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Windows 8 Arrives

microsoft.com

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Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#121

Post by crag »

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…

Ive been running Windows 8 on a Mac inside a VM (Fusion) for about a month.

I like Metro (but this is coming from a mec geek - so there you go). BUT I agree it will take time to get used to. But I suspect a hack will be out shortly allowing you to by pass Metro completely. I can't imagine the corporate world being happy about Metro.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#122

Post by mtgx »

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…

Upgrading from XP to Vista or 7 was pretty terrible. I can only assume upgrading from XP to 8 will be even more so.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#123

Post by thesnider »

ajross wrote: post #67
jiggy2011 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No Retail copies? So to get a copy you have to buy a new PC or have an existing Windows OS?

Pretty sure the pure "retail" version of the OS disappeared with XP->Vista. Everything on a store shelf today is an upgrade copy, and the version sold from people like Newegg (which is what I meant) is titled something like "OEM version for system builders".

I was able to buy a retail copy of 7 Ultimate from MS directly for ~$300.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#124

Post by Semaphor »

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…

> I might consider buying a copy of Windows 8 Pro at that price and then waiting until it hits SP1 to install it.

They don't want to release service packs anymore and instead release constant updates including feature/performance upgrades. http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/10/windows-service-packs-n...

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#125

Post by katbyte »

HelloMcFly wrote: post #95
wtallis wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Change for the sake of being different is stupid and shows that you don't care about your current users. An improvement has to be worth the trouble of re-learning how to use the software and changing your habits. That's why the Ribbon got so much flak - it moved every button and ate up a lot more screen space, for relatively minor improvements to overall UI organization and discoverability. The UI-formerly-known-as-M…

This isn't change for the sake of being different, it's a radical (and risky) attempt at change such that the mobile and desktop environments become merged. And you Microsoft Office ribbon example is great! That was another change that many saw as "change for change's sake", but it's become a UI function that the vast majority appreciate and depend on. I'm sure many of the HN crowd would have, or did, lambast the rib…

well I don't particularly like it, but i manage.

the ribbon i think is far less of a drastic UI change then metro.

The ribbon was just changing the text menus to a persistent large tool bar with tabs. Metro is like bolting a touch interface overtop of the standard desktop interface and replacing the start menu with it.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#127

Post by gabemart »

ajross wrote: post #32
gabemart wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Upgrade copies of Vista and Win7 can be installed on an empty hard drive with minimal tweaking, but I guess being kosher with the licensing is important for some users.

If you're not willing to honor the license, what possible point would there be to paying for the software in the first place? I'm willing to be a Win8 crack is live on thepiratebay within the week. The discussion was about whether or not MS has decided to reduce their retail OS price from the ~$100 it is at right now. AFAICT, they have not.

>If you're not willing to honor the license, what possible point would there be to paying for the software in the first place?

This practice is actually fairly common. For example, almost all the technical people I know have bought OEM licenses rather than retail licenses for previous versions of Windows when they're building new systems. According to Microsoft, an OEM license is only valid if you sell the new system to someone else, not use it yourself[1].

[1]http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/...

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#128

Post by RyJones »

ChuckMcM wrote: post #108
ConstantineXVI wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

For your future reference, Microsoft offers virtual machines of XP, Vista, and 7 for browser compatibility testing. They expire after three months, but for your uses, they're fine. You'd just grab the VHD out of the VM and use any of the import tools to convert it to your preferred VM format.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=1157...

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#129

Post by cuu508 »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #69
ajross wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're not willing to honor the license, what possible point would there be to paying for the software in the first place? I'm willing to be a Win8 crack is live on thepiratebay within the week. The discussion was about whether or not MS has decided to reduce their retail OS price from the ~$100 it is at right now. AFAICT, they have not.

You make it sound like it's black and white. I know plenty of people who would hate to torrent of, say, Photoshop, but also don't think it's worth $550 to them. Having a bought license that's legally of questionable origin is a compromise many non-business users would be more than willing to entertain.

But in case of OEM Windows licence it is black and white, no?

What would be peoples motivation to buy it for existing computer?

* "It's sorta legal, it's at least some kind of a licence, right?" -- they're misinformed / tricked /fools

* "I want to pay something, but retail costs too much" -- if you pay without getting anything useful in return, you're donating. Why not donate to charity?

* "I want to get Windows Updates" -- cracked copies used to get updates, and they're often bundled with updates already applied

My point is, I don't understand buying half-valid licence. Licence is either valid or you have no licence.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#130

Post by fady »

i like how the kids look super into the new surface (pic 4).. i bet those peeps were either "paid" to be there, or set up so that they would all look so interested in that device.. srsly, why would someone buy a surface?
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