win8 Rate the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Let's hear how everybody is rating the beta of the new version of world's favourite operating system.

I'm still downloading it - rating to follow once I've installed and used it.

[Max Norris]

For the most part, I'm liking it. A lot of the complaints are just people not knowing how the new stuff works.. it's actually quite streamlined once you get used to it. Really liking the new file manager too.. wish I could pull that over into 7.

[TheLegendOfMart]

If it stays in this form I wont be buying Microsoft in the future.

[firey]

I gave it a 4. The new interface is crap, it's entirely designed for touch screens or tablets. Does it work with a mouse? Well yes, but it's clearly not designed for it. The start button missing from the desktop is a huge turn off for me. The reason I gave it 4, is because it's a solid OS, with a horrible interface slapped onto it. With the stock windows 7 interface windows 8 would be awesome.

[Rudy]

Oh my, I was expecting the results to be different

[Xenon]

The Metro UI is terrible for desktops. This is the 1st time I am considering leaving Windows and using another OS.

[Azies]

I quite enjoy it and will likely upgrade from Windows 7 once it gets released.

[paxa]

i'm still in the process of download, so once i've get my hands on it i'm going to test it out..

[.Neo]

For me Windows 8 Consumer Preview hasn't changed a thing about how I feel about Metro: It's a decent interface to interact with a smartphone or tablet however it has no place on a PC. The Metro apps are way too simplistic and bland looking for a desktop PC or notebook. While I realize this is still a preview, in their current state the Metro apps are little more than Dashboard widgets. 75% of my 27-inch screen (native resolution of 2560 x 1440) is filled up with empty space and the new Metro screen and full screen apps make the OS feel claustrophobic, as if I'm locked in.

The second thing I hate is the Metro / classic desktop crossbreed that is this new version. Metro feels like a slapped on experience rather than something that's truly integrated into the OS: A layer on top of a layer on top of a layer. You now have to deal and manage basically two different operating systems rolled into one with both their own set of completely different applications. Confusing as hell.

While I love Metro on Windows Phone, I absolutely despise it on Windows 8. I think it's terrible.

[Arceles]

Wait... 5:22 hours to give my judgment :D to bad I only have 1.5 MBit/sec connection. But seriously if it resembles a lot developer preview I'm soooo out of it.

[Elliott]

I'll rate it a 5. It's pretty much right on the money for tablets, but it's also pretty much an utter failure for desktops.

[ryoohki]

Last time i used the start menu was in Windows 95... Since XP i pin apps on the taskbar and since Vista, i use the search software that i rarely used. Even at work everything is pinned on XP (actually they are shortcut,but it's basically the same). Will install it tonight. Not missing the start menu, unless they remove SEARCH..

This will be great for my Gaming RIG on my Video Projector. The only application i use is STEAM and i install Nvidia Driver. If i could have a Big Interface it would be awesome. Let's hope that Steam does a Metro App..

[Timan Veteran]

I'll give it more time, but atm I'm hating this on a non-touch device.

[Vice]

I hate it. I won't be upgrading downgrading to this.

[Rigby]

I never liked the look of Metro or the idea of using it on the desktop, and after giving it a spin I think I can truthfully say I would much rather use the Program Manager from Windows 3.1 than this. For touch devices like tablets and phones it's very good, and that is where it should have stayed. Microsoft should never have tried to come out with one OS for such completely different devices. Hopefully they'll realize this and completely restore Aero (or something suitable for desktops) for the final release.

[pack34]

Last time i used the start menu was in Windows 95... Since XP i pin apps on the taskbar and since Vista, i use the search software that i rarely used. Even at work everything is pinned on XP (actually they are shortcut,but it's basically the same). Will install it tonight. Not missing the start menu, unless they remove SEARCH..

Search is still there and working great. Like windows 7, it's the quickest way to launch non-commonly used applications (not pinned to the start bar)

[Skyfrog]

I have used Windows since version 3.0 and I've always been reasonably happy with every release. This however is probably the worst thing they have ever done. There is no way I would ever use this in its current form; I don't know what they're thinking. I'm sure it works fine for tablets but as a desktop OS this is terrible.

It's not too late Microsoft. Split this project in two, rename this Windows Tablet 8 and come out with a normal desktop version.

[mduren2445]

I gave it a 4 because it took 1hr and about 40 min to upgrade and they did not move any off my old programs to the new metro interface I have to figure out if how and if possibile

[Lels]

This will finally make me go linux full time.

[Elliot B.]

Bring back the Start menu and remove/hide the Metro layout for my desktop PC and I'll switch to 8.

[threetonesun]

I'm going to say that anyone posting negatively now either isn't actually using it, or just gave up on it. It's been out for all of what, two hours?

[Elliot B.]

I'm going to say that anyone posting negatively now either isn't actually using it, or just gave up on it. It's been out for all of what, two hours?

Yes and without a Start menu, I have lost my favorite way to opening my programs.

I am having to put shortcuts to things, including the Control Panel (! ) onto my Desktop :/

The full-screen Metro design is a crap excuse for a Start menu.

[spudtrooper]

Yes and without a Start menu, I have lost my favorite way to opening my programs.

I am having to put shortcuts to things, including the Control Panel (! ) onto my Desktop :/

The full-screen Metro design is a crap excuse for a Start menu.

You can click the show all apps image by hovering over left corner and the start page will show all apps. The idea with windows 8 is that you don't need to set in the control panel all that much to begin with.

[pack34]

Yes and without a Start menu, I have lost my favorite way to opening my programs.

I am having to put shortcuts to things, including the Control Panel (! ) onto my Desktop :/

The full-screen Metro design is a crap excuse for a Start menu.

Use the search feature. Just press the windows key and type the program you want

[Subhadip]

I'm going to say that anyone posting negatively now either isn't actually using it, or just gave up on it. It's been out for all of what, two hours?

Exactly. It took me over a month to come to grips with how brilliant Metro UI and live tiles really are with the Dev Preview. It's a paradigm shift, flippantly dishing out ratings within minutes of usage doesn't seem right. I am a power user and a heavy multi-tasker, and I love Metro. It has made every thing simpler, easier, fun, more precise and streamlined. So much that I will only switch to Desktop for apps that aren't currently integrated with Metro. Once all my apps are integrated with Metro, I can imagine I would rarely use Desktop.

Regardless, I think Microsoft should include one very simple option - "Disable Start Screen". There's a registry fix out there for the DP that disables Metro and brings back classic Start menu. They should just make an official option of it.

I think that's enough to radically alter perception. And I am sure Microsoft will add this option by RC - after all their motto is "no compromise".