Windows 8 Consumer Preview Coming On February 29

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PhuxAche

February 09, 2012 at 2:32am

I just don't want this Windows8-Mango-esque OS.
Hello MS! Will you ever EVER listen and learn? FFS!

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livebriand

February 08, 2012 at 10:44pm

I like the idea of an app-store, since it makes it much easier to find programs (particularly for the average user), but of course the OS should still support regular programs from traditional sources (websites, CDs, etc). Also, I like the technical improvements. However, why can't they just understand that most people don't have touchscreens and metro will be useless for them? I have Windows 8 installed in a vm, and quickly disabled metro once I found that RPEnabled reg hack. At least they'll probably be providing a way to disable it easily (with enterprises and all). If it isn't broke, why not break it, right?

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Cregan89

February 08, 2012 at 11:40pm

I don't understand why everybody automatically assumes that without a touch screen Metro is useless. If MS has stressed one thing during the development of W8 its that Metro is designed to work efficiently for both touch and mouse/keyboard users.

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Wingzero_x

February 08, 2012 at 11:16pm

Just because they don't have touch screens now. Should that be a reason to keep releasing the same ol stuff? Should the game developers only make games that can be played with integrated graphics because that is what people have?

The more I see Win8, touch screens and Windows Kinetic the more I see that not only will it change the way we use Windows, but it will usher in a new ways we interact with software.

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Keith E. Whisman

February 08, 2012 at 4:25pm

I really want a touchscreen desktop monitor and a nice laptop with a touch screen in anticipation of Windows 8. And you people do realize that you can still install software the old fashioned way right? I mean, you can still buy boxed software from Walmart or Fry's electronics and install it in Windows 8. Like with Windows 7 and all previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 is still using a package manager. The App Store is just a good addition. I haven't heard anything that makes the App Store the only way to install software on your Windows 8 computer.

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Wingzero_x

February 08, 2012 at 10:58pm

Having a touch screen makes all the difference with Windows 8. However there are still a couple of problems with that.

1) It's great getting around on Metro, not so great in the current applications.

2) For some reason you pick up the habit of touching every monitor, and actually get a moment of frustration when nothing happens. Should be really entertaining with the Windows Kinect. "Okay, Obi-won enough with the Jedi powers. Fix my damned computer!"

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Hey.That_Dude

February 08, 2012 at 10:18pm

They are complaining at the fact that the ARM version bears any resemblance to the x86-64 version.
Don't worry, they'll stop complaining eventually... I mean they don't b!tch about vista anymore.

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Eoraptor

February 08, 2012 at 1:25pm

Well, Microsoft seems bound and determined to thwart consumer feedback, and actually move in the opposite direction (just see this site's own blurb about the death of the start orb)

I'll give it a try, but I don't expect to change my opinion that while the onscreen keyboard is great, and the boot times are remarkably improved, that the metro UI can go suck eggs and I'll stick with W7.

The locked down windows app store seems contrary to everything that makes a PC a PC, you know, an open and consumer-modifiable platform with hundreds of reputable providers making products and software for it? definitely not something I'm up for.

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Hey.That_Dude

February 08, 2012 at 10:21pm

Since when has Windows been an "Open" platform? Don't you mean Linux/Unix?

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Eoraptor

February 08, 2012 at 11:14pm

Did I say Windows was open? No, I said PC. The PC is an open hardware environment and has been since IBM released the AT and ATX specifications. And as linux shows, you can load any OS onto it you like as long as it's written to handle the hardware. Though windows to an extent, is still open as it doesn't ~yet~ actively control what you can and can't install or what hardware you can or can't utilize. If someone writes a program, anyone can still use it, be it spectacular or craptastic, and as long as you've got drivers, you can use any hack-kneed hardware plugin as well.

but that all promises to start changing with Windows 8, Locked UEFI bios's specifically aiming to prevent loading other operating systems, the Windows App store controlled directly by Microsoft... how long before they start locking the API for resident programs on disks too so that only "approved" software can be installed? they're intent to build a controlled little microsoft ecosystem on the PC in the mold of Apple's iOS device party.

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Hey.That_Dude

February 10, 2012 at 9:50am

First, the locked UEFI bios won't last long, someone's gonna hack that out of the OS code. Also I thought that they were only going to do that for the ARM version... in which case that's not my issue. x86-64 FOREVER!

App Store controlled directly by Microsoft... yeah duh. What did you expect them to do? It's not like programs written for the Windows enviroment work on any other OS without some major code overhaul(Read DirectX removal). Why would the App store be any different? Google's Android market is the only example of an "open" store front and even they police their store for crapware full of viruses. There are serious legal ramifications for not protecting people from their own stupidity now a days. It's just easier for Microsoft to do the policing up front. I mean this is M$ we're talking about.

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JohnP

February 08, 2012 at 1:32pm

You do realize that you can TURN OFF the Metro interface permanently? Takes like 45 seconds. On boot up, I go directly to the desktop in Win8, I haven't seen the metro interface in months.
My attitude on the Metro interface will be to check it occasionally for updates or to run specific stuff, otherwise 99% of my time will be in the desktop.
I simply cannot believe the bitchin about something that can be so easily TURNED OFF. Cripes...

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Eoraptor

February 08, 2012 at 9:25pm

Funny, the only people I know who have been able to "turn off" the metro elements have had to hack the OS to do so. So I'm not bitching about something 'easily turned off" so much as I am expressing a complaint about a core element of the OS.

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JohnP

February 09, 2012 at 11:15am

To disable the Metro interface and other key parts of Win8: (Let me Google that for you)

http://techwalls.com/news/how-to-enable-disable-windows-8-metro-ui/

No "hack" necessary, just run a download as Administrator is all...

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someuid

February 08, 2012 at 3:36pm

Any idea if the colors on that tile screen can be modified?

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Cregan89

February 08, 2012 at 7:55pm

@someuid

Yeah you can. There's a whole bunch of new customizable options for the Metro UI in the Beta:
http://winunleaked.tk/2012/02/windows-8-beta-candidate-build-8220/

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georgey

February 08, 2012 at 3:17pm

JohnP, if we're turning off the Metro Interface, and we don't like the ribbon menu - then why bother with Windows 8 at all? Those are the features they're pushing, and when it comes to desktop machines I haven't seen anyone excited about those additions.

I think the point is, for tablets I'm sure it's great but for desktop users we want Microsoft to spend time on something that's actually going to improve our windows experience.

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Cregan89

February 08, 2012 at 7:52pm

@georgey

The Ribbon is hidden by default in the beta. And this link proves what I've been arguing with people about since Office 2007:
http://www.7tutorials.com/windows-8-analysis-new-ribbon-interface-more-efficient
The Ribbon UI is more efficient in every single way compared to previous interfaces. Number of clicks, feature discovery, keyboard short-cut discovery, screen size, and feature time to find. The only valid argument against the Ribbon UI is refusal of change and progression, and a learning curve to find the new locations of features.

And improvements to the Windows 8 Desktop experience? Improved multi-monitor support, native USB 3.0 stack, reduced boot time, significantly lower memory footprint, Storage Spaces (virtualized storage pools), a new files system (ReFS), improved SSD support and performance, built-in antivirus and spyware protection, improved automatic updating system (less frequent reboot required updates), built in support for creating system images and full system restore, built-in ISO mounting, built-in VHD mounting, built-in PDF support, automatic cloud based backup of system settings, personal files, and Metro applications, a new Apple Time Capsule like interface for Shadow Copy, Windows Store sells desktop software as well, drastically improved task manager, drastically improved file management allowing you to pause file copying jobs and finish them later, Windows 8 has basically become rootkit proof when combined with UEFI, Hyper-V, and various reviews of the beta candidate builds confirm noticeably improved performance over Windows 7 SP1. And that's just a small sample of the various desktop related improvements. And it's still PRE-BETA! Many of the future major software applications haven't even been publicly shown at all (Media Player and Media Center [which are both expecting some HUGE changes], and how Office 15 will tie in with Windows 8). Anybody claiming that Windows 8 brings no improvements to the desktop experience is simply ignoring the facts. And I promise you that even the most dedicated desktop proponents will dip their toe into Metro every once in a while once the Windows Store gains some steam. Anybody that owns an iOS, Android, or Windows Phone device knows how addicting and effective these micro transaction application stores are. Once one is available on every desktop in the world it will be hard to resist jumping into it every once in a while.

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JohnP

February 09, 2012 at 11:27am

Amen, Creagan. Terrific post (and I don't care who you are).

I can use EasyBCD to easily choose between Win7 and Win8 Developer Preview. I always choose Win8. Even at this early stage, it is obviously a much better build of Windows.

Matter of fact, Win8 runs so efficiently that I gave my SSD to my son as I no longer find its speed that noticeable. The rest of your post is spot on (and saved me a lot of typing!)

Make sure to make a copy of your post to put on further rants against Win8. I just did.

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maxeeemum

February 08, 2012 at 8:41pm

Says the Microsoft employee! LOL!

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Eoraptor

February 08, 2012 at 9:23pm

Yeah, that does read quite a bit like a paid plug doesn't it?

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maxeeemum

February 08, 2012 at 9:30pm

Who else would spend that much effort to write that much Pro-MS BS.

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Cregan89

February 08, 2012 at 10:18pm

Not a MS employee. A customer highly invested in making the most educated decision on product platform support and in-house platform infrastructure at my software company. I just know the facts because it matters to my job performance. And it's annoying to see people make completely unfounded remarks.

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maxeeemum

February 08, 2012 at 10:59pm

LOL! You have stated you are a software engineer in prior posts. If you don't work for MS you are developing Apps for Win8. You must have to have some financial gain to express the opinions you express.

Windows 8 will be the biggest MS failure!

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Cregan89

February 08, 2012 at 11:35pm

I do develop applications for Windows. Also iOS, Android, and Blackberry. And Windows 8 offers by far the best API set of all of them. The Live Tiles combined with Windows 8's new push notification system is years beyond what is available with other OS's and we're very excited to make use of this feature.

Our product is also cloud based, and Microsoft currently offers the best developer tools and server software combination. So I have interest in both client side platform and production side platform. The financial gain I get from Microsoft is simply that they're currently offering me the best ratio of productivity tools for the price. All I was really saying was that it's my job to be knowledgeable about new features being offered by different platforms and how we can take advantage of them. And Windows 8 is bringing a lot of great things to the table, so it's extremely frustrating to see people spreading BS, as I've strongly proved.

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georgey

February 29, 2012 at 11:48am

I'm sure as a software developer you're more on the ground to know about the new features being added to Win 8. What I'm saying is that Microsoft isn't telling consumers about the new features that will really matter to them. You listed like 10 things about Win 8 I'd never even heard of. I have no doubts that the MS team is doing fine work, but they're pushing the wrong features. They need to tell me why I would spend money on Windows 8 if I don't have a Windows tablet. Who are they marketing to right now?

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maxeeemum

February 08, 2012 at 11:54pm

I rest my case! Now please STFU! You are bias and have no business making comments. You have lost all credibility.

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ferds7

February 09, 2012 at 10:39am

Rest what case? You don't have a case. You can't call someone bias because they make money developing software for Windows. Otherwise you would have to call someone bias on the fact they use Windows to make money for the company they own or work at - which results in just about everyone.

He pointed out valid reasons for his opinion of Windows.

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maxeeemum

February 09, 2012 at 5:07pm

Yes I do and yes I can. When it starts sounding like an advertisement that you are reading from the MS website it shows. This individual is scared Win8 will flop and he will lose out. Yes he is bias and can't stand the negative comments! Did you see all he posted on the last Win8 piece on Feb. 6. Enough already!

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vistageek

February 08, 2012 at 5:18pm

My boot times have been cut in half, the new task manager is really nice, there are some new features with aero snap and multimonitor, and because windows 8 only loads shared dll's into memory once, gaming performance is a tad nicer.

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eastbayrae

February 08, 2012 at 1:10pm

The UI is outstanding! I love using it on my WP7. Really slick and simple to use.

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