win8 Rate the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

[Xenon]

I think some people have far too many expectations for a frickin' beta program. Good grief! No one is making you use it. I personally think it's rather cool to try a new OS for FREE for the next 10+ months.

:D

I don't think people had expectations that were too high. Its the Metro UI that everyone is complaining about.

[Jughead]

This is a smoking pile of pooh its taken me an hour to transfer a 389 meg file over my wireless network. Clean install and getting win explorer not responding left and right. Wireless network drops connections alot same as with dp switched back to win 7 should of stayed. 1out of 10 would have given a zero if I could have

[Bioran]

I haven't had the chance for a hands-on yet, but from what I've see Windows 8 appears very promising. A lot of the criticisms I see being thrown around seems to be from people who haven't understood how to use the new functions and shortcuts, which seem to greatly improve the Windows experience so far.

That said, it's possible my opinion might change after an extensive hands-on...let's see how it goes.

[PGHammer]

I've never searched for an app to launch it....the concept seems so silly (I know a lot of people who launch app that way in both Windows and OSX....I just don't see why)

Search has been, in fact, integrated in Windows NT-based OSes since Windows 2000 - with the addition of Microsoft Index Server to Windows 2000 Professional (it had previously been only in Windows NT Server).

That's right - before even XP.

That makes it a not-new feature - just a little-used one.

[Muhammad Farrukh]

8.5

A lot of concerns are gone from the Developer preview.

There are still things that need attention.

Overall, the UI is slick, fast and responsive.

Legacy UI works really well and how it is supposed to work.

A big thumbs up (Y)

Been using it since last night. That will be about 7 - 8 hours

[nyolc8]

Needs a little practice to get used to it, but not bad.

[XerXis]

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.

alt-tab still works

Can't comment on the mouse movements, because of the hotspots it's almost impossible to use in a VM. Might try installing it on a separate partition

[Fourjays Veteran]

My only wish is that they hadn't bolted the desktop on as an answer for productivity and actually gone all-in with Metro UI (the full concept, not just a skin for the taskbar as some people seem to want). Having done considerable reading into it, I think Metro is a great concept and would love to use it. But I don't want to be thrown out of the "immersive UI" any time I want to do something more useful with my computer. Unless there is a major change between now and release I'm planning to wait for Windows 9 and see if it takes it a step further and implements it properly.

In all seriousness, I think Microsoft would have done themselves a favour to have released them as two separate SKUs or even as two different brands - hear me out, this isn't a "Metro is for tablets only gripe" - then slowly transfer things from the "old Windows" to the "new Windows", giving people and developers time to gradually move across as they choose, while building a solid library of software on Metro from developers (replacing all "legacy apps") and getting rid of all the associated legacy support required.

I'm somehow not surprised this is where it has ended up though, as MS has had difficulty with UI consistency for years.

[ObiWanToby]

Using Windows 8, I feel hampered. I am confused on how to use my programs. This just doesn't feel right. I like the speed, I like the new task manager, I like the new copy dialog. I like the tweaks, I just can't get over the weird new start menu.

Honestly I am scared this is going to fail. They need to preserve the desktop experience a little better. It took me a long time to figure out how to find the device manager. Things just seem weird.

[margrave]

Joining the domain wasn't as I had hoped. It's doable, but not as straight forward as I would want.

[Boeing 787]

So let's see:

Desktop = Fail

Tablet = OK

I will be surprised if Microsoft forces this on the Desktop.

[articuno1au]

For those of you finding the searching for control panel items annoying, there's a new shortcut: Windows + W. This will search control panel.

It's still somewhat annoying as some things are just counter intuitive. Sound for instance takes you to the "Sound Options" metro panel for what makes sounds and when, as opposed to the sound device pane -_-

Other than that, I am quite liking it. It's INSANELY fast. It's sleeps and awakens nigh on instantly. Once MS remove all the debug/code check stuff, this OS is going to SCREAM along. I can't wait >.<

I'm amused at all the people who are voting an hour or so after the release. You clearly haven't even tried to work out how to make it work for you. Poor showing but hardly surprising.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

i absolutely hate the Consumer Preview. it's non-functional w/o a touch interface. useless on a desktop. forcing you to use the new start menu, removing the start button for no reason. there's no other functional changes beyond windows 7... unless you count Storage Spaces, which no one is going to use.

also, it literally took me 10 minutes on first use to figure out how to shut down. i had to actually go to the internet to figure it out. why? dumb.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

For those of you finding the searching for control panel items annoying, there's a new shortcut: Windows + W. This will search control panel.

It's still somewhat annoying as some things are just counter intuitive. Sound for instance takes you to the "Sound Options" metro panel for what makes sounds and when, as opposed to the sound device pane -_-

Other than that, I am quite liking it. It's INSANELY fast. It's sleeps and awakens nigh on instantly. Once MS remove all the debug/code check stuff, this OS is going to SCREAM along. I can't wait >.<

I'm amused at all the people who are voting an hour or so after the release. You clearly haven't even tried to work out how to make it work for you. Poor showing but hardly surprising.

i love keyboard shortcuts, but MS shouldnt be forcing us to use them, especially average users. everyone keeps saying, "oh! just use Windows+XYZ" but why? why cant i just click, click and click? why are things so hard to find in the UI that i HAVE to resort to a keyboard shortcut?

also, your last sentence makes no sense. you shouldnt have to use an OS for days or weeks to finally break down and like it. i want to boot up, use it, find it's functionality and love it immediately. imo, this reasoning goes hand-in-hand with Linux. no matter what distro i [try to] use, it always sucks. i never get the hang of it, i never find anything easy or intuitive. i shouldnt have to use Linux for days and weeks to finally get the hang of it and like it.

[~Johnny]

i love keyboard shortcuts, but MS shouldnt be forcing us to use them, especially average users. everyone keeps saying, "oh! just use Windows+XYZ" but why? why cant i just click, click and click? why are things so hard to find in the UI that i HAVE to resort to a keyboard shortcut?

Once you know where everything is, there are no need for keyboard shortcuts. Obviously for you if you've used Windows for years it'll take a little adjustment, but once you're used to it it becomes second nature. I've not once used a keyboard shortcut whilst using the consumer preview, and everything's working dandy for me.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

Once you know where everything is, there are no need for keyboard shortcuts. Obviously for you if you've used Windows for years it'll take a little adjustment, but once you're used to it it becomes second nature. I've not once used a keyboard shortcut whilst using the consumer preview, and everything's working dandy for me.

ive used every version of windows since 3.1. why, suddenly, did it take me 10 minutes to find the shut down button? why change something like that?

[Kratzie]

I am actually enjoying windows 8, I only have issues with a few things but my guess is they will be ironed out at some point. How ever, I am disappointed in the store, I thought there would be more available by now.

[winlonghorn]

After thinking it over, my take on the whole "I HATE METRO" mentality is this: "That is fine! To each their own! What my hope is is that Those that hate it will at least still enjoy Windows 8 by clicking on the desktop tile to go and use the desktop after booting into Windows 8! I just want Windows 8 to be a great success overall! I want to be able to write my apps and target a large audience and have all of this great functionality! I don't want this METRO HATE to ruin that for myself, users that love METRO, and other developers! That worry alone is what irritates me to no end!" I apologize for my previous post. I was extremely irritated, but shouldn't have taken it out on those who are against metro.

[~Johnny]

ive used every version of windows since 3.1. why, suddenly, did it take me 10 minutes to find the shut down button? why change something like that?

And now you know where it is... you won't have that much trouble again. In a week or two of constant use it's second nature.

[Dapen]

Son, why are you taking so long, it's time to go! One moment I am just shutting down Windows 8!

[jimkraz]

I do like the whole experience of using Windows 8, I can understand the "I want the start menu", I am shall we say, the very wrong side of sixty and have very quickly found my way around, what to pin to start, how to change tile colour, etc,etc, I do have a touch screen, though I still have not totally got used to working without my mouse, old habits die hard, they say you can't teach a old dog new tricks, well I'm one old dog who has learned easily and quickly, I for one will upgrade to Windows 8 when it comes out. Jim

[The Dark Knight]

I like everything except Metro. I don't see it being very successful on anything other than tablets.

[xendrome]

And now you know where it is... you won't have that much trouble again. In a week or two of constant use it's second nature.

Yea but why are we taking stuff and changing the whole concept. Why do I have to grab my mouse and drag an app from the top all the way to the bottom to minimize/close it. What was wrong with the "x" at the top, was that too simple?

[BoredBozirini]

Utter failure.

[paulheu]

Got all my main apps and most used webpages pinned to the Start page.. All works in a snap and then some.. The start page is just a very big start menu if you make it into that so I honestly do not see the problem.. I remember back when MS introduced the Ribbon.. Boy how that was going to be a huge fail, the downfall of MS, are they mad.. Now look what happens if they hide/loose it..

In two years no-one will remember the booo and bah of the few.. My mom was able to setup here laptop herself in under an hour. And she just got used to texting (seriously) so that is saying something..

Nomatter what we, the select few, feel.. Win8 is gonna be big.. very big