Windows 8

[Link9rly]

I've used it and I see that it would be a user friendly operating system... if I had a tablet, which I don't. I'm sticking with Windows 7 and Leopard/ Lion for now. I know that it has the normal desktop environment but it's not the default shell. I wish that the Metro UI could be disabled.

[Reece]

Yes. Exactly. This is way to tablet orientated. It isn't that bad for desktops, but I'll be sticking with Windows 7.

[SugarD]

Yes. Exactly. This is way to tablet orientated. It isn't that bad for desktops, but I'll be stinking with Windows 7.

Sticking*?

I've been watching Windows 8 and it's not as bad as they first presented it to be. Keyboards and mice are still a standard second option for navigating on touchscreen systems, and obviously the primary on non-touchscreen ones too. The Metro GUI appears to also be the main GUI in the system, but the "Windows Classic" GUI is still available behind it for running other programs in an updated/modified version of the Windows 7 environment. All in all, not bad compared to their original plans. Merging tablets, netbooks, laptops, touchscreen computers, desktops, and their phone series isn't completely a bad idea. One day phones will be as powerful as desktop computers in basic senses, so they will likely all be using one OS one day, just as Microsoft is pushing right now for the uniformity of them.

[Reece]

Sticking*?

I've been watching Windows 8 and it's not as bad as they first presented it to be. Keyboards and mice are still a standard second option for navigating on touchscreen systems, and obviously the primary on non-touchscreen ones too. The Metro GUI appears to also be the main GUI in the system, but the "Windows Classic" GUI is still available behind it for running other programs in an updated/modified version of the Windows 7 environment. All in all, not bad compared to their original plans. Merging tablets, netbooks, laptops, touchscreen computers, desktops, and their phone series isn't completely a bad idea. One day phones will be as powerful as desktop computers in basic senses, so they will likely all be using one OS one day, just as Microsoft is pushing right now for the uniformity of them.

Woops. Yeah.

[Gimli]

http://lifehacker.com/5841702/windows-8-speed-tests-its-faster-at-pretty-much-everything

[SugarD]

That is awesome!

[Darxez]

http://lifehacker.com/5841702/windows-8-speed-tests-its-faster-at-pretty-much-everything

No difference -,-

[Julio.]

Sticking*?

I've been watching Windows 8 and it's not as bad as they first presented it to be. Keyboards and mice are still a standard second option for navigating on touchscreen systems, and obviously the primary on non-touchscreen ones too. The Metro GUI appears to also be the main GUI in the system, but the "Windows Classic" GUI is still available behind it for running other programs in an updated/modified version of the Windows 7 environment. All in all, not bad compared to their original plans. Merging tablets, netbooks, laptops, touchscreen computers, desktops, and their phone series isn't completely a bad idea. One day phones will be as powerful as desktop computers in basic senses, so they will likely all be using one OS one day, just as Microsoft is pushing right now for the uniformity of them.

Desktops will always be faster, because you will always be able to fit more in a bigger area.

The only time mobile devices will be faster will be when they stop developing desktops for about 10 years, but that'll never happen, because people will always want powerful PCs, they may grow smaller, but then it will not be fair to compare 10 year old technology to modern kit.

An old P2 for example is probably slower than a Quad core Tesla, but the P2 is outdated, old, so comparing the two is unfair.


I totally agree with markab99, I reckon what they've done is simply reduced native support of drivers, so to get the correct drivers you'll need to download them. Probably a few other things as well, which theyclaim 'OMG, this is good, its on the cloud,' when actually, it's a downside.

Also, on the 3D Mark score the CPU score actually went down. This suggests to me that the graphics interface is simply lighter, and the program is less optimised in terms of processing.

Then again, it's still only a consumer preview, lets wait and see 

[Yihka]

Well, to list some "features" that are going to be added (Directly copied from wikipedia but I have been following the news so I know it's correct):

Features:

Interesting features (IMHO):
-Metro Design ( I see this as a replacement for the start menu )
-Ability to sign in using a Microsoft account. This will allow for the user's profile and settings to be synchronized over the internet and accessible from other computers running Windows 8, as well as integration with SkyDrive. ( Useful to sync windows-related stuff. + Dropbox-like funcitonality. )
-Windows Explorer will include a ribbon toolbar, and have its file operation progress dialog updated to provide more detailed statistics, the ability to pause file transfers, and improvements in the ability to manage conflicts when copying files. ( I find the ribbon interface easier to use IMHO and the more detailed statistics is really useful, those file transfer windows bug me in windows 7. )
-Hybrid Boot will use "advanced hibernation functionality" on shutdown to allow faster startup times. ( A BIG plus. )
-Windows To Go will allow Windows 8 to boot and run from a bootable USB device (such as a flash drive).
-Two new recovery functions are included, Refresh and Reset. Refresh restores all Windows files to their original state while keeping settings, files, and Metro-style apps, while reset takes the computer back to factory default condition. ( Useful to reset stuff. )
-Native USB 3.0 support.
-New Windows Task Manager design. ( More statistics, really cool. )
-Storage Spaces will allow users to combine different sized hard disks into virtual drives and specify mirroring, parity, or no redundancy on a folder-by-folder basis.
-Family Safety will allow parents to protect their children on internet, as well as monitor and control their PC and internet activities and usage.

Less interesting features:
-A new lock screen.
-Xbox Live integration (including Xbox Live Arcade and Xbox Companion)
-Two new authentication methods: picture password, which allows users to log in by drawing three gestures in different places on a picture, and PIN log in, which allows users to authenticate using a four digit pin.

Link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_8

I think the more detailed windows, the ribbon interface, the metro interface, the faster start up times and the feature to be easily able to restore windows 8 are good features to be using it instead.

[Julio.]

In my opinion skydrive is a pile of the brown stuff.

Why on earth would you want your data stored somewhere where you can physically reach it? It's a stupid idea imho, a memory stick is far quicker, safer and more reliable.

[stormeus]

Figured that I'd note that the boot screen in Windows 8 is one of a betta fish -- betta, beta, get it?

[Reece]

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/windows-8-to-drop-aero-ui-for-desktop-1081981

[Link9rly]

Yeah... I'm not switching to Windows 8 anytime soon. I love the Aero UI, especially when I tweak it.

[Teddy]

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/windows-8-to-drop-aero-ui-for-desktop-1081981

They shall assume windows 3.0 Style again.



That's hot sh*t, you can't deny it.

In all Seriousness, I agree with Link. I do not approve of the removal of this UI.

Figured that I'd note that the boot screen in Windows 8 is one of a betta fish -- betta, beta, get it?

Was also done in Windows 7, was the default wallpaper