Windows 8 Consumer Preview

[shovenose]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Vista is only stable once you get SP2 installed.

I upgraded from XP Pro SP3 32-bit to Vista Home Premium SP2 64-bit, OMG vista is so much better!

[Agent24]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Vista is only stable once you get SP2 installed.

[smason]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

I also don't understand all the hate on Vista - sure, the x86 version sucked for people who were still running a P4 or AXP, but i used the x64 version for 3+ years on my main computer and only last year upgraded it to Win7. It worked just fine.

I agree. Vista (Pro , not Home) is just fine. My only 2 gripes, the print spooler is a but unstable, and it's way too quick to say some program is "not responding" when you really just need to wait for a few seconds.
Otherwise, it's stable. Yes they moved a bunch of stuff, but user profiles SHOULD be under users, not documents and settings... Much better once you get used to it.

[Agent24]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

On the more sinister side, there are articles now floating about to suggest that Windows 8 will likely have a "kill switch" to allow Microsoft to remove or disable programs they don't want you using, in the same way that Amazon can delete ebooks from your Kindle without your permission.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

HUH? You can't uninstall it or reformat the drive?

You can reformat. And you can also remove it without reformatting, albeit in an unofficial way. http://pureinfotech.com/2011/10/10/h...-step-by-step/

[ddscentral]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

After testing W8 on VMWare, I think I'll pass too.
I think W8 is more suitable for tablets with a touchscreen than normal desktop PCs.

Sure, you can disable Metro (at least, for now, don't know if they will leave that option in the final version) or just use Desktop mode, but then W8 looks much like W7 with almost no new features.

[Topcat]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

First, a word of caution. Only install it on a system that has no data that you can afford to lose. One installed, you cannot remove it.

HUH? You can't uninstall it or reformat the drive?

I dont even use win7 on my personal machines yet. Win8 isn't even on my radar. IMO, MS is jumping the gun on this bigtime. Win7 hasn't even really had time to season/mature, and they're already shitting out a new OS. My desktop PC isn't a tablet, nor do I want it looking or functioning like one.....so I'll pass.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

You're talking about user errors not system errors. Totally different animal.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

I reworded my post a little, and fixed the glaring error of putting XP infront of Win7.
Actually I'm undecided on if I want to put XP and Vista on a tie.
It's just sooo easy to trash XP.
Not that I do but the people I help to fix their shit once they've hit a bad link, the mess is usually catastrophic on XP, it's much harder to kill NT v6.x like that...

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

2003 Server was good and better than XP (aimed at a totally different market tho), but 7 is better than XP. This comes after 2.5 years of daily use. And XP was better than 2k, today if you want to run 2k you need a whole lotta crap on top of it to even get it to recognize all the devices in your computer.

I also don't understand all the hate on Vista - sure, the x86 version sucked for people who were still running a P4 or AXP, but i used the x64 version for 3+ years on my main computer and only last year upgraded it to Win7. It worked just fine.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

I haven't seen Windows 8 but from what I've read I want to stay as far away from it as possible!
From best to worst IMO:

Windows 2000 Professional (NT 5.0)
XP x64 Professional / Windows 2003 Server (NT 5.2)
Windows 7 (NT 6.1)
Windows XP (NT 5.1)
Windows Vista (NT 6.0)

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

I've posted it before, but here it is again: http://lifehacker.com/5840324/switch...indows-7-style

[PlainBill]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

From what I read I don't want anything to do with Windows 8. The Aero interface in seven is bad enough. I think Windows 8 would only bring out the Schizophrenia in me.

Well, it certainly brought out the frustration in me!!! I'm sure some of this was due to a new UI, but it really seems like a step back when all the icons are spread across three screen widths. There IS a menu that can be brought up - but only if you are on the first of the three screens.

PlainBill

[gerg]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

http://pureinfotech.com/2012/02/29/h...e-workstation/

yes

[lti]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Can this be installed in a virtual machine?

I don't like the new interface either. I guess Microsoft thinks everyone uses tablets or HP's all-in-one touchscreen computers.

[Junk Parts]

Re: Windows 8 Consumer Preview

From what I read I don't want anything to do with Windows 8. The Aero interface in seven is bad enough. I think Windows 8 would only bring out the Schizophrenia in me.

[PlainBill]

Did anyone else try this? What were your impressions?

First, a word of caution. Only install it on a system that has no data that you can afford to lose. One installed, you cannot remove it. I was expecting this, and took precautions. If past experience is any guideline, when the release version is available you may not be able to install it over the preview.

My initial reaction was underwhelming. Logically, when using a smartphone or tablet you expect to see some loss of functionality due to the small screen. Migrating the same limited functionality to the large screen seems counteproductive. I fail to see the advantage of having to scroll across the screen to find an icon.

Because it was installed on a clean system, there were no third part applications to try, but the supplied apps seem to have the same 'menu free' philosophy. I'll be playing with it some more to see if there is a hidden advantage I'm missing, but so far it eludes me.

PlainBill