win8 Rate the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

[chrisl]

After using it for a few hours now, i'm not sure where a lot of peoples issues are, i installed all the programs i use frequently and pinned them to the taskbar which is pretty much what i did in windows 7 anyway. Once this is done there is hardly any need to go into the start screen or use the metro apps - stay in the desktop environment and use the programs the way that you're used too.

However I found the new start screen very familiar because i have WP7 and pretty intuitive, but i have to agree with a lot of the comments that the metro environment is very much suited to a tablet and touch screen, and doesn't translate very well to the desktop. Some of the apps i downloaded from the store where quite well designed though.

Overall I think Microsoft has done a good job here, they have managed to combine to separate OS environments in one bundle, you can stay in either depending on what form factor you are using, be it tablet or desktop and you don't need to venture into the other if you don't want to.

[dafin0]

After using it for a few hours now, i'm not sure where a lot of peoples issues are

a lot of people who complain have not used it or have only used it for a hour or two and have not even setup there programs yet.

even if you were to install Windows 7 now and not set it up for everyday use its boring as hell

[derkim]

No, sorry. That's not my thing. Never in the history of microsofts systems my impression was so bad like windows 8. The start screen is absolute awful. Else I don't see a reason to upgrade to Windows 8. For Desktop PC users no interesting things, no interesting technology, nothing what you can not have for windows 7. I'm sure IE10 and new DirectX versions will also coming for Windows 7.

[Detection]

Considering it is a Beta, and considering I hated WDP, I'm impressed,

Metro seems to make more sense now, desktop seems less important somehow, cleverly back benched without disabling access

I did a clean install on my laptop, its running great, decided to try an upgrade on my desktop with 800GB of crap installed and around 20 minutes later I am fully upgraded, what happened to the 5 hours for an upgrade ? Nice work.

Couple of app crashes on the upgraded machine - to be expected, I actually expected it to be unusable, but amazingly everything I have tried so far has still worked, apart from the odd small program that doesn't recognise the OS version

For a Beta of this size OS overhaul, not bad at all

7/10

10 being RTM

[winlonghorn]

OMG! Here we go again! Those of you that are complaining, "Quit being so damn afraid of change!!!!!" It looks like the naysayers are going to ruin a Windows version again because they are afraid to move on or are simply to afraid to spend the money on something new because it is soon! GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!! DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :angry:

[devHead]

There are a lot of good things about Windows 8. It's definitely very responsive and quick. I've noticed that switching between the Desktop and the Start screen is very fluid and fast (and the Windows key toggles between them; if you're on the Start screen and hit Windows key, you get back to the Desktop). You can pretty quickly get used to closing Metro Apps by dragging them from the top down to the bottom of the screen. The new Task Manager is pretty slick, and frankly I like the new Explorer with the ribbon. The Music app is kind of wonky. I have plenty of music; I really don't want a page opening advertising more artists and albums. And I don't need the reminder every time that it would be better if I changed my settings to sign into my account instead of using a local account. The weather App on the other hand is awesome, and it located where I live automatically! Still, the Start screen on the whole seems almost gimmicky. One thing I liked about the Windows 7 Start menu was you could pin Jumplist capable apps to it and quickly launch a document or spreadsheet (I have Word, Excel, and Access pinned to my Start menu for just that reason). This functionality is gone now completely. Jumplists are only on the Taskbar. That's kind of a step back if you ask me. I think if you make the Metro Start screen a little more richer from that standpoint, it would only be better. Now, it behaves like you need it to behave on a Windows phone; you select a tile, and something comes up from the bottom of the screen to click for its options. But on a PC interface, you want a menu right there where the mouse cursor is. That's just my feeling on it. I'll keep playing with it.

On a final note, trying to install it was a bit of a Rube Goldberg. I selected a partition on one of my hard drives, and since Windows 7 was installed completely on my SSD (boot files and system, ntldr, etc.) I got an error message trying to install Windows 8 on a different disk drive. After I unplugged the other drives (my SSD and a 3TB GPT partitioned drive), then it was no problem. But now of course, I have no dual boot. Just when I want to get back to Windows 7, I change the boot order in the BIOS setup. It's not a big deal and actually maybe it's better; when I'm ready to chung Windows 8, I just format the partition and nothing else!

[Detection]

On MSDN there is a "debug/checked" build

What is the difference between that and the normal download with apps version ?

[scratch42069]

Install was very quick on my machine. Less than 20 minutes. I have dual monitors and on boot I had metro on one monitor and the classic UI on the second.

[veternan]

After using it for a few hours now, i'm not sure where a lot of peoples issues are, i installed all the programs i use frequently and pinned them to the taskbar which is pretty much what i did in windows 7 anyway. Once this is done there is hardly any need to go into the start screen or use the metro apps - stay in the desktop environment and use the programs the way that you're used too.

However I found the new start screen very familiar because i have WP7 and pretty intuitive, but i have to agree with a lot of the comments that the metro environment is very much suited to a tablet and touch screen, and doesn't translate very well to the desktop. Some of the apps i downloaded from the store where quite well designed though.

Overall I think Microsoft has done a good job here, they have managed to combine to separate OS environments in one bundle, you can stay in either depending on what form factor you are using, be it tablet or desktop and you don't need to venture into the other if you don't want to.

Can you put softwares shortcuts in your desktop? or it's not possible? how can I drag drop my installed software's shortcut to the desktop(I don't want to pin them to taskbar!!)?

[Eric Veteran]

One of the most inexplicable omissions on the start screen is any power shortcuts, here's some help if you want shutdown/restart shortcuts...

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/quick-tip-create-shutdown-restart-lock-icons-in-windows-vista/

http://www.howtogeek.com/74331/how-to-create-your-own-windows-8-shortcuts-for-shutdown-perhaps/

Really? Mouse to bottom left corner, right-click... Power options!

[Rigby]

OMG! Here we go again! Those of you that are complaining, "Quit being so damn afraid of change!!!!!" It looks like the naysayers are going to ruin a Windows version again because they are afraid to move on or are simply to afraid to spend the money on something new because it is soon! GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!! DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :angry:

Nerd rage? How about you get over it, people have a right to their own opinion. It has nothing to do with being afraid of change, for me Metro simply sucks as a desktop UI. It's a huge step backwards in usability and brings nothing worth upgrading from Windows 7.

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

start screen is stupid. they are actually planning on releasing a desktop OS without a start menu?

also windows won't connect to our enterprise WPA wifi here at work...

Tell us, what exactly did you use the Start Menu for that does not exist in the Start Screen?

Picking an app from a list? Check, that's in the Start Screen.

Pinned Apps on the start menu? Check, that's in the Start Screen.

Quick access to any setting, app, document by typing the first few letters? Check, that's in the Start Screen.

For those saying they can't live without the Start Menu, stop being so melodramatic. Windows 8 is just different, nobody is pretending otherwise. It'll take some getting used to, but NO functionality has been lost.

[Syanide]

3. The grade you'd get writing a poem for a math test.

Haha. Except I doubt any teacher would give anything but an F for that.

I gave it a 2. Metro is a complete failure, but there are a few enhancements to the desktop here and there. Nothing worth upgrading to this when it comes out, though.

[nominak]

People complaining about missing apps or programs.

Go to the top right corner... or bottom right, click on Settings > Settings again... "Show Admin Tools" Yes. Click back on the start menu... VOILA extra apps!

[+ir0nw0lf Subscriber²]

1. Metro UI sucks.donkey.nutz

2. Using the Boot to VHD in Windows 7 for this is sweet. Only annoyance so far: using the Windows 8 bootloader, when I click on Windows 7, it reboots the machine to load Windows 7. Anyone else seeing this? Seems a bit redundant to reboot again.

3. Did I mention the Metro UI sucks.donkey.nutz?

[Nexx295]

I'd probably like a Windows 8 tablet for casual use, but on a desktop it's definitely a massive failure! I usually can adapt to new stuff and I've beta tested many Windows versions, but I don't think I'll get used to this one. The start menu is the main thing I miss; I have no clue why they had to replace it with the Start screen, especially on a desktop without touch screen.

I'll just play with it a bit on VirtualBox, but I'll stick with Windows 7 as long as I can.

[rajputwarrior]

Tell us, what exactly did you use the Start Menu for that does not exist in the Start Screen?

Picking an app from a list? Check, that's in the Start Screen.

Pinned Apps on the start menu? Check, that's in the Start Screen.

Quick access to any setting, app, document by typing the first few letters? Check, that's in the Start Screen.

For those saying they can't live without the Start Menu, stop being so melodramatic. Windows 8 is just different, nobody is pretending otherwise. It'll take some getting used to, but NO functionality has been lost.

you think that instead of moving my house just a few centimers and a couple of clicks isn't as efficient as dragging my damn cursor across the screen slowly to get to a pinned app is more efficient? there is NOTHING efficient about the start screen as a desktop user no matter how hard you try spin it. you don't work enterprise IT do you? you don't actually realize how stupid people are with computers do you? there's nothing efficient about this design. at all. people are talking ish at apple for slowly turning OSX into iOS, but now we have microsoft literally throwing a tablet UI at you and telling you to deal with it as a desktop user.

i never said start screen doesn't do everything the start menu does. it does, just in a really really dumb way.

it will have a lot of leverage in enterprise.. It will allow for deployments of tablets/docking stations and setups that embrace the technology already in place and allow people to be fully mobile or interactive.

just because the start bar has changed doesn't mean that corporations won't embrace it. it will just come in through different channels and 3rd party companies will fill in the gaps as they always do.

well I work at a corporation with about 80000 users and everyone of the guys running this place things its stupid. what leverage are you talking about exactly? What will this thing do OS wise that ipad's and android tablets aren't already doing? when it comes to tablets, ipads are owning the enterprise market. i can see microsoft's strategy of having one OS for both types of devices. better app support, same os, etc etc. but the medium they are dishing out so far is terrible. start screen is good for tablets only, that's it.

i don't get how you people who aren't using a touch device thing the start screen is good. what are you guys on? acid? the colours and big boxes are really pretty to you guys and you like playing with it?

[The_Observer]

ok i have installed this onto my SSD drive, and so far its a big change for me, ill give it a week! im use to Start button and not having it is different.

[BoneyardBrew Member]

I'm enjoying it a lot so far. Windows 8 feels faster than 7 ever did on my system, and the desktop-level improvements such as the file copy dialogs, task manager, etc. are great. Microsoft took care of the "hot spot" issues I was having with full screen applications. StarCraft was impossible to play because of this feature and all is well now.

As far as the new Start Page goes I'm a fan. The apps look very clean and the ones included are very nice functionality-wise. I'd really like to see apps for services like Netflix and Pandora developed sooner rather than later.

I always used the search feature in the old start menu so not much has changed for me. I didn't lose the ability to do anything I did before. I can imagine the live tiles being an incredibly easy way to keep up to date while using my physical desk to do work.

[Hum]

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

+100 :laugh:

[efjay]

What will this thing do OS wise that ipad's and android tablets aren't already doing? when it comes to tablets, ipads are owning the enterprise market. i can see microsoft's strategy of having one OS for both types of devices. better app support, same os, etc etc. but the medium they are dishing out so far is terrible. start screen is good for tablets only, that's it.

Sounds like you are contradicting yourself here. If ipad are owning the enterprise market with their limited functionality how much better would a Windows 8 tablet be? How about Office, legacy applications, website creation, database management, etc. What exactly makes an ipad a better solution when a W8 x86 tablet can be managed just like any other pc while providing the same fast, intuitive UI of the ipad along with compatibility with an enterprise's current applications? Any IT department that rejects Windows 8 solely on its UI alone without evaluating its obvious advantages sounds quite unprofessional and frankly unqualified for the job.

[code65536]

On MSDN there is a "debug/checked" build

What is the difference between that and the normal download with apps version ?

The checked builds are built without compiler optimization and are designed for debugging (as in, breaking into with a debugger).??Unless you are a developer, there is absolutely no need to get this.??And even then, most developers would not need this (driver devs might).

As for my rating of 3, I don't care if the Start Screen can do the "same things".??Nobody addresses the fact that (1) it breaks the flow and (2) it doesn't work well for long hierarchical listings (hey, some people have those).??Most importantly, I don't like things being forced down my throat.??Give people an option (make a hidden, hard-to-reach-one, if you must), and I'll be happy.??But this kind of forced shoveling of something that I don't want!??You know, this is why I hate Steve Jobs.??Looks like the other two Steves are turning into him.

[lkernan]

Haven't had much of a play yet, but one thing has already ticked me off.

I clicked on a jpeg file in explorer and got thrown back to Metro to view it. Because there are no obvious shortcuts, i had to take the long way back to where i was. (yes i tried throwing my mouse to every corner and edge of the screen first)

that sort of thing is bound to catch people off guard.

[L1520]

I'm getting on just fine. I started using the DP on my laptop with an open mind - after 2 days of not liking it at first (using it in VMware + sticking to mainly desktop mode rather than metro through fear of change etc), I got used to it and liked it more + can now (after months of solid use on DP) see why it's so much better.

Windows 7 is "old" to me now - there will be enormous changes to your UX when the apps get opened up properly in 'Metro Mode'.

The time it takes to navigate around apps + the general OS has reduced greatly with the CP & I have now bought into this OS fully.

The concepts driving it are the way of the future. In 17 months time we will all be happy that MS progressed in this way. I guarantee.

The only gripe I have is that the UK was not included in the functions that were opened to the USA, France, Japan etc - this needs sorting asap...I have already emailed Steve Ballmer himself about this...

[tuneslover]

I Love it. 5/5 :D :D