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Windows 8 Arrives

microsoft.com

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Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#51

Post by baddox »

aik wrote: post #8
Iaks wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exacerbating this is the fact that Windows 7 is arguably at full stride right now and has almost no points that I really want changed. Why then do I give myself (actually, pay for) a headache with this new release?

>> Exacerbating this is the fact that Windows 7 is arguably at full stride right now and has almost no points that I really want changed. Sounds like another anti-innovation/change comment on hn. If this is not, please tell me how?

Innovation and change are not inherently good, but they are inherently risky and costly. This is especially true when it comes to the operating system on your main computer.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#52

Post by bduerst »

JagMicker wrote: post #23
engtech wrote: post #6

Windows 8 Pro upgrade for $39 dollars ($15 for newer PCs). [1] That's... reasonable. I might consider buying a copy of Windows 8 Pro at that price and then waiting until it hits SP1 to install it. I might even spin up a VM to try it out. I like that the $39 upgrade applies to anyone with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7. I think they're realizing that a lot of people don't upgrade OS because they don't want to…

The Taskbar and Start Menu have worked so well in the past, why change? Perhaps the price might be a hint that it's worth less than previous versions..

For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life.

And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#53

Post by binarycrusader »

chollida1 wrote: post #41
[deleted] wrote: post #29

[deleted]

Or without the referral link code: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008H3SW4I/

Even better is the System Builder 64-bit edition:

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Professional-System-Builder-64...

They're offering it for $139.99 with an additional $30 discount if you buy by October 25th with the promotional code "WIN8SYST".

The System Builder edition is important for hobbyists (like myself) that build or upgrade their own PCs as it includes transfer rights if it's your own personal PC that you install it on:

http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-pricing-for-system-builders-s...

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#54

Post by MartinCron »

dmix wrote: post #45
el_cuadrado wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have. The interface is freaking unusable. It is like Microsoft decided to exit the desktop market with a bang. "We are failing, and we are taking Windows with us".

Windows XP - success Windows Vista - failure Windows 7 - success Windows 8 - potential failure Just following a pattern.

That pattern only holds if you think that the world started at Windows XP. Going back another few years:

Windows 3.1 - Success

Windows 95 - Success

Windows 98 - Success (moderate, whatever)

Windows NT 4 - Success

Windows Me - Failure

Windows 2000 - Success

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#55

Post by itry »

Will this thing behave nicely when I put it on a machine which already has grub and several linux partitions? Or will it insist on killing grub or even do worse stuff to my machine?

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#56

Post by [deleted] »

jerednel wrote: post #50

I happen to think that Windows 8 is a welcome refresh. At first, I was confused by the dashboard but I am finding it easier and easier to navigate around. For instance, going to the traditional desktop is as easy as clicking the "Desktop" tile. And opening a new tab in the metro-IE was a bit confusing but after figuring out that double finger pressing the touchpad brings up the tab list and url bar it has become easi…

[deleted]

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#57

Post by k-mcgrady »

luma wrote: post #22

I've been running Windows 8 since they release the RTM version to TechNet subscribers on my primary laptop (about a month now). Short version - outside of Metro it's basically Win7SP3 and it works great. Metro is every bit the usability disaster that people have claimed when not running on a touch screen. The good news is that you really don't have to interface much with Metro at all. It replaces the start menu, but…

>> "Short version - outside of Metro it's basically Win7SP3 and it works great. Metro is every bit the usability disaster that people have claimed when not running on a touch screen."

I've been using it on a MacBook Pro and with the multi-touch trackpad metro actually works reasonably well. Obviously it would be better with a touchscreen but I am able to tap to click, use two fingers to scroll left/right/up/down and moving the mouse the the screen corners activates charms/open apps/last opened app. Maybe PC mouse makers (including MS) will come up with similar mice to make the experience better for non-touchscreen devices.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#58

Post by rossjudson »

dmix wrote: post #45
el_cuadrado wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have. The interface is freaking unusable. It is like Microsoft decided to exit the desktop market with a bang. "We are failing, and we are taking Windows with us".

Windows XP - success Windows Vista - failure Windows 7 - success Windows 8 - potential failure Just following a pattern.

I see Vista characterized as a failure over and over again, and Win 7 as a success. Win 7 is somewhat better than Vista, but the distance between them isn't that great. Besides the fact that UAC prompts were more frequent in Vista, was there some particular problem with Vista?

For a year or two there I was running workstations with both, and didn't see much difference.

I think Vista took the heat for imposing security where none existed.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#59

Post by dangrossman »

douglasisshiny wrote: post #47
sukuriant wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To run desktop apps, you can go to the desktop. I've been using it as my primary OS for several months now Disclosure: MSFT Employee

I recently bought a laptop and it's the first time I've had windows on my home machine since 2004. Since it's only $15 to upgrade: Is it possible/easy to upgrade and go back to Windows 7 if I find it detestable?

Going back means using the restore disks or partitions that came with your computer, or installing fresh from a retail DVD of a previous OS. There's no "downgrade" process.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#60

Post by bduerst »

binarycrusader wrote: post #53
chollida1 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or without the referral link code: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008H3SW4I/

Even better is the System Builder 64-bit edition: http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Professional-System-Builder-64... They're offering it for $139.99 with an additional $30 discount if you buy by October 25th with the promotional code "WIN8SYST". The System Builder edition is important for hobbyists (like myself) that build or upgrade their own PCs as it includes transfer rights if it's your own personal PC that you inst…

So is the Win 8 system builder a single license that needs to be transferred between machines...

...or can I use the license to run Win 8 on my PC, laptop, and HTPC all at once?

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