Windows 8 Consumer Preview Thread

Well I have tried it but gone back to Windows 7 for now for a few reasons.

1) Metro I liked using it, but there were niggles with it that annoyoed me, for instance if I used the Metro media app to play some music, then swapped to the desktop the music would continue to play however there was no way to control it from the desktop, to the extent if I opened up media player I could play another song etc.

2) I get that MS wants us to login with a Live ID I have no problem with that, I like the idea, my problem is you can only use one Live ID per user, since my Live ID I have I do not use for emails, however before I can enter my gmail details I have to sign into the mail app with my Live ID, this Live ID also covers messenger, however I use a different Live ID for messenger something which Win8 will not let you do.

Will have to see if it changes much before the RTM and might revisit it but for now I want to like Win8 just it's just not there

Kimbie
 
I have multiple Live IDs as well but I've just consolidated everything into one now for my login. I'm still waiting for a Gmail app rather than use the Microsoft one. I'm sure Google will do one at some point.
 
Personally I don't think the metro apps are usable at the moment, so don't use them.

But not using it as log in is an option thats all.

I use multiple browsers, IE, FF, Chrome with different logins for web apps. Perhaps Nikumba is doing something similar.
 
I have win 8 running in VirtualBox, so this would not work for me, you try.

How to get a Windows 7 start menu in Windows 8

If you want to change the Windows 8 start menu back to the Windows 7 version, here’s what you need to do:

Launch the registry editor (win+r > regedit >enter)
Drill down to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Double-click on RPEnabled
Change the value from 1 to (zero)
Tap enter or click OK
Click to expand...

More info from the link,

http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/how-to-get-a-windows-7-start-menu-in-windows-8-20110914
 
OspreyO said:
You don't need to use a Live ID as a logon.
Click to expand...

I appricate that but what I am saying if you want to use Mail, Calendar metro apps you *HAVE* to sign into the program first with a Live ID.

Then you can add in google or another service.

However once you login once to an MS app eg mail it will use the same details for the calendar app, mail app, messenger app etc.

So on one hand its good but it does not offer the flexibility of standalone apps do now in 7
 
no, the Metro apps have not real flexibility at all. They seem tied to the Microsoft Services. personally, thought I am using Windows 8, I have dumped the mail and calendar programmes off the system and use Thuderbord - as I always have - and Google calendar via Chrome (I don't like IE either!)

The real problem with the Metro apps is the space they use - a whole screen, most of a screen or a column. Windows apps, on the other hand, allow much more adaptability so, for example, I now have open a small Messenger window, Chrome, Thunderbird as well as Word and I can see and interact with all of them. This is much better than Metro apps though I can see they would be good on a tablet.
 
Had a wee go win windows 8 on my Samsung nc10 netbook, not very useful at all just now. Nothing from the metro screen would launch due to the resolution being too low. When I've got some more free time I might try it on my main system but for now I can't see my jumping across to this once it's released for a good while.
 
Nikumba said:
I appricate that but what I am saying if you want to use Mail, Calendar metro apps you *HAVE* to sign into the program first with a Live ID.

Then you can add in google or another service.

However once you login once to an MS app eg mail it will use the same details for the calendar app, mail app, messenger app etc.

So on one hand its good but it does not offer the flexibility of standalone apps do now in 7
Click to expand...

...and the mail app doesn't always work at all if you have your own domains assigned to hotmail!!!

But these are preview apps and TBH need a lot more polish. Also as things pick up you can expect new apps to be developed by 3rd parties, no doubt there'll be a lot of different mail apps to choose from.

Thing is as the new UI is a walled garden, when decent apps do come along they won't be available on Win 7. When (or if) that happens it will drive adoption.
 
I really don't think people will be upgrade computers based on some Metro apps. After all, it a big thing to upgrade to OS on a computer and most people will be using existing Windows apps to whatever they do.

Of course, Microsoft expect to drive tablet sales with Metro apps - after all they are made for tablets rather than desktops or laptops.
 
Of course, Microsoft expect to drive tablet sales with Metro apps - after all they are made for tablets rather than desktops or laptops.
Click to expand...

Hmm I think that the idea is that metro scales from phones to tablets to laptops to desktops, this is clearly a unification process.

I really don't get all the people saying they will not upgrade to Win 8 on thier desktop. Just hit the desktop tile when your machine boots up, surely no big deal? I cannot believe people are going to miss out on all the new features just because they cannot get thier head around metro.
 
Drat. I had to go back to Windows 7 as no matter what I tried I couldn't get my trackpad to work in 8 where it previously had. :confused:
 
I find metro pretty quick and easy to use. I usually use the keyboard shortcuts so hitting the windows key or Windows key + D makes things instant. Also, being able to tap the windows key then just start typing what you want (just like the start menu) makes things quick as well. It's a bit like a full screen interactive start menu and since when I'm using the start menu I'm not doing anything else I don't have any issues with it.

Disclaimer: I haven't used Win 8 extensively so I might get frustrated with it in day to day use but so far I can't see why.
 
Is there any information out about Media Centre on Windows 8? Will it be significantly different to WMC in 7 (I'm assuming a it will have a Metro style UI)?
 
Skeeter said:
Is there any information out about Media Centre on Windows 8? Will it be significantly different to WMC in 7 (I'm assuming a it will have a Metro style UI)?
Click to expand...

Yes, it will be a an add-on you have to pay for on Windows 8 Pro (rumours are that it will be free for early upgraders).

Unless it has changed significantly in RTM it is almost identical to the Win 7 MC. Also because of Metro, auto-running MC doesn't give it focus automatically, it runs in the background til you reselect either the tile or mash your green button.

It would have been better for MS to dump Media Center and spend a bit of time adding an app that covered the TV elements (everything else is pretty well there) from within Metro.
 
ChileanLlama said:
Yes, it will be a an add-on you have to pay for on Windows 8 Pro (rumours are that it will be free for early upgraders).
Click to expand...

It's not a rumour. Microsoft confirmed that MC will be a free add-on for early Win 8 Pro upgrades, if you purchase before January 31st. Considering the Win 8 Pro upgrade is only $40 (dont know about UK pricing yet) i think it's a good deal.

Media Center hasn't changed at all since the Win 7 version. It's officially been depreciated. There will likely be no future updates to MC. But i think Metro apps will eventually appear that can replace it anyway.
 
Yeah just found a way to add it to the RP, and its identical to W7.

I wont be upgrading my Media PC then, although I am slightly concerned that this seems to be the end of the road for WMC...
 
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