Windows 8 "Release Preview" Released

Win Key + Delete + End = SE

That seems like it would be the proper set of keys!

Just kidding of course.

z3r010 said:

PooMan UK said:

I agree pal, I'm reckon it belongs in the bin along with Vista

I liked Vista very much, it was a great OS if you had decent hardware.

I thought I was the only one who actually had good things to say about Vista. I moved to Seven because I liked it better, but Vista was very good for me during its time.

I think Im going to be skipping Win 8 as well.

The main things I didn't like about Vista were not it simply being a larger then XP version of Windows. 1) The lack of support for Fat returned in 7 for newer devices like usb flash drive(Fat default) or external HDs(exFat) was obvious since you needed a program in order to allow Vista to see onto any factory Fat volume.

And 2) The 32bit 7's backward compatibility with many older XP items which included device drivers for chipsets, onboard sound, and even some AGP cards. Some pc game titles like Metal of Honor that simply wouldn't install on Vista went right on 7!

Other then these thing Vista was far more reliable in too many ways over XP. SP1 cleaned up most of Vista's initial bugs like not listing all physical memory installed while it took SP3 to get at least half of the bugs out of XP. As for 7 that was ready to go from just about the start while SP1 takes care of anything newer that would require the service pack be installed.

On the other hand while MS took forever to clean up XP and work faster and harder for 7 with Vista caught in the middle seeing delay after delay 8 is something else to begin with there! Most that will consider running 8 won't be replacing 7 if they have it on now but would simply be setting up dual boots.

The Metro UI is all touchscreen orientated to start with. That includes the new toolbar for settings and right click in lower left corner for a popup menu unfortunately blocked by the popup for the Start screen! That will automatically appear right when going to right click to bring up the other menu making that a nuisance!

The removal of the Start /shutdown, restart, logoff button as well as the main programs to make repeat trips back and forth to the Start screen as well as multistep process for simply restarting Windows for example when needed to install an update for something is what one blog writer labeled a "convoluted process".

What would have worked better for 8 was at least the option for or not for the Metro UI with a second option either for revision of the desktop when buying an OEM machine or when going to install the next version where you wouldn't be forced into this type of drastic new layout for desktop use. MS is likely to end up seeing a "flop" at best and worse then the let down with Vista seen with Vista as f ar as interest.

The new interface is certainly going to take some getting used to, but I don't have any problem with that. A change is as good as a rest, as the saying goes. I'm sure that, within a few months or so of its final release, 3rd party developers will have come around with programs and workarounds that replace some/all of the features (such as Start Menu) that MS have removed (or, at least, provide an alternative method).

So far I've held off trying it, I don't know why but it just didn't grab me like Windows 7 did when that was in beta. I love new technology but as I don't have a touch screen at present wouldn't be able to really give it a fair try.

When 7 was in beta I was really excited about the OS and partitioned my machine so I could dual boot with Vista, by the way I loved that as well because I had no problems with it, probably because my machine came with it installed so had the hardware to run it.

Windows 7 was even better when the offer of pre ordering it was made available at a very good price. So far I can't seem to get the enthusiasm to partition again for 8 or try to run it in a VM.

I'll see just how long it lasts before I decide I must have the latest.

Paarkhi said:

Win 8 on desktop is certainly not designed in a way as we are normally used to work, as some users here said now we need extra clicks and a memory to remember more KB shortcuts, so even I'm planning to skip it as I don't find anything new for my usage, in fact I find the lack of restore previous versions of files a very annoying thing. (now you cannot make a shadow backup of files on the same hdd as in win 7)

It's a shame that previous versions has gone. However the underlying technology is still there and you can use Shadow explorer to access it. ShadowExplorer.com - About