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Windows 8 Arrives

microsoft.com

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Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#161

Post by MBCook »

clauretano wrote: post #137
w1ntermute wrote: post #21

The Verge gave it a pretty solid score (8.8/10): http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/23/3537710/windows-8-review The Surface, not so much (7.0): http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/23/3540550/microsoft-surface...

i.e. Windows 8 got a good score, Windows RT not so much.

I'd also imagine that the Surface's 7.0 is because of the hardware. Every review I've read has said that the hardware is pretty fantastic and the keyboard covers work surprisingly well.

It's only Windows RT that people seem to be complaining about.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#162

Post by MBCook »

learc83 wrote: post #107

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.

Come to think of it, the start screen isn't too far off from At Ease either. I remember all the Macs in school ran locked down copies to keep the students from messing with the computers and make it easier to find programs for the little kids.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_Ease

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#163

Post by MBCook »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #16

Well looks like this is judgement day for MS then. The price is much lower than for previous versions of Windows, this makes me suspect that we should start expecting new releases of Windows much more frequently, similar to how Apple does it. With the radical changes going on in Windows 8 it wouldn't surprise me to see a tweaked and improved Windows 9 in less than 2 years.

I hope so. They clearly learned that the delay between XP and Vista was way too long. I think they learned that the shorter delay between Vista and Windows 7 was beneficial too.

Having the shorter releases seems to work very well, at least it has in the OS X world. The ability to release new features and get them in the hands of users faster than once every 3 or 5 years is a big improvement.

It's also nice to see them drop the price. At the old $99 or $129 level, an OS upgrade really needs to justify it's existence. Many people would just hold out and buy a new computer (especially if you only paid $400 or $500 for it). At $40 it's much easier to get people to update without waiting for a hardware refresh.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#164

Post by MBCook »

mtgx wrote: post #38

I don't think regular users will like this much, and forcing them to go into Metro will only make more people hate it, rather than like it. Fan bases grow when the growth is natural, not when it's forced. http://www.foolproof.co.uk/is-planet-earth-ready-for-windows...

It really wouldn't surprise me at all if it turned out that tons of regular users loved Metro. The problem I keep reading about is the fact you can't stay in Metro all the time. There are some settings that you have to go into desktop mode to mess with, and if you're only used to Metro that's going to be really confusing.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#165

Post by khkwang »

tedunangst wrote: post #115
dataminer wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You don't have to install anything. Click the giant button that says Desktop, and woah, it's like Windows 7 all over again.

Uh... except for the Start Menu, which is what the parent comment was referring to.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#167

Post by freehunter »

briffle wrote: post #151
shortlived wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, fine print: Offer valid from October 26, 2012 until January 31, 2013 and is limited to five upgrade licenses per customer. To install Windows 8 Pro, customers must be running Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.

Question is, can I downgrade it to 7pro... I have some machines I want 7 pro on, but not 8... The upgrade from Vista Business to 7 Pro is $200

No, you can't downgrade Windows licenses.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#168

Post by freehunter »

phreakhead wrote: post #149
joshschreuder wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can recommend Start8 which brings the start menu back and boots straight to desktop (one of my annoyances was going straight to the Metro home screen on boot). It's $5, but worth it in my opinion: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

Surely you could just edit the ol' msconfig startup items for free, right? They still have that, right? It's been a while since I used Windows.

Msconfig is in, yes, but the startup section is not. It redirects you to the startup section of the task manager, of which Metro is not an option for you to disable. Startup is simply the ability to disable services and programs that run on the desktop.

For example, mine has Java, Steam, Thinkpad Tools, Nvidia nView, Digsby, etc. Nothing Metro in there.

Re: Windows 8 Arrives

#170

Post by freehunter »

el_cuadrado wrote: post #7
clone1018 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried it?

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".

The interface is freaking unusable.

It's funny that I keep hearing people say this, yet hundreds of thousands of people are using it just fine before it's even released. A large number of them even using it as their daily OS. This indicates to me that it is usable. Perhaps by "unusable", some people really just mean "different than I'm used to"? Because to me, unusable means impossible to use, which we know isn't true.

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