Windows 8 "Release Preview" Released

[alphanumeric]

I guess its time to relearn some keyboard shortcut keys. =(

Got a short cut for Secure Erase?

lol, no. I've been using Windows key + D, Windows key + I, and Windows key + X a lot so far. I've also been pining a lot of apps to my taskbar.

 

[Hopalong X]

Win Key + Delete + End = SE

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

Just kidding of course.

 

[Wishmaster]

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.

 

[Night Hawk]

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.

 

[Paarkhi]

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)

 

[Night Hawk]

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.

 

[Anzel]

I don't like it.

 

[Dwarf]

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).

 

[Joan Archer]

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.

 

[kado897]

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

 

[svennd]

I haven't tried the windows 8 version, but as I see it, the idea was great, adding more then just an image in that big space (metro). But as a company they had to commercialize it, this together with the fact they wanted tablets "on board" is a big mistake. PC is more then "looking to content", its primarily "creating content" something they seem to have forgotten, with windows 8. I hope they realize this before its in the shops or another period comes that other OS's like Linux will bloom.

 

[Brds7t7]

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.

I agree Joan, I got really excited about Windows 7 when it was released. I even Pre-Ordered 3 copies (1 Pro and 2 Home editions) when they had the offer on from Microsoft.

Windows 8 I just can't get excited about. Like previous comments have said, it feels like they have just taken Windows 7 then stuck a new interface on top of that. Also removing features I love.

Removing the Start Menu is the deciding factor for me. And I also love the Previous Versions feature.

 

[Monster212]

i wont be installing windows 8 at all. to me windows 7 is like what XP Used to be the go to system, most people avoided vista and stayed with xp for as long as they could, and some still use xp. for me 7 is like xp.. no need for me to upgrade to 8 when 7 is working perfect and stable...

 

[alphanumeric]

I've been using the RP now for a couple of days. The more I use it the easier it is to find work arounds to avoiding the metro screen. I can't help thinking though that if I had booted up to windows 7 instead I wouldn't have too. It does get easier to use the more you plug away at it but I always end up wondering why did I have to do it that way? Its anything but intuitive and going to have a steep learning curve IMHO. Keep in mind that this is on a desktop PC with a keyboard and trackball, no touch screen.

 

[Night Hawk]

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).

The W8 tweakers are already in use as far as replacing the Start Orb even or a new 8 look for that. Some are more or less gimics to sell a full version of a program however once you try the freebie out. But they lack the shutdown, restart, and logoff button!

If you try out something like one of them Like Start8, ViStart, Start menu 7 which adds a Start menu you can create the shortcuts for the three easy enough while browsing to the "C:\ProgramData\microsoft\Windows\Start menu\Programs\" folder and right clicking on the explorer window in there for selecting "New>create shortcut".

When right clicking after on the new shortcut these are what you would type in to the target line.

Shutdown enter "shutdown.exe -s -t 00"
Restart enter "shutdown.exe -r -t 00"

For the Logoff shortcut you browse the "C:\Windows\System32\" folder for the reset.exe file and right click on that to create a shortcut which you then can drag onto the desktop or over to a second window open to the "C:\ProgramData\microsoft\Windows\Start menu\Programs\" folder you were just in.

Once you have an app like Start menu 7 on those will be seen in the list of program folders along with the desktop.in file which is a nuisance and can be dumped! You see that enough when dragging anything onto or copy and pasting any shortcut onto the desktop where that will suddenly appear out of nowhere.

For anyone that wants to give the Start menu 7 a look go to Start Menu 7

Most over at eightforums are preferring this one over the others seen. One note however is the need to see the taskbar set for top of screen when using this not the default botton since the Start screen popup and right click menu are located in the lower left corner.

Obiovusly this gets in the way and why you would need to right click on the taskbar to go into the properties and set it for top there. But this is also another thing about 8 many may find annoying. The Metro is only a fast annoyance when first booting up along with the need to assign a user name and password without any auro login option! You have to click and lift up on the new lock screen every time with the CP and now the RP as well.

 

[essenbe]

But, isn't that a whole lot of trouble to get to what we have now? All the talk about work arounds and all the tweeks, they are just trying to get Windows 7 back. Why not just keep 7? It's a whole lot easier than trying to undo what Microsoft is pushing.

 

[Brds7t7]

But, isn't that a whole lot of trouble to get to what we have now? All the talk about work arounds and all the tweeks, they are just trying to get Windows 7 back. Why not just keep 7? It's a whole lot easier than trying to undo what Microsoft is pushing.

 

[Night Hawk]

But, isn't that a whole lot of trouble to get to what we have now? All the talk about work arounds and all the tweeks, they are just trying to get Windows 7 back. Why not just keep 7? It's a whole lot easier than trying to undo what Microsoft is pushing.

I think you are going to find most will be staying with 7 if they elected to stay with 7 from the start not simply reverting back to Vista or XP.

But! And of course the spelling is off a bit for those that may still need what 8 brings like Hyper-V support not seen with 7 I think many would simply end running 8 as a second OS in a dual boot where these things will have a use.

 

[kado897]

Classic Shell works nicely on the CP. Haven't tried it on the RP yet.

 

[Night Hawk]

The main issue here is not being able to get the MS Intellipoint software to go on. The latest 8.2 refuses despite running it as admin, setting compatibility back to 7, Vista, and XP as well as running the compatibility troubleshooter and still nowhere.

You would think since MS wants everybody looking at 8 they would have at least a newer beta version for their own keyboards and mice?!