Windows 8

[[RaG]Ethel]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/iso

if anyone is feeling frisky.

10 mins to download it here

[[n00b]Zippy]

10 hours estimate, think I'll leave it until tonight

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

2 hours for me, I downloaded both at the same time though, 414KB/s each

Here's a couple of serial numbers for you...

WWGNH-2M3XW-H6D87-JH4V9-P33HJ

DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J

Here's the PlayReady builds if you intend to have TV on Windows 8..

32 bit : https://www.microsoft.com/download/e....aspx?id=28967
64 bit : https://www.microsoft.com/download/e....aspx?id=28966

Hopefully they will have updated their satellite frequencies, cos they never bothered on Windows 7, I still can't get BBC HD and BBC One HD on Windows Media Center easily.

[Bilb]

Downloading ... will run it in a VM for a while.

[aird]

Does it have a proper start bar yet, or is it still that "app" page?

[Inertiaman]

WOA (Arm processor version) and some other tablet/netbook style revisions doesn't have the usual explorer interface (in favour of metro) but the other iterations for various tablets and of course PC's etc do.

They've segregated released against platform basically.

[Inertiaman]

FYI - ATI have new drivers but I still can't alt tab full screen apps without them crashing. tested and replicated with hon, eve, swtor.

[DizMatt]

is it worth it?

[Kenny]

Saw this on IGn last night couldnt be bother to try yet until some pos feedback .

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

Originally Posted by DizMatt

is it worth it?

You decide








I installed it on my laptop and, I have to say, I've pretty much gotten used to the new control system (i.e. no start menu), hitting your windows key will bring you back to the start page, hovering over the top left will show you what other "apps" are already running and you can right click on them to either lock them to the side of the screen or close them.

What I like about Windows 8:

• It's smooth, it runs as well as Windows 7 did and when you're on the desktop you won't really notice much difference.
• Once more "live tiles" are released the start page will become a nice place to get a quick glimpse of what's going on, Facebook and Twitter will probably make their own as will other websites which will probably make it more usable for most folks.
• The built in messaging and mail apps are nicely laid out, I've got my hotmail and gmail account on the mail app and it's quick and easy to use
• The search function is very quick and matches the Ubuntu and Mac ones, you can quickly and easily find documents/programs by typing the name, I've still to test if you can use voice control with this, I'd like to see if it's still quick and easy.
• Control Panel items can be pinned to the start page so if you're a more technical user you can easily get to tools you use a lot.
• The taskbar is now more like a dock, bringing it in line with both OSX and Ubuntu but you can still pin folders, etc to the taskbar shortcuts
• Apparently the new file system "ReFS" (Not sure if this is for Windows 8 and Server 8 or just the Server edition) allows you to "pool" hard drives, i.e. collect multiple hard drives and treat them as one in a sort of virtual raid system.

What I don't like about Windows 8:

• As I said, I have it installed on my laptop, which has a synaptic touchpad which allows up to 3 finger gestures/control but I can't seem to scroll through the start page like you can with a Mac for example, I think this is a glaring omission, apparently Synaptics are designing drivers for Windows 8 but these seem to be for a new generation of touchpads which will act as a miniature touch screen, i.e. the position of your fingers on the touchpad will match to the position on the screen. I really hope they intend to also bring a proper touch experience to older touchpads/laptops.
• It's obviously aimed at touch devices, this is a mistake, they should have had a "Windows 8 Touch" edition and left the other editions with the updated technology (i.e. ReFS) but the same UI.
• The shutdown/restart controls are hidden away which I find both annoying and strange, although you can just make your own power shortcuts and then "pin to start"
• I was looking forward to the Consumer Preview as the Developer Preview did not contain the Media Center, which I use a lot, for music, watching tv, etc. I was looking forward to seeing what they had brought to this and the answer is....nothing, it's exactly the same as Windows7's version. This is really disappointing, especially with all the media boxes that have been coming out and I reckon they've missed a huge opportunity there.
• As per usual, us non-yanks are missing out again, the XBox app, the tunes app and probably more didn't work for me, I was just given the usual "this is not available in your area" BS. I don't have an XBox but I would have thought I would be able to use my XBox for live games in there.

If I were you, I'd give it a go and make up your own mind. I do think though when all these new Arm powered touch tablets come out it's going to be an iPad killer cos it's a full computer, not just a bigger iPhone but Apple will probably just bring out an answer to that.

I'm gonna stick it on my PC later (on another, smaller partition) and see how it works with games.

[Inertiaman]

I'm not sure which "it" it's supposed to be worth. It's a new windows. It'll get lots right, and some stuff blazingly wrong.

I'll say this though - the marketing division have clearly forgotten Vista. The horrendous level of Windows Live integration and passthrough is going to push a whole swathe of people away from the very features they're so proud of.

[DizMatt]

would put this on a laptop for mucking about with
but I game on laptop and desktop...maybe I should put it on the missus' laptop

[Inertiaman]

Don't touch a gaming/application machine with it for sure.

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

If you are using it and missing the start menu....

http://www.askvg.com/how-to-enable-g...-in-windows-8/

[DizMatt]

Originally Posted by Inertiaman

Don't touch a gaming/application machine with it for sure.

missus' computer it is then!!!!

[Deceased]

Trying to get this fucking thing to work under virtual box - any one done this yet?

In the mean time have read some reviews around the net....

Hmmm...

Think MS may have "pissed on their chips" with this one - most people don't like it.

This could the old "fear of change" issue again that always crops up when a new O/S is waved about by MS but it does seem like they missed out some pretty important things and as been said above, it appears geared to tablet use.

Which, interestingly opens up a wider issue. I've seen some claims recently that the PC market is coming to an end - people are after mobile computing - laptops aren't it, they want tablets. Even desktops are envisaged to be replaced with "docking" stations that you would put your tablet in if required. Not sure I "buy" the whole thing - I think PC's will still have a place (just can't see how BF3 could possibly be playable on a tablet...)

So the question is... is MS actually being forward thinking in that they know major PC makers are going to start shifting away into the tablet arena?....

[Nomad]

i don't think the market is changing completely, the tablet area is expanding but we are being told that everything is moving towards it and away from PCs because it suits their plans, limited upgradeable hardware to encourage users to buy new more often

[[n00b]Zippy]

Corporates won't move away from PCs any time soon

[Deceased]

Originally Posted by [n00b]Zippy

Corporates won't move away from PCs any time soon

Yeah I agree - any "scheme" to get/pursuade us to replace hardware is a winner for them but I don't see the millions of MS users now or in the future sacking off their desktops/laptops and using a tablet instead.

[Nomad]

yep, 10" screen isn't going to cut it with the excel monkeys out there or anyone that likes to run 2 apps side by side. but you can plug in a screen, keyboard and mouse, well then use a pc - fuck the xbox thinkers

it will allow people to be able to take their workstation with them when they go for a shit mind, next stop working from home

[Inertiaman]

Oh the little bastid has integrated all my fb friends into ms messenger.

[Deceased]

Originally Posted by Inertiaman

Oh the little bastid has integrated all my fb friends into ms messenger.

Its Skynet - SKYNET I TELL YOU.

Beginning of the end.

Run for the hills!

[The Dark One]

Originally Posted by [n00b]Zippy

Corporates won't move away from PCs any time soon

We considered swapping laptops for tablets. After trailing, we handed out tables as 2nd device for some staff.

Tablets work fine for the casual user base, which may well account for a huge proportion of PC users on FB or whatnot, but, that's not the whole PC user base.

[Deceased]

Originally Posted by The Dark One

We considered swapping laptops for tablets. After trailing, we handed out tables as 2nd device for some staff.

Tablets work fine for the casual user base, which may well account for a huge proportion of PC users on FB or whatnot, but, that's not the whole PC user base.

Yeah for some of my staff i've considered that a table would be good enough for them as a primary device, let alone a 2nd one

[burundi]

I think tables would be too complicated for some of our staff, best sticking to crayons and big sheets of paper on the floor.

[Inertiaman]

[Inertiaman]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03...metro_brigade/

The vulture himself touches in again with some insight on Microsoft's intentions behind the blatently crippled desktop experience.

[Inertiaman]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08..._start_button/

A slightly less shit way of getting a start button back and turning off corner zones.

[Sysagent]

Just getting the MSDN release of this, might stick it on the new rig, then again...

:S

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

I would. Honestly it's a lot better than some people, e.g. Chris "Coat me in white plastic and slap an apple on my arse" Pirillo, think.