Windows 8.....A simple synopsis please.

I'm very happy with my Windows 8. There are a few bugs, but nothing that concerned me much. Check my posts in this thread:

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/windows/windows-8-early-reviews-look-promi...

Thx BB

It's good to know that this is still your view.

Cno

Don't know how much you want to spend, but go for a touch screen version if possible.

This is quite cheap in the US:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009DXVUQS/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p147_d0_i2?p...

Thx again.

I am looking for something relatively cheap, but robust enough to stay the course and cover the relatively simple needs of my son. Kids (mine anyway) are quite sore on Laptops, so an expensive one would be wasted.....we will probably take out some insurance on it!.

Touchscreen really only works on a tablet. Ergonomics are not good using it on a laptop screen.

My take on Windows 8, is that it's new and you might be better served with a tried and tested Windows 7 OS.

You should be able to get a better deal on a Windows 7 machine, as it will be used on older tech.

I have used a variety of Windows OSs and think that XP and Windows 7 are the best so far, that said, I have a Mac and have used Linux in the past. Windows is probably my least favourite of the bunch, but I'm having to use W7 soon, as W8 does not support my software that I run. There are apparently a lot of backwards capability issues with software and hardware alike. You would be well advised to do some extensive Googling.

Thank you for the sensible and practical advice......I will certainly take it on board.

I normally have lots to say about nearly everything....but this stuff does my head in! 

1) There's an upgrade assistant who will advise of any incompatible software. When I upgraded, the only incompatible programme was a Bluetooth driver. I uninstalled it, then installed Windows 8, & the reinstalled the updated driver.

2) In any case, the OP isn't upgrading from a previous version; he's buying a brand new Windows 8 laptop. So "incompatible programmes" for laptop used for school purpose isn't an issue here.

3) I miss the touch screen functionality on my laptop. Windows 8 experience in my opinion is much better with a touch screen. Ergonomics is an issue only when you use touch functionality exclusively. In a laptop, there's a live tile in front of you; simply click it with your finger rather than drag your mouse towards it!

I would suggest you go to your local PC World store & have a play with Windows 8. See what you think of it.

I'm sure it works in a fashion, it just looks to me like MS has made it into a bit of a gimmick and I don't know that it transfers well to laptops, but then I've not used it and you have. My viewpoint is one of MS OSs being released before they are finished. W7 works and is known to be stable, the last thing a non techy person needs, is to start having to faff with software and hardware incompatibility issues.

If budget were not really an issue, I'd recommend the smallest Macbook Air, but lovely as they are, they are rather pricey.

As a throw away comment, my daughter has just said that W8 doesn't play DVDs.....so this "may" be an issue. 

Not entirely true.

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-8-tip-get-media-center-free

Plus, there are many free third party softwares for the job, like VLC media player.

I think you have me summed to a T.....as a luddite, I hate change (my son will probably take to it better), and a Macbook, though really nice, is more than I wish to spend.

Sorry Cno, I didn't read this bit.

If gaming and depending on the games to be played, you might need a laptop with a descrete graphics card (video adapter).

The problem is that I haven't a clue what I need! 

All I can say from my 2 months of continuous use, is that Windows 8 is a lot faster, & actually needs lower specs to run than Windows 7. Most of the negative reaction / apprehension is from people who only tried it for a day or so, & went back to older version. I haven't needed any "technical knowledge" any more than what's needed to run Windows 7. You can always use the Windows 7 desktop mode in Windows 8, which works exactly like Windows 7. It is well worth it.