Windows tablets and 8.1

If you go to a Staples or Best Buy, go check out the Windows tablets. I saw not just the Surface Pro 2. I also saw an actually-not-bad Acer tablet. Please don't let slimmer pretty Amazon/Android pads or iPads distract you for a moment.

The Surface Pro 2 look and feel better than the first version. Please ignore the idiot RT (stand for Rotten Trash I suppose) version that runs only Windows Store apps. That RT version should not have existed. If you think Surface Pro 2 as a laptop. This is a great slim laptop. If you think it it is pad, man is it clumsy big compared to the slim-and-pretty iPads and Android pads.

If you can put up with Windows 8's interface, the Surface Pro 2 actually is a reasonable choice. Waita minute, a reasonable working laptop costs may be HALF as much. Is it supposed to have Windows 8.1? Where is that reincarnated Start button? I wanted to verify, wanted to run good old "winver" on the DOS prompt. Boy that's hard. Where the heck is the DOS prompt (cmd)? Windows-R to launch it you say? How do you do this in the tablets (without keyboard attached)? The softkey keyboard... where the heck is the Windows key? (I don't remember able to find it). Finally I found it in c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe. Waita minute it still says Windows 8 (not 8.1). And the version is wha? 6.3.something? This is nuts.

The keyboard is still too expensive. The total cost of the machine + keyboard should be around the price of an iPad to be competitive.

Face it, that Metro/Modern UI is a failure. The ugly tiles just suck. Where is the idiot who says well originally people object to the mouse and people will get used to it later guy? It is hard to find things. How do I explore what programs are on the computer? There is just no good way to do so when inside the desktop now that the Start button is whacked. Even 3.0's Program Manager would be nice to bring back, ok?

In the Start page, I'll have to scroll scroll scroll in the WIDE screen. Why can't you have little folders in to collect your titles? and when you turn it 90 degrees? You still have to scroll scroll scroll to the right in the narrow screen. (That's not how the scrolling work in the Windows phones right?) That aspect ratio is screwed up. When you turn it 90 degree to read a pdf novel it will feel not right.

In the old days... there are UI to wrap around ugliness, such as DOSShell to wrap around DOS.. The Windows 8 desktop is alright but I am not liking its wacky corners and the charm bar and I want Aero back. Someone out there should write a better desktop to run on these machines.. Yes, there is Linux! But can I still deal with C:\Program Files\whatever and not /usr/bin/whatever and able to run existing apps. Ah there is Windows 7, sure. But the merit of Windows 8 that everyone forgets: it is faster to boot now.
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Additional notes:

Ok, the best way to find a program in the "Desktop" is to do the charm bar. Windows-C, or just slide to the left from the right edge, and then use the search icon. Dude, this is outrageously not obvious. If the right hand side is interact-able, it should have a damn little tab. This is still not a LIST of program for me to choose from, but a full page of irrelevant things on the Metro screen.

Needing to must-jump out of Desktop stinks. Get an email with a PDF attachment? Click on it and boom, it is at your face.

In fighting video games, it is ultimate humiliation if you beat your opponent and destroy his score board and energy bar. Metro is doing this to me.

Death of a heroic teacher

It happened again in American schools. This time a student took his parents gun and started shooting... and killed himself and his own math teacher. Not a whole lot of details yet but some sources say this has to do with bullying.... Yes, don't you want to shoot those who bully you?! But alas, that math teacher didn't bully him I hope. And... although shooting the bad kids who bullying definitely fix one problem but the cost is too great... you will either face your own death or life time in prison... which is just too great. Look kids, you only see the bully at this moment of life. You can go to a different school ok? Don't let them drive you to death you hear?

It must be some intense anger going on inside and the kid cannot control it... alas, the parents didn't put the gun in a safe spot. Do his parents know what's going on with the kid? I want them to come out to the media and apologize (at least for not hiding their gun properly). The teacher may have survived if he brings in a knife or even ninja stars.

It is so unfortunate that this math teacher got shot and killed... What could have prevented this? Every teacher wears a bulletproof vest to work? Is gun control coming back to the spotlight? (I don't think so)

Windows 8 frustration continues

Windows 8.1 is supposed to be here... I am supposed to get the Start button back, along with a few other things that should have been in the original release, such as some full screen calculator app (I want to see how lame this can be). See here for Windows 8.1 new additions. It is actually ok not to go to Desktop immediately. I am so used to Windows-D now.

I am supposed to find this in the ugly green tile known as "Store". I don't. How do you search something in the Store? You freaking just type on it without a prompt. and all I get a bunch of probably-crappy Windows 8.1 tutorial apps.

Ok, I am supposed to get all the Windows updates first. There are so many. And for years the softwares are updated behind the scene. Why are there so many holes to plug? Tried that and it is STUCK in the middle. Rebooted and still stuck, says "Installing update 18 of 33"... I was afraid I just busted the less-than-one-year-old machine. Fortunately another reboot and some more waiting gives me my computer back. But is there Windows 8.1 in the Store? No.

Ok, I am NOT GOING TO BOTHER looking for Windows 8.1. This isn't a very pleasant experience you know to not able to find it, you know. Even if you can find it, you may or may not be able to install it.

Apparently I am not the only one having problems. See here for an article on Forbes.

Come on, why are Microsoft things so frustrating. There is supposed to be a lot of talents working in Microsoft?

Government Shutdown and Debt Ceiling

Who wins during the government shut down? No one really. Oh an end is in sight. Although I am not sure what the compromise is... but just why can't such deal be made earlier to prevent such shutdown... those who lost wages, what they going to do? claim unemployment! You don't save much $ that way during the shutdown.

When you think about it... it is like 2 parents fighting for what's-for-dinner. One want hamburger the other want fried chicken... and when an agreement cannot be made, there is no dinner for the kids who don't get to participate.

But I am glad this is just talks. In the 1860s it was war. But it seems to be even more stupid if a civil war breaks out about healthcare system.

Now for the debt ceiling. If we reach it we raise it. It is completely useless. Why have such (arbitrary) limit? Ok, translate that to real life, if you have $1000 credit line on your credit card and you have reached it. Do you ask the bank to raise your credit line? What would the bank say? Something must be done to pay off such debt right? And I am still not sure if someone is really doing something about this.

Capitol Hill and Post Partum Depression Sad Story

Government shutdown in a farce as people can't agree on budget... and adding to an already tragic situation of ineffective government is a new mom with post-partum depression rammed into barricade into the Capitol Hill area ending in her death while her child is inside. See here.

The baby must be very saddened to find out about this later.

She has had medication and mental health evaluation. What else can help her?

Now, can we blame the (unpaid) police officers for firing? Now given the Navy Yard incident... they must act fast! But that woman was unarmed. The article says, "More shots were fired after the vehicle stopped". Now should they LOOK before shooting? I feel sad that the baby has lost mom.

Before the details unfold, I thought it may be some disgruntled government employee lost job wanting to revenge or something.