Team-BHP - Windows 8 anyone ?

What is the min ram required for Windows 8 to run comfortably without any lag ?
My parents wanted a laptop, to be used only for email / chat / skype etc..

Got a basic model Samsung which came pre-installed with Windows 8, however I found it quite slow at times.
Went for this one because it was the cheapest deal, came with 2gb ram.

-Fillmore

Quote:

Originally Posted by neerajpv87 (Post 2949523)

I'm planning to download it today. Guess I'll buy for 699( by faking the date). I'm thinking of possible problems( now or in future) that could arise by doing so. Could someone please guide me.

Technically if you fake the date of purchase, then it is illegal as you are required to pay an amount of Rs 1,999. MS could deem that license to be void and make appropriate changes to their license activation server. BUT MS already knows about this loophole and have not done anything to plug it YET. :-)

That's why you hear Steve Ballmer crowing loudly about selling 4 million copies of Win8 in 4 days flat. :D They desperately want Win8 and it's new interface to be adopted quickly by customers and enterprises alike and create a new ecosystem

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/30/ste...been-stunning/

Frankly this offer of Rs 2K (<US$ 40 at today's exchange rate) was a big surprise to me when I read it on 26/10. I believe we are entering a new era - where desktop OSes will be sold at highly discounted rates and the money made on applications and hardware (tabs). This is similar to printer manufacturers selling new printers cheap and making money on inks, toners and other supplies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neerajpv87 (Post 2949523)

Also can I pause and resume the ISO download?

Yes, you can. The installer stub can pause/resume the download. It will be saved to a hidden folder 'ESD' on your C: drive. Make sure you make a copy of that folder on another hard drive as a backup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neerajpv87 (Post 2949523)

I'm planning to download it today. Guess I'll buy for 699( by faking the date). I'm thinking of possible problems( now or in future) that could arise by doing so. Could someone please guide me.please:

Also can I pause and resume the ISO download?

This would not be possible as you will also need tobe uploading the bill details and the COA (Code of Authenticity) number of your PC (canbe found on the sticker stuck either at the back or bottom of PC). The COA will reveal your PC original sales date. Microsoft is'nt so stupid. And this upgrade is only applicable on the PC's which have Win7 preinstalled from the OEM, This is not applicable on the separately purchased copy of Win7, I hope this clears every doubt.

Upgraded from Win 7 to Win 8 couple of days back. The whole process was very smooth. The upgrade assistant indicated the Win 8 download to be 2GB, but the whole download finished in around 30 min. I do have an 8Mbps Broadband connection theoretically, but seems impossible for a 2GB download to be done in 30 min.

I upgraded because my system had become very slow due to lot of bloatware, so it seemed to be a good idea to make it fast and also see how Win 8 works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj (Post 2956245)

So how is the performance after the upgrade. I did a fresh install. Now I have Win7 & Win8 dual booting off separate hard disks and a third hard disk for all my data. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d (Post 2956248)

So how is the performance after the upgrade. I did a fresh install. Now I have Win7 & Win8 dual booting off separate hard disks and a third hard disk for all my data. :)

My system with Win 7 was close to unusable. So comparatively Initial impressions is very positive. The start up is fast and the performance of the apps also seems good.

But as most reviews have pointed out, it is a drastic change in the way of usage. As an 'advanced' :)smartphone and computer user, I was able to adjust to it pretty easily. But I would think twice before recommending an upgrade to my father. Although once you get past the learning curve, having a 'App' Centric user interface would really help the basic users.

Very happy with the upgrade. Win 8 is extremely snappy to say the least.

The typical boot time is less than 10 seconds. I have never seen my system hang after the install.

The picture login thingy is quite interesting to play around and the decent collection of Apps does the job in keeping you glued to the 8.

And all this for just 699 makes it a complete deal.

Would rate 4.5/5 for the overall experience from start to finish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warwithwheels (Post 2956289)

Are all commonly used programs compatible with Win 8? Have you faced compatibility issues yet w.r.t. programs/server/3rd party applications etc?

Quote:

Originally Posted by libranof1987 (Post 2957390)

Are all commonly used programs compatible with Win 8? Have you faced compatibility issues yet w.r.t. programs/server/3rd party applications etc?

Nothing as yet!

The compatibility report indicated that two of my 3rd party - not so frequently used win 7 programs wouldn't run on win 8. But that's hardly an issue. I don't even remember what it is now. Guess it was some Dell service app.

I primarily use the system for basic office functions like Spread sheets, pdf, email etc.

Windows Office 7 works without any flaw, Acrobat has a dedicated reader app for the 8.

Even my wireless printer was automatically detected and drivers got installed instantly.

If you are still apprehensive, you can run the compatibility utility that is a part of the upgrade program.

The battery life has improved manifold too.

And here's a screen shot of the team bhp and my mail account side by side. Multitasking has become a breeze now! :thumbs up