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Windows 8 Arrives

microsoft.com

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Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#101

Post by sigzero »

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…

You do the search->run thing but average joe user is not going to be doing it that way.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#102

Post by [deleted] »

ajross wrote: post #15
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…

That's the upgrade price. AFAICT they haven't announced pricing for an installable new copy of the OS.

[deleted]

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#104

Post by omnisci »

Iaks wrote: post #5
mikeratcliffe wrote: post #2

Meh, the interface makes no sense without a touchscreen.

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?

I actually agree and disagree. Disagree: I used the windows 8 RC for a while and I actually like it (The desktop portion, metro was a waste for a non-touch screen PC). The additions to the OS were absolutely worth while, especially at these prices. I would upgrade today, without any concern if....

Agree: It wasn't a headache:) I have 2 ATI 4870s in crossfire right now and the ATI drivers were not working well. A lot of stuff that worked on windows 7 was not working on windows 8. Granted, that was the RC, but I don't want to install and find out that it wasn't fixed. 2. Users need the option to opt-out of metro. Period (!).

I'm going to wait for SP1, allow developers to catch up a bit and then jump in. I really liked the speed and the additions made to windows 8, I just think it needs a little time mature.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#105

Post by nonane »

moconnor wrote: post #96
nonane wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plug: If you're running Windows 8 Pro and have an iPad you can try out the Win 8 Metro's multitouch features using my app ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWUEAx4dqP4&hd=1 ). Send me an email: support at jumpdesktop.com and I'll send you a free coupon.

I've used Jump for the past year; it's an excellent remote desktop client.

Thank you! Appreciate it :-)

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#106

Post by [deleted] »

moconnor wrote: post #96
nonane wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plug: If you're running Windows 8 Pro and have an iPad you can try out the Win 8 Metro's multitouch features using my app ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWUEAx4dqP4&hd=1 ). Send me an email: support at jumpdesktop.com and I'll send you a free coupon.

I've used Jump for the past year; it's an excellent remote desktop client.

[deleted]

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#107

Post by learc83 »

Metro reminds me of the Acer Computer Explorer (I think that was the name, I was 11 at the time) that was installed on my very first computer (windows 95).

The computer booted up to a home screen with icons for all of your programs, and you had to click exit to desktop to get into windows.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#108

Post by ChuckMcM »

ConstantineXVI wrote: post #27
engtech wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect that you can buy a used license for Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 easily. Really, just visit a friend/relative and find a dusty old PC that has a license sticker on it and ask if you can have it.

Windows OEM licenses aren't transferrable from the PCs they're sold with. Retail licenses are transferrable to another person, once.

I found this out in a predictable way, at Google they had machines that they bought for desktops which came with an OEM windows sticker but they always put Goobuntu on. I needed an XP license for a project so I thought, "Oh I'll use this one, I know its not being used elsewhere." and did an install with a vanilla distro and the product code.

The first thing that broke was it wanted the oem cab file. Fixed that.

Then it would complain "this product key is intended for the original system."

Since I was running in a VM I changed it piece by piece until it accepted the product code, first changed the type of CPU it was reporting, then the bios identifier string, and finally the ethernet MAC address. It finally acceepted the product code after all of that (not sure which parts were optional but only needed it for like a week) Considered those licenses pretty much worthless from that point on.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#109

Post by joenathan »

nonane wrote: post #90
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…

Plug: If you're running Windows 8 Pro and have an iPad you can try out the Win 8 Metro's multitouch features using my app ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWUEAx4dqP4&hd=1 ). Send me an email: support at jumpdesktop.com and I'll send you a free coupon.

Does the Android version offer the same functionality?

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#110

Post by dataminer »

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..

Microsoft wants to leverage their desktop dominance to introduce people to their mobile offerings. The change from start menu to start screen fits right into that strategy. However you can get back the start menu by installing classic shell, pokki etc.
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