Windows 8 is looking interesting!!

[wormburner67]

I've been playing around with the windows 8 developers pack and it's...well...different??

It's going to take some getting use to but I definitely see the cross platform attitude they are taking with it. That would be mobile - tablet - client -server...I think it may work..

I think maybe Nokia got it right acquiring W8 as there preferred OS; I see where they are going with it....

I will watch with baited breath....

 

[DonsRule]

I'm not convinced, it's interesting for sure. And, long term a step in the right direction, Apple with Lion begun to rather heavily tie it in with iOS.

 

[wormburner67]

The cross platform thing for me see's this may be a winner.

Mobile to tablet to client to server.

It may take time but I think the masses will see the advantages..

 

[DonsRule]

It will in time, no doubt there, not going to argue that point, just not so sure client and desktop are ready, that said is can very easily be a more traditional desktop OS.


Long terms it is a smart move, and they should be heading that way, Apples attempts to unify OSX and iOS have been mixed, I think people who are used to iOS have loved it because in general the experience carries over, but the more traditional desktop users have had their issues with it, again I think it's a move that will take time.

 

[red+black]

It's going to take some getting use to but I definitely see the cross platform attitude they are taking with it. That would be mobile - tablet - client -server...I think it may work..

Anything would be better than WM 6.x, geez that got old quick. You can never count out Microsoft so I'm keen to see what they come up with.

Apple with Lion begun to rather heavily tie it in with iOS.

Rather pathetic in my opinion. Take a look at OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion, just bloody features from iOS Is that really what people want in a desktop OS? How about something that's actually exciting?

http://www.apple.com/au/macosx/mountain-lion/features.html

 

[kaysee]

I'm running the Windows 8 CP on my PC at home, Windows Phone 7.5 (Metro) on my Nokia 800, and they tie nicely in together as well as tie in with my XBOX.

W8 is extremely fast to startup and shutdown (but then again its a relatively clean system), but I regularly drop back to the classic desktop view. Still I like the new look and think it has huge potential to tie everything together as you've noted (also potentially as an interface on HDTVs).

 

[wormburner67]

but I regularly drop back to the classic desktop view. Still I like the new look and think it has huge potential to tie everything together as you've noted (also potentially as an interface on HDTVs).

I believe the home edition starts in the tile view and can't be modified but the business editions have the option to start in classic.
That's just what I have read so I'm not sure if that's true.

 

[dav3]

I believe the home edition starts in the tile view and can't be modified but the business editions have the option to start in classic.
That's just what I have read so I'm not sure if that's true.

I believe there's a workaround for that already

 

[Mr Eagle]

Not really seeing a great driver for me to move from W7 to W8 on my home machine at this stage. Mind you, I tend to use my desktop and phone and tablet all as quite distinct units so cross-platform functionality really doesn't add much value for me.

(and I did also hang onto XP for aaaaages, so this is nothing new.)

 

[kaysee]

I believe the home edition starts in the tile view and can't be modified but the business editions have the option to start in classic.
That's just what I have read so I'm not sure if that's true.

In the Consumer Preview anytime you use something that isn't supported in the tiled view it drops back to classic desktop view. Actually there is a "desktop" tile to drop back to that view... and if I use something like Chrome (from it's tile) it simply drops back to the classic desktop with Chrome opened in a window.

Of course this may all change with the eventual release.

 

[wormburner67]

I'm REALLY not happy with them removing the Start button.
The hot corners or whatever MS is calling it is going to be hard to get use to..

 

[Andre]

I'm REALLY not happy with them removing the Start button.
The hot corners or whatever MS is calling it is going to be hard to get use to..

This. Especially where (at least so far) they haven't provided a way to choose the old view. The final version should (but probably won't) include an option to add a start menu to the start screen. That'd get rid of 95% of the grief they are copping, whilst still having the cross platform look and feel.

 

[dav3]

Tried this?

Windows 8 Start Menu Toggle – Enable / Disable Metro UI Start Screen

 

[wormburner67]

Tried this?

Windows 8 Start Menu Toggle – Enable / Disable Metro UI Start Screen

seems a little complex for Apple people???

 

[morri]

from what I have heard windows 8 seems to be in the tradition of a utterly shit version of windows vs the next best shit option.(like windows 3.0-3.1 95-98, 2000-xp, vista-7 etc.)
Also Windows you are late on the tablet - phone market and no putting a smartphone/tablet like window manager is not going to make desktop oriented people happy. lol luckily I am not using windows. ( i have got lubuntu on my 10 year old pc- which idles on 150 mb ram usage)

 

[yirra_kurl]

im hoping you'll be able to get w8 tablets for under the 1k mark.
Looks really good IMO, the tile view and multi-screening is the winner for me thus far

 

[wormburner67]

im hoping you'll be able to get w8 tablets for under the 1k mark.
Looks really good IMO, the tile view and multi-screening is the winner for me thus far

I'm really in two minds at the moment with it. I can see where they are going with it that makes sense but there are some weird features like removing the start button that I hope they smooth out.

I can see how these changes reflect the cross platform thing but using a handset vs a tablet vs a PC...I just hope they get this right

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

I have been running Windows 8 Consumer Preview for a while ... not sold on it

I have just downloaded the Release Preview so will install that over this weekend I think, to see how it compares

Apart from the several issues with CP though (a few buggy things I found) I'm not convinced the Metro interface works for laptops / PCs. To this day almost the first thing I do is flip to the Classic Desktop (usually via running Chrome, but even other MS apps like Word will flip there at this stage). Bottom line though, really an OS to me is something that just loads prior to me getting to the application I really want

Shameless plug: http://www.electricmayhemsolutions.net/blog/my-thoughts-on-windows-8-consumer-preview/

On a phone or tablet though, I can see it working very well. I have a Nokia Lumia 800 and for the first time ever, really like my phone

 

[rickyp]

Used it for the last couple of days, I did enjoy the originality of the design. Unfortunately I'm back with 7 now, because of a crashing issue with my 680. I'll probably grab a copy of Windows 8 on release now, can't be bothered dealing with any more pre release bugs/crashing!

 

[wormburner67]

From a tablet/phone point of view, I think it will work.
However, I think MS needs to allow desktops to have the option to start in desktop, otherwise endusers will get pissed off!!

The business world will love this as long as MS gets it right...

 

[rickyp]

From a tablet/phone point of view, I think it will work.
However, I think MS needs to allow desktops to have the option to start in desktop, otherwise endusers will get pissed off!!

The business world will love this as long as MS gets it right...

I'm fairly sure the enterprise edition of Windows 8 will allow people to start in desktop, the consumer edition however will start in Metro. I don't think it's a bad thing though, as it'll force people to learn the new interface.

I'm looking forward to see any future integration between 360/windows 8. I'd like to see the ability to play 360 games on Windows 8.

 

[Ant_]

I'm fairly sure the enterprise edition of Windows 8 will allow people to start in desktop, the consumer edition however will start in Metro. I don't think it's a bad thing though, as it'll force people to learn the new interface.

I'm looking forward to see any future integration between 360/windows 8. I'd like to see the ability to play 360 games on Windows 8.

That's on the cards. With the new xbox round the corner it's been said the 360 back catalog will work in Windows 8.

 

[Total_Juddshanks]

The IT guys at work have been chattering non stop about windows 8 and the new tablet. Intense disagreements, but the main thing is they are talking about them, when something like Vista and Windows 7 just got a tired roll of the eyes.

Have this funny feeling Microsoft may be about to really take a chunk out of Apple- for the first time since undercuts were cool, there is a massive buzz about some microsoft products.

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

I'm fairly sure the enterprise edition of Windows 8 will allow people to start in desktop, the consumer edition however will start in Metro. I don't think it's a bad thing though, as it'll force people to learn the new interface.

I'm looking forward to see any future integration between 360/windows 8. I'd like to see the ability to play 360 games on Windows 8.

There a few issues in Metro to be ironed out though
Assuming something Office will get the Metro treatment (I see little reason why it wouldn't) the crunch will come with multi tasking
Whilst in a tablet or on a phone you typically don't want or need multiple apps open and on the screen at once, I do it all the time on my desktop
Multi monitors is still a bit buggy too (but better than it was in Consumer Preview)

Can't see Windows 8 taking over my desktop machine any time soon

 

[wormburner67]

The more I use it, the more I think Windows 8 will fail.

If one thing Apple made very clear was..."keep it simple stupid"....and the masses loved it..

Windows 8 is a complicated version of Windows 7 which ironically was their best version yet!!

I'm starting to thing think now who will be their next successor....i'm hoping Android...

Life under Apple would render my existence empty and devoid of life and usefulness not to mention the brainwashing techniques they impose on the less fortunate!!