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Windows 8 Consumer Preview released.

windows.microsoft.com

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Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview released.

#41

Post by stonemetal »

untog wrote: post #13
ChrisNorstrom wrote: post #3

Competition from Apple and Linux (but mostly Apple) is the best thing to happen to Microsoft in a long time. No, the UI isn't perfect yet, the design decisions (for this beta) not always logical, but Windows is finally going somewhere amazing after many years of going no where. Because some of Microsoft's best products were great but went no where. Take the Zune and Windows Phone 7. People who own them love them, esp…

Because they're Microsoft products and the stigma around them is that MS products have no future and become abandoned quickly or go nowhere fast. I really, really don't believe that. What consumer-facing product was abandoned quickly in the Zune era? The Kin was an unmitigated disaster, sure, but when people think of MS they think of Windows, Office and (perhaps) Xbox- none of which have been abandoned.

The ZuneHD released September 2009, pronounced dead October 2011. Then there is the aforementioned Kin. WP7 devices will be shortly. No WP7 device is capable of running WP8(or at least that is the rumor.)

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview released.

#42

Post by recoiledsnake »

nextparadigms wrote: post #17

Engadget's conclusion: "We really liked Windows 7 when it launched. It felt like a big step forward in the short time that had passed since Vista. Now, as we creep closer to a likely release near the end of this year, we can't shake a sense of doubt. Windows 8 still feels like two very different operating systems trying to be one. The potential is hugely alluring -- a single OS to rule both the tablet and the desktop…

>Microsoft is trying to win the few who want a tablet interface at the expense of the vast majority who want a PC, mouse-oriented interface for their...PC's and laptops.

Interesting, I thought the wisdom here was that the post-PC era is upon us and PC are going to die? In that case MS is definitely going the right way.

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview released.

#43

Post by untog »

stonemetal wrote: post #41
untog wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because they're Microsoft products and the stigma around them is that MS products have no future and become abandoned quickly or go nowhere fast. I really, really don't believe that. What consumer-facing product was abandoned quickly in the Zune era? The Kin was an unmitigated disaster, sure, but when people think of MS they think of Windows, Office and (perhaps) Xbox- none of which have been abandoned.

The ZuneHD released September 2009, pronounced dead October 2011. Then there is the aforementioned Kin. WP7 devices will be shortly. No WP7 device is capable of running WP8(or at least that is the rumor.)

The ZuneHD released September 2009, pronounced dead October 2011.

I don't know what you mean by that exactly- have all the ZuneHD devices out there stopped working? No. Is the Zune desktop software still being updated? Yes.

And 'Zune' wasn't killed, it was integrated into Windows Phone. MS are just responding to the market in that regard- no-one wants to carry around a dedicated media player any more- they use their smartphone.

Kin was a giant mess, yes. But MS practically killed it before launch, and it has next to no advertising- I very much doubt it affected the average consumer's perception of Microsoft, because they probably never heard about it.

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview released.

#44

Post by freehunter »

fl3tch wrote: post #39
lvillani wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they should clearly separate tablet and desktop interfaces and switch between them based on context (like what Canonical is planning to do with their "Ubuntu for Android"). That is: you get only a classic desktop (+ windowed Metro apps) when your slate is attached to a docking station and you only get the tablet interface otherwise. And then provide a switch within Control Panel to get the hybrid experience,…

> they should clearly separate tablet and desktop interfaces... like what Canonical is planning to do with their "Ubuntu for Android" What? The whole point of Unity is to have a single interface. Canonical is making the exact same mistake as Microsoft.

The point of Ubuntu for Android is it's Android when its on your 3"-4" phone and it's Ubuntu when you dock it and move to a larger screen. You can't expect a desktop interface to easily switch between a smartphone and a 20" screen with a keyboard and mouse.

Ubuntu for Android is not Ubuntu for tablets.

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview released.

#45

Post by freehunter »

stonemetal wrote: post #41
untog wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because they're Microsoft products and the stigma around them is that MS products have no future and become abandoned quickly or go nowhere fast. I really, really don't believe that. What consumer-facing product was abandoned quickly in the Zune era? The Kin was an unmitigated disaster, sure, but when people think of MS they think of Windows, Office and (perhaps) Xbox- none of which have been abandoned.

The ZuneHD released September 2009, pronounced dead October 2011. Then there is the aforementioned Kin. WP7 devices will be shortly. No WP7 device is capable of running WP8(or at least that is the rumor.)

>The ZuneHD released September 2009, pronounced dead October 2011.

So they had a product that was made and sold for two years. At the end of its life they stopped making them and started making the replacement. How long did the iPod Mini last? (hint: less than two years)

>or at least that is the rumor.

Let's save that discussion for when it becomes fact. Even if it's true, Windows Phone 7 has had many significant updates. Every mobile device has its support dropped within years of its release.

If anything, Microsoft has a history of holding on to old things for far too long. The rest of the industry changes far more rapidly and far more drastically.

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview released.

#47

Post by jstepien »

I'm intrigued by the 0.8 GB difference between the x64 and the x86 build. It's even more interesting given that this difference must be caused solely by different machine code, which, by its nature, shouldn't pose a big challenge for compression algorithms. Assuming that 32 extra bits per pointer and a different instruction set aren't enough to generate such such an increase in size, I'm wondering what might be the reason. Extra binaries and portability-related code for for 32-bit compatibility? Any ideas?

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview released.

#49

Post by freehunter »

nextparadigms wrote: post #19
melling wrote: post #12

How is IE10? It sounds like it's going to be competitive with Chrome in both HTML5 compatibility and performance. http://html5test.com Is Microsoft still doing the silent update for IE?

Will Chrome or Firefox even work in the "tile interface"? My guess is it won't.

It can work on the desktop, which still exists. Native apps don't need Microsoft's permission to run or to bring up the desktop.
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