Windows 8 Consumer Preview Discussion

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

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

Eric Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

Apple included video tutorials with OS X' System Preferences so people can quickly learn how to use the different gestures. Is such a thing present in Windows 8? So far I haven't been able to find it.

The OOBE is the last thing they implement. You can't do that until the rest is done. :/

Contributor

link8506

Posted
Posted

The fact that MS is including two different applications that are both called 'Internet Explorer' doesn't give you a clue?

it's actually a good thing to have 2 versions of IE on win8.

It allows Microsoft to greatly improve the sandbox security of IE/metro while keeping retrocompatibility with current plugins on desktop IE.

But obviously, self proclaimed "power users" don't like evolution (and surprisingly don't care much about security) and prefer to stick with their old generation unsandboxed browsers (like firefox or opera).

At least Microsoft innovates and tries new security and UI technologies, and 99% of the user base will benefit from these features in the long term.

  • Muhammad Farrukh, Stoffel and johnporter29
  • Like 3
Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted

it's actually a good thing to have 2 versions of IE on win8.

It isn't great from a UX point of view. That's all I'm saying. Metro is supposed to reduce complexity, yet it may actually lead to increased complexity since it is adding a new UI layer on top of the existing one, and the user is forced to switch back and forth between the two. I'm sure Metro is fine on the tablet, and might even work reasonably well on the Desktop at some point in the future for a certain percentage of users, even though that percentage of users might just as well be using a tablet probably, but as it stands, it looks like most users will not be able to stay in either Metro or the Desktop.

Experienced

johnporter29

Posted
Posted

It isn't great from a UX point of view. That's all I'm saying. Metro is supposed to reduce complexity, yet it may actually lead to increased complexity since it is adding a new UI layer on top of the existing one, and the user is forced to switch back and forth between the two. I'm sure Metro is fine on the tablet, and might even work reasonably well on the Desktop at some point in the future for a certain percentage of users, even though that percentage of users might just as well be using a tablet probably, but as it stands, it looks like most users will not be able to stay in either Metro or the Desktop.

And please explain the reason why they would need too apart from it been their preference?

Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted

And please explain the reason why they would need too apart from it been their preference?

Because the way to complete common tasks across applications starts to depend on the environment you're in. How does the user get into an application's settings menu? How do you show two documents next to each other? How do you close an app? How do you show open apps? Etc. In Windows 8, there is no single answer to these questions. That's bad design. It means, there is more for the user to learn and the steps to achieve certain goals are less obvious and take more time to think of than if the interface was consistent.

Grand Master

hagjohn

Posted
Posted

Because its backward, going back to only being able to run 2 apps on screen at once is ridiculous. Id have to run 3 or 4 monitors to do the same things im doing now with 1 monitor assuming all the apps went metro only.

Then don't use Metro apps. Use a desktop app.

  • Muhammad Farrukh
  • Like 1

Guest

Posted
Posted

I find it odd that there's so many fundamental things that throw you back to classic desktop. Why isn't there a comprehensive metro control panel? Computer management? Even if you want to browse the files on your computer, you're frown back to the classic desktop and I really expected these things to have had a metro overhaul by CP

Proficient

FATILA

Posted
Posted

It is unnecessary to have two interfaces of Windows Update:

post-173562-0-79389900-1330835189_thumb.

On the left top is Metro Windows Update. Both showing the same download.

All I want to know is, can you get rid of preview pane or is it stuck there. In current windows the preview pane is optional on hover. If it is stuck in your face that is undoubtedly a step backwards.

Community Regular

Auroka

Posted
Posted

All I want to know is, can you get rid of preview pane or is it stuck there. In current windows the preview pane is optional on hover. If it is stuck in your face that is undoubtedly a step backwards.

It's not stuck there. He is just showing that there is a desktop & metro Windows Update.

Experienced

johnporter29

Posted
Posted

Because the way to complete common tasks across applications starts to depend on the environment you're in. How does the user get into an application's settings menu? How do you show two documents next to each other? How do you close an app? How do you show open apps? Etc. In Windows 8, there is no single answer to these questions. That's bad design. It means, there is more for the user to learn and the steps to achieve certain goals are less obvious and take more time to think of than if the interface was consistent.

And I guess the every user is against learning new stuff? The steps to achieve certain goals are less obvious now because it's NEW, given time and a decent exposure to it, these will become second nature to all.

Yes but the problem is that Metro gets in our way in doing things on Desktop.

How exactly does metro get in your way?

Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted

And I guess the every user is against learning new stuff?

What does the user gain in return for her efforts? Most people have better stuff to do than learning to find their way around schizophrenic UIs thrown into the latest OS on the market.

Proficient

Glen

Posted
Posted

What does the user gain in return for her efforts? Most people have better stuff to do than learning to find their way around schizophrenic UIs thrown into the latest OS on the market.

I have to agree with you that the user experience in Metro is more of a learning curve that it probably should be for the average Windows user. There's no reason why the Metro interface couldn't include already familiar ways to interact with apps, or maybe even incorporate a Metro version of a ribbon tool bar. In any case, visual indicators (buttons or icons) on the screen as to what needs to be done for common operations such as closing the application, settings, and others would make the experience better, IMO.

Grand Master

Muhammad Farrukh

Posted
Posted

Hey does anyone know if there's a way to have Windows 8 autologin with a Microsoft account so that the user just gets the Start screen automatically upon bootup? Thanks in advance.

Removing the password and leaving the field empty for new doesn't work?

Grand Master

patseguin Global Moderator

Posted
  • Global Moderator
Posted

After uninstalling Windows 8 as my main OS, I've been using it in a VM and it's growing on me. Not sure it's ready for a main OS though. My question is how do you set the color bit depth? Virtual Box keeps telling me to set it to 32 bit color but I can't find the option!

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

  • Posts

    • Alien Isolation 2 will bring a new protagonist and setting, watch the reveal trailer here

      By LoneWolfSL · Posted

      Alien Isolation 2 will bring a new protagonist and setting, watch the reveal trailer here by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Only a few weeks ago, Sega and Creative Assembly dropped a teaser for a new Alien Isolation. Today at Summer Game Fest, Alien: Isolation 2 was officially announced with a new trailer while also confirming a whole lot of information about the setting of this survival horror project. Check out the reveal trailer above. Leaving behind the Sevastopol space station, the sequel will take players to a remote colony world. With a Xenomorph (or more) on the loose, players will be navigating both the surface of the weather-ravaged planet as well as "the claustrophobic confines of the Weyland-Yutani outpost of Kurosaki Station." Interestingly, Creative Assembly is leaving behind Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Alien's Ellen Ripley, as the protagonist too. While it hasn't confirmed a name yet, players will be taking the role of a new character for this new adventure. The setting is also being described as a new hunting ground for the Alien. This will have players improvising and developing new tools to aid in their survival and escape, all to avoid "cinema’s deadliest killer." "It has been over a decade since we created the original Alien: Isolation and I am so excited to show everyone the first glimpse of the sequel," says Al Hope, Creative Director at Creative Assembly. "Our dedicated Survival team at Creative Assembly has been working hard to create a new, evolved Isolation experience continuing the legacy of the Alien franchise, making the eponymous killer smarter, the environment harsher and the chance of survival slimmer." Promising the same deadly tension from the original from over a decade ago, Alien: Isolation 2 is in development for PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5. A release date has not been announced yet.
    • Apple reluctantly forces strict new age checks on Texas users starting today

      By timster · Posted

      With how far Tim Apple's head has been up Trump's ass, there's no way this was done reluctantly.
    • Ladybird Browser is no longer accepting outside contributions thanks to AI

      By fishnet37222 · Posted

      Like the article stated, it's written completely from scratch, unlike the umpteen Chromium clones. It got its start as the browser built-in to the also written-from-scratch SerenityOS.
    • CANT FIND SECURE BOOT ON BIOS

      By goretsky · Posted

      Hello, From looking at the screen shots in your motherboard's manual at https://endownload.colorful.cn/EnDownload/MotherBroard/2022/Intel 600/Manual/Intel 600 Series BIOS English/Intel 600 Series BIOS User Guide.pdf, you go to the ADVANCED option at the top of the BIOS (UEFI) menu, then select SECURITY in the list of options on the left.  From there  you can enable and set the Secure Boot mode. Regards, Aryeh Goretsky  
    • Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 is getting a simultaneous release across PC and all consoles

      By LoneWolfSL · Posted

      Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 is getting a simultaneous release across PC and all consoles by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Square Enix showed up to the Summer Game Fest presentation today with multiple trailers showing off its next chapter in the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga. The final chapter of this trilogy now has an official name too, with it being dubbed Final Fantasy VII Revelation, following up Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth from recent years. Vincent Valentine, Cid, Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and more showed up in the trailers as they battle against enemies, or 'Weapons,' from the final chapter. "As the world teeters on the brink of annihilation, the final battle against Sephiroth begins," says the trailer description. "A meteor mars the sky, monstrous planetary guardians wreak havoc across the globe, and the fires of war rage. Now, Cloud and his companions must stand against this chaos to not only decide the planet's fate, but bring a legendary conflict to its conclusion." Following the reveal trailer, the show also dropped some gameplay footage that shows off a new way to travel across the open world using the Highwind airship. Players will be able to swap characters on during battles, use tactical mode to synchronize with allies, and summon their entities. Cid Highwind and Vincent Valentine are joining the party this time too. “FINAL FANTASY VII, first released in 1997, has been beloved by fans for many years and has since become a “legend” in its own right," added producer Yoshinori Kitase. "The FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Series that began in 2020 with everyone’s passionate support is finally reaching its climactic finale with FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION. The story’s final destination represents my emotions spanning thirty years working on this title" One of the biggest revelations of this announcement, however, was the multiplatform release confirmation from the get-go. Square Enix will be releasing Final Fantasy VII Revelation across PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5 in Spring 2027 without any timed exclusivity programs.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Mentor
      grik went up a rank
      Mentor
    • Dedicated
      JKR earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • One Year In
      CHUNWEI earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Conversation Starter
      FBSPL earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • Week One Done
      I2D earned a badge
      Week One Done

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      485
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      270
    3. 3
      Skyfrog
      78
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      68
    5. 5
      +Edouard
      61
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!