official Windows 8 Consumer Preview Discussion

[King Lizzle]

One way I've found to bring back some Start Menu functionality is to create a toolbar in the taskbar which goes to this folder:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

As long as you install programs for "All Users" instead of "Just Me" you'll have a menu which basically acts like the All Programs section of the traditional Start Menu.

[neo1911]

Day 2 using the CP.

I am feeling more and more annoyed that random stuff is hidden for no reason. Eg. The backup and restore of system image over network.

[Mazhar]

Metro IE:

-----------

The Metro IE in Windows 8 is very hard to use!

There are no settings,

You can't change your homepage, can we?

Switching to tabs is difficult,

To invoke address bar, you have to right click on an empty space!

Metro Apps:

---------------

Why there is not an easy way to close a Metro app? As far as I know there are two ways to close it:

1. Alt+F4. Now I dont like pressing it every time to close an app.

2. Winkey+Tab > Right click any app and press close. So much clicks and presses just to close an app?

Shutting Down:

------------------

1. Go to Desktop > Alt+F4 > Ok

2. Charms Bar > Settings > Power > Shut Down

Really?

Metro Environment:

-------------------------

When I was going through PC Settings, the overall metro look disappointed me.

[WizardCM]

Metro IE:

-----------

The Metro IE in Windows 8 is very hard to use!

There are no settings,

You can't change your homepage, can we?

Switching to tabs is difficult,

To invoke address bar, you have to right click on an empty space!

Metro Apps:

---------------

Why there is not an easy way to close a Metro app? As far as I know there are two ways to close it:

1. Alt+F4. Now I dont like pressing it every time to close an app.

2. Winkey+Tab > Right click any app and press close. So much clicks and presses just to close an app?

Shutting Down:

------------------

1. Go to Desktop > Alt+F4 > Ok

2. Charms Bar > Settings > Power > Shut Down

Really?

Metro Environment:

-------------------------

When I was going through PC Settings, the overall metro look disappointed me.

1. Metro IE is for touch. Don't bother using it on a desktop device.

2. To close a Metro app, grab the top and drag it to the bottom of the screen. This was shown in the keynote video more than once.

3. Yes. Windows 8 will be designed for tablets, which you would usually put into sleep rather than shut down to be able to go back to your session later.

[Mazhar]

1. Metro IE is for touch. Don't bother using it on a desktop device.

2. To close a Metro app, grab the top and drag it to the bottom of the screen. This was shown in the keynote video more than once.

3. Yes. Windows 8 will be designed for tablets, which you would usually put into sleep rather than shut down to be able to go back to your session later.

1. It was also meant for Desktops that is why it is Default browser in Windows 8. It is just an App.

2. Glad to know that. Thanks.

3. Again, Windows 8 is a "no compromise" OS from Microsoft which is supposed to work seamlessly on any device whether PC, Smartphone or Tablet.

Also consider the fact that Metro Apps are not resizeable, movable for productive multi-tasking.

[WizardCM]

1. It was also meant for Desktops that is why it is Default browser in Windows 8. It is just an App.

2. Glad to know that. Thanks.

3. Again, Windows 8 is a "no compromise" OS from Microsoft which is supposed to work seamlessly on any device whether PC, Smartphone or Tablet.

Obviously they've focused most on touch, seeing as Windows 7 failed at it so badly. I say we just have to wait until RC to see what they do to make this sort of thing easier.

[9UnknownMen]

No compromise means they're not stuck in a half way house of franken apps - for example, applying Metro techniques to desktop applications. The desktop apps remain the desktop apps, with all their full power and design. Metro apps introduce simpler, more animated Metro apps, consumption focused experiences. They haven't tried to shove desktop applications into Metro, and they haven't tried to shove Metro apps in the desktop. That's what they mean by no compromise.

No Compromise means this absolute pile of crap their laying out with the traditional desktop and the metrotop thats "simpler, more animated Metro apps, consumption focused experience" //gag//. The rest of that glazy marketing spin can 'shove' it as well.

[Mazhar]

Obviously they've focused most on touch, seeing as Windows 7 failed at it so badly. I say we just have to wait until RC to see what they do to make this sort of thing easier.

Yes that's why I am also posting my feedback to the Windows 8 Blog. I hope they listen.

[bogas04]

however, it also lets you do:

which works because the desktop is an app, but it doesn?t make any sense. Who would use the desktop at 1/3 screen? There?s no purpose to it. It exposes the issues with the ?desktop as an app? concept. The desktop doesn?t function as an app, it?s a container. Have a look at this screenshot:

There is still lil sense in it. You have those live previews , so if like u are watching some interview maybe on youtube , and you don't really wanna focus on video , you can make desktop into 1/3 size and do some work on other apps , this way u can still see a small preview of the video and focus on other apps (However , i am still finding "what work" can i do on apps :p )

[Muhammad Farrukh]

It just stays on the bootscreen. The circle thing is still spinning, but no hdd/usb activity.

Well, that's pretty weird.

Have you tried booting with another DVD/USB? Or perhaps another PC?

[Wyn6]

I've just tried to play with this to put it to the test. What feels weird is that the left preview menu seems to duplicate taskbar functionality for Metro apps with the desktop being treated as one. If desktop apps also appeared in that menu it wouldn't be a terrible way to navigate between applications. But as it stands if I was in a Metro app I'd have to go to the left preview menu, then select the "desktop app" and then once back in the desktop head down to the taskbar to get those apps up. Again there's an extra step involved. It'd feel logical for all Metro and desktop apps to be in the preview menu or for them all to be on the taskbar in the traditional minimise/maximise format. Either one of those would make switching between desktop and Metro apps seameless and perhaps it wouldn't feel as alien or jarring. To be honest if it was like that I probably wouldn't be as opposed to trying a few Metro apps for certain basic functions like a Facebook or Twitter app.

I don't fully understand all the WinRT and Metro design language stuff but if the jist is that having a separate Metro app doesn't require too much extra work and that devs don't have to choose between either interface then that must be a good thing.

Now, this I am 100% for. Although, I find it very easy to work with if desktop apps appeared in the preview pane separately so that you could work with those just as you do Metro apps, that would be considerably more ideal. As is, you click the app and it just goes back into the desktop. We should certainly suggest this.

[korupt_one]

I tried searching for the app. Couldn't find it.

Its quite weird that there isn't a default one.

But I think they were intending to have the time integrated with charms bar

if you run your mouse down to the bottom right corner and then straight up to the new bar the clock will appear to the left side of the screen, hope that helps for now, Im sure when the store is fully up and running there will be many clock apps.

Obviously they've focused most on touch, seeing as Windows 7 failed at it so badly. I say we just have to wait until RC to see what they do to make this sort of thing easier.

every aspect of windows 8 CP works very well with mouse and keyboard, I really don't know why there are so many complaints that it has been made just for touch, btw touch is not a bad thing either and they have improved it greatly also.

On the favorites, I'm not sure if Win 8 brings them along from 7 or not. I do know before 8 you could use Mesh to sync them but mesh isn't part of 8. I exported mine to a file before I installed and then just imported from that file. The Live ID thing only works for 8. It syncs your settings, apps and such across the cloud.

As far as skydrive desktop, that's still coming.

all my favourites were already in ie10 after I logged on with my windows live id

[Muhammad Farrukh]

I know that.

But he was talking about a dedicated live tile for time, like there is for Calendar and weather

[korupt_one]

As far as I can see, unless you sign up for an MS account, Mail, Calendar, People, Messenger etc. can't be used?!

you would just use your live id, im sure ms is rebranding all the live stuff before release and it will become a Microsoft id which intergrates everything under one login credential

[Muhammad Farrukh]

I just hit 'delete' on my keyboard while I was selecting a file, and it didn't confirmed the deletion. The file went straight to Bin.

I kinda like it though

[downhillrider]

is it possible to launch/browse windows explorer through metro? seems like you should be able to

[9UnknownMen]

is it possible to launch/browse windows explorer through metro? seems like you should be able to

[

No, you just got understand this new glorious paradigm otherwise you just don't get 'it'.

[bogas04]

is it possible to launch/browse windows explorer through metro? seems like you should be able to

u can pin folders etc to start . To navigate between files umm u can't really do that but for example u can view photos from everywhere in ur pc. Also all your apps can be seen from metro.

[Woelfel]

is it possible to launch/browse windows explorer through metro? seems like you should be able to

You can launch windows explorer through the start screen (type explorer on start screen, from there you can pin it to start screen if you want to). It will take you to the desktop (since they don't have an app that is the explorer) and open it for you. If there is a specific application that you want to open a file, it will have what they call a "file picker" and allow you to find your file. You don't have to "get it" for this paradigm shift, you just need some help. Hopefully I answered your question.

[King Lizzle]

Now, this I am 100% for. Although, I find it very easy to work with if desktop apps appeared in the preview pane separately so that you could work with those just as you do Metro apps, that would be considerably more ideal. As is, you click the app and it just goes back into the desktop. We should certainly suggest this.

Yeah it's just one of a number of things they ought have done with the OS so that it feels like one fluid UI instead of two detached and essentially competing ones. It'd be nice if they were listening to feedback and rectify those issues with the RC. One other thing about the left preview pane is that I'd prefer if going to that corner just brought up the whole preview bar instead of bringing up one tile and needing me to move down get it to turn up. Just something else that feels a bit unnatural.

I'd like to see a change to the way All Apps is implemented in the Start Screen. I've realised that the All Programs section of the start menu is where I spend most of my time - frankly I have so much installed that I can't always remember what is on there, let alone the name of specific applications. I hate that at present I have to right click and then go down to the bottom to click the All Apps button. A persistent All Apps button would be nice to remove the step of right-clicking. I don't suppose there's a shortcut to go straight into the All Apps menu is there?

[painejake]

Does anyone know what happened to Tweet@riffic or if there is a Twitter app in/for Windows 8? Maybe I'm just using my 'man eyes'

[King Lizzle]

Has anyone gotten Win 8 CP to install successfully on a SATAIII drive?

[bogas04]

Does anyone know what happened to Tweet@riffic or if there is a Twitter app in/for Windows 8? Maybe I'm just using my 'man eyes'

Go to People , connect it to Fb/twitter etc , get the stream (mixed) in "What's New" . Its like People from Windows phone :)

and i guess , its was tweet @ ramma or something.

[playXray]

I know that people have gone on about the problems with the Windows 8 interface but I've tried to steer clear of people's comments as much as possible so I can give my own, objective opinion. When Windows 98 came out, I thought it was amazing. I loved the 'themes' you could get, as well as the improved visual style overall. Even when ME came out, I thought it was great (until I started using it and it crashed every hour or so). I thought XP was amazing, and I even quite liked Vista - then SP1 made Vista usable and it became brilliant. I'm now running Windows 7, and right from the start I loved it. I have always liked how the new versions of Windows seemed to update the visual style, and bring about new functions by adding to the stuff that already worked well.

So, this morning I tried out the Windows 8 preview. I am confused about the whole thing. These are the first questions that came into my head:

1) Why are all those squares on the 'start screen' as opposed to having a complete list of all available software and applications? Are they selected by MS as the most useful, and can they be changed manually?

2) Where is the Start button?

3) If there's no need for a Start button, why include the function of hovering over the 'invisible pixel'?

4) Is there a way to boot straight to the desktop?

5) Is this basically Windows 7 but without a real Start button and with that weird square thing at startup? Is there anything else they've changed?

6) Is there a quicker way of adjusting the 'Personalise' menu than right clicking the 'Start screen', clicking 'All Apps' (I mean, All Apps? WTF?), the going to Control Panel?

To be honest, this this is just a massive step back from Windows 7. It takes so many more clicks to do things, and I just don't get all this weird stuff they're trying to get me to do. There is no way that I'll buy Windows 8 if it comes out anything like the preview version. One thing I like is the integration with the Windows Live service, but apart from that it's just a bastardised version of Windows 7.

Microsoft are so stubburn that I'm sure they'll keep those stupid squares, but surely they'll have to put the Start menu back?

[Muhammad Farrukh]

Has anyone gotten Win 8 CP to install successfully on a SATAIII drive?

Installed it on my friend' yesterday

<snipped>

Dude.

Everything is there.

Every single thing is there.

They have just been modified.

The functionality has been enhanced.

True, that there are some things that still require attention, but for the most, and very big part, Windows 8 is a HUGE step forward. And in the right direction