Windows 8 Consumer Preview Announced

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Windows 8 Consumer Preview Announced [windowsteamblog.com]

Moments ago in Barcelona, we announced the release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, available to download now for anyone interested in trying it out. We've been hard at work for many months now, and while we still have lots more to do, we're excited to show you our progress with the latest preview of the new operating system. I'm a writer on the Windows team, and over the next few weeks, I'll be publishing a series of posts here on the Windows Experience Blog about what you can expect to see in Windows 8, tips for navigating the new operating system, and all the great new ways to have fun and get things done in this preview of a brand new Windows.

Some things you should know before installing Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Before you start the download, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, this is a prerelease operating system

[preview.windows.com...]

[edited by: bill at 1:23 am (utc) on Mar 1, 2012]
[edit reason] fix formatting [/edit]

[J_RaD]

not sure what to think of w8

at 1st glance it looks like a disaster, one worse then vista (which wasn't really THAT bad)

[SEOMike]

I don't think I like this direction. I don't want all that junk interfering with my work. Also, who wants to use Microsoft's maps or search with Bing or buy from their app store? Not me.

The following statement doesn't make me happy;

Windows 8 supports up to five simultaneous touch points, so if your hardware doesn’t, you may find typing on the onscreen keyboard and using certain controls more of a challenge.

Ugh - I'm not buying new hardware again and I'm not buying an OS that is challenging to work with a mouse. I will always use a mouse on my PC because I need pixel-precise control of my pointer and a touchpad is more cumbersome when you need that kind of control. I find using the trackapd on my Mac takes more time, causes more fatigue, and way more frustration than my mouse does.

Lastly, Win8 looks like my Xbox's interface. I don't want to work everyday in an Xbox environment.

[bwnbwn]

I installed it and I am very impressed with it.

Lastly, Win8 looks like my Xbox's interface. I don't want to work everyday in an Xbox environment.

Just the stat menu after that it is just band to the bone. I wouldn't be so fast to judge it before you try it.

[J_RaD]

i just want to get that touch crap out of my face ASAP.

also im seeing i need a what to install windows? did that just say "liveID"

excuse me? this better JUST be for this preview build, i don't need this cloud foolishness invading my LAN let alone authenticating my local machine login! *rage*

[lexipixel]

did that just say "liveID"

Didn't you read the title:

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Announced

Windows 8 will be previewing consumers...

[J_RaD]

Great interface for a Tablet or Smart phone. Really stupid interace for desktop or laptop. NOT anything I would use. Not professional or for business use. Give me a way to hide the Metro Interface.

I have used Windows since Windows 286 and this is the first time I feel Microsoft has really let down the business community. Time to consider looking at alternative OS solutions.

unless something really changes before the final version deploys.... this is pretty much the consensus of all the other IT guys I know / work with.


They keep this crap up and they'll start losing the 1 market they have an iron grip on.... THE ENTERPRISE!

wouldn't that be a double shot in the face, screw up the public then piss off the enterprise. They'll be hanging on to with windows 7 installs for 100 years like they did with XP.

[ByronM]

First, you don't need a Windows live ID, the Windows live ID just lets you have cloud/roaming profiles which if you ask me, is pure awesome. Actually, I think its just Windows ID now.

You can interact with live enabled services easily - from zune to xbox live to facebook.. the integration into SkyDrive is so easy now as well, it just works. Its seemless.

As far as corporations go, when you deploy in a corporate environment it will simply use Active directory authentication and your profile will be stored on the AD servers. The Windows ID can be controlled via GPO

[ByronM]

BTW, the Consumer Preview is absolutely amazing. It works better if you do an upgrade.. when you upgrade it pulls in your previous desktop and things feel more familiar - learning the shortcuts and side actions to bring up charm bar and start page are now becoming second nature.

The Metro apps still leave something to be desired, they are beta quality - but the OS itself, wow.. They really really really delivered with this build.

[ByronM]

Watch the videos MS has published here to learn about touch/mouse experience, cloud experience, web changes and all that jazz.

[windows.microsoft.com...]

Maybe "windows id" will make more sense then :)

[bwnbwn]

Using the new system is like anything new it does take time to learn the ropes. I will agree there are some areas I would change but with just 1 day in I need more time for adjustment.

When I scanned my system for compatible issues I had a couple minor ones. Well for some reason the scan didn't pick up my Virtual PC I must have for building new sites. This one is a major issue I need resolved or the system got to go.

[henry0]

How does the install work? Dual boot?
Are you still able to work on your Wins7, or XP OS?

[bwnbwn]

Are you still able to work on your Wins7, or XP OS?

No but you can partition aoff an area for testing. I should have done this and suggest if u do get it to partition it off from the main system.
I made a bad error and don't have a restore point and can't find how to get back to 7. I will but right now I don't have a way.

[ken_b]

Watch the videos MS has published

Tried, can't. Need Silverlight, don't have it, see no point in loading it just so MS can promote their stuff.

You'd think that they'd make promotional videos available in all formats for the sake of promoting their products.

[JAB Creations]

Windows 8 is ineffably horrible.

The initial color picked looks copy-pasted from 16 color mode from the (normal) display property.

Metro redefines the meaning of suck.

Internet Explorer's GUI is hardly customizable and sucks no matter what you change.

Windows Explorer's ribbon menus aren't customizable, are over-sized and the alternative menu bar is too small.

Windows 8 sucks up 800 megabytes of RAM in VirtualBox, completely asinine.

There was one improvement though, you can hide favorites in Windows Explorer in the folder panel.

It's a 9 to 1 consensus among people who aren't Microsoft employees (who try to pass off as non-Microsoft employees), Windows 8 redefines fail.

I'll be sticking with XP and likely long after Microsoft stops releasing security patches or until I can find a Linux distro that doesn't beg for me to waste time in the console every 20 seconds.

- John

[henry0]

@bwnbwn ouch! I feel the pain.

[ByronM]

You'd think that they'd make promotional videos available in all formats for the sake of promoting their products.

Uh.. they're HTMl5 videos.. you can right click and save the mp4's if you want.

[ByronM]

@Jab

1. Windows 8 is amazing. Check out the video reviews, watch the videos of how to use it. How to customize the colors and how to feel at home in desktop vs metro if you prefer desktop

2. No idea what you mean about colors.. They're very reach and full detail - especially when you activate the live tiles.

3. Metro is amazing.

Check out all the coverage videos and comparison sites. It has rough edges, but far from suck.

4. Gui isn't meant to be customizable but if you want the classic style, click desktop and launch IE classic their. The idea of the metro browser is to be absolute - unchanging but web standards and very capable.

5. Explorer ribbon is very nice, it actually shows useful commands and simply expands upon features that were hidden before.

6. Windows 8 will use as much memory as you alot it to optimize the overall performance. The apps themselves once runing use very little resources and the new task manager actually shows you the utilization of resources per app so you know where problems are for a change. Really intuitive, really a non issue.

7. you're just making up stats now

8. Stick with XP.. :)

[ByronM]

How does the install work? Dual boot?
Are you still able to work on your Wins7, or XP OS?

If you use the wizard install it will allow you to repartition an existing drive to install for dual boot or upgrade your existing os.

If you install from ISO, you can create a virtual hard drive to install to, install from USB or install to USB and boot from USB.

There are a ton of ways to check it out and MS has made it absolutely easy.

I use Vmware workstation 8.0 to test out, but i also upgraded my desktop at home. I didn't really feel at home with windows 8 until i upgraded an existing OS and saw how my historical windows habits were not reflected in windows 8 and now it makes more sense.

[ken_b]

Uh.. they're HTMl5 videos.. you can right click and save the mp4's if you want.

Why would I want to do that?

Easy access means no more complicated for the user (you know, the prospective customer) than something like embedding a youtube video with a play button.

Requiring anything beyond that is arrogant, my way or the highway marketing thinking, in other words stupid.

[jdancing]

I am really looking forward to Windows 8. The preview videos I have seen look stunning.

At some point after release I would like to have a Windows 8 Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, and phone that all sync intuitively together.

[ByronM]

Why would I want to do that?

Easy access means no more complicated for the user (you know, the prospective customer) than something like embedding a youtube video with a play button.

Requiring anything beyond that is arrogant, my way or the highway marketing thinking, in other words stupid.

HTML5 video is an industry standard. I'm not sure why it doesn't play for you. I get a nice javascript frame that plays the video after i click play in both IE and firefox.

I can't believe i'm actually having this discussion at webmasterworld of all places.

[Fotiman]

I can't believe i'm actually having this discussion at webmasterworld of all places.

Like! :) It kills me how many people on this site only seem to care about advertising and lack an understanding of how the web actually works.

[np2003]

JAB Creations >
I'll be sticking with XP and likely long after Microsoft stops releasing security patches or until I can find a Linux distro that doesn't beg for me to waste time in the console every 20 seconds.


wow ok, you're using XP... which sucks. I guess you're using an outdated 2005 Nokia phone for communication and maybe HotBot search engine?

Some people are afraid of innovation and stick with what they know, my friends dad doesn't use the ATM because he doesn't trust it. I think you belong in this group... As long as it make you happy.

Meanwhile the world moves forward with iPhones, Windows 7, ground breaking new technology.

As someone who has tested Window s8, it is fantastic.
Microsoft is trying to compete with Apple's iphone/ipad tablets.

Apple is the world's 2nd most PROFITABLE business right now behind Exxon mobil. It's pretty amazing that a tech company is making more profit than 9/10 of all oil companies, insurance, real estate, pc hardware, car makers. It just goes to show how in demand their products are.

Microsoft wants that pie and Windows 8 is that!


ken_b>
Why would I want to do that?
Easy access means no more complicated for the user (you know, the prospective customer) than something like embedding a youtube video with a play button.


LOL html5 is astandard, moreso than Youtube. Its available in all modern browsers. Pretty shocking to see this statement on a webmaster forum. On second thoughts, maybe he's just a newbie who just jumped on the internet/web development.

[viggen]

...after 9 years i finally upgraded to Windows 7, and i am pleased i waited so long, I am happy for now and a while to come, so wake me up when windows 10 comes out...

[azn romeo 4u]

How many touch based PC's are there in homes? I know HP has been selling them, but don't seem like much other than phones and tablets.

[J_RaD]

its pretty much phone and tab.

thats why I say it looks like MS chased apple 50 miles down a 2 mile road.

[ByronM]

its pretty much phone and tab.

thats why I say it looks like MS chased apple 50 miles down a 2 mile road.

Phone, Tablet, Touch screen/Presentation displays, Touch Computers (selling fairly well mind you), Laptops (soon), Convertible laptops (turn into tablet), Point of Sale Machines (huge market), ATM's, Kiosks... I could go on and on..

Heck.. even new monitors for your desktop will be touch enabled starting this holiday season and a lot will be ultra thin that rotate down to use as a touch table type display.

Touch, Voice & Gesture is making a big play.. Its a large enough market that it has made apple a 500 billion dollar company

[Ferro9]

@np2003:

I work in IT since 1982, and I'm definitely not afraid of innovation. I usually install every new release of a software or of an OS a little bit too early, but that's just because I still enjoy this world after so many years.

Of course I own every gadget you can imagine, my daughter's Nintendo DS is probably more tweaked than some geeks' PCs and I have a fully domotic system in my house.

I won't buy Windows 8, though. It will be probably very successful, replacing Android in a loto of home gadget, phones or whatever. Is is simply not useful on my PCs.

If I'll find space to put a 27" touch screen all-in PC in my living room I'll be happy to buy Windows 8, but for my work needs it doesn't work.

PS English is not my first language, I'm not THAT ignorant... :)

[J_RaD]

Heck.. even new monitors for your desktop will be touch enabled starting this holiday season

my displays are out of an easy arms reach. Big LEDs don't need to be smack in front of your nose.