So about the beta...

[Cereal Bawks]

Things are still unclear about how it'll roll.

It's kinda curious, they're already spinning the escrow builds and right now the word still seems to be "late February" for public release. Considering this short remaining timespan, it's kind of curious that there haven't been any invites for a techbeta yet. I doubt that these happen in secret, since there's always people bragging about getting one.

The public beta's going to be soon, that's for sure, because Microsoft wants app availability for RTM. But I can't see how an public only beta is good for gathering feedback.

Also, why's everything so quiet about Office 15?! You'd think they'll release it in tandem with Win8, considering its metrofication.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

i remember using the office 2010 beta for a good 6mo before release. is there even a 15 beta?

[The_Decimator]

i remember using the office 2010 beta for a good 6mo before release. is there even a 15 beta?

There's the pirated alpha.

[djdanster]

Office 15 beta will probably sneak up on us, it always does!

[Chris123NT]

There will not be a techbeta for Windows 8. The entire team at Microsoft that used to run the windows beta programs are no longer with the company. You can thank Sinofsky for this. The days of actually testing and having your feedback listened to are over. You have better chances of Apple listening to your feedback.

[Dot Matrix]

There will not be a techbeta for Windows 8. The entire team at Microsoft that used to run the windows beta programs are no longer with the company. You can thank Sinofsky for this. The days of actually testing and having your feedback listened to are over. You have better chances of Apple listening to your feedback.

But they HAVE been listening to us... Over on the Build 8 blog, TONS of feedback has been given. That's why all these changes have occured in Windows 8.

[Cereal Bawks]

Heh, exactly what didn't want to hear. Which is curious, since there was a techbeta with Office 2007, when he was at the helm of it. Not sure about his involvement in Office 2010.

[greenwizard88]

Heh, exactly what didn't want to hear. Which is curious, since there was a techbeta with Office 2007, when he was at the helm of it. Not sure about his involvement in Office 2010.

Office is predictable. Windows must compete with Apple's marketing. This means Windows needs to be marketed just as well, if not better, than OS X. Office doesn't need to be marketed, they just need to not screw it up like they did with Vista.

[Chris123NT]

But they HAVE been listening to us... Over on the Build 8 blog, TONS of feedback has been given. That's why all these changes have occured in Windows 8.

Go look at the posts about the start screen, and the feedback in the comments asking for CHOICE to disable it. They made a later post balking at giving the user choice. I don't define that as listening to feedback.

[Dot Matrix]

Go look at the posts about the start screen, and the feedback in the comments asking for CHOICE to disable it. They made a later post balking at giving the user choice. I don't define that as listening to feedback.

Ok, but think about that, if Microsoft gaves users choice into every little quirk in the OS, we'd still have an OS that ran like Windows 95, and computing would be perpetually stuck in the past. They're trying to move computing in new directions, and to do that, sometimes a push is needed.

Not only that, but Microsoft wants to move towards unification. Take a look at XBox and Windows Phone. They both have the same UI. It's going to take some getting used to for everyone, but I think it'll work out just fine.

[Cereal Bawks]

They have similar UIs, not the same. On the Xbox, it's just a coat with pseudo 3D layout, which turns to plain old previous UI when going past it. Windows Phone is as plain as it can be (a single accent color, no gradients, no shadows), Windows 8 is colors all over the damn place.

[REM2000]

Ok, but think about that, if Microsoft gaves users choice into every little quirk in the OS, we'd still have an OS that ran like Windows 95, and computing would be perpetually stuck in the past. They're trying to move computing in new directions, and to do that, sometimes a push is needed.

Not only that, but Microsoft wants to move towards unification. Take a look at XBox and Windows Phone. They both have the same UI. It's going to take some getting used to for everyone, but I think it'll work out just fine.

I can understand that every setting in Windows would be cumbersome, but a big change such as the start menu wouldn't be too hard to implement. This would allow people to adjust to the new changes, to transition. Some people like to use their computer is a particular way, this is a strength of windows that it is so customisable.

[firey]

Ok, but think about that, if Microsoft gaves users choice into every little quirk in the OS, we'd still have an OS that ran like Windows 95, and computing would be perpetually stuck in the past. They're trying to move computing in new directions, and to do that, sometimes a push is needed.

Not only that, but Microsoft wants to move towards unification. Take a look at XBox and Windows Phone. They both have the same UI. It's going to take some getting used to for everyone, but I think it'll work out just fine.

The problem is, that just because something looks the same doesn't make it better. I think, and truly feel, and believe that the current Windows 7 interface is perfect. I like the fact that folder up is back in W8, but I don't like Metro, or tiles, or the ribbon, so no ammount of time, and especially no forced push into it is going to ever make me like it.

[Cereal Bawks]

When I used WDP, the only point in time I had to deal with the Metro homescreen is right after booting the system up. From then on, just as right now with Windows 7, all my necessary tools are pinned to the task bar or linked from the desktop. You don't need to see it, if you don't want to.

[soulburner]

There will not be a techbeta for Windows 8. The entire team at Microsoft that used to run the windows beta programs are no longer with the company. You can thank Sinofsky for this. The days of actually testing and having your feedback listened to are over. You have better chances of Apple listening to your feedback.

So the days of Microsoft giving free copies to beta testers are over too? I remember how I envied the Windows 7 and Office 2007 (or 2010?) testers when I heard they got a copy...

[Cereal Bawks]

By chance, suddenly the start of a techbeta of Office 15 is announced today. I guess I'm not in or my invite didn't clear the mail queue yet.

[Owen W Veteran]

Things are still unclear about how it'll roll.

It's kinda curious, they're already spinning the escrow builds and right now the word still seems to be "late February" for public release. Considering this short remaining timespan, it's kind of curious that there haven't been any invites for a techbeta yet. I doubt that these happen in secret, since there's always people bragging about getting one.

The public beta's going to be soon, that's for sure, because Microsoft wants app availability for RTM. But I can't see how an public only beta is good for gathering feedback.

Also, why's everything so quiet about Office 15?! You'd think they'll release it in tandem with Win8, considering its metrofication.

Most of these tech beta's have been killed because of the sheer amount of leaks. They'll only release it as a public release when they're ready to avoid things getting out before they want them to. Microsoft is slowly but surely becoming as quiet as Apple, and you can see why. Leaks hurt them.

[Cereal Bawks]

They could just run the techbeta next to the public one, similar to what happened with Windows 7. I'm mostly concerned that there isn't a proper feedback channel anymore, that you can run focus tests with.

[pack34]

They could just run the techbeta next to the public one, similar to what happened with Windows 7. I'm mostly concerned that there isn't a proper feedback channel anymore, that you can run focus tests with.

Speaking of the Win7 beta. I didn't pay attention to it when I was an undergrad. Did they have the beta downloadable via MSNDAA? Or did they only allow a specified number of people apply?

[Chris123NT]

So the days of Microsoft giving free copies to beta testers are over too? I remember how I envied the Windows 7 and Office 2007 (or 2010?) testers when I heard they got a copy...

Yes, that's all over as well. At the time we knew 7 was the last hoorah for that one. It was one hell of a fight internally to give the beta testers a free copy. Sinofsky didn't want to.

[pack34]

Yes, that's all over as well. At the time we knew 7 was the last hoorah for that one. It was one hell of a fight internally to give the beta testers a free copy. Sinofsky didn't want to.

However, there is supposedly going to be a consumer preview. We may not have a big impact on the finished product but they are going to release something to someone.

[Ghost5525]

Go look at the posts about the start screen, and the feedback in the comments asking for CHOICE to disable it. They made a later post balking at giving the user choice. I don't define that as listening to feedback.

Considering most people DONT want this horrible UI anyway, this completely cuts out the middle man being us. No testers, we can do what we want mentality.

[Cereal Bawks]

Honestly, if you'd do what people think looks or works good, the whole damn world would have been painted over with crayons.

[dagamer34]

Considering most people DONT want this horrible UI anyway, this completely cuts out the middle man being us. No testers, we can do what we want mentality.

Most people have no idea Windows 8 even exists...

[Aethec]

I think part of the policy for answering comments on the B8 blog is "don't answer dumb questions".

"Will we be able to disable the start screen and all things Metro related?" is dumb. Microsoft gives high priority to backwards compatibility. The old Start Menu was there for nine years before they removed it in Win7.