M
mechanic
OK, windows8 consumer preview is out, what do people think?
G
Gordon
It LOOKS horrible.
People also need to be aware of the EFI Secure boot issue as well,
particularly on ARM based tablets....
http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/secure-boot-vs-restricted-boot/statement
P
Paul
mechanic said:
You don't have to use that silly 5MB downloader application.
There are ISO files available, as well as the license key.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso
I've downloaded a copy, but will test it later.
I played with the Developer version previously,
so there's no rush.
Paul
X
XS11E
mechanic said:
So far, I'm not liking it much, that will probably change later after I
give it some more use...
D
Dave \Crash\ Dummy
XS11E said:
I'm just learning to tolerate Windows 7 after years of contented Windows
2000 use. Am I going to have to do it all again with Windows 8?? Is
Classic Shell available yet for Windows 8?
R
Rob
You'll be fine as it is simply Windows 7 with some extra bits to make
it work on current toys (tablets etc.)
X
XS11E
Dave \"Crash\" Dummy said:
You'll have to do it all over again and Classic Shell will install but
doesn't seem to work at all.... so far.
My current plan is to run EasyBCD to get back to a single boot machine
and then format the partition with Windows 8 because I'm too old and
tired to learn another OS now.
Minutes later: It's gone, EasyBCD has removed the Win8 entry from the
boot menu and the partition is formatted.
Adios, Windows 8 (for now?)
X
XS11E
Rob said:
But it's really designed for a touch screen monitor and I don't have
one nor is my computer layout such that a touch screen monitor would be
convenient.
The UI looks much like Windows Phone 7 which is one MAJOR reason I use
an Android phone, IMHO Windows Phone 7 was a huge step backwards from
Windows Mobile.
Z
Zaphod Beeblebrox
Have you actually used Windows 8? It is *very* different. The Metro
UI, which is what you are presented when you start up, and every time
you click on Start, is a completely different paradigm than the way
Windows has worked since Windows 95, and there is no Classic Windows
setting to take you back to the way it was (so far, though that could
always change).
There is a "Desktop" that can run non-Metro programs, but again it
doesn't have the Start menu. But, staying in the Desktop isn't easy -
clicking Start takes you back to Metro. Unless you put a bunch of
shortcuts on the desktop, you'll be flipping back & forth between Metro
and Desktop.
P
Paul
Rob said:
But it is different.
When something crashes, the BSOD doesn't splash all over the screen.
Many failures can lead to a solid black screen, giving no hints at all.
(I discovered this, while testing the Developer version in VMs.)
And that's not the computers that I've grown accustomed to. For as long
as I can remember, even on our proprietary systems, we always had
register dumps to look at. It's "unnatural" to just silently fold
up the tent and leave a black screen.
Some application errors bring up a "cute" graphic and text, but
that's an attempt at a sarcastic rather than helpful response.
I still want to know, and rather quickly, that I have a
"STOP 0x7B" or whatever. Rather than a black screen, and not a
clue as to what log file the actual error is recorded in.
So for that reason alone, I'm not in any hurry to get it.
Paul
X
XS11E
Zaphod Beeblebrox said:
I believe it will change. Windows 8 desktop seems to be developed for
touch screen devices and I have to believe that released versions will
offer a more familiar UI as an option. But who knows?
M
mechanic
I suppose it depends on your point of view. I find it pretty and
pleasant to use. It doesn't take long before the historic roots of
the system show themselves either. Waving the mouse around and
clicking a bit usually brings up what you want on the desktop.
A
Andy Burns
mechanic said:
It looks as bad as I thought from the developer preview, I thought they
might have a change of heart and make metro totally optional, but seems
they're convinced it's a good thing, I will keep my distance just as I
did with Vista.
D
Dave \Crash\ Dummy
XS11E said:
Hell, I don't even have a cell phone or a laptop. I have enough trouble
keeping my keyboard clean. I don't want to start dragging my greasy
fingers across the screen.
X
XS11E
Dave \"Crash\" Dummy said:
You're supposed to wash your hands every month when you take a bath.
In between baths you can lick your fingers..... ;-)
W
WaIIy
If you switch to Windows 8, it comes with packets of wipes.
Also, they tell you not to eat chicken wings and use your computer at
the same time.
R
Robert Sudbury
mechanic said:
I was impressed that it installed with all but two drivers on a Toshiba
Portege R830 in under 15 minutes, from first boot by USB key to first logon.
I hate that they've replaced the Start Orb and Start Menu with a Hot Corner
and a Start Screen. It's a colossal productivity killer how it blankets my
entire screen and whatever games, apps or monitor I'm running full screen.
I'll wager I'm not the only one who dumps their mouse to a corner to
reposition the mouse physically on the mouse pad/desk, then work back to a
desired screen position. Hot Corners are driving me mad. The full screens
are bloated and slow to navigate (not to be confused with responsiveness).
Try to find the RUN window. Try to Logoff quickly. Try to find the CMD
prompt. Unless you know the keyboard shortcuts, there's a lot more
mouse-travelling and clicking to get things done. The giant boxes and icons
are probably a good thing on screen-size limited tablets or smart phones
using your fingertip or a stylus, but on a fat LCD with a mouse, it's ...
ugh.
It's like jamming a bucket of paint into a swimming pool ... it's all spread
out unnecessarily.
Reminds me of Bob, but with even fewer colours, details and choices.
O
Omni
"Gordon" wrote in message
Windows 8 Build 8250 is a step back / regress in option of colours and
graphics. I like a fish, but not like this one which welcomes me...-
MS should have a clear picture by now, what they want; either a Mobile
Metro or full blooded Windows interface able to compete with Mac. There is
much more to desire and expect then just a change of coding. These days user
is more selective and demanding. Windows 8 is NOT going to satisfy ( as it
is) a lot of customers.
The point is, which MS OS we're left with? The younger generation of users
after Vista experience, have switched to Mac. It looks - I'll have to do it
as well.
MS is lacking of a serious approach to user’s needs. It wonders between a
“pseudo novelty†and trying to fix what worked well in the previous versions
but it doesn't work now, when they "fixed" it, in their - Microsoft's way.
Windows 8 Build 8250 is a step back / regress in option of colours and
graphics. I like a fish, but not like this one which welcomes me...-
MS should have a clear picture by now, what they want; either a Mobile
Metro or full blooded Windows interface able to compete with Mac. There is
much more to desire and expect then just a change of coding. These days user
is more selective and demanding. Windows 8 is NOT going to satisfy ( as it
is) a lot of customers.
The point is, which MS OS we're left with? The younger generation of users
after Vista experience, have switched to Mac. It looks - I'll have to do it
as well.
MS is lacking of a serious approach to user’s needs. It wonders between a
“pseudo novelty†and trying to fix what worked well in the previous versions
but it doesn't work now, when they "fixed" it, in their - Microsoft's way.
T
Tom Lake
The point is, which MS OS we're left with? The younger generation of users
after Vista experience, have switched to Mac. It looks - I'll have to do it
as well.
MS is lacking of a serious approach to user’s needs. It wonders between a
“pseudo novelty†and trying to fix what worked well in the previous versions
but it doesn't work now, when they "fixed" it, in their - Microsoft's way.
I'm going to hang on to Win 7 for dear life! It's the same situation as XP
users
who refused to switch for years. Of course we have to make allowances for
the fact that the Consumer Preview is still a Beta so some of the rough
edges
will be smoothed off by RTM but still the whole Metro interface is just not
practical
for the way most people I know have their PCs set up. I'd have to stretch to
reach
my screens and my arm would get tired pretty quickly. I will *NOT* rearrange
my
whole computer setup to accommodate Win 8. My users would revolt if I sprang
Metro
on them. Heck, they get all upset if one of their icons is in a different
location! Can
you imagine them seeing Metro? Forgeddabouddit.
Tom Lake
after Vista experience, have switched to Mac. It looks - I'll have to do it
as well.
MS is lacking of a serious approach to user’s needs. It wonders between a
“pseudo novelty†and trying to fix what worked well in the previous versions
but it doesn't work now, when they "fixed" it, in their - Microsoft's way.
I'm going to hang on to Win 7 for dear life! It's the same situation as XP
users
who refused to switch for years. Of course we have to make allowances for
the fact that the Consumer Preview is still a Beta so some of the rough
edges
will be smoothed off by RTM but still the whole Metro interface is just not
practical
for the way most people I know have their PCs set up. I'd have to stretch to
reach
my screens and my arm would get tired pretty quickly. I will *NOT* rearrange
my
whole computer setup to accommodate Win 8. My users would revolt if I sprang
Metro
on them. Heck, they get all upset if one of their icons is in a different
location! Can
you imagine them seeing Metro? Forgeddabouddit.
Tom Lake
B
BillW50
Using Windows since '93, all the way up to XP... there was always a
reason for me to upgrade to a newer version of Windows. As there was
always a must have feature that I needed that was lacking in the earlier
version of Windows.
Back in '06 I made the claim in the newsgroups before Vista came out
that I didn't see the need for me to run Vista until at least the year
2011. Well 2011 came and went and I still never ran Vista on any of my
computers yet. Maybe someday, but not anytime soon.
I have been running Windows 7 since '09 though. But there isn't anything
real exciting to me with Windows 7. Nor do I use Windows 7 much for
anything besides a little TV, email, newsgroups, and browsing. But XP
does this and a lot more for me anyway.
So if some reason I was forced to run only one version of Windows, it
would still be running XP only hands down.