system files will be "ported" anyways - Windows 7 and 8 are for the most part compatible with each other and it should not pose a problem for hobbysts.

I don't like Windows 8 because there's no support for my graphics card.
That's the only reason.

 

[RodrigoDavy]

The main problem seems to be the fact the "Metro" UI is especially designed for tablets and M$ didn't have the trouble to release a more desktop/mouse friendly interface. Well, people who doesn't like it can simply use the older versions of Windows or consider using other Operating Systems. I don't think there are going to be directx 11.1 exclusive games anyway.

 

[Janthran]

I thought it was more to do with a lot of very notable developers and studios coming out against the platform stating how closed it is. I'll just repost these quotes from Croteam:



I don't know much about Windows 8 to know if it's just developers overreacting but a lot of the negative comments I've read have mentioned all of this and very few are pissed because it means eventually you'll have to buy W8 to run the latest software. Those who hate the tiled design just say "meh, I'll switch to desktop mode".

That's just an overreaction. I used to have Windows 8 and I could run programs that weren't on the shop. Heck, the shop wasn't even open at the time.

 

[Valwin]

W8 was made with tablets in mind so you see why is not so good in normal PC

 

[Arras]

W8 was made with tablets in mind so you see why is not so good in normal PC

actually I have a normal pc and W8 works fine
Most people are just overreacting. It may take a bit of getting used to, but it doesn't deserve all the hate it's getting. Most things are still in the place where you'd expect them to be, the only thing that really changed is the Start Menu and learning how the parts of it you use changed can be done in a few hours of playing with it. I have a few friends who tried it and they didn't really have any problem with it either. Most people are judging it before they give it a proper chance and use it for a few weeks.

 

[Foxi4]

Unless someone can convince me or explain to me how Windows 8 is better than 7, I refuse to get it.

1. Faster boot and power off times.
2. Decreased usage of RAM by the system.
3. Hyper-V built-in to improve virtualization.
4. Significantly-improved read/write speeds, at least according to a Crystal Disk Mark benchmark I saw.
5. Decreased encoding/decoding time when working with video files.
6. Increased framerates in some games, decreased in others. Pretty hit-and-miss from what I've seen so-far and the differences are minute, but hey! We don't have any patches or games written specifically for Windows 8 yet.
7. Automatic detection of SSD drives, preventing their defragmentation and using TRIM instead.
8. Automated detection of all of your installed applications and grouping them on the Apps screen, regardless of whether or not they are registered in the system - everything's always at arm's reach.
9. Integrated contacts management built into the system.
10. Easy access to your favourite services over "Live Tiles" updated in real-time.
11. Integrated SkyDrive cloud storage service.
12. No more reinstalling - there's a built in "Refresh System" option which will automatically return it to "Factory Settings", making the installation "Mint" and clean of all junk that might've accumulated in it.
13. Enhanced task manager in comparison to the one we know from Windows 7.
14. Built-in ISO mounting function.
15. Windows Store built-in.
16. Improved overall security due to SmartScreen, Defender and Safe Boot (UEFI) integration and TPM (if the computer has a module) or at least so the story goes...
17. The system "appears to work smoother".

That's about it, but to really know what Windows 8 means to you, you should install it, tinker with it and check for yourself. It (literally) doesn't cost you anything since Microsoft hosts the ISO, so go ahead and give it a little test drive.

You'll excuse me if I prefer being able to run 2 completely resizable program windows side by side (as I am actually doing right now) rather than being forced to use 1 application at a time with the option of having one of them in a miniature, feature reduced form.

Spoiler

Err... Two resizable windows in Windows 8. Problem?

I see Metro as a step back in terms of workflow and convenience. Its great for tablets, don't get me wrong, and including it on the PC version to add cross compatibility is brilliant but for full scale computing its just not as convenient. I wouldn't say that Windows 8's system is "better" more...different. The rest of the OS is great, features added, kernel streamlining etc. but I'm never that sure when I use Metro.

The workflow issues are not due to the system differences themselves - you still have a massive desktop full of icons and a search bar - you literally have the same features, you just "click less" than if you were to use the Start Menu.

As for using the start menu? I use the start menu all the time to search for programs or documents I don't want pinned to my desktop or taskbar.

Spoiler

A SEARCHBAR! THAR SHE BLOWS!

 

[Deleted User]

oh I'm not falling for it this time, would never have left windows xp if microsoft didn't have to go out of its way to be a jerk.
Am I the only one who hates what Steve Ballmer is doing to microsoft?

 

[FAST6191]

I dare say your little list could do with a bit of pruning Foxi4- several of those are not exactly true selling points as much as minor tweaks and things I might raise an eyebrow for.
8. W7 does have TRIM support, it is a bit odd in some implementations but straight sata SSD (which is no small percentage of them) should be good.
10. Really? I could be cute and say the old cardfile, most older versions shipped with something resembling outlook express.
12. By all means add it but when MS tries muscling in on a type of service. Granted they are somewhat better than the embrace, extent and extinguish model of yesteryear. Most of the similar providers have explorer extensions and FTP has long been possible too.
15. http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/620/..._mount_images_iso_files_without_burning_them/ Granted it does technically make it an addon/hidden option but I doubt an argument to truly dismiss it could be made.
16. I am unsure whether to refer to 12, some of the old windows catalog stuff or similar such things.

3 and 7 might have a bit of dissonance as well.

The rest are pretty interesting improvements, whether they are worth it so much is something we probably have to debate (does 1 really matter when standby/hibernate exists?).

Edit- @KooPako XP was technically released back in 2001. I like XP as much or more than most but that is a pretty good run and I can not think of any of the LTS builds of linux distros that quite match that right now.

 

[Foxi4]

I dare say your little list could do with a bit of pruning Foxi4- several of those are not exactly true selling points as much as minor tweaks and things I might raise an eyebrow for.
8. W7 does have TRIM support, it is a bit odd in some implementations but straight sata SSD (which is no small percentage of them) should be good.
10. Really? I could be cute and say the old cardfile, most older versions shipped with something resembling outlook express.
12. By all means add it but when MS tries muscling in on a type of service. Granted they are somewhat better than the embrace, extent and extinguish model of yesteryear. Most of the similar providers have explorer extensions and FTP has long been possible too.
15. http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/620/..._mount_images_iso_files_without_burning_them/ Granted it does technically make it an addon/hidden option but I doubt an argument to truly dismiss it could be made.
16. I am unsure whether to refer to 12, some of the old windows catalog stuff or similar such things.

3 and 7 might have a bit of dissonance as well.

The rest are pretty interesting improvements, whether they are worth it so much is something we probably have to debate (does 1 really matter when standby/hibernate exists?).

Edit- @KooPako XP was technically released back in 2001. I like XP as much or more than most but that is a pretty good run and I can not think of any of the LTS builds of linux distros that quite match that right now.

I was really just listing the changes that I could personally find on short notice - I'm pretty sure there's a myriad of other improvements. I'm not using some of those features myself, however "they're there", so why not list them?

EDIT: Yeah, 3 and 7 did look similar... I just forgot I already listed that, I "wiped" 3 off the list.