10 Things You Wouldn’t Have Seen on a Notebook 10 Years Ago

11 : Graphics built in the cpu instead of on the motherboard.

http://www.notebookreview.com/feature/10-things-you-wouldnt-have-seen-on-a-notebook-10-years-ago/

John.

 

The only thing good about that list are backlit keyboards, digital video out, and SSD's. Everything else is a step backwards.

 

SSD and Digital Video Out are the only two worthwhile features for me of the whole lot.

 

Definitely wouldn't miss most of the entries if they disappeared tomorrow, aside from the SSD and digital video out. However, I'm fine with 16:9 provided they're at least 1080p (and more so if they have more vertical resolution).

 

Although I don't personally care for backlit keyboards (I'm a touch-typer), I'll agree with HTWingNut - those are the only three that aren't steps backwards. Thin and light might be if it weren't so intertwined with soldered processors/RAM, non-removeable batteries, and, not quite as importantly, a lack of optical drives.

I personally do miss the extra 11% vertical pixels when working on my work laptop which is 1080p with no external monitors, versus my EliteBook 8740w which is 1200p with no external monitors. It's not as big as 1280x800 versus 1920x1200 of course, but given the choice I see no reason why I'd prefer a 1080p display.

Graphics built into the CPU I have mixed feelings on. On the Intel side, I feel that the main effect for me has been less silicon for increasing IPC for CPU tasks, and thus less progress in recent years as more silicon, percentage-wise, has gone towards the GPU. So, it doesn't seem like a gain for the enthusiast on the Intel side. On the AMD side, so far their (desktop) FX CPUs have been 100% CPU-oriented, while their combined APUs have delivered much better graphics-per-dollar than Intel's. So, it feels like it hasn't harmed the enthusiast for AMD, while it's been more beneficial for the average consumer. Of course the 28nm vs 14nm spread and the old FX architecture means Intel often is still the best choice for enthusiasts, but I like AMD's methodology for built-in graphics better than Intel's.

 

All the negatives are easily sidestepped by simply buying a certain level of machine (i.e. not thin and light).

But in the right scenarios, today's average systems are so much more capable, battery efficient and portable than what we had 10 years ago that it is not even funny. The article was right; the differences are drastic. Today's systems simply allow us to do more, easier.

Combine a capable cpu with onboard graphics and supporting chipsets on a platform that sips power for everyday tasks, battery tech (hardware/software/firmware) that doesn't kill the battery in less than six months while it is 'just' being used normally and top it off with an O/S (yeah; Windows 10 Pro) that has no limits, built-in and what was available a decade ago is more like a bad memory than anything else.

For the pure performance aspects while mobile things are still much better too. 'Power packs' are readily available at good prices and compact sizes that can run a powerful mobile computer for a full workday or more (multiple power packs, of course...). Even this was not readily available (cheaply) back in 2005...

For all the negatives noted; the progress is tangible, for the right workload/scenarios. The other needs (if truly important...) to the user can still be addressed. But weight, cost and battery life will all suffer.

But when compared to tech circa 2005, it is easy to see that we've come a long way baby.


Merry Christmas (belated) and Happy Holidays to all!

Wishing everyone a vry Happy New Years 2016!

Take care.

 

Windows 10 Pro has limits. It is unfit for duty as an OS. Until users have control over it's behavior and that Rootkit telemetry disappears FOREVER and is rolled back, it is for me, malware. And forced automatic upgrades also need to disappear. Windows 7 is the last great Windows, period for those who need tools, not excess eye candy.

 

A lot of NBR members are not old enough to remember what computers were like 20-30 years ago, I know we are taking about 10 years in this instance but i still think we have progressed a lot, But build quality can be a problem though as every penny of extra cost is reduced, notebook chassis touchpads and keyboards quality can suffer.

John.

 

Disagree with all your points above.

Sure, every O/S has limits. But Windows 10 Pro is the one I would bet to be the least inhibited going forward (if we believe MS' 'last Windows ever...' campaign).

As for your other comments? What actual proof do you have that backs up your claims.

As I see it; you need to stop using every piece of software (especially google) that connects to the internet if you're so worried about telemetry, let alone every other O/S too... There is nothing out there that doesn't do it at one scale or another.

As for automatic upgrades? Best thing ever. My worst nightmare is having to connect to a clients network and they're running antiquated/non-updated software and/or O/S' with WalMart sized security holes in them. When I tell them I would rather connect to their (secured) public wifi (if I'm desperate for an internet connection), they are surprised. But connect to their non-updated internal network and subject my devices to who knows what? I've resisted that temptation so far (and stayed protected...).

Windows 7, Vista and of course Win8/8.1 all have telemetry too. What makes you think they don't? Lol...

In a recent test of wifi at a client's premises, a Win10Pro platform was faster by 25% or more than an identical system setup with Windows 7 Professional. That is just wifi. Everything else works better on Win10Pro too.

Is Win7 obsolete? No. Maybe not today in the last week of 2015... but anyone (I know) that has actually used Win10Pro since July 29, 2015 when it was officially released has not looked back.

When July 2016 rolls around with Win10 threshold 3... the only thing Windows 7 will be good for is a free upgrade (if it's still available then...) to Windows 10.

For an 'investment' of 10 minutes in getting to know your way around the new O/S (that even 90 year old clients can grasp in one sitting...) and many another 10 minutes changing the default settings (including the privacy settings...) you get to live in the future called 'now'.

Take care.

 

My now is called software which is proven for machines used for productivity. I like Windows 10 except for the automatic updates and the Telemetry (I reverted totally back to Windows 7 SP1). When all my software and drivers are compatible with Windows 10 Pro, and the Microsoft Telemetry and automatic updates totally GO AWAY, I will proudly run Windows 10. But work needs to get done, commercials and satellite feeds on time, scheduling, recording, and playback must be reliable. It is called broadcasting. OS drama not acceptable. Money's lost when the above does not happen. My PC needs to be updated when I can update my PC, I need it to be scheduled on my schedule. And ran when software vendors say it won't break key workflow. Off air events need to be kept to a minimum. Also, some of my software is older and has no newer versions and some of it is industry specific.

 

I agree; O/S drama is unacceptable. But have yet to see it in Win10...

In your response, you are totally ignoring the telemetry in Win7SP1 - unless you are not running your computer connected to the 'net? Which, in that case would mean running Windows 10 wouldn't be an issue either.

Lost productivity is not an option (ever) if we can help it. But have you actually tested Windows 10 in your production environment and experienced lost productivity after a few days or weeks of testing? Have you seen the options available with Win10 Enterprise with regards to automatic updates?

Note that I am not doubting your word nor do I blindly think that Win10 is the end all for everyone, but I am interested in finding a concrete example of Win10 not working for an actual scenario.

Thanks for this slightly OT discussion.

 

BSI WaveCart, BSI Simian would have to be upgraded to the new versions. The audio cards would have to be upgraded to new along likely with new motherboards, those audio cards are $500 to $3500 each machine. Support contracts expensive too. That is just for starters. SoundBlaster will not run this software properly as it must handle segues, must often be capable of playing and recording on multiple inputs/outputs. And you forgot the likelihood of new traffic software and perhaps new music scheduling software and new audio editing software to replace the older versions still running. And operator training for the on air talent (we run live assist part of the day) on all this new stuff. The PC and the OS is only a small part of what's involved here. Be mindful of that.

 

I'm happy with my Windows 10 installation too, after coming from Windows 7. OS seems snappier, gaming is the same performance. Good to know that DX12 is on the horizon & supported by Windows 10, and I see the Privacy concerns with Windows 10 as exaggerated.

Although going back to the main topic of this thread, I'm not a fan of the thin & light soldered trend, the choice of the non thin & lights seems to be diminishing now Alienware has become more thin & light, etc.

 

im actually totally down for points 1/4/6/7/9

the rest is either total crap or unnecessary

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

In your situation, I can certainly see your concern for 'blindly' jumping to Win10Pro.

But waiting for all these disparate parts to come together seamlessly for you is not in your best concern over the long run. And I would guess that Win10Pro would be the least of your concerns too.

This is not a case of merely testing Windows 10...

I would be setting up a modern platform with as current an O/S and all related software and hardware as is needed for your work scenarios. That is your test case and what I consider you need to be working on, today.

What you have is becoming obsolete by the minute. And the hardware required for your workflow won't last or be available for forever either (even if you're comfortable using an O/S on it's last breathe (support-wise).

I was in your position a couple of times in the past few decades (yeah; and by my own doing too) and this is what I'm warning about today; don't be left behind (by tech).

Is there a cost? Of course. But becoming obsolete by trying to ignore the overall issues is even more costly in the long run.

Reminds me of a client that ran a restaurant that he 'rejuvenated' every 3 to 5 years (over a 25+ year period...) by infusing a cool $1M+ at a time. But that was just the cost of being in his industry and the rewards for him and his investors were always just around the corner (made multiple times over... until the next time). When I first ran into him I couldn't understand how he could spend so freely and seemingly needlessly. But as (restaurant) business after restaurant business started up and shut down all around him year after year, I finally understood why he said he 'had to' do what he did.

When you see it in the proper perspective (as a part of the cost of having an ongoing business... whether it costs a little or a lot...), it not only becomes something that you can write off, but it is also another incentive to become more efficient and effective for the long run too. Rather than just for today (or more likely; yesterday).

As that old client said to me many times so many years ago; 'I'd rather spend money willingly and how I want to, then slowly bleed it over years and then need to spend even more trying to play catch up, if I even can by then'.

 

This job is not a video game. Understand that. And no new hardware goes on air without trial periods running alongside proven systems. And given time for debugging. But we are not first to run new just for the sake of running new. It must be proven and reliable. Drivers must be stable and reliable. And not beta test drivers. We have Windows 10 systems which are test beds. But they are not ready yet for prime time. And Telemetry and forced automatic upgrades is not an option. How many times do I need to say that. And I need to keep software on these machines lean and mean. Nothing running that does not need to run, period. And if it takes Enterprise, and it's not available to us, we will be running Linux and running Paravel Systems' Rivendell. 3rd party software to do what should have worked without it is a waste of my time, as I also have studio equipment to maintain and AM and FM transmitters. Please understand that. Windows 10 is not ready for average business needs yet. In business Windows 7 will be that standard for several more years. As it gets our work done and many businesses work done dependably with fewer issues. Eventually Windows 10 will be ready. If it is not Windows 10 will be the demise of Microsoft.

 

We are on the same page.

As you indicate, you are not stagnant; you do have Win10 test beds that will replace current setups as soon as they're ready. In my experience though, there are no beta/test drivers; just drivers that work. I am not adverse to using any and all available options as long as they are proven stable in my workflows (especially while also offering increased performance and/or responsiveness).

You do not need to keep repeating how telemetry and forced automatic updates are not an option for your workflows - I did hear that clear the first time (even though I have given you the solution to that - Win10 Enterprise).

Running a machine lean and mean is the only option for any systems I set up too.

Functional+Flexible=Beautiful+Efficient - particularly in workflows that need my direct involvement. Any other setup is a waste of my (productive) time (robotic/fruity company(s); I'm looking at you...).

Kent T, while you've made a great case for why Win10Pro may not be ready for your requirements/workflows, your business is hardly 'an average business' that Win10 is not ready for.

See:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/micr...hould-want-to-install-windows-10-498065.shtml

See:
http://enterprise.microsoft.com/en-...why-governments-should-upgrade-to-windows-10/

With MS convincing the Chinese government to install/run/standardize on Windows 10 while urging all other government's to do the same, in addition to 12M activations on business PC's alone (not just downloads...), your statement is far from accurate of what Win10 is capable of today.

And of course, I totally agree that Win10 is critical for MS' success. But even with your highly specialized and restrictive use-case I do not see how they can fail if you allow your company to access all the tools available today to make this transition as smooth, quick and painless as I know it has been for many of my clients too.

What is apparent to me about Win10Pro (or Enterprise - Home needs to die) is that there has not been one single show stopper in at least a 5K - 10K person 'test bed'*** that I'm personally aware of. That in itself is impressive and I would have guessed the opposite just a few short months ago. That does not mean your specialized requirements will mirror that experience of course, but it is a good indicator that if you have the will, MS will (eventually and hopefully soon...) have the way.

With software suites like Rivendell that run over Linux, it may be harder to integrate with Windows10? Myself? In your position, I would be looking for alternatives to those options starting today (even if you can run Rivendell for free...). That is exactly how I tripped myself up so many years ago (holding onto things for what they offered in the past, not for what they could/should offer indefinitely in the future).

I do not really believe that Win10Pro would be suitable for each and every use case out of the box - even if my direct exposure through various clients would initially lead me to think otherwise. Thank you for having this conversation that shows me a real world use case where Win10Pro/Ent is still a work in progress. Sometimes my questions can be taken as statements when they're not - but, I too, am constantly trying to learn.

A lot of what MS states is still bunk and marketing in my eyes too. Even the links I've provided above are seeing MS in the best light possible (of course). But if there is a corporation today that can take a unified and productive computing platform and make it work across multiple devices ('experiences'), imo; it is MS.

Not just any computing 'experience' either; but one that is built on decades of solid business productivity that I and a lot of the world has relied on without (too much) fail for the past 20 years.


An aside:
In the past few weeks I was immersed and almost overwhelmed by travelling, (photo) shoots and deadlines before the holidays and I was living and breathing my workflows almost 20+hrs each day...

My core group is made up of 8-12 people (depending on the shoot) with over 20 computers combined between us - not once did Win10Pro stutter or fail - and that is on the 10-12 main and only computers we needed to use (no backups were needed...) each day.

Almost a half decade back (around Dec 2011) before I had fully deployed Win8 in my company and still running Win7Pro w/SP1, doing the same kind of shoot would have required me to have at least two dozen computers on and ready for an emergency 'just in case' event - but today; with large capacity SSD's (and 5-15 seconds to a usable desktop), i7 powered NAS' for effectively unlimited storage and 10GBe networked connections, pulling out and readying a backup system is now just an insignificant background task, not a chore (or an embarrassment of excuses in front of paying clients). And at least for the past couple of months, even that wasn't needed.

The improvements in security, responsiveness, reliability and productivity with Win10Prox64 are not an illusion or mere marketing fluff for mine or my clients' workflows. These benefits are tangible and will only improve with time. Just because they have to (for MS to succeed long term).

Have we reached perfection w/Win10? No, not by a long shot - and we never will. But going back to 2009/2010 with Win7(SP1) is not the answer either.

I sincerely hope that you and others can make it work for you too as effectively as it does for me.

Wishing you and the rest of the forum members and guests a Happy and Prosperous 2016!

Take care.



***'test bed' = my informal questioning of the various people, department heads and business owners that have moved to Windows 10 Pro and have at least a few weeks/months worth of actual experience with it.

 

The whole point is that there is zero reason for anyone to upgrade to Windows 10. It doesn't offer anything that any user, businesses especially, would need that Win 7 or even 8.1 already offer. There is no reason to upgrade. The only reason most companies will reluctantly update past Windows 7 is because Microsoft forces them to. The adoption rate of Windows 10 is very slow even though it's a "free" OS. If it were that much better and improved people's workflow, hence increasing productivity, hence improving their bottom line, then you would see it being adopted in droves.

There is still no reason to have forced driver updates and telemetry for professional or enterprise versions. None. IT departments manage their own updates and drivers for good reason. Yet Microsoft seems to think they know better than everyone else. For the consumer level devices, sure, fine. Most users see PC's as a commodity now and want minimal time invested in managing updates and drivers. But please offer a simple switch to "alert me about Windows updates and allow me to choose if and when to install them" like they do now. Right now you have to jump through hoops to workaround it.

 

Zero reason?

I think not.

Please re-read the last few posts.

 

I wish NONE current laptop would have this peace of junk. It makes touchpad unusable or less usable at least.

 

Agreed! Leave this one to the fruity company...

(And you were right; 'unusable' is the correct term here).

 

I beg to differ. Automatic upgrades are not necessarily a good thing, especially with respect to drivers. Hardware is designed to do very specific things, and regular driver updates are a very novel thing, never-before-seen in the past. However, new doesn't mean good - just take a look at Nvidia's GeForce Experience and their 'Game-Ready' drivers, for instance. These are released every time an AAA game is released, and to be frank, I am surprised. Why are drivers being released to optimise for games? Drivers are lower-level than games and their graphics libraries, and it is common knowledge that the lower down you are in the hierarchy of hardware->driver->OS->library/API->software, the less frequently it is updated. I would expect that drivers output the maximum possible performance in any 3D scenario, and logic dictates that games ought to be optimised and tested on a certain set of drivers, not the other way around. The GeForce forums are full of reports from users with BSODs, game crashes, driver crashes on the desktop and reduced performance. @Mr. Fox can attest.

Sure they do. But we believe it's common courtesy to ask for permission and tell us what is being collected in specific detail before collecting anything.

Strange - everyone I know who's used Windows 10, from my sister who's not necessarily the most technically-savvy, to several of my friends who can be perfectly called 'power users', think that Windows 10 isn't worth the hassle - they think it's a pretty skin on Windows 7 (and sometimes not so pretty, too). They have experienced several lock-ups, hangs, BSODs and lags at the hands of Windows 10, and a great many have reverted back to Windows 7/8.1.

I beg to differ again. Older OSes offer something that newer ones don't - stability. If you've seen NASA/Roscosmos/ISRO launches, just take a look at the OS they're using - they run Windows 2000 (which was already lauded for its superior stability back then). Research organisations cannot afford crashes and reboots every so often, and new operating systems just don't offer that sort of stability that they are looking for. Likewise for mission-critical business applications and schools which have budgetary limitations. My school upgraded its iMacs, which came with OS X Yosemite. Microsoft Office and Adobe PS didn't work with the new OS, and the IT guys promptly downgraded the OS to Mavericks, which is slightly more than two years old now (ancient in Apple's view).

I expect to buy a new system with Windows 10 (Threshold/Foothold/whatever), and promptly revert to Windows 8.1 again (or Windows 7 if I can find it on Amazon). I will probably use Windows 8.1 until MS stops security updates, which will not happen for about a decade.

We shouldn't be spending time to adjust privacy settings at all. They ought to be opt-in, not opt-out-and-we'll-make-sure-that-it's-bloody-hard-to-do-so.

As I already mentioned - if Microsoft wanted to give us a speed boost, why waste time redesigning the user interface (which frankly looks dull compared to Windows XP, Vista and 7, and maybe even 8) and mucking with automatic driver downloads? Just go back to the kernel and the libraries and re-write them using better memory management and simplified, lower-level code instead of high-level abstraction. In other words, make a release like Windows 7 or Mac OS X Snow Leopard where nearly nothing visible was changed.

 

Automatic updates are not synonymous with driver updates.

They are different things and the latter can be opted out of. The reason they are tied together right now (my guess)? A new O/S and lazy manufacturers (to have them ready at launch back in July 29, 2015... Simple.

The rest of your 'drivers' tale is of no consequence to me; I don't game. But my clients (and their sons/daughters) that do; I haven't seen them complain for more than a day or two before they could resolve whatever issue they had.

More to the point (for me) most of my systems do not have/need an discrete GPU either. And any updates Intel offers for their chipsets and/or iGPU's have worked flawlessly for all my platforms.

See:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-10/feedback-diagnostics-privacy-faq

See:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-telemetry-time-for-level-playing-field/?ftag=YHR0abd939

See:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/is-windows-10-telemetry-a-threat-to-your-personal-privacy/

See:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/29...w-all-collecting-user-data-for-microsoft.html


With Windows as a Service, telemetry is crucial to ensure the least amount of people get affected by rogue updates and upgrades. That last link shows that by avoiding the benefits of Windows 10, you don't sidestep this 'issue' in any way shape or form. And when it comes down to it; it is not an 'issue' at all. Every other interaction you have on the web has been doing the same thing for years now. A little too late to start shouting at MS for joining this party.

Then I would suggest that your 'power user' friends are not as technically savvy as they (or you) think they are.

Windows 7 looks cartoonish to me today. But that can be overlooked with time, if need be. But the under-the-hood improvements of Windows 10 along with the muted graphics and GUI are much more effective at making me even more productive than I ever was with Win7. Look at some of my previous posts in this thread; I did not need to employ a single backup system in the last 2 months (on a ~5 month old O/S...) vs. needed much more than that a mere half decade ago (uhm... even less; 4 years ago...) with Win7 which I highly praised at that time too.

If they simply did an upgrade of Win10 over their old (trashed) O/S? That's (probably) their stability issues right there. If they did a clean install? They (obviously) need to install the proper drivers for their platforms (which I agree may not be the latest ones).

See:
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/so...s/10-great-new-features-in-windows-10-1267365

See:
http://arstechnica.com/information-...ion-6-any-more-and-why-it-will-probably-work/


The onus of a stable system is not just on the O/S; the component manufacturers need to actively be involved too with proper validating for their drivers. Most are doing great with this. Some, as you've seen for yourself; don't.

Lol... Windows 2000 - worst O/S I've ever seen or used. Many, many hours re-installing it (sometimes a dozen times a day with MS on the phone...). Stable, it never was. The fact that NASA continues to use it just shows me how secluded their computers are (from the 'net). They don't have time to develop an O/S; they took what showed promise at that time and modified it for their uses - and even then, I'm sure they're still paying support to MS to make the changes they require for it to still be relevant today. But they don't connect to the 'net, they don't skype and they don't do anything with it a modern O/S can do with a 3 year old driving it either. That is not an example of stability; that is an example of immobility, imo. But they have something we don't have when they'll 'need' to modernize one day; a Gov't supporting them (along with $B's USD dollars).

Your statement of buying a new system and then promptly cripple it with an 10+ year old O/S is funny and scary at the same time. Yeah; Vista has traces of what should have been Win7 - from as far back as 2004-2006...

Security has seen a major upgrade in Win10 from multiple aspects. If that is your criteria for keeping an O/S for an extended period; that is the O/S you should be targeting instead.

Not everyone liked the cartoonish Win7 and still cartoonish OS/x variants. Let alone the restrictions that Linux (hardware/software/workflows) and any OS/x variant (hardware/software/workflows) that has ever existed imposes on it's users.

You can't just change a kernel and expect no consequences with regards to stability while improving performance and expanding features.

Win10 has the best parts of all the O/S' I have seen since Windows 1.0. Easy on the eyes (which means allowing me to concentrate on the content of what I'm creating; not on the 'pretty' O/S). More ways to get to my files easier, including the 'old' ways. Much smoother operation than any previous O/S. More secure. More and better support for modern components like SSD's, NAS' (SMB 3.0), future/current platforms (today; Skylake), RAM and soon X-Point tech... And like a cherry on top; more stable and dependable too. And all this with only 5 months under it's belt.


After threshold 3 (expected by July 2016) Windows 10 will have proven itself to me many times over and hopefully to the rest of the world too. Thinking that you can pick a time in tech that you're comfortable with and stay there indefinitely (or even a decade) has never been how the world has worked. History gives its lessons; but we have to do the learning and learning is doing.

Unless your needs are very specific (like in Kent T's case), staying with an older Windows O/S is simply being like the stubborn old men of yore that refused to change (anything) simply because it was change that was needed.

An important point many seem to miss when on this topic we're discussing on these last few posts here is that MS can't move as quickly as it might if it had only a handful of components and platforms to support.

With a (mostly working) mindboggling combination of platforms, devices, O/S', driver versions and differing states of program versions and updates on all those systems, MS' (successful, to now) push to have a single, unified and coherent front with a single (core) O/S for all these devices/platforms/components is something to applaud, not repel. Especially with the benefits an actual new kernel (first one in decades...) brings.

Telemetry is one method they use to make this happen. And it's just like almost any other service you have used for years already while on the 'net.

See:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement/

 

Brings back memories of the standard parallel and serial ports, not to mention the internal dial up modem and 3 1/2" floppy drive.

Still use serial quite a lot today so kind of sorry to see that go. Luckily USB serial adapters were available for $40 at the time so still could use, well until W8 came along and would no longer work with them although no problem running them on the same machine under W7 x64. So had to buy some newer USB ones to do exactly the same job on W8

@SRSR333 FWIW W2k was the least problematic Windows OS for me out of all of them so far and if I had to chose a favorite I guess that would be it however due to inbuilt obsolescence one needs to move on. except for a few special cases .

 

@Dufus I actually like the clean, grey and blue, simple lines of Windows 95/98/2000, compared to the bright white of Windows 10. I wish MS never got rid of the 'Classic' theme from Windows 8, it brings back so many memories.

Windows 7 had a professional-looking UI, but @tilleroftheearth calls it 'cartoonish' - the only 'cartoonish' UI I have seen is that of iOS 7+ and OS X Yosemite+ which look like they were developed for and by children. OS X Mavericks had the best UI so far. It seems change is made for the sake of change.

Windows Aero was neat and clean, and added to the beauty of the user interface. I don't want to be bored and annoyed when I look at my PC, I want to enjoy using it. Windows XP/Vista/7 gave me that feel. Windows 8 didn't, and thank goodness for the existence of the Aero Glass for Windows 8+ add-on. I can now have transparency and a nice Start orb again instead of squares and rectangles.

Speaking of hardware - I am old enough to remember when printers weren't solely USB. I had an old Canon printer (that frequently jammed) and it connected to the computer using a thick parallel cable. Back in 2005, 3.5" floppies were all the rage, and my fellow schoolmates bought them by the dozens in tens of different colours. Ah, memories...

 

SRSR333 has said exactly my thoughts on user interface design, and better than I can say it. I want something delightful to use, functional to use, and does not get in my way. I want stable and reliable. I want an extension of me. Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 7, Mac OS X Snow Leopard did that job for me. I want tools, not toys. I want a OS suited for a desktop, not a smartphone or tablet centric OS. I don't want 200 stinking menus to do what one or two menus do in a productive OS. I have enough motor issues physically to deal with. I have more RSI to deal with than bipeds ever will understand. My upper body does what all 4 of your limbs do in real life. And has since I was little. Understand and respect that. I like new things, but don't like dumbed down one size fits all solutions which do not work for me without lots of expensive add on software and resources I need for other functions.