Windows 8: The Thread

[Keith]

For those of you that have a MSDN or TechNet subscription, the RTM version of Windows 8 is now available for download.

[cognus]

why is it a "terrible" experience on 15? 14? 13? 12? 11?
i put it on a 15 and, no drama. i paid little attention to the bland boxes as they don't do useful work... to me its like 7 only a tad faster, with a usable IE, and in need of a number of custom tweaks. about to install it to a bootable flash stick for my 11.6"'er

[TheAtreidesHawk]

That is strange, but certainly Office 2010 will work more stable. Preview versions are always risky to use, fortunately I did not have serious problem with Office 2013 so far. Hope you can solve the problem without reinstalling the Windows.

Thanks for the well wishes and yeah I was able to remove it all save for the "root" folder in the overall Microsoft Office 15 folder within my C drive. For some reason I can't delete that to the Recycle Bin. It says that it is "in use" somewhere. Even when I shut down and restart it.

But the most important thing (to me at least) is that all traces of it were wiped from the registry and it no longer appears in my list of programs that I could uninstall.

As for Windows 8 I'm sad to hear how Microsoft hasn't taken any steps to improve its use in the laptop/desktop setting. Do they not realize that the vast majority of Windows users do not run Windows on touch screens?

And apparently even if you're in the desktop mode it still drags you right into the Metro UI if you want to listen to music or watch a movie.

Just ridiculous....I hated it on my moms old 15 inch lapotp despite that fact that it was noticeably faster and in some ways more refined than Windows 7. I can even deal with Aero being gone (much as I'll miss it) but as the consumer I don't see anything intuitive or useful about the new start screen with Windows 8 and metro as a whole.

[cognus]

for a brief while I had a windows 7.5 'mango' phone/handset - a samsung Focus. I found that the metro-type [btw, it will not be called metro henceforth] interface worked pretty well on that handset, and overall it was fast/quick/snappy to use. I only regretted not having my favorite apps [from android use] available though there were some 'winners' among the win apps that were superior in function. I plan to give WP8 a try once the dust settles.

MS is in a literal existential fight and it will not be won/lost on the dying desktop & notebook markets. they know it, google knows it, but it ain't clear to me that the dells and hp's know it.. incredibly. just look at dell's quarterly results. hp's layoff plans. My guess and hope is that MS will come up with something like a one-button 'flip' from touchscreen setup to 'physical kbd' type setup.
they have worse issues on the application -development side of the fence and they jolly-well better fixit fast

[Mitlov]

This is my next: Windows 8 | The Verge

David Pierce writing for The Verge: Windows 8 convinces OSX and iOS user to switch to Team Redmond.

I'll be switching because Windows 8 is the first desktop operating system that understands what a computer is supposed to do in 2012, and it’s at once more productive and more fun than any OS I’ve used before.
...
I can drop my Series 7 tablet into a dock, add a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and connect a monitor — poof, I've got a full-fledged dual-monitor setup going. When I want to go somewhere, I just pick the device up out of the dock, and walk out the door tablet in hand.

I don't have to remember to sync, or transfer my files, or think about which device makes more sense for a certain place or situation. It's like playing with legos, assembling and disassembling different machines from the same parts depending on what I feel like that day.

Sure, the transformer thing has been done before, even by devices called the Transformer. Windows 8 is clearly the first OS designed with both capabilities in mind, though, and it shows. Navigating Android via keyboard and mouse is a mess; ditto iOS. But once you're armed with a half-dozen keyboard shortcuts and gestures, Windows 8 is equally easy to navigate with two fingers or keyboard and mouse. I've even found that I'll switch frequently back and forth, depending on what I'm doing; I'll edit photos with a mouse, then pick the tablet up and swipe my way through an article I'm editing, tapping and leaving quick notes with the on-screen keyboard.

[MidnightSun]

This is my next: Windows 8 | The Verge

David Pierce writing for The Verge: Windows 8 convinces OSX and iOS user to switch to Team Redmond.

Was just about to post this. I have some pretty high hopes for Windows 8 in terms of creating a compelling ecosystem, which Pierce seems to have picked up. I probably won't be installing it on my current Thinkpads, as they aren't designed for W8. But I do welcome W8 on my next tablet/laptop: I think it brings quite a bit to the table that is frankly very refreshing.

W8 is undoubtedly polarizing. For every article that lampoons it as awkward, there's another praising W8 for finally bringing together a coherent vision for modern computing.

[Mitlov]

Was just about to post this. I have some pretty high hopes for Windows 8 in terms of creating a compelling ecosystem, which Pierce seems to have picked up. I probably won't be installing it on my current Thinkpads, as they aren't designed for W8. But I do welcome W8 on my next tablet/laptop: I think it brings quite a bit to the table that is frankly very refreshing.

Yeah, I'm not sure whether or not to update my Vaio F23...I would like Windows 8 on it, but I don't trust Sony to get the drivers updated in a timely fashion, and I don't want to lose control over keyboard backlighting, audio profiles, fan control, etc.

[booboo12]

As for Windows 8 I'm sad to hear how Microsoft hasn't taken any steps to improve its use in the laptop/desktop setting. Do they not realize that the vast majority of Windows users do not run Windows on touch screens?

They have: http://www.winsupersite.com/article/...support-143246

All new Windows 8 PC's must support this. It'll make navigating far less clunky IMO.

Edit: Lenovo is already making available beta touchpad drivers that make use of the new gestures on legacy systems equipped with multitouch trackpads. I strongly urge any ThinkPad/IdeaPad/Essential series users that are on 8 to install and try them.

And apparently even if you're in the desktop mode it still drags you right into the Metro UI if you want to listen to music or watch a movie.

I could see why that would be annoying for movies...perhaps a pop out player is in order. For music you can always dock the music player to the left, or control it through the quick shortcuts that display when you adjust volume using the hardware + or - keys.

Just ridiculous....I hated it on my moms old 15 inch lapotp despite that fact that it was noticeably faster and in some ways more refined than Windows 7. I can even deal with Aero being gone (much as I'll miss it) but as the consumer I don't see anything intuitive or useful about the new start screen with Windows 8 and metro as a whole.

I like the "info at a glance" nature of the Live Tiles, especially since Sidebar Widgets aren't recommended to be used anymore because of security concerns. Some of the metro apps are good for casual reading, like the cracked.com app. NewEgg's app is pretty good too.

[TANWare]

They have: [url=http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-release-preview-trackpad-gesture-support-143246]I like the "info at a glance" nature of the Live Tiles, especially since Sidebar Widgets aren't recommended to be used anymore because of security concerns. Some of the metro apps are good for casual reading, like the cracked.com app. NewEgg's app is pretty good too.

M$ has since day one acknowledged the security issues with side bar. This is one of the reasons they have stated NOT to install third party applets there. The same can be said later on as the applets get designed for Metro by third parties. M$ is just pushing the issue again to get you to stop using side bar apps. What was original and reliable before will remain that way, just be aware like installing anything else.

M$ has decided to release a disable app to entice Win7 users to go metro, come on any IT worth anything can see through that one. Although Enterpise systems this could be worth something to keep the users at bay. Suprisingly if an Admin wants to keep frivilous side bars apps from being on the desktop they would most likely want to do the same of fivilous metro pannels.

I am not saying Win8 is a disaster as the haters want you to believe. I think though if you read and give merit to both sides of the arguments the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I can say Win8, unlike Win7, is not the "Must Have Upgrade"! My one regret though is how M$ is handling end users concerns with total ignorance and deciet in marketing tatics such as the side bar issue. While they are not lieing they are trying to market their new OS by instlling fear of the old one and its features. Then again what else can they find wrong with Win7?

[jotm]

Windows 8 has a lot of great features, but the Metro start screen is killing me! The reason is that it's full screen - I used to run every app full screen back in the day, until I discovered that I'm more productive having multiple windows visible at the same time (it looks more awesome, as well :-).

With Windows 7, I can search for files or open an app via the small Start menu, while in Windows 8 I am forced to use a big full screen menu with big tiles that are quite a lot harder to scroll through when you've got a lot of files. I believe it's even worse on higher resolution displays!

I don't know whether I should upgrade or not - I like the new Explorer, the new features and the performance enhancements, but the full screen Start/Metro is just ugh...