Yesterday I received a replacement SP2/128 from Microsoft. About a year since I purchased the first one and a year since the endless headaches began - after 30+ years of both professional and home use of PCs using a range of OSs. I've been using Windows since NT 3.5 on dozens of PCs of all types. At one time I even used to build them occasionally.
NOTHING has ever caused me the problems that the SP2/Win 8.1 has. But I'll spare anyone reading this (which I imagine excludes Microsoft) of a full accounting.
I finished installing the new unit's patches and applications and discovered that at last the Bluetooth "Sculpt Comfort" (or somesuch) mouse actually now worked without glitching every 10 minutes or so - a well known problem with bluetooth mice on this device (and maybe others, I don't know.)
Next morning on boot up there was an alert saying the the MS keyboard and mouse centre wanted to update something. My first reaction - which I should have maintained - was to reject the kind offer. The Type keyboard and MSBT mouse were working fine, thanks. But I ignored my scepticism and went ahead. Of course now the mouse is back to periodic and unpredictable freezing. They just refuse to fix this kind of nonsense, year on year.
Additionally the replacement SP2 has an insufficiently strongly magnetised power "socket". It can easily appear to be connected when it isn't. I was alerted to this by pulsing of the display's brightness. Who knows what the provenance of this unit might be?
I'm stuck with the damned thing. When the battery declines MS will want almost £200 to replace it (cf Apple who replace the iPad/battery for £85 all-in.) Never, ever will I buy Microsoft hardware again.
NOTHING has ever caused me the problems that the SP2/Win 8.1 has. But I'll spare anyone reading this (which I imagine excludes Microsoft) of a full accounting.
I finished installing the new unit's patches and applications and discovered that at last the Bluetooth "Sculpt Comfort" (or somesuch) mouse actually now worked without glitching every 10 minutes or so - a well known problem with bluetooth mice on this device (and maybe others, I don't know.)
Next morning on boot up there was an alert saying the the MS keyboard and mouse centre wanted to update something. My first reaction - which I should have maintained - was to reject the kind offer. The Type keyboard and MSBT mouse were working fine, thanks. But I ignored my scepticism and went ahead. Of course now the mouse is back to periodic and unpredictable freezing. They just refuse to fix this kind of nonsense, year on year.
Additionally the replacement SP2 has an insufficiently strongly magnetised power "socket". It can easily appear to be connected when it isn't. I was alerted to this by pulsing of the display's brightness. Who knows what the provenance of this unit might be?
I'm stuck with the damned thing. When the battery declines MS will want almost £200 to replace it (cf Apple who replace the iPad/battery for £85 all-in.) Never, ever will I buy Microsoft hardware again.