windows 8

[GraemeT]

For an EASY way to get back the Orb and Start menu, Go here: http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/6/284844 ... enu-how-to

After it has run you'll have a start menu that's very similar to Windoze 7.

Edit: I wouldn't be running Windoze 8 in anything other than VirtualBox or VMWare for the time being.

Edit2: This runs as an app, so to revert to the 'Metro' interface, just stop the program.

[mcrossley]

That is a bit of a semi-functional hack too Graeme.

The thing about the metro interface for me is that it is move away from 'windows'. Why do I want to run my apps one at a time full screen (with a chunky scaled up from a tablet look'n'feel) on my 22" monitor. At present I can be running and watching multiple applications and cut'n'paste 'stuff' between them very easily.

It's all very 'now' but feels like a step back in productivity terms.

Now I haven't taken the plunge and started using Windows 8 full time, so maybe I haven't given it a fair chance. I guess I need to load my productivity apps - the Office suite, Photoshop, Visual Studio - and see how I get on. Oh, wait, none of these use Metro do they! This is my problem, I have to negotiate Metro in order to get at the things I really want.

For instance just now I wanted to check Windows Update on Win8, type in "windows update" -> "No apps match your search". Right because unlike Win7, the search now doesn't include settings or files by default and group them for you, you have to know that you have to select "settings" to find the updater. So is Windows Update is a setting eh? It looks like an app that downloads updates to me! And then when you run it, it loads as a full screen Metro app, so I can't shrink the window and keep an eye on it whilst I get on with something else, grr!

[gemini06720]

Mark, have you tried playing a DVD in Windows 8.

Well, in the pre-release version of Windows 8, you can (the pre-release version of Windows 8 being the Pro edition).

But, with the official (fall) release of Windows 8 (standard) edition, users will not be able to play DVD anymore...

In previous versions of Windows, including Windows 7, Windows Media Player (since Windows 95) has handled all DVD playbacks. But, with Windows 8, Microsoft has removed this functionality from Windows Media Player (all codecs) and moved the functionality into the optional Media Center component (no price yet available).

Windows 8 users who want a DVD playback capability will have to purchase the higher-priced Windows 8 Pro edition AND the optional Media Center Pack!

Another proof that Windows 8 is really aimed at the phone and tablet markets - not at the desktop market!

[GraemeT]

Mark and Ray,
I couldn't agree more with your comments. They are just some of the reasons why I consider Win-8 to be no more than something to play with in a virtual machine until I lose interest in it.
The idea of having to pay top price to get media-center is ludicrous - reminiscent to taking remote desktop capability away from Win-7 home premium...
I'm sure there will be hacks available to provide these things but I, for one won't be interested in an o/s that doesn't provide the basic functionality I need in everyday use, and corporate users certainly wouldn't go for the hack options.

Of course, one can always use XBMC for video and DVDs, but it doesn't support TV (yet).

Another proof that Windows 8 is really aimed at the phone and tablet markets - not at the desktop market!

Maybe they should be giving the Windoze 8 look and feel to WinCE instead....

[mcrossley]

Well they are working on an Arm version

[gemini06720]

On Thursday, May 31, Microsoft released the final public pre-release build of Windows 8 before the product is released to manufacturing (OEM) - the Windows 8 Release Preview.

Unfortunately, the previously released of the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 cannot be upgrade - a clean install is needed!

Officials at Microsoft have indicated the “Aero” interface will be removed over the next days/weeks including changes to the Windows 8 bits designed to prevent hacks that would allow users to bring back the 'Start' button and/or boot directly to the Desktop instead of the Metro Start Screen.

Officials at Microsoft have also conceded that Flash is not yet obsolete - thus Microsoft has partnered with Adobe to build Flash support into the new version of Internet Explorer 10.

Officials at Microsoft have confirmed that the Windows 8 upgrade promotion should be kicking off on June 2 - consumers buying Windows 7 PCs between June 2 and January of 2013 will be allowed to upgrade to Windows 8 Professional for $14.99 US (the promotion will be available in 131 markets).

[nitrx]

I will skip Windows 8 for sure

[gemini06720]

I will skip Windows 8 for sure

Ron, maybe on a tablet ... if it is already installed.

My partner bought a new computer, this past Monday - wonder if the date on the bill can be easily changed to next Monday date...

[nitrx]

For now I'm on an android tablet, I think tablets are not usefull for developing , the metro-interface only can survive on a tablet I think it has no sense for dekstops, are you sure you want to downgrade to win 8 on your desktop

[gemini06720]

...are you sure you want to downgrade to win 8 on your desktop

I have never said/written that I (or my partner) was going to install Windows 8 on a desktop computer but for $15US dollars, that is not a bad purchase...

[nitrx]

but for $15US dollars, that is not a bad purchase...

Well the same occured with the windows Vista release 15 EURO for Windows 7 most suppliers added 29 Euro shippingcosts

[GraemeT]

Having played with Windoze 8 in a VirtualBox for a few weeks I've come to the conclusion that the one and only aspect I see useful is IE10. It seems to work properly with HTML5 and CSS3 webpages.

Sadly, it seems that IE10 is only available as part of Windoze 8, and Windoze 8 is definitely not a suitable desktop o/s.

[steve]

MS have previously said that IE10 will be available for Windows 7 (and that a beta and RC would be available prior to IE10 general availability) - e.g. see the comment from 'ieblog' half way down this page: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2011 ... eview.aspx. Have they changed their position?

[uncle_bob]

Having played with Windoze 8 in a VirtualBox for a few weeks

I did the same, except it only lasted minutes not weeks. The experience in Virtualbox just wasn't there. I've been meaning to set it up as a dual boot and see if this improved the experience.

[GraemeT]

Steve, I suspect Micro$oft's intention is to get Windoze 8 sold to as many customers as possible, and one way to achieve that end might be with IE10.

Every link I've followed that claimed to be an IE10 download ultimately leads back to either here: http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/Info/ ... fault.html or here: http://connect.microsoft.com/ie
...and that includes the msdn blog page from your previous post.

Bob, I don't think there would be any benefit from dual-booting, moreover you'd be wasting more time trying to find something worthwhile about it.
Besides, it's easier to remove a virtual machine than it is to remove a dual-booted o/s....