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Tried it in a VM, didn't like it AT ALL.

First impression counts a lot.

I loved Windows 7 and even Windows Vista as a first impression. I also loved Windows XP on first impression. Also Windows 95, 98 and even ME and 2000.

I loved Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion the first time I used them.

I loved OS/2 Warp the first time I used it (in stead of Windows 3.11).

I do not like Windows 8. So I'll stick with Windows 7 or move back to OS X once the new re-designed MacBook Pro's are out.

Consumer Preview Performance Benchmarks. Windows 8 CP is slower than Windows 7. Before you start telling me it's a beta and driver issues and whatever, yes, I know this is not 100% indicative of the performance of the final build. But to tell me it means nothing is incorrect. Remember, Windows 7 builds in development were faster than XP and Vista, both in benchmarks and in subjective use in my own testing of leaked builds-Windows 7 made a C2D laptop that was unusable under Vista into a fast machine. I can remember performance benchmarks coming out for every leaked Win7 build and all showed improved performance over XP/Vista.
Do you honestly think in twenty years we will still be using the same desktop set-up as we are now?

Who knows what we'll be doing in twenty years.

It's remarkable to think how well some UI concepts from decades ago have held up though.

Xerox_star_desktop.jpg

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How do you switch between tasks by going to the top left, when you're only using Desktop apps?

Alt+Tab still works for desktop applications (same as 7) - or you can use the taskbar (also the same as 7) - neither of those has changed whatever.

Search - utterly unified. Covers all installed applications and apps - both WinRT and traditional. WinKey then the letter O (example) brings up two applications and a game - none of which are WinRT. (Oracle VirtualBox, Osmos, and Outlook).

WinKey and V? (This I've actually used - up comes VMware Workstation 8 - another glaringly obvious non-WinRT application.)

WinKey and K - two applications (from the same company) - one traditional and one WinRT - and both are Kindle e-reader (Amazon Services LLC). I choose which one I want to use.

No StartScreen. No mouse, either.

Windwos 2000 Professional, for example, was the keyboard jockey's dream because of two glaringly obvious trends - fewer applications installed desktop shortcuts by default (Office 2000, for example, installed but one - Outlook) and the rather ugly trend in enterprises to have multiple shortcuts to similar (but not identical) versions of the same application - with no obvious way of telling them apart.

All those keyboard based shortcuts have been in Windows since. Therefore, the StartScreen can be completely avoided.

This thing is going to fall faster than the twin towers. No "normal" person is going to spend $200 for this thing let alone spend more than 5 minutes trying to get around. Microsoft totally shot themselves in the foot.

Up until now, I've been annoyed as hell at all the people who were saying that Win8 would fail based on using the DP for a day or two. I have really tried hard to avoid this, but I feel like I'm starting to want to jump on the "i hate this piece of crap" bandwagon. :s

I've been testing both the DP and the CP on 2 physical machines and a few VMs both at work and at home. I've even been using the CP as my main OS on my work laptop - which is touchscreen. So, I've had time to get used to having to do things a bit differently. But I still can't see any real benefit to the changes, and I still feel like getting to wherever I want to go is more clunky than on any previous Windows OS. There's just no real gain to the new layout whatsoever, at least for the ways in which I use a PC.

The only change I've seen so far that I would consider to be a tangible improvement is the reduced boot times. I really don't feel like this OS deserves a new major version number. I think they should have just done like they did with XP - MCE, and called this "Win 7 Touch" or something along those lines.

Before you brand me as a hater, I'll jut add that I was absolutely thrilled with testing out the early leaked builds of both Vista and 7. And I thoroughly enjoyed running each of them in their official beta forms. I've had some fun testing out this CP, too. I'm not saying I hate this... I'm just really, really confused about what MS is thinking.

But my honest question to you all is this: Aside from faster boot times, what about the Win8 CP will be a true functional improvement upon anything in Win7?

This thing is going to fall faster than the twin towers. No "normal" person is going to spend $200 for this thing let alone spend more than 5 minutes trying to get around. Microsoft totally shot themselves in the foot.

Microsoft made record profits following the release of Vista. You may be right but let's wait and see.

Ok. This is annoying me, even though I turned down UAC setting to minimum, Explorer still asks me to confirm every single action I take which if very annoying when moving files around. Any solution in W8?

Before you brand me as a hater, I'll jut add that I was absolutely thrilled with testing out the early leaked builds of both Vista and 7. And I thoroughly enjoyed running each of them in their official beta forms. I've had some fun testing out this CP, too. I'm not saying I hate this... I'm just really, really confused about what MS is thinking.

I remember Vista RC1. From then on I vowed never to use the final version :laugh:. Back then they were so obsessed with security that they let the UAC take over the experience. Right now they're so floored with Android and iOS success that they're letting their ideas about tablets encroach on the PC. By the time Vista was released, they had been forced to dial things down. I'm guessing they'll feel forced to make a few changes in Win8 as well.

Ok. This is annoying me, even though I turned down UAC setting to minimum, Explorer still asks me to confirm every single action I take which if very annoying when moving files around. Any solution in W8?

I tried giving Users write permission, but then it gives me errors when I try to transfer files. Things you do in your User folders (documents, downloads, pictures, etc.) shouldn't ask for permission, but I don't see why I can't set it for other folders :s .

I really do like Windows 8, well everything but the Metro. Bugs me when you click on an app, for example Google Chrome, in Metro, Metro minimizes...you see the desktop and then Chrome opens. Just weird.

To me, it just looks like some 3rd party app that really doesn't flow well. Of course, I'm still rocking the "quick launch" bar in Windows 7 with my most frequently used apps. I have two icons on my desktop, "My Computer" and "Recycle Bin", and I like simplicity.

They open in desktop because they are not Metro applications. The devs can port them if they want.

I really do like Windows 8, well everything but the Metro. Bugs me when you click on an app, for example Google Chrome, in Metro, Metro minimizes...you see the desktop and then Chrome opens. Just weird.

To me, it just looks like some 3rd party app that really doesn't flow well. Of course, I'm still rocking the "quick launch" bar in Windows 7 with my most frequently used apps. I have two icons on my desktop, "My Computer" and "Recycle Bin", and I like simplicity.

Same as mine.

Along with a beautiful wallpaper, Desktop looks cool, simple and I'll never get bored of it.

I started with the first release of Windows 7 and stuck with it... I am liking the changes made to Windows 8, despite some rough bumps... I think I will stick it out. They were pretty quick to fix major bugs with W7 during its beta life cycle... I am sure they will be equally quick with W8.

I have the feeling the desktop will be dead completely in less than 10 years. If they can get the Metro apps functional enough, this could give them a leg up on Apple.

Let's hope so. Somebody's gotta get us into the next era of computing. It would be a shame if by the year 2100 all other tech and UIs had advanced but people were still using icons and menus of folders to do their computing. Hah. That would suck considering computers have advanced faster than any other tech we have EXCEPT the UI.

Now, if somebody could just figure out a replacement for the microwave. That thing's been the same since the 70s. We need something that cooks with the speed of a microwave but with the thoroughness of a conventional oven.

Let's hope so. Somebody's gotta get us into the next era of computing. It would be a shame if by the year 2100 all other tech and UIs had advanced but people were still using icons and menus of folders to do their computing. Hah. That would suck considering computers have advanced faster than any other tech we have EXCEPT the UI.

Now, if somebody could just figure out a replacement for the microwave. That thing's been the same since the 70s. We need something that cooks with the speed of a microwave but with the thoroughness of a conventional oven.

Cooking is something that should stay more old fashioned. We're not evolving fast enough to keep up with technology.

I was lead to believe WIndows 8 is aimed more at tablet users.

So it's merely wasting money buying windows 8 for desktops and laptops.

And this is why you shouldn't judge something just by what other people have told you. It performs better than Windows 7 already, even without specialised drivers being available. Gamers will love Windows 8.

I was lead to believe WIndows 8 is aimed more at tablet users.

So it's merely wasting money buying windows 8 for desktops and laptops.

Microsoft spent a lot of money designing Windows 8 based around desktops, laptops and tablets. Windows 8 may be better on tablets but it's still great on conventional computing devices.

And this is why you shouldn't judge something just by what other people have told you. It performs better than Windows 7 already, even without specialised drivers being available. Gamers will love Windows 8.

Gamers will love it? PC Gamers? generally PC Gamers want complete customization, Windows 8 is not that.

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