Big Improvement over Windows 7

[tomgregg]

I upgraded Windows on my Motion Computing CL900 and the first thing I notice is it is a lot faster than Windows 7. It boots up a lot faster and the metro version of IE 10 is much faster. Pages load faster and scrolling is much faster also. I was concerned that replacing my LE1600 with the slower CL900 would be a problem and it was with windows7. But windows 8 has helped tremendously.

[CDSJr]

Curious as to why you switched from the LE1600 to the CL900. I have a LE1700 and still debating whether or not to try Win8. How is your progress?

[tomgregg]

I switched to the CL900 because my LE1600 broke after about 5 years and I liked the size, weight, battery life and price of the 900. And I wanted a touch screen as well as pen input.

There are a few problems with Windows 8 as I noted in my other post, but overall I like it a lot more than Windows 7.

The issues seem to be driver issues for the touch screen, the accellerometer and maybe the display adapter. There is also a few issues with some of their preview metro apps.

But the operating system, internet explorer 10, pen input, all the basic windows apps and my original windows apps seem to be working fine.

IE 10, especially the metro version is a lot faster than IE 9 and I like scrolling up and down, left and right and going back page and forward page with touch. The pages load faster without add ons and you can start scrolling the page before it loads completely unlike IE 9.

I scan through about 25 newspapers everyday and the new browser saves me about 30 - 60 minutes everyday.

A post on answers.microsoft.com recommended uninstalling the N TRIG drivers and re installing them in compatibility mode. The whole process didn't go well - uninstalling the drivers deleted all but one of the touch screen devices and the reinstall wouldn't work because of device problems.

But the touch screen works fine now, even right after a restart without the necessity to put the 900 to sleep and wake it back up as I mentioned in my other post. Not sure how it works without devices or drivers, but maybe there is some basic driver built in that makes single touch work. I got an email from N TRIG support that said they would have a driver in the next few weeks.

I like the USA Today metro app - much faster than their web site and you don't have to look at all the old news stories they never seem to remove.

I'm sure I'll like the Kindle metro app once it works - I can see my library on their system and can download my books, I just can't read them yet.

I like the Accuweather app.

The metro email app doesn't support IMAP or POP so I have to use Live Email on the desktop for now.

The start screen is new and there are a lot of options and features I haven't figured out yet, but I think it will be better than the old start button once I learn how to use it.

The TIP pops up automatically in metro apps, but not in regular windows desktop apps, you have to click or touch the keyboard icon on the taskbar. But with the smaller screen of the 900 that's probably just as well. I never really liked the way the TIP would disappear and then reappear when you went from input field to input field on previouse versions.

The handwriting recognition seems to be faster and more accurate and editing seems to work better than before. You don't have to wait until the convert text appears in the TIP to click insert and continue writing.

I hope the driver issues get worked out soon because I don't want to go back to Windows 7. I think Windows 8 is going to be the best thing to happen to tablet computers since tablet computers themselves.

I think when they call it a "consumer preview" they mean a preview of the functionality designed for a "consumer of content" - web pages, documents, information, etc., and that is much better than Windows 7. I think the "producer" functionality is at least as good as Windows 7 and given the time available before production release, hopefully will be better.

A fast iPad / Android like user interface, especially with a touch screen and a business like, IT department friendly OS as well. The best of both worlds.

And I am not a huge fan of Microsoft, just a fan of tablets.

[CDSJr]

I forgot to ask if you were using 32 bit or 64 bit.

[tomgregg]

I'm using 32 bit

[CDSJr]

What exactly did you have to install after Win8 for tablet function?

[tomgregg]

I made a copy of my Windows 7 system by making a system image. You can't uninstall windows 8. You have to have a backup to restore if you want to go back.

I went to: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

I clicked on get it now and followed the instructions.

the download was pretty long, though it was the first day it was available.

I took the option of upgrading and keeping my existing settings and programs.

I don't recall the details, but it was straight forward with no problems.

[CDSJr]

I'm hoping the 64 bit will be as smooth as your 32 bit experience. At least I won't have the touch issues that you have. As long as my pen and character recognition work as well as all of my communications adapters, I'll be happy. It's 11 p.m. my time, so I'm off to bed. I'm going to give it a go tomorrow and see what happens. I'll post my results accordingly. Thanks for all of your time and info. BTW, MS Office 15/2012 is great. It installed in less than a minute.

[CDSJr]

o.k. here we go... I installed W8 64b on my LE1700.....EPIC FAIL! After several installs and recoveries, I finally ended with W8 32b. 64b crashed within minutes disabling pen input, which was a nightmare. Then it wouldn't recognize the usb dvd drive at boot leaving me in an endless loop of crashing 64b load ups. Finally, after several interrupted loops via bios setup intervention it finally read the external drive allowing me a full re-install. Of course, glutton for punishment, I attempted multiple attempts at installing 64b W8 only to get the exact same results. So, two days later, I installed 32b and everything is dandy. I hope others will try with more diagnostic abilities than I have available to install W8 64b on their LE1700 to find out what the problem is. I know that the LE1700 will rum Win7 64b with no problem. I don't have the facilities to attempt to diagnose the reason W8 fails where W7 shines. Again, I hope someone takes on the challenge to figure this one out. For the rest of us just know that W8 32b works fantastically. Good luck and I hope this helps everyone a bit.

[CDSJr]

More info... I have noticed a significant drop in tablet temperature. Granted it is still warm, but I find that I don't need as many recovery breaks for my arm when working for an extended period. I could cook an egg on the back of the tablet will I was working under Win 7. I'm presently looking for a Temp monitoring app that works with 8 to give everyone more specific data.

[CDSJr]

I just maxed out at 52°C.