Windows 8 "Release Preview" Released

[windude99]

The only thing that I like about Windows 8 is the improved boot times. Even then, it isn't a clean boot and the restart is the same speed as Windows 7. For all of us ssd people, we can just skip Windows 8 as ssds make Windows 7 boot up lightning fast.

 

[Brds7t7]

The only thing that I like about Windows 8 is the improved boot times. Even then, it isn't a clean boot and the restart is the same speed as Windows 7. For all of us ssd people, we can just skip Windows 8 as ssds make Windows 7 boot up lightning fast.

Yes, I did notice the booting was very quick on Win8.

I'm getting an SSD in two weeks time. Can't wait!

 

[Night Hawk]

The Classic Shell works out better then the others seen for 8 so far! You can customize the Shutdown options as well as the Start button itself.

Generally anything you find over at the sourceforge site is well written anyways.

 

[Brds7t7]

The Classic Shell works out better then the others seen for 8 so far! You can customize the Shutdown options as well as the Start button itself.

Generally anything you find over at the sourceforge site is well written anyways.

Yeah I've been using Classic Shell on 7 but only the explorer option and not the Start Menu. Completely forgot it had a Start Menu until Jimbo reminded me!

 

[lehnerus2000]

Agreed

The Classic Shell works out better then the others seen for 8 so far! You can customize the Shutdown options as well as the Start button itself.

Generally anything you find over at the sourceforge site is well written anyways.

Agreed.
Most of my software comes from SourceForge.

 

[Night Hawk]

Sourgeforge of course is all open source wares to find there while they write up a lot of good tools for Windows as well as other OSs. One security tool to wipe a drive entirely called Eraser can be found there too if you ever go to dump a worn drive or sell your pc and want all data wiped completely.

Acronis also offers a secure disk wipe option if you have that for backup and imaging already. I still will need to see how the 2010 Home version will work now that the RP is out.

The one thing about the Classic Shell that does lack is offered with the StartMenu7 app as far as the Start>Program menu screen as far as size and layout. The other program expands outward across 2/3rds of the screen while the Classic Shell's Start is confined space wise to the one corner more or less. Most are accustomed to seeing the Start menu being larger in size between Vista and 7's own.

This one offers quite a bit more then the free to try versions of the other programs however and is free to start with. There's no need to pay out for a full version to get everything. That also makes this one far more invlting.

 

[kado897]

If you ignore Metro and the lack of a proper start menu it quite nice.

 

[Night Hawk]

I'm not saying the rest of 8 hasn't seen some improvements overall as far as security, backup and restoration, and other main functions. The gui change is the main obstacle most are attempting to deal with.

Here compatibility issues would make 8 a candidate for second OS only. For anyone using an older MS optical mouse plugged in by way of a PS/2 adapter the lastest two updates 8.0 and 8.2 for the Intellipoint software has a new device detection screen where now you have to plug the mouse into a usb port in order to see the software work.

On 7 it doesn't matter if the older Trackball Explorer optical mouse is plugged in either way since I can simply run with an earlier version of the same. That helps when you are planning to boot with a live disk or flash drive with another OS in use there having the PS/2 adapter.

As far as video, sound not one problem! Getting the Gigabyte board's software to work and install chipset and other drivers however has been another obstacle I would have the Windows updates would have solved.

 

[Katanyavich]

Here's a shot of Start Menu 7 on my 64-bit CP....

 

[Night Hawk]

Just remember you will either need to find a way to get the 8 side bar to pop out for the power button found there on the right side or create shutdown shortcuts in the "C:\AppData>microsoft>Windows>Start>Programs\" folder just to restart, logoff, or shut everything down.

The StartMenu7 looks better then the others however as far as appearance but takes up almost 2/3rds of the screen when opened while the Classic Shell was confined to the one corner. The CS on the other hand could be just a little larger in size likely when adjusting the column size settings for it.

 

[Katanyavich]

Start Menu 7 is scalable, you can drag to re-size.

There are a few different skins, too.

The green button in the centre of the bottom bar brings
up a shut-down menu as shown below.

 

[kado897]

The thing about Classic Shell is that it is completely customisable and skinnable so you can have what you want in it. It is also completely free. You don't have to pony up to get the full features.

 

[Night Hawk]

That's another thing right there to consider. When opening up the configuration screen you see two rows of tabs for everything like the Start menu as well as column size all packaged together.

The ViStart's Start8, StartMenu7, and others that will likely come along all have a paid for full version apart from the freebie most run into. The problem of course with the more to come is some will be nothing more then gmic ware for sale.

 

[jimbo45]

And I totally don't understand the mentality of having a dedicated "metro app" for stuff like
1). Remote desktop
2). wikipedia.

I mean, for pete's sake, this crap does NOT need it's own full screen, high resolution application. Since when is opening a web browser and viewing Wikipedia too much to ask.

Hi there
@pparks -- you can still use the "classic" rdp on W8 RP.

run mstsc.exe from command line (or make a short cut link if you don't like using the CL.

screenshot enclosed

You get back all the options as before (and it's better too -- background screen stuff on remote computer enabled etc etc. Just select the options).

cheers
jimbo

 

[pparks1]

^ @ Jimbo: I understand that you can use the classic RDP client. I'm just baffled as to the "need" of having metro based versions of these applications. It just seems to be a desire to have the OS running just like tablets and smartphones. For those who like this format, I guess it's an improvement. For those of us, using Windows for over 20 years and are used to the way that our desktops have always worked, this seems like a huge step backwards.

With respect to all of the "classic shell" stuff, I guess I am just confused as to why it's advantageous to spend all of this time and effort to rework Windows 8 to work as we want, when we already have Windows 7 which is more or less working as we want already. Out of principal, I don't see the need to pay Microsoft additional funds for a new product that doesn't remotely work the way that I want it to. I would rather not support the product, have their numbers go down and then they can reconsider the direction they are going with the product. Perhaps if I had found any functionality that really worked a ton better or make me more efficient I would feel differently, but I've yet to find any real solid benefits of Windows 8. Anybody want to fill me in on anything I am missing that is far superior?

 

[kado897]

^ @ Jimbo: I understand that you can use the classic RDP client. I'm just baffled as to the "need" of having metro based versions of these applications. It just seems to be a desire to have the OS running just like tablets and smartphones. For those who like this format, I guess it's an improvement. For those of us, using Windows for over 20 years and are used to the way that our desktops have always worked, this seems like a huge step backwards.

With respect to all of the "classic shell" stuff, I guess I am just confused as to why it's advantageous to spend all of this time and effort to rework Windows 8 to work as we want, when we already have Windows 7 which is more or less working as we want already. Out of principal, I don't see the need to pay Microsoft additional funds for a new product that doesn't remotely work the way that I want it to. I would rather not support the product, have their numbers go down and then they can reconsider the direction they are going with the product. Perhaps if I had found any functionality that really worked a ton better or make me more efficient I would feel differently, but I've yet to find any real solid benefits of Windows 8. Anybody want to fill me in on anything I am missing that is far superior?

No. I doubt if I will upgrade either. I was just offering an alternative solution.

 

[pparks1]

It just seems like the world is spending quite a bit of time trying to make this a usable product. Like I said, if there were 10 massive improvements and just the Metro interface to work around, it might be worth it. But I'm struggling to find those other massive improvements to make the effort worthwhile. Perhaps if I had a Windows based tablet I would feel different, but I don't have one and I don't expect to be getting one anytime soon. My current Android tablet does what I need and it's only useful for a few different things. For everything else I do, I immediately put down the tablet and pick up my laptop or use my desktop. These are just far more functional and efficient devices for me.

I'm perfectly content with skipping a release and don't feel compelled to have to use the latest and "greatest". Just because MS says it's awesome and expects i will love it, doesn't mean that I will.

 

[kado897]

My problem is that I will probably want to get a new PC in a years time and I guess that will have W8 pre-loaded. I don't see why I should have to pay again to get an OS I can use.

 

[Brds7t7]

^ @ Jimbo: I understand that you can use the classic RDP client. I'm just baffled as to the "need" of having metro based versions of these applications. It just seems to be a desire to have the OS running just like tablets and smartphones. For those who like this format, I guess it's an improvement. For those of us, using Windows for over 20 years and are used to the way that our desktops have always worked, this seems like a huge step backwards.

With respect to all of the "classic shell" stuff, I guess I am just confused as to why it's advantageous to spend all of this time and effort to rework Windows 8 to work as we want, when we already have Windows 7 which is more or less working as we want already. Out of principal, I don't see the need to pay Microsoft additional funds for a new product that doesn't remotely work the way that I want it to. I would rather not support the product, have their numbers go down and then they can reconsider the direction they are going with the product. Perhaps if I had found any functionality that really worked a ton better or make me more efficient I would feel differently, but I've yet to find any real solid benefits of Windows 8. Anybody want to fill me in on anything I am missing that is far superior?

I agree, we shouldn't need to install these programs to make Win8 usable.

To be honest I'm just using Classic Shell to try and navigate around the Preview in Virtualbox a little easier.

But in no way will I be buying Windows 8 unless they make some major changes.

 

[geeve420]

As someone else pointed out, if they are trying to incorporate your desktop with your smartphone and tablet to have a complete Windows experience, they are missing one thing..... sales of the later two. I, like the previous poster have seen the windows phones at the store, but have yet to see or know anyone who has them. I have an Android, i have flashed so many ROMs on it I lost count, total cost was $0 for this. My Nook Color runs CM7 Android and has become a full blown tablet, cost for this was $20 for the SD card. What will MS charge me (cause you know it won't be free) for the ARM based version to run on my phone or my Nook, or is it even going to be available for me to download like that. Then I have to pay to upgrade my PC to have the whole "experience". No thanks didn't like it when I tried it and don't want it on everything I own.

I am more excited to see the Ubuntu phone than I am for this. At least with it I can plug the phone in and have a complete working desktop or carry it as a phone and still have all my files and a full OS right there. I have read it will be avaible for $0 to download and add to any device that is ARM based. With the amount of DEVs that work on this kind of thing, and MS keeping things closed source, i think it will see more light than this MS mistake.

What I am getting at is this idea has already been done and better by the like of Google (android) and Apple. Now the open source community is jumping in. MS once again is late to the party, and they brought some really bad and boring chip dip.

Geeve

*This is my opinion of course