W8ting for perspective

So a relative recently purchased a Windows 8 laptop, and as their resident “computer person” it was my pleasure to “just set it up” for them.

I figured it would be informative to compare the setup steps for a new Win 8 laptop to a new MacBook Air…

Windows 8.1 preparatory process on ???-branded laptop:

  1. Attach battery
  2. Plug in power cord
  3. Open lid
  4. Press power button
  5. Wait a few minutes while Win8 boots for the first time
  6. A setup wizard automatically launches – allowing you to name & customise the laptop.
  7. Wait another few minutes while Win8 finishes the setup, and then boots & logs in
  8. Discover a start pane filled with manufacturer’s bloatware
  9. Right-click & remove all bloatware links
  10. Launch Desktop
  11. Try to open the ‘remove applications’ Control Panel, but keep getting bumped into the start panel.
  12. Launch IE, go to ninite.com, and install ClassicShell (and 7zip and Firefox and …)
  13. Once installed, use classic start menu to open Control Panel and remove all manufacturer’s bloatware, including Norton Security
  14. Reboot to finish removal of bloatware
  15. Attempt to open Microsoft Security Essentials, but it fails with cryptic error
  16. Google for reasons, learn that Norton disables it, and follow steps required to re-enable it
  17. Discover that Windows 8.1 exists and should be a free upgrade in the Store
  18. Go to Store, observe it is not there
  19. Google for reasons, learn that perhaps Windows Update needs to install some items
  20. Run Windows Update
  21. Wait about 20min while it installs all “Important” items
  22. After reboot, observe upgrade is still not in Store.
  23. On a hunch, check Windows Update and observe that there are still 52 “Important” updates still outstanding.
  24. Wait about 15min while it installs all these “Important” items
  25. After second reboot, resignedly launch Windows Update again and observe another 33 “Important” updates outstanding
  26. Wait about 25min while it installs all these “Important” items
  27. Reboot a third time.
  28. Launch Store, and observe Windows 8.1 available!
  29. Click ‘Download Windows 8.1’
  30. Wait about 60min while upgrade files are downloaded
  31. Wait another 120min while upgrade occuring
  32. Go through another setup wizard (which asks the same questions as the previous setup wizard)
  33. Launch Windows Update again and install six more updates
  34. Reboot again, then enjoy your operating system

Mavericks setup process (on Macbook Air):

  1. Attach power cord
  2. Open lid
  3. Auto-powers on
  4. Wait about 10 seconds while Mac boots
  5. A setup wizard automatically launches – allowing you to name & customise the MacBook
  6. Wait another 15 seconds while Mac logs in and launches “welcome” window
  7. Open App Store
  8. Observe “OS X Mavericks” visible in main pane on front page of App Store
  9. Click Upgrade
  10. Enter AppleID credentials
  11. Wait about 60min while upgrade files are downloaded
  12. Click Continue, then follow wizard steps to initiate upgrade
  13. Wait about 60min while MacBook upgraded
  14. After reboot, enjoy new operating system

 

By Walter

Redeemed by Jesus, married to Steph, father of three beautiful girls. Friend, musician, nerd, appreciator of good food, coffee and the Oxford comma

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