Windows 8 - Early reviews look promising

[bigboss]

:cheers:

Downloading Windows 8 Pro now..... need the weekend to test it before the Lumia in the next week or 2.

Are you getting a lumia 820 or 920 BigBoss?

920.

 

[bigboss]

This is absolutely awesome!! I simply linked my google & facebook accounts to my contacts, & I get all notifications from my email & facebook in it! Internet Explorer is the fastest browser I've seen so far. The live tiles constantly update information, like emails, calendar, weather, news, notifications etc. It's a lot more than mere cosmetic changes from what I can see so far. Microsoft has produced something really stunning here. Still getting used to the full screens (IE & all apps open as a full screen, utilising the entire screen).

I don't feel hampered by lack of a touch screen.

Nice to see I can now backup my PC to a network drive.

 

[chebby]

All the native apps run in full-screen by default and you have to drag them to the sidebar to have multiple windows. Its counter-intuitive to how windowing systems have worked for the last 40 years of so.

So can I have two resized browser windows running with one showing an iPlayer programme (or YouTube video) whilst I surf the internet on the other one?

How about industrial users? When working I sometimes need loads of applications running and I like to drop onto one whilst keeping an eye on others. It would be hopeless having to select each from a sidebar all the time.

I cannot believe this is true for the PC/laptop version at least.

 

[chebby]

Still getting used to the full screens (IE & all apps open as a full screen, utilising the entire screen).

Why does that make you happy? Sounds a bl##dy disaster.

 

[bigboss]

It's a steep learning curve though. I'm struggling to open multiple windows in IE. Any ideas? :?

 

[bigboss]

Still getting used to the full screens (IE & all apps open as a full screen, utilising the entire screen).

Why does that make you happy? Sounds a bl##dy disaster.

I'm just finding it funny!

It's not a total disaster, as translucent things spring up when you move the cursor towards one corner. A lot more of the webpage is visible with full screen.

 

[chebby]

It's not a total disaster, as translucent things spring up when you move the cursor towards one corner. A lot more of the webpage is visible with full screen.

I'm talking about having to have multiple windows open at the same time for monitoring stuff. With all the sessions remembering how big they were - and where they were - from the last time they were used, so I don't have to spend valuable time every day re-sizing everything (even assuming that's possible).

 

[simonlewis]

It's not a total disaster, as translucent things spring up when you move the cursor towards one corner. A lot more of the webpage is visible with full screen.

I'm talking about having to have multiple windows open at the same time for monitoring stuff. With all the sessions remembering how big they were - and where they were - from the last time they were used, so I don't have to spend valuable time every day re-sizing everything (even assuming that's possible).

I have multiple tabs open rather than windows & that is a lot easier.

 

[bigboss]

I've managed to reduce the size of the webpage to occupy only the left third of space. I'm sure there is a way to get multiple windows to open at the same time. Still learning.

You can always go to desktop mode which is exactly the same as Windows 7.

I figured out how to open multiple sites. Just right click anywhere on the page & all the open pages come on the top screen.

 

[chebby]

You can always go to desktop mode which is exactly the same as Windows 7.

Aha!

Thanks.

 

[AnotherJoe]

All the native apps run in full-screen by default and you have to drag them to the sidebar to have multiple windows. Its counter-intuitive to how windowing systems have worked for the last 40 years of so.

So can I have two resized browser windows running with one showing an iPlayer programme (or YouTube video) whilst I surf the internet on the other one?

How about industrial users? When working I sometimes need loads of applications running and I like to drop onto one whilst keeping an eye on others. It would be hopeless having to select each from a sidebar all the time.

I cannot believe this is true for the PC/laptop version at least.

Yes you can - you click on the desktop tile and it brings up the desktop from win7 (minus the start button)

But it makes the tile startscreen largely irrelevant. I imagine most people - on a desktop at least - will use windows this way.

Before you used to press 'start->all programs' and you got a list of all your programs in a tidy hierachy. Rightlicking on the tiled homescreen brings up an 'all apps' button and clicking this brings up a load of tiles (one for each app and the sub-apps) in a higgledy piggledy layout (albeit in alphabetical order). Its hard to tell where one app starts, and looks cluttered.

I also dont like the fact that theres no longer the 3d effect with shadows for windows that you open. It reminds me somewhat of a linux desktop from 2-3 years back, before they starting adding customisable skins.

 

[AnotherJoe]

I recommend this nifty little utilty that brings back the start button. It can give your skin the look and feel of windows classic, winxp or vista/win7.

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

 

[landzw]

This is absolutely awesome!! I simply linked my google & facebook accounts to my contacts, & I get all notifications from my email & facebook in it! Internet Explorer is the fastest browser I've seen so far. The live tiles constantly update information, like emails, calendar, weather, news, notifications etc. It's a lot more than mere cosmetic changes from what I can see so far. Microsoft has produced something really stunning here. Still getting used to the full screens (IE & all apps open as a full screen, utilising the entire screen).

I don't feel hampered by lack of a touch screen.

Nice to see I can now backup my PC to a network drive.

If you like Windows 8 Tiles and live updates you will like the Nokia 920

 

[bigboss]

That's what I think as well, one of the reasons why I decided to install Win 8 so quickly (so I have the weekend to test it). The only thing which is slightly odd, is when certain applications (like backup) suddenly take you to Windows 7 environment. I think Microsoft has settled for the compromise to help people get accustomed to the new platform, before switching over completely to live tiles based OS with Windows 9.

 

[professorhat]

Not wanting to spoil the party, but sounds like a number of things you like bigboss, have actually been in OS X for a while...

 

[AnotherJoe]

Not wanting to spoil the party, but sounds like a number of things you like bigboss, have actually been in OS X for a while...

It is now quite similar to Android in some ways. The live tiles are like widgets (without the animations), and the combining of facebook,email, sms,twitter etc into one app has been in HTC's friendstream for years.

The first thing I did was to find out how to bring back the start button - but I dont see much that improves over win7. Some apps launch fullscreen in the new UI, but most stuff seems to open under the Win7 desktop - and u have to keep changing back and forth between the 2 UIs.

I can't say I'm a fan. I can see how it might work on touch screen though - windows RTM on a tablet might be interesting.

 

[bigboss]

Not wanting to spoil the party, but sounds like a number of things you like bigboss, have actually been in OS X for a while...

I've got MBP as well, & it doesn't do things the way Windows 8 does. The full screens are quite different from OS X full screens. There is absolutely nothing but the web page....no bars nothing (unlike OS X).

Everyone gets 'inspired' by others, just like iOS borrowed a lot of features from Android.

You need to try it out to see. Windows 8 is vastly different from OS X. You won't think of any of the similarities.

 

[bigboss]

How do I merge duplicate contacts? Windows 8issynchronising my contacts list. Will it do it automatically?

 

[professorhat]

Not wanting to spoil the party, but sounds like a number of things you like bigboss, have actually been in OS X for a while...

I've got MBP as well, & it doesn't do things the way Windows 8 does. The full screens are quite different from OS X full screens. There is absolutely nothing but the web page....no bars nothing (unlike OS X).

Everyone gets 'inspired' by others, just like iOS borrowed a lot of features from Android.

You need to try it out to see. Windows 8 is vastly different from OS X. You won't think of any of the similarities.

Yes, sorry, got home last night having had a few jars and was obviously feeling a bit mischevious when I posted that

Have tried the Consumer Preview earlier in the year and decided from that that I'd probably quite like it on a touchscreen tablet / laptop, but I didn't really get on with it with my standard laptop, so I'll probably just stick with Windows 7 for this. At some point, I'm sure I'll upgrade to a laptop / tablet hybrid (perhaps the Surface Pro), and this will then of course come with Windows 8 anyway.

 

[bigboss]

I'm interested in Surface Pro & the hybrid laptops to replace my Vaio sometime in June next year. Suddenly, all these old laptops seem very heavy! Hopefully, by next year, 512GB SSD will be the norm, or a hybrid drive, like Apple's fusion drive.

 

[Papalazarou75]

just thought i'd mention you can get the win 8 media add on pack for free for a while, if you go into the add features bit, a link leads you to the ms website,all it asks if for a valid email address & you will get a free key within 24 hours, apparently.

 

[bigboss]

just thought i'd mention you can get the win 8 media add on pack for free for a while, if you go into the add features bit, a link leads you to the ms website,all it asks if for a valid email address & you will get a free key within 24 hours, apparently.

:cheers:

I was aware of Windows Media Center being offered for free for Win 8 Pro users, but didn't know how to get it!

Product key ordered.

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57540793-285/how-to-add-windows-media-center-to-windows-8-pro-for-free/

 

[AnotherJoe]

The new UI really is lacking as far as desktops are concerned.

You can ONLY either have 1 app fullscreen - or 1 app taking up 4/5 of the screen, and a 2nd app the 1/5 left over.

So you have to use the win7 desktop to any multi-windowing - which Im guessing is how "Windows" got its name.

I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that you should be able to turn off the tile homescreen for desktop/laptops and just leave it on for tablets/phones.

 

[bigboss]

Give it & yourself some more time Joe! Where's the hurry to come to rapid conclusions?

 

[Papalazarou75]

The new UI really is lacking as far as desktops are concerned.

You can ONLY either have 1 app fullscreen - or 1 app taking up 4/5 of the screen, and a 2nd app the 1/5 left over.

So you have to use the win7 desktop to any multi-windowing - which Im guessing is how "Windows" got its name.

I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that you should be able to turn off the tile homescreen for desktop/laptops and just leave it on for tablets/phones.

i agree, trouble is first impressions are everything & the tiles thing is really for touch screen regardless so the option should be there, BIG oversight imo,Microsoft got bit with vista & as much as win 8 has some funky features I can't help think it will be another big elephant in the room.

most pc users want an os for a pc(if you want a tablet fine go buy one),a one size fits all solution may be cost effective from a production point ,but it needs to be customisable,I like ubuntu as it has options to run with netbook interface or standard,this should be the model.

as much as i said i wouldn't,i have downloaded win 8 for £24.99 & i am prepared to give it a proper evaluation,the release is better than both previews & hopefully a hotfix here n there may get us all where we want to be