JorgeA

Multibooter, Do you know what it means (on the CD in the screenshot) when it says that it "expires" on 12/31/98? --JorgeA

I'm not sure if this belongs in the current thread, but since we're talking performance -- The Developer and Consumer Previews can't read an optical disk in my test PC, unless it's already there at bootup. That's a significant defect in a certain type of performance, especially if one were to use Windows 8 on a regular basis as the primary OS. This reminds me that I need to check on this for the Release Preview. --JorgeA

I went looking for a hara-kiri image to post here, but all the ones I found were either copyrighted or fairly gruesome... --JorgeA

Ars Technica has published an insightful, evenhanded analysis of Windows 8's prospects on the business side: We've covered most of this territory in our thread, but it's interesting to see our impressions backed up in the tech press. --JorgeA

Huh, that would be weird (but not surprising anymore). Microsoft's own creation, not supported on its own websites? I think I'll try that and see what happens next time I boot up the RP. Would that be Metro IE10, or Desktop IE10, that's lacking Silverlight support? --JorgeA

Great point -- I hadn't thought of it that way! When it comes to the apps on the Metro start screen, my own focus had been on the effect that all those blinking and auto-scrolling tiles might have on epileptics. Irrespective of that, when I power up my PC I want to ease into the environment -- I don't want to start getting bombarded by a dozen different squares clamoring for my attention all at once. --JorgeA

That's right. Some people also use Windows Home Server flavors of Windows to run a (Windows) Media Center system, with a central network hard drive(s) sending recorded programs out to several TVs and/or Media Center extenders. Over time, it beats paying the cable company for "whole-house DVR" subscriptions, if you can handle the technical aspects. --JorgeA

Great find, Andre -- thanks! Looks like Steve Jobs (R.I.P.) knew something, a year-and-a-half ago, that Ballmer and Sinofsky stil don't know. No wonder Apple stock is at $560 while Microsoft stock has a hard time staying over $30. Not to mention that it really didn't require "tons of user testing" to realize that your arms are going to start hurting after more than a few minutes of poking a laptop screen, let alone a desktop monitor. I'm becoming increasingly convinced that Metro on Windows 8 is a desperation move... and people who feel desperate aren't necessarily the most clear-thinking. --JorgeA

+1 on everything you said! --JorgeA

Right on -- that would take care of most of the problems that we (I) have with Windows 8! Given the way they've been acting and talking, though, my guess is that MS is going to plow on with Metro, and then bring back the choice to disable/bypass it only after a massive customer backlash. --JorgeA

A veteran Microsoft observer gives the thumbs-down to Windows 8: --JorgeA

This ought to be quoted on every tech website, every news site, in every newspaper and every weekly magazine on the planet. --JorgeA

If I had to, I would choose Start8 over the Metro Start Screen. Start8 still has the Metro look (and that's a minus in my book), but at least it doesn't take over the whole screen, so you can still keep an eye on your open windows while selecting the next thing to open. This is especially handy for when you're following instructions -- say, on a webpage ("open this and then click on that"). Agreed on the desirability of having alternatives! --JorgeA

Fredledingue, Awful, just awful. If I want entertainment and ads when I turn on a screen, I'll go to the TV set -- not to my computer!! And if I want news or travel info when I'm on the computer, I'll open my IE Favorites, thank you. No need to push them at me as soon as I turn on the d*mn PC. And I certainly don't need this epileptic-seizure inducing Metro screen with all those tiles constantly blinking and scrolling, vying for my attention. That's a GREAT idea. Insurance for the future. --JorgeA

Just in case, old school method, rather effective : LOL -- works every time!! --JorgeA

xpclient, Thanks very much for this fantastic rundown. You really have delved deep into the OS -- and provided an extensive list of reasons to avoid Windows 8. Obviously not everyone uses all of the lost features every day, but I can't understand those who pooh-pooh these losses. It's like eliminating the left-right balance knob in a car stereo, the light over the vanity mirror, and the side pockets from the rear seats. Some people will say, "Who cares? I never use these," but as the feature removals add up they progressively reduce functionality and increase the number of cases where people will find their experience of driving to be diminished. --JorgeA

I remember reading somewhere, sometime, that the High Contrast color schemes are intended for people with impaired eyesight. Here's what I found tonight. It really is too bad, though, that they dropped the Windows Classic theme. Tally another point against Windows 8. Three years ago when I got my Vista machine (to replace a sick Windows 98 system), my first impulse was to change it over to Classic, but then I thought I'd leave each machine with its own "personality." Still, it's comforting to know that I can switch over to Classic anytime I want. --JorgeA

Before we get carried away with accusations of "deliberately misleading" articles, it might help to see what the website actually says: Paul Thurrott has gotten back to me with some clarification. He explains that what MS is doing is removing code that would allow developers to bring back "actual hidden Windows 7 features" like the Start Button/Menu. But he adds that there is nothing to stop developers from "recreating those old UIs on their own." So this is good news. For Classic Shell, I suppose that it will hinge on what ultimately becomes of the "undocumented behavior" that ibeltchev (in SourceForge) says Classic Shell depends on. Maybe over the next few weeks, or in the final commercial version, we will find out just what it is that third parties can no longer do with the UI that they could do in the DP and CP. Meanwhile, I can confirm (to my relief) that Start Menu 7 works in the RP. Even a brief visit to Thurrott's site will be enough to see that he has in fact installed and explored the RP. Indeed, this past week he's written on virtually nothing BUT the RP. --JorgeA

http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.de/2012/05/fear-and-loathing-and-windows-8.html Andre, That was well worth reading, thanks! If I quoted everything here that I liked about the article, i'd be cutting-and-pasting almost the whole thing. But for those who haven't seen it, here's a taste: And the bottom line: --JorgeA

Trying to get to the bottom of this, I was in contact with Paul Thurrott this afternoon. I asked him point-blank about reports that Classic Shell still works in the RP despite his earlier report. While I do not feel I am entitled to quote directly from a private communication, I can say generally that he reiterated that the process of obliterating all code related to the Start Menu is ongoing. (Moderator: if this is itself a Forum no-no, then by all means please delete this posting.) I trust Paul Thurrott. He has a lot of contacts within Microsoft, he knows about Windows as much as anyone on the planet, and IMHO if anything he's been a Microsoft supporter over the years, but this spring he made a remarkable turnaround from boosting Windows 8 to becoming quite dubious about what Microsoft is doing -- this speaks volumes for his integrity. Why on Earth would you say that the information is "deliberately" misleading? If anyone did any misleading, I doubt that it was Thurrott. Explain to me how or why Thurrott would knowingly do that. If anything, as an author of Windows guides his interest would be in building enthusiasm for the new version coming out (= more book sales), not in creating FUD as some of the people in the forum you linked to gratuitously allege. That would have the effect of (further) depressing sales of Windows 8 and, therefore, of his new book. That said, I hope it's true what ibeltchev says there about Classic Shell not depending (that much) on Windows code in order to work. --JorgeA

Windows 8 continues its meteoric rise, this time up from a 0.12% share all the way to 0.13%. The percentage was 0.14% in the week ending May 27. --JorgeA

Another acerbic, on-the-money comment on Windows 8: --JorgeA

Andrea, I concur with CoffeeFiend. The reports are that Microsoft is currently in the process of removing Windows code that makes Classic Shell possible. So, while we are still able to enjoy that feature in the Release Preview, we shouldn't count on still being able to do so when the final, commercial version of Windows 8 comes out in the fall. Therefore, unless xpclient (or someone as expert as him) devises a new way to bring back the Start Menu/Button, all we can say is: enjoy while it lasts! --JorgeA

Andrea, I second your idea of waiting a few days before installing Windows 8 RP. In my case I have a machine with Windows 7 and Developer Preview partitions, plus a CP VHD. I'll wait to see if it's possible to run a second VHD as well, this time for the RP. Regarding the Start Menu and Button, the concern (as reported in the link, up there in the original post) is that Microsoft is trying to root out all code that makes things such as Classic Shell even possible. I'm hoping that they fail. Welcome to MSFN! --JorgeA

I've read something about this recently. IIRC, it's starting to come out for automobiles (to make calls through Bluetooth?). But really. Unless the user is a quadraplegic (and voice input WOULD be very useful in their case), I can't see how it could possibly be more efficient than the mouse+keyboard combination. Especially if you need to amend or correct what you originally did. And then it introduces other usability and "multitasking" issues, as you then have to be careful what you say if you're on the phone by the PC, lest you screw up what's on the screen. It just doesn't seem practical for general business use. --JorgeA