Windows 8 Consumer Preview Thread

[MR.B]

Think a tablet or netbook would benefit more than a desktop or laptop.

Should I decide to get a tablet, we'll see how it goes for Windows 8. Otherwise, Android it is lol.

Win 8 tablets will replace laptops for many people. Theres going to be many W8 tablets with keyboard docks, so they basically transform in to a full laptop. I see no reason at all to get Android or iOS when you can have a all-in-one tablet/laptop with a full blown OS that works with the millions of peripherals that Windows does.

Most people have a tablet and a laptop because the tablet is very limited, but this will end with Win 8, it can function as both devices extremely well. Technically a W8 tablet could also replace a desktop PC if the user does not need something massively powerful, because you'll be able to connect W8 tablets to monitors, keyboards and mice.

Then theres new Win 8 laptop devices like the Lenovo Yoga where the screen flips 180 degress so you can use it like a tablet (the keys also get disabled when you flip so you cant press any by accident)...

 

[prescott28]

For those who would still like to run Windows 8 without Metro, there is a choice. http://emergedesktop.org/ is shell that replaces the shell on Windows 8 with a much more familiar one that is easily modified and which is fast to use.

 

[alex24]

I've been running the preview on a secondary machine for a couple of weeks now and to be honest, for the first time in about a decade, I haven't felt like I wanted to upgrade to the latest version of Windows immediately, or at all if I can help it.

As an enthusiast and gamer, I just don't see what it tangibly offers me over Windows 7. I don't mind learning a new UI at all, but this seems more like Microsoft are trying to make a 'one size fits all' OS to go out to a traditionally massively diverse group of users who just aren't going to be ready for that for some time yet. Using my desktop PC, the metro apps have no value. They don't help me get things done any easier, nor do most of the changes here. On a tablet, sure, though there are already organisations doing it better now with devices in the wild.

From a work and business productivity perspective, it's going to be a waste of time for 99.9% of businesses. The amount of work and effort involved in rolling out Windows 7 is huge, and changes to UI were significant enough to cause massive grief and a small loss of productivity in the transition. However, business are still rolling out 7 for the first time and with no real benefit in 8, it's going to get skipped just like Vista.

I can see this thread has sparked huge debate, some quite interesting but I thought I'd share my general thoughts.

 

[shadow_boxer]

Has anybody tried installing to older systems, Core2Duo or single core systems at all?

 

[Randomface74]

Yeah I put it on my old Core 2 E6300 with 4GB RAM which was running 32-bit XP before - so it's a speed boost for that machine... only I'm not using it because Metro is bad.

 

[CK61938]

Win 8 tablets will replace laptops for many people. Theres going to be many W8 tablets with keyboard docks, so they basically transform in to a full laptop. I see no reason at all to get Android or iOS when you can have a all-in-one tablet/laptop with a full blown OS that works with the millions of peripherals that Windows does.

Most people have a tablet and a laptop because the tablet is very limited, but this will end with Win 8, it can function as both devices extremely well. Technically a W8 tablet could also replace a desktop PC if the user does not need something massively powerful, because you'll be able to connect W8 tablets to monitors, keyboards and mice.

Then theres new Win 8 laptop devices like the Lenovo Yoga where the screen flips 180 degress so you can use it like a tablet (the keys also get disabled when you flip so you cant press any by accident)...

Well now that does help. I will keep an eye out for one of these. Thanks.

 

[thecremeegg]

Well just installed it on my laptop and my views are mixed. I like the idea of some of the apps such as email and messaging etc, but its so unintuitive to use! Everything either requires a right click or move the mouse to the side etc. It's so difficult to actually change settings and such as the metro interface is such an annoyance.

 

[prescott28]

the Metro messaging app is really quite good and having it in a strip down the side of something else is handy. However the mail app seems rather restricted and I would stick with my current mail client if I upgraded. Thunderbird offer many more features that are useful.

 

[pokerking]

Has anybody tried installing to older systems, Core2Duo or single core systems at all?

I have it installed on my little Advent Verona that had W7 from the factory,

Intel Celeron R 743 @1.3GHz
3.0GB DDR3
320GB HDD
Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family

It is running very good on here, don't like the OS however its a pain to use. Need to get a USB stick and install W7 again.

 

[prescott28]

Just a question for those families with Apple OSX - how does it compare with this new version of Windows? Obviously a lot of people are unhappy with the Metro desktop whilst the latest OSX (Lion) seems to look fairly similar to previous versions.

 

[Destination]

Yeah, I really don't get why they've removed the Start button. They've saved about 40x40 pixels at the expense of making one of the core UI elements completely non-discoverable. It WILL confuse people. I can only assume that it'll be changed back.



A UI which needs a tutorial to understand is not a good UI.

These tablets are gonna be competing with the iPad, and nobody needs a tutorial to figure out how to use an iPad.

Really?
Why do they teach you how to use it in the apple store then, or run weekend tutorials?
Sure open close zoom unzoom, fine easy functions.
Do you know by default how to remove an app? Change its position. Instazoom to top of a doc, how to five touch and four touch quicktab between programs?

I am sure there are lots of guestures hat would be handy on this ipad that can be done that I have absolutely no idea are included.
A tutorial is always a good idea.
Remember being taught or told how to double click?

 

[m4cc45]

I think one point is that Windows users, who have been using Windows for the past few versions, shouldn't need a tutorial to do the basic features.

The main worry I have is with Windows Server 8 - I can believe, somewhat sceptically, that people have touchscreens connected to there PC- but to a server? It's an awful dumbing down of technology that I can only see reverting back to it's original state or having two versions at the very least.



M.

 

[Mattus]

I think one point is that Windows users, who have been using Windows for the past few versions, shouldn't need a tutorial to do the basic features.

Exactly. Sound principles of UI design are to take advantage of what users already know, and failing that, what they can immediately see. Removing the Start button and relying on a 'hot corner' breaks both of those principles. For no reason.

Obviously not every UI feature is immediately obvious, but the basic ones should be. Also, when you're making substantial changes to a product, it helps to make the learning curve easier if you retain some elements from the prior version where possible. Users will be disconcerted enough by Metro without the unnecessary step of taking away the button.

 

[robinbredin]

Don't know it anybody has mentioned this. But, if you don't want to log in after you have set win 8 up, Just go to search, type in netplwiz and on the user tab uncheck the box, reenter your password and you're done.

 

[ChileanLlama]

I think one point is that Windows users, who have been using Windows for the past few versions, shouldn't need a tutorial to do the basic features.

The main worry I have is with Windows Server 8 - I can believe, somewhat sceptically, that people have touchscreens connected to there PC- but to a server? It's an awful dumbing down of technology that I can only see reverting back to it's original state or having two versions at the very least.



M.

MS seem to be suggesting using RSAT tools to manager Server, instead of logging in directly. If that's viable then you'd never see the desktop or Metro.

 

[alex24]

Don't know it anybody has mentioned this. But, if you don't want to log in after you have set win 8 up, Just go to search, type in netplwiz and on the user tab uncheck the box, reenter your password and you're done.

Works on 7 too, if anyone wants to share folders properly but not have the pain of entering your password on boot.

 

[m4cc45]

MS seem to be suggesting using RSAT tools to manager Server, instead of logging in directly. If that's viable then you'd never see the desktop or Metro.

Still need to actually log in to the boxes to actually set them up in the first place. RSAT is all good and well once they're running (though if they changed it so you could install roles rather than manage them that may be useful).

There's also a lot of software we need to log on to the server for and deal with - Metro just makes a few second job longer (i.e. have to make shortcuts to cmd on the interface rather than start cmd) it just makes it inconvenient, shortcuts everywhere and a generally messy way of dealing with things.



M.

 

[ChileanLlama]

How is it any different, whether it's pinned to a Start Menu or Start Screen? You press start, you select the shortcut? Not graceful if you don't like the start screen, but not sure how that makes it longer?

Or do away with the need for Start Screen altogether and pin it to the taskbar. You can even add a shortcut to the startup folder to launch desktop immediately.

Also WIN+X or right clicking in the area where there should be an Orb gives you access to a menu with some useful management/control panel items, including Command Prompt.

 

[prescott28]

How is it any different, whether it's pinned to a Start Menu or Start Screen? You press start, you select the shortcut? Not graceful if you don't like the start screen, but not sure how that makes it longer?

Or do away with the need for Start Screen altogether and pin it to the taskbar. You can even add a shortcut to the startup folder to launch desktop immediately.

Also WIN+X or right clicking in the area where there should be an Orb gives you access to a menu with some useful management/control panel items, including Command Prompt.

I rather think you are trying defend the undefenable. it is obviously the case that Metro apps are not going to be much use on a server. You are showing how to get round Metro, which is indeed possible, but the real answer is that Metro should not be included with a server OS - unless anyone knows a business where the IT department sits about using apps such a Metro apps on the actual servers.

 

[ChileanLlama]

I rather think you are trying defend the undefenable. it is obviously the case that Metro apps are not going to be much use on a server. You are showing how to get round Metro, which is indeed possible, but the real answer is that Metro should not be included with a server OS - unless anyone knows a business where the IT department sits about using apps such a Metro apps on the actual servers.

There's a significant different between Metro Apps and Metro Start Screen.

I'm not even trying to defend anything, asking a genuine question, as clearly a lot of debate seems to stem from how people use Windows, which is no doubt a factor in how people feel towards the new OS.

I agree Metro Apps are worthless at present on a server. Never said otherwise or even made reference to them, but the Metro Start Screen is just a full screen Start Menu, where you can pin what you like to it, group items etc. It's not as though you can interact with anything else with the traditional start menu, so looks aside, how is it significantly different?