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My Second Thoughts on Windows 8 and My HP Stream PC

desolate9
Mar 9, 2015
5 min read

Now first of all, I want people to understand I am NOT being paid in any way to write this article. This is free publicity as far as I’m concerned. And I don’t give a shit… Personally, I am still on the fence about Microsoft these days, but this isn’t about my thoughts on a company. This is on a piece of software that I use every day to manage my business. And reach out to you guys, my Readers!

Instagram - My HP Stream Laptop with my Tetris stickers from #lootcrate

Second, I want you all to know my love affair only recently began.

And this is after I quickly decorated it with LootCrate's December "Anniversary Crate" and the super cool Tetrimino Stickers Celebrating the Tetris Anniversary!

P.S. Nobody said I was good at lining things up.... So hush!

I purchased an HP Stream PC in Blue back at the end of 2014, needless to say I was excited. This combination has opened a door to uniformity that only Windows could provide. With the newest updates of Windows 8.1 onboard, and expandable 64 GB of external storage, this is a solid PC. I can run GIMP 2.8 with no problems, slow starting but once open, flawless. The only concern is with the SSD installed; it is a little small once you install your Microsoft Office 365 on the PC… Forget adding something like Norton or McAfee (although the later comes pre-installed) or this thing is toast. Now it does run games on it like Five Nights at Freddy’s through Steam if Steam is installed to the SDHC Card;

Yes people, you can do that.

My "Steam Chip" has paths written on ALL of my PC’s and all of my little games are portable…

Anyways, back on track… I believe I just digressed.

So anyways it is a very capable computer, and is super portable, and financially is cheap. I have 3 of them for the record, another Blue one and a Pink one for the misses… Its pink, she had to have it, but at $200 how do you complain! More capable than an iPad, and just as capable as PC. The HP Steam is a workhorse that when used properly can eliminate the need for laptops altogether. My other one just died, and so I replaced it by upgrading the video card in another computer… With these Steam PC’s, I got it covered.

Remember the old adage about keeping HDD space clear?

Well the adage holds true.

Don’t let your desktop get crowded with files, and you’ll be fine!

Add the power of the unified Windows 8.1 with all of my settings capable of loading on multiple PC’s, I have it on my New Laptop, My Desktops, and my Steam PC’s. Even on my wife’s just in-case. Microsoft has done a tremendous job of creating a Cloud-Based system that is both intelligent and hard-working. My Cloud Documents are ALWAYS there, and always ready to go. Aside from download times, I have it in seconds… Except at the airport, what do you do…?

So now I can reach out to you guys with my blog here at www.dez-net.com, manage social media, do my graphics work, and stay in touch editing my website. All while iHeartRadio is running alongside Word, and Publisher (because I have over 20 years in dealing with their tools) and my emails. Point the mouse in the upper left corner, I see it all at once… Gone are the days of the Alt-Tab situation being necessary for quick transitions. The Start “Page” Pissed me off at first in Windows 8, but when they added the Button back in 8.1, it started to make more sense to me after using it for so long. People can utilize these tools in their entirety on this particular PC, and others in the home or business including their Surface tablet PC’s. One day Microsoft, maybe one day I’ll get one. But for now, my HP Stream tied with Windows 8.1 is great. And with legacy features for running programs, the old-school fans can go nuts with DOS again, my fave time of life was the DOS6.1 days, man having better than Genesis color palettes was awesome to work with for early graphics guys, myself included.

Fact is, Windows 8 is the complete package… There’s a reason a lot of us are finally getting rid of Windows Vista (like this guy), and that’s Windows 8.1 and the accessibility it provides for users like me who are always on a device. Add the fact I had this through Windows Phone too? Man I’m on fire!! Boomshakalaka!!!

So clearly, Microsoft is listening to its customers, maybe ignoring the unrealistic ones, but what do I know? Maybe I have it backwards, I don’t get into the politics too much. But I can say this that in the end; I have fallen in love with a do-all situation for my PC that I only dreamed of in the past 30 years. I’m excited to see what Windows 10 has to offer, but I won’t buy it until it perfect… 10.1 maybe? Of course, listen to me shooting them down without having the facts. I’m ready for the future, and if Windows 8.1 is any indication, Microsoft has something here.

Give it a try; email, web, graphics, light gaming (It runs Diablo 3 on SD albeit on base settings), stream content online (hence its name) like music, movies, Netflix (there’s your freebie, send me the check to my account! LOL) Anyways guys, everything I have thrown at the PC handled the ability once configured correctly.

Windows 8.1 has done a fine job of keeping me connected, and with simultaneous file share available on connected PC’s it makes editing so easy on the go. The HDMI output means if I go somewhere with a monitor, I just run ONE cable… No more multi-cables, speakers, etc. Get yourself a nice set of headphones, and you can rock a portable media-center. Did I mention it has dts StudioSound, and Bluetooth? With Windows 8.1, you can use MANY devices out of the box.

Not bad guys… I’m sold; thrice apparently. Now you can be too… Go to your local retailer through the links below to order yours today!