What can you say about Windows 8 Developers Preview

[jcgo16]

Since Microsoft Already released a developers version of Windows 8, what can you say about it?

I say its alot more faster *maybe its because its newly installed?LOL*
New Metro UI is cool
The old Start Menu is gone
When you first try it, and you want to turn it of, you will find it hard to shut it down *Start Menu > Settings > Power > Shutdown*
Fast boot
New Boot Menu GUI





If you didn't try Windows 8 yet, download it here

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/home/

[hal9000]

Well, had a good play around with it and have to say the Metro UI is TERRIBLE! For me it's just so unproductive and doesn't work on a PC and looks like MS are trying to mash together 2 polar opposites. Although the standard start menu is by no means perfect, do you really need a whole new screen and interface just to run a program. Perhaps they would have been much better off redesigning the sidebar and gadgets from the ground up to handle this instead. If you have to have it and can't turn it completely off, I'll be going nowhere near Windows 8.

As for the other things, although not a fan of Ribbons, I think the Explorer Ribbon could work quite well if it could be slimmed down a bit and look so 'clunky'. As the preview wouldn't even install on my test PC, I had to install it on VirtualBox and it wasn't particularly quick but that's likely the VM's fault. Everyone says it's 'snappier' and quicker to boot so I'll go along with that.

The problem is, Windows 7 is universally regarded as a great O/S all round and there really aren't that many major things Microsoft could do with it to improve it. Metro is supposed to be this 'big' improvement to justify the upgrade but when it really isn't broke, do you need to go to this extreme to 'fix' it? For me, keep Metro on the tablet, phone and perhaps touchscreens, keep Aero on the PC...

Of course, I'm fully aware this is a developer preview and a beta or RC will give us a much better idea of what we can expect the finished article to be like...

[Bearcat]

Hopefully Microsoft will get some good input from the prgrammers, who are trying Win 8 out and make some needed changes. I can't believe another total failure like Millenium would be in their best interests.

[jcgo16]

well i like the new metro ui, maybe you guys used to the old start menu


btw im having problems to find the shutdown at first that i used it, and where my programs files in the start menu, hope they will have a settings like you can bring back the old one

[tangomouse]

its going to flopp just like vista, it seems that ms make a good os then a bad one and you would think they would have learned by now but seems not

[JayCub]

My experience with Vista was different from most as i liked it for one and the problems i faced where not the operating system but third part software and drivers..i tried Vista on an older PC and that left me deflated, the next PC i bought could handle Ultimate and is now running 7 easier again.
Still we have a bit to go before an RC version and as mentioned MS could make alot of changes before the release.

They will have to make allowances for people not having a touch screen otherwise like tangomouse mentioned it would be a disaster.

I like the idea of the ribbon, may not be to some peoples taste, but it's designed for quick access and ease of use.

Each release i miss what im used to for a while.

[A Guy]

They are shooting for mobile devices with this OS. The people at Eight Forums all think the MetroUI is horrible. But there will be a normal UI for desktops, but some elements of MetroUI will remain. They managed to turn off MetroUI, but it takes the Explorer ribbon menu and the new task manager with it. So apparently it is somewhat integrated.

A Guy

[hellnoire]

My NOS (Networked Operating System) Windows teacher installed it in a VM today, and for the life of him, can't find his way around. He's been using Windows since 1.0. If it's not that intutive to someone who's teaching a Win2k8 Server course, you know it's too complex.

A Guy, from what I've read, it's one OS to rule them all. This preview is meant for mobile devices, laptops, desktops, heck, it has a server version too which thankfully doesn't run MetroUI but it does have a lot of the same simplification.

I think this OS is suffice to say MS is misjudging the market, and while mobile browsing might be big now, there are still valid reasons to keep a desktop loading on boot.

jcgo, your start menu is now the MetroUI, and as for shutting down, we couldn't find that... a room of 15 techs and a Windows Server admin couldn't find shutdown... another reason to avoid it

[hal9000]

I really don't understand Microsoft's thinking these days. Why does every new Windows release have to be so different from the last one? Oh, wait....I do understand......the almighty dollar!

They already have a good product in Win 7 so why not update it, improve it, add some new bits and sell as a bit of a Win 7 2nd Edition for £30 or so. They could still charge the standard price for the full version and make plenty of cash.

Apart from the ipod generation, who love anything that looks like it was designed by a 5 year old, there seems to be a large percentage of people who are not impressed with this Metro / tiles look. Maybe, just maybe, there will be a bit of a rethink. Doubt it though...

[brightspark]

Is Windows 8 a desktop or mobile operating system? This is where I believe MS has lost the plot. They are trying to roll the best of both worlds into one, and that [IMO] will prove to be detrimental to the traditional desktop side of things.

Why can't they separate the two? Mobile OS's are designed specifically for hand held devices and that's exactly where they belong, NOT on the desktop!

Hal hit the nail on the head...MS figure they are missing out on the burgeoning mobile OS market and this move has been inspired purely by greed.

I actually published a short article about this, anyone interested can read through it HERE.