the windows 8 thread

[the_tyrant]

Hi guys, I have just transferred my main school laptop/tablet to windows 8 consumer preview

So as of now, I have 3 computers on windows 8.

I will do a full review, but for now, I will take questions

I would like to ask, what does everyone want to know regarding windows 8?

Feel free to ask, I will do a full review shortly

My first verdict: I like windows 8!

[CaptainHaplo]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

My first verdict: I like windows 8!

OK, why?

[the_tyrant]

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

OK, why?

I run it on 3 computers, my HTPC, a gateway all in one touchscreen computer, and my Fujitsu th700 tablet (note that Microsoft calls convertible laptops tablets, and iPad like devices slates)

My overall impression is that windows 8 is FAST, I mean seriously fast.
My Fujitsu at factory settings would boot in 2 minutes on windows 7, it now boots in less than 1. And that is even after I installed the Fujitsu applications on my windows 8 computer (fujitsu, unlike most computer companies actually bundle useful stuff with their computers)

Touchscreen support is amazing, it just smokes windows 7 by far. The virtual keyboard is probably the best out there(much, much better than the laggy piece of crap that came with windows 7, far better than my dad's Motorola xoom or my mom's blackberry playbook)

Windows 8 is surprisingly low on ram usage, and that is with quite a few programs running in the back.

The new IE is great! Much, much better than what Firefox has become. Pinch to zoom is actually good now (unlike both ie9 and chrome)

I always loved live tiles, since windows phone. And now live tiles in windows 8 is even better. It is much, much better than the sidebar in vista or the widgets in andriod.

Explorer has gotten a full overhaul. The new explorer is something I like very much, now you can actually PAUSE file transfers now!



Metro is actually one of the weakpoints. Its not that metro itself is bad, it is simply that integration of metro and the traditional desktop that is not as good as the rest of the system.

I hate to say this but KDE really needs to step up its game now. I mean, after years of staying ahead, it is actually at risk of being overtaken now.

[HunterICX]

All fine if you happen to own a notebook with Touch screen and/or a Tablet.
No matter how good it all seems thus far it isn't going to work right for Desktops unless they get their act to together and develop a professional version designed for Desktops.

That's the mayor complaint as Windows 8 it may be a very nice Tablet OS but NOT a Desktop OS.

HunterICX

[Arclight]

Did a spot of reading and aparently you can turn off the new inteface, revert to something more familiar. Aparently it indeed uses less resources as well.

I ain't touching it though, Win7 was expensive enough.

[Dowly]

Yeah, I recall reading from somewhere too that the new interface is optional.

But, I'm perfectly happy with Win7 and see no reason to switch to 8.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Dowly

But, I'm perfectly happy with Win7 and see no reason to switch to 8.

Almost everyone is so amazed at how good Win7 was from the off that they're a bit wary of 8 following the cycle of -

98 Good (certainly a vast improvement over previous incarnations)
2000 Bad (but good for LAN/WAN in business) /ME bad
XP Good (eventually)
Vista Bad
Win7 Good

so it's obvious Win 8 Bad will follow.

As for tiles, I'll leave you with this lovely picture -

[geetrue]

How many clicks does it take to do anything?

On windows vista I only had to one click almost anything, but on windows 7 I have to double click all of the same things I only had to single click on vista

[Arclight]

Think that's just a setting, don't know Vista but I think this option would make W7 act in the same way;



(click items as follows > single click to open an item)

[Skybird]

8 things MS needs to do to save W8:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/diy-it/8-things-microsoft-needs-to-do-to-save-windows-8/521

Like I already said in my own Windows 8 thread in March, I do not have good feelings over how Windows 8 comes along.