Windows 8 Consumer Preview Discussion

By Roger H.
in The Fast Ring (Insider Previews)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

firey

Posted
Posted

That's what tiles are for. Press the win key once to check the weather or see if you have mail, then press it again to go back to what you were doing.

but I can continue what I am doing on Windows 7, and not have to switch screens at all, I can have windowed apps, and gadgets on my second screen, look over boom, look back, boom. or even have it on the same screen with windowed apps and not have to even leave the program I am working on.

Veteran

devBrian

Posted
Posted

Didnt the preview Windows 8 drivers work? Worked fine on the DP on my Acer W500.

Not with Catalyst Control Center, which makes the drivers 100% useless for me.

Edit: Here's a new driver from ATI:

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=359369

Grand Master

firey

Posted
Posted

So you're limited to using full screen apps in Metro, with only one partially suck to the side?

And unless you want to use mouse gestures to get to the next one, you are also limited to whatever app you pin to the side.

Rising Star

Dannydeman

Posted
Posted

Major negative points:

1: With multiple monitors, it's crazy to use this stuff. I just want to pin a HTML5 app on the 2nd monitor, but it won't let me. Unless I set it as my main-taskbar, which will make everything crazy to work with :)

2: On a desktop PC with huge monitors, Metro is useless. It really is. I want to like it, but it doesn't offer me anything useful. The fullscreen apps are frustating to use on this big setup, the options what to do with the apps are very limited.

3: It might be cool to show the startscreen on the second monitor, and pin an app next to it. Then it can give you information and stuff like that, which isn't as useless as it is now. However, this is impossible in Windows 8 so far.

4: When I press escape, the HTMl5 apps will not close. You need to do all kinds of stuff with your mouse, which basicly sucks.

5: The UI is very inconsistent. When you press the WIFI icon in the right corner for example, a huge ugly bar comes up with the options to select on top of it :) Who makes this stuff? Damn..

6: It doesn't make any sense to remove the old start-menu. Desktop people will work on the desktop for like 100% of the time. The Startscreen on a desktop, as it is implented right now, is the most stupid thing Microsoft released in their entire existence. It's horrible to use on a bug monitor with your mouse and keyboard. The app-pining is confusing and just much slower to use then a normal startmenu.

Positive points:

1: Windows 8 uses much less resources

2: The boot-up time is excellent

3: Explorer is much nicer

4: Dualscreen support is better then it was in Windows 7

Conclusion:

What the hell Microsoft? For tablets, Windows 8 is a great experience, I'm sure of that. But to force this Metro startscreen with all the horrors to normal desktop-users like me, will be the biggest mistake the company ever made. I can't see that someone will actually use this Metro app-stuff on a big screen-desktop PC. 9/10 times we don't actually want a fullscreen app, it's stupid on a big monitor! The mail client for example is nice for a tablet, but come on. On a desktop, it's crap to use. It doesn't make any sense! And with a second monitor, you can't use any of these apps, which makes it even worse, because the only possible reason to use them will involve a second monitor.

Grand Master

Max Norris

Posted
Posted
So which brings me back to my original point: You can't really disable Metro. It just isn't a viable option.

Sure it is, if somebody doesn't want those new features to begin with. Either they're going to embrace change and use Metro, or they don't want it and they'll disable it reverting it to essentially an updated Windows 7 desktop, losing the additional new functionality it brings. Or just replace the start menu completely.. hardly a new concept in Windows, it's been done for years.

You either want it or you don't.. viability is up to the person who's using the thing.

Mentor

Colin McGregor

Posted
Posted

ok so zune has been changed to Music and Video right? So how come when I sign in to Music it wont work in my region?

nm figured it out

The apps affected by this issue include Xbox Companion, Xbox LIVE Games, Music, and Video. Note that the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Apps are only available in the following locations:

  • United states
  • Japan
  • Germany
  • France

Grand Master

PGHammer

Posted
Posted

Too many posts to see if it is already mentioned, Right click the start button for context menu of all tech settings that the DP made impossible to get to without a fight such as Device Manager etc

The standard Control Panel (which was in the DP) remains in the CP as well (enter control in the Run box). However, this trick you pointed out is even slicker - you can even start a command-line session from it (in other words, faster than even Windows 7's Start menu).

Unless you are just plain unwilling to deal with the lack of Windows 7's Start menu, there's absolutely zero reason to stay with Windows 7 at this point.

Grand Master

firey

Posted
Posted

The standard Control Panel (which was in the DP) remains in the CP as well (enter control in the Run box). However, this trick you pointed out is even slicker - you can even start a command-line session from it (in other words, faster than even Windows 7's Start menu).

Unless you are just plain unwilling to deal with the lack of Windows 7's Start menu, there's absolutely zero reason to stay with Windows 7 at this point.

There is absolutely zero reason to go to windows 8, for me productivity drops to a crawl, can't quickly multi-task, am in the broken beaten desktop half the time anyways. May as well stay with Windows 7

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • LibreOffice developer takes a dig at Euro-Office in new open letter

      By Ccl Ncc · Posted

      I have never been a huge fan of libre, it feels really good but exactly when you need an advance feature for data wrangling it falls short every time or has bugs. I am all for euro office if they can deliver a good and usable alternative to MS office with backing of govt function.
    • Dell, HP PCs ran into endless reboot, BitLocker recovery loops but Windows 11 isn't to blame

      By grunger106 · Posted

      Go on, I'll bite. How does windows (nice comment on an 'article' which doesn't actually involve it ) lock users out of their data then? Been using it since 3.1 back in 92 and not once have I been locked out of my data? Perhaps you mean Bitlocker? In which case the average user (who doesn't mess about) will have been forced to use a MSA, and in which case the recovery key would have been saved to said account..... If the user did happen to bodge around and not use an MSA then Bitlocker wouldn't have become live (as it cannot without a safe place to store the key) I want to point out Bitlocker and MSA are not connected and you can of course force it on without a safe place to store the key, but you do that with your eyes open. So your standard consumer who knows no better sets up an MSA, gets bitlocker and a recovery key stored off box, with a route to reset their password. All of this notwithstanding the fact, if your data is important, you back it up, no ifs, no buts, no-ones responsibility other than your own. Important data lives in at least two locations, one of which is offline and recovery is tested, otherwise that data wasn't really that important. Disks, fail, laptops get lost, phones end up down the toilet, tablets get stolen, if your only copy of data is on a single device you're doing it wrong.
    • Apple unveils Siri AI, a "reimagined" version of SIri

      By excalpius · Posted

      Clearly that feature isn't for us. It's for the ad spam marketers so they can more directly target us about going to places we might want to go again...but without understanding context clues. Like for the flight someone took for a friend's funeral. We want to be reminded of that every time we open an app, a browser, or email, right? Right, Siri?
    • Is your Apple Watch supported? Check the watchOS 27 compatibility list

      By Aditya Tiwari · Posted

      Is your Apple Watch supported? Check the watchOS 27 compatibility list by Aditya Tiwari Apple kicked off WWDC 2026 with a ton of announcements, mostly centered around Apple Intelligence improvements, the Siri AI, and Liquid Glass updates. However, there is a lot of other stuff that couldn't catch the limelight. Let's talk about watchOS 27 and which models are supported by the newest operating system. According to the Cupertino giant, watchOS 27 will be supported on the following Apple Watch models when it arrives later this year: Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch SE 3 Apple Watch Series 10 Apple Watch Ultra 2 It's a stark contrast with last year's watchOS 26 update, which had almost a dozen Apple Watch models in its list of supported devices. Apple supported models all the way back to Apple Watch Series 6. That said, if you own one of the five models, you'll need an iPhone 11 (or later) with iOS 27 to install the latest update. Yes, Apple has shown some extra love to the iPhone 11, and it old horse supports the iOS 27 update. watchOS 27 beta 1 is now available for developers and interested power users through the Apple Developer Program. So, if you're among those who like to play with fire, you can download it to your supported Apple Watch. Otherwise, the public beta for watchOS 27 will be available next month. The freshly baked Apple Watch update comes with Siri AI - an advanced, fully conversational version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence due for later this year. A new dynamic app grid features icons for five Siri-suggested apps. You can use a new tap gesture to open a widget in the Smart Stack, and a new Find My app finally clears the mess of Find Devices, Find Items, and Find People on Apple Watch. Workout Buddy can run without an iPhone nearby and offers new insights based on data, including your progress for pace, distance, and workout duration. Apple improved its motion tracking algorithms to measure the distance of indoor treadmill runs and walks more precisely. Speaking of other changes, the music playback on watchOS 27 starts faster and you can create custom passes for any membership or card that uses a QR code or barcode, then easily access them in the Wallet app or pin in the Smart Stack.
    • Apple unveils Siri AI, a "reimagined" version of SIri

      By froggyliver · Posted

      "and pull old flight details from your email during back-and-forth conversations" The Siri I've become to know and trust. I've always wanted to pull info on old flights. /s

  • Recent Achievements

    • Very Popular
      Captain_Eric earned a badge
      Very Popular
    • One Month Later
      amusc earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      DJC50PLUS earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      DJC50PLUS earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Proficient
      Eric Biran went up a rank
      Proficient

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      500
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      229
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      85
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      76
    5. 5
      +Edouard
      75
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!