Windows 8 Consumer Preview due February 29: why it's not called beta

[Airbot]

Summary: The Windows 8 Consumer Preview will be available for download on February 29. Why isn’t it called a beta? Blame Google. And Apple. And Microsoft. Especially Microsoft.

more at source..


Posted here at Eight Forums

 

[Dave76]

The CP at the end of Feb, was hoping for next week

This will be interesting.

 

[andyparks]

will there be a windows 8 update advisor to use

 

[Dave76]

More than likely but, haven't seen or heard of one yet.

They did say that any system that can run Windows 7 can run Windows 8.

 

[seekermeister]

The question for me, is what real advantage that 8 has over 7? I'm not talking about cosmetics or redesigning, but things that 8 can accomplish that 7 can't.

 

[Dave76]

That is a one sided question, I'm sure they can both accomplish the same things.
But how fast they do them, added features, etc.

If anyone doesn't think Windows 8 is for them, for any reason, then Windows 7 is an excellent OS.

Windows 8 Will Be a Winner: 10 Reasons Why

From post #13

• Improved multi-monitor support
• Native USB 3.0 stack
• Reduced boot time
• Significantly lower memory footprint
• Storage Spaces (virtualized storage pools)
• New files system (ReFS)
• Improved SSD support and performance
• Built-in antivirus and spyware protection
• Improved automatic updating system (less frequent reboot required updates)
• Built in support for creating system images and full system restore
• Built-in ISO mounting
• Built-in VHD mounting
• Built-in PDF support
• Automatic cloud based backup of system settings, Personal files, and Metro applications
• New interface for Shadow Copy
• Windows Store sells desktop software
• Drastically improved task manager
• Drastically improved file management allowing you to pause file copying jobs and finish them later
• Windows 8 has basically become rootkit proof when combined with UEFI
• Hyper-V

Various reviews of the beta candidate builds confirm noticeably improved performance over Windows 7 SP1.

 

[lehnerus2000]

I guess that we'll find out soon

Reduced boot time
Meh (6 - 10 seconds on my PC).

Significantly lower memory footprint
Good (uses 1/3 less RAM on my PC).

New files system (ReFS)
I read somewhere (ZDNet?) that is only going to be on the W8 Server.

Built-in VHD mounting
Doesn't W7 already have that?
That's how I'm running Windows 8 DP.

Drastically improved task manager
What's better about it (apart from the Network stats)?
It still doesn't seem to do half the things that Process Explorer does.

Windows 8 has basically become rootkit proof when combined with UEFI
I read somewhere (ZDNet?) that someone has already figured out how to bypass that protection.

Various reviews of the beta candidate builds confirm noticeably improved performance over Windows 7 SP1.

It doesn't seem to be slower than W7 on my PC.

 

[seekermeister]

Boot time would be nice, but I'm guessing that is for using UEFI, but if I understand, that requires hardware designed for it (motherboard), which mine isn't.

 

[andyparks]

can't wait to try it out hopefully there will be not as any bugs and all programs that run on wind 7 will run on wind 8

 

[jimbo45]

That is a one sided question, I'm sure they can both accomplish the same things.
But how fast they do them, added features, etc.

If anyone doesn't think Windows 8 is for them, for any reason, then Windows 7 is an excellent OS.

Windows 8 Will Be a Winner: 10 Reasons Why

From post #13

• Improved multi-monitor support
• Native USB 3.0 stack
• Reduced boot time
• Significantly lower memory footprint
• Storage Spaces (virtualized storage pools)
• New files system (ReFS)
• Improved SSD support and performance
• Built-in antivirus and spyware protection
• Improved automatic updating system (less frequent reboot required updates)
• Built in support for creating system images and full system restore
• Built-in ISO mounting
• Built-in VHD mounting
• Built-in PDF support
• Automatic cloud based backup of system settings, Personal files, and Metro applications
• New interface for Shadow Copy
• Windows Store sells desktop software
• Drastically improved task manager
• Drastically improved file management allowing you to pause file copying jobs and finish them later
• Windows 8 has basically become rootkit proof when combined with UEFI
• Hyper-V

Various reviews of the beta candidate builds confirm noticeably improved performance over Windows 7 SP1.

Hi there
Don't disagree with the logic -- think W8 WILL be great but your Maths is WAY WAY off

You say in the post 10 reasons etc but you list AT LEAST 19 here !!!!! -- Or is my English beginning to get bad after seeing Manchester Utd making really heavy weather ahainst Ajax tonight in a Brussels Bar where everybody is drinking themselves silly !!! Brits and Dutch alike plus some interested 3rd parties.

Ist time I've tried posting using a Smart Phone !!.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Dave76]

Someone asked about the differences between 7 & 8.

It's not from me, it's from the link.
The original news link:
Windows 8 Will Be a Winner: 10 Reasons Why

The list was from a member adding up the things he found.

From post #13

It's all good.

 

[unifex]

That is a one sided question, I'm sure they can both accomplish the same things.
But how fast they do them, added features, etc.

If anyone doesn't think Windows 8 is for them, for any reason, then Windows 7 is an excellent OS.

Windows 8 Will Be a Winner: 10 Reasons Why

From post #13

• Improved multi-monitor support
• Native USB 3.0 stack
• Reduced boot time
• Significantly lower memory footprint
• Storage Spaces (virtualized storage pools)
• New files system (ReFS)
• Improved SSD support and performance
• Built-in antivirus and spyware protection
• Improved automatic updating system (less frequent reboot required updates)
• Built in support for creating system images and full system restore
• Built-in ISO mounting
• Built-in VHD mounting
• Built-in PDF support
• Automatic cloud based backup of system settings, Personal files, and Metro applications
• New interface for Shadow Copy
• Windows Store sells desktop software
• Drastically improved task manager
• Drastically improved file management allowing you to pause file copying jobs and finish them later
• Windows 8 has basically become rootkit proof when combined with UEFI
• Hyper-V

Various reviews of the beta candidate builds confirm noticeably improved performance over Windows 7 SP1.

Am I alone thinking that Windows Store selling software is not at all a feature of an OS? Personally I will remove/disable this immediately after getting W8.

UEFI has nothing to do with the OS either - and my current hardware does not support it. Mind you, I'm not planning a hardware upgrade in the foreseeable future.

I don't care for the Cloud features and boot time - my current system boots faster than it takes me to make a sandwich .

Now, the thing that I would welcome in a new OS is an improvement of the basic OS functions, namely file copying speeds. Currently to copy a file between two folders takes too long, it's simply too slow compared to the theoretic hardware capabilities. Ext file system (the one used on UNIX machines) is way faster than NTFS. Is the new file system for W8 faster than NTFS? If so, I will certainly upgrade. If not, I just don't see a point (beyond simple curiosity and pure love for new shiny gadgets ).

And unfortunately I too have read somewhere that the new file system will not make it to the consumer desktop edition of W8. Is that so? Which file system is used in the developers preview (I skipped that one)?

 

[Miranova23]

I'd imagine the file copying speeds are mostly governed by the hardware's physical capabilities.

What I can't imagine, though, is anything too drastic that would need much improving in Win7... I do welcome any true improvements the company can think of, but I'm fearful that trying to make a desktop OS uniformly geared for touch is going to annoy the heck out of my little mouse and I.