Windows 8
polycounter lvl 5
Is anyone using this? I was going to download it but watched some youtube videos first and that changed my mind. They seem to want to coerce users into the metro/tablet interface, which seems like an atrocious idea to me. I understand tablets are gaining ground but I can't stand that swiping crap and all the other simplifications that come with it. If they don't figure this out real quick it will probably bomb, and some sites are already saying the final build is only 3 weeks away.
Replies
I have 7 at home and I like it. There are things that Win7 still doesn't do, like properly handle the taskbar on a 2nd monitor properly, Win8 doesn't either, seriously guys? Maybe Win9...
This is Win8.
Also on that note mark, why haven't they got native support for multi-mon task-bars? There were literally hundreds of software options for getting it, why did'nt they bother implementing it on win 7 or even vista?
You know the joys of the windows media center (the one that would open up the big blue screen that'd load up and take up the whole screen and wasn't just a normal window)? Well they decided to go that route with just about everything. Want to view an image? The screen becomes consumed by an image viewing app. Want to go to the start menu? The start menu is its own screen of giant icons (all but useless icons at that), and to get to it (since there is no start button) you have to hover in the corner or press the windows key.
Oh and to get the the control panel or the quick search that used to be in the start menu, you now hover over the top right corner and wait for a sidebar to appear, and if you are searching, well, that's its own screen too!(and yes, this sidebar is accessed right over where the 'x' to exit an application would be, and yes, I've accidentally exited applications multiple times).
Now that you've opened multiple 'apps', merely 'exiting' does not exit the application; at some point you'll move your mouse to the left side of the screen and notice a large list of crap hover into view. That is all running in the background and you are given no clue to it until the icons hover into view.
Windows does not forget this time around. Unless you are super cautious when installing you will be encouraged to link all of your information to an account, your browser history, configuration, who knows what else. And here is a Windows 8 motif of having an annoying 'clingy' quality, like beyond the fact that apps don't close when you exit them. Want to add some pictures, maybe take some with the webcam? Instant slideshow of all pictures right on the start screen where the photo app is! Didn't want a slideshow of all your nude references smoothly transitioning for all friends and family to see? Well feel free to delete all the pictures you want because that slideshow is there to stay!(although it seems they have disappeared but I really can't be sure anymore... not that this happened to me because it didn't...)
your calculation doesnt work, because its missing windows 2000 and windows98 se
and windows 98 was clearly bad (se was good)
Fucking lol!
And I honestly would not get to used to MetroUI. My 8th sight telling me that idea will scrapped in Windows 9.
Edit:
Just to point out why. MetroUI and WinRT GUI elements, are simply not made for desktops. In they current form they will never be adapted by general public and professionals.
Full screen single app might be a good idea for smartphone, not for my 24'' monitor.. I like to have few windows opened close to each other, so I can quickly switch between them, I can read docs in other window, preview render or code.
In Windows 8 ? I can see only one thing at the time, and If I want to checke something else I have to Alt-Tab. VERY FUNNY when you have opened 20+ windows..
Edit2:
Picture also missing Windows 2000, which was considered as one of the best. That was until it was mixed with desktop windows and WinXP came out. Which you should remember was terrible at release, and cloud not compare to Win2000.
In the developer preview there was a way to change some registry entries which would have you boot straight into the desktop, but they have since got rid of that option.
Microsoft makes alot of money on businesses that use windows, and I can't help but think forced metro will make them skip Windows 8.
I know I haven't used it, but a lot of the reviews I've been seeing are that people are shocked at how much they like it after getting used to it.
http://techcrunch.com/2012/06/17/windows-8-youll-absolutely-hate-it-at-first-but-give-it-a-chance-anyway/
Like honestly people, stop acting like a bunch of 5 years olds that got a new food put in front of them. Microsoft has the challenging task of predicting the future. Literally. They have to start making something 5 years before it comes out and it needs to look like it came from the future.
I could be wrong, but shit on it after a month of using it.
I get what you're saying, but this is what MS always does. People almost unanimously want a streamlined windows 7 with some better interaction on devices like tablets, but Microsoft "the business" wants to use it as a way of pushing their tablet/phone market while dumbing it down for professionals and everyone else. Example, signing in with your live account to use the computer? What the hell is that?
And they can do what they want because it's virtual a monopoly, so the good bad release thing makes sense because MS pushes their stupid agenda one release, then gets a huge backlash about it the next.
Sorry, but there needs to be a solid tablet ready OS for this generation. I don't know if you've ever tried to use windows 7 on a tablet without a full mouse and keyboard, but I have and it sucked. Now, you might say, then make your own OS just for tablets, but then I'm sure there'd be software issues.
I've tried it, for a few days and it was annoying. It actually made me want to use my computer, less.
The only way Win8 would be acceptable is if I had never used a computer before and Win8 was the only OS I was ever exposed to, even then walking past anyone else running any other OS would quickly ruin the experience.
Why?
Why can't it be natural and easy to use?
Why does anyone have to wrestle with it until they get tired and give up?
Why is the argument for Win8, "just keep holding the cold thing until it feels warm".
It might work as a tablet interface but comparing it to other tablets that are out already it doesn't seem to offer much that would win people over to something different. They just do the same stuff, differently and not really in a better way.
"Hey use us... We adequately copy the features in current products... and frustrate your experience in other new and different ways... yeah..."
That Live login thing sounds awful. I hope it's an optional thing otherwise I won't be upgrading any time soon. Don't get me started on Games for Windows Live.
That hasn't stopped people from going mac, so linux should be equally viable
The reason for that is simply that OSX doesn't run on non-Apple hardware. If it did, I'd be using it right now.
Linux is the other half of that. I have Ubuntu running on a computer at home and I love it. But... no pro apps for it. If it had enough of the pro apps I use, like zBrush, 3dsmax/Maya/Modo, Photoshop, etc, I'd use it in a heartbeat.
Windows has so many users because it runs on a fuckton of hardware, and it has all the apps people need. If any of that were to change, if Apple would decide to sell OSX for non-Apple hardware, or if we saw more pro apps for Linux, I don't know how Windows will even survive.
Hell, give it a few years (decades?) until Gimp and Blender catch up to their pro counterparts, and I can see myself switching to that.
1. It does have a second taskbar with dual monitors.
2. It has been more optimized than 7. It's a bit more peppy on my test system.
3. The sign in is ONLY if you use windows live features like app store or calendar. You can use and install system without!
4. You can still use windows picture viewer in normal mode. It does not have to act like full screen app.
5. Full screen start menu only displays on first monitor. You still see desktop on second and can move mouse across to.
6. Taskbar has explorer pinned by default so you can get to most libraries or files quickly enough without using start. (I know 7 had as well).
Bads
1.Can't turn off metro in preview release. Final version??
2. Turning off is pita. Have to mouseover right corner of start screen and then go straight up to settings. Then to power..
3. Full screen apps do leave you wondering if you actually turned them off.
4. Lots of default libraries are not installed by default including older .nets or c++ 2008. Took me forever to figure out why Max was failing to install at first. Maybe final version addresses?
Thoughts:
1. The peppy boost probably isn't enough for people to overlook Metro, and ram is cheap. But optimization people like me will appreciate.
2. Having the ability to run on arm processors is going to open up competition beyond amd/Intel. Though x86 software will fail until converted.
3. Dual monitors make metro manageable.
4. Metro will shine on tablets. Not desktops. Again, if Ms can get this through their head before release and offer option to disable or make a mini me option that isn't full screen.
5. If wacom can get their drivers working nicely with 8, Intuos 5 will rule on it with its multitouch. Might even make Metro beneficial.
What's the big deal with startup time anyway? I start my computer just 1 time a day anyway.
Even better, user Hibernate. You come back to work and all your work is just the way you left it. Why care for startup time really?
Otherwise there's a few neat things in Win 8 but nothing really that impressive. People use Win XP to created 3D. Should be possible to use Win 7 for a while. And if MS can ditch Aero within 2 version the same might happen to Metro - especially since it got quite bad scores from usability studies (gotta click a lot more on the desktop than in Win 7).
Same with OS X - there's still a lot of Snow Leopard users and stuff still works for them. Nobody forces anyone to upgrade - at least not in the immediate future. Sit back, relax, get some popcorn and watch people struggle with the new OS.
P.S. has anyone ever seen someone using a Windows tablet in the wild? I've seen people with androids and iPads, but a Windows tablet? (not that I think win 8 will help with market penetration...)
No big deal, but it was just an example of something that has been improved upon in Windows 8 since prior to my post everyone was like "Fuck Windows 8 there is nothing good about it etc..."
http://forum.wacom.eu/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9594
apparently registry changes that helped win 7 are currently not available for win 8
might change in the final build however.
Mac have more useful software.
I would go for linux if that have apps I use. I love this system but it always same. People not using system because there is not software, and there is no software because people not using system... (and that also a reason why MS is stucked within Windows, they can't simply break compatibility. Yet.)
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/07/02/upgrade-to-windows-8-pro-for-39-99.aspx
I read that as "We've made utter shit so we'll knock the price right down and hopefully idiot's will buy it"
Actually it's more like herding really ;')
So true, lol!
Sadly, I think I must buy it. I'm probably going to need to support Win8 at some point
I REALLY dislike it. I love that they are pricing the upgrade cheaper, but there are only a handful of things I like about Win8, and they are not enough to overcome the horribly unintuitive interface. I honestly don't get why they couldn't offer an intermediate version of the desktop, where it still functioned as it basically has since Win95, and also have the Metro interface. I hate the metro interface with a mouse/keyboard.
I wonder if that will work for those of us who got win7 free for being students.
They have a desktop that you can use, but it only LOOKS like the current desktop. The start button has no programs, and the task bar is bare too. I think Liefhacker had a story about a 3rd party app that gives you a Win7-like start menu, but honestly, why would I do that, if I can just use Win7?
Like I said, there should have been a transition; a desktop with a metro option. Or, have it like it is, but that 'desktop' screen would still function as windows has for almost 2 decades.
Don't get me wrong though, I think Metro would be great... on a tablet/touchscreen. Since most people still use a keyboard/mouse, I don't know why so little was done to make those feel just as fluid.
I'm not sure what your referencing, but the taskbar is still there and functions/looks the same as windows 7.
For a desktop computer, I'm waiting to see (their special offer upgrades end in January, so plenty of time to decide).
You CAN remove the Metro Icons, but I'm not sure if it allows you to remove all (since I didn't try). I don't see why it wouldn't allow you to though.
pretty much what most people say. They did a usability studio and all the UI stuff that works great for tables just makes you click a lot more on the desktop version.
EDIT:
Whoa!
http://accessories.ap.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=au&l=en&s=bsd&cs=aubsd1&sku=230-11756
Whatever you do, stay away from the ones that use Infrared lighting in the bezel to detect fingers. They sucky.