Windows 8

[Tilda]

Anybody used it a lot? Any thoughts on it?

I'm debating switching over!

 

[dysfunction]

It's only out in 21 days time...

And no I don't want to use the 'beta' versions

 

[Syri]

I've tried the release preview a bit. It's a bit smoother running, though some of that is likely down to the old clean install situation, where it's just not built up any crap yet. The new interface for the desktop environment is a bit "meh", the ribbon has invaded even more windows now, and menus aren't even hidden away, waiting to spring out at a press of the alt key any more. The big thing to get used to though, the new "start screen" or "interface formally known as metro". It's kinda like windows phone, but blown up to fill a 22" screen, only the tiles are still huge... nice for a touchscreen, not so good for moving a mouse around a screen with more than a dozen programs installed, as it doesn't put them in folders. Any shortcuts that would go in the start menu, the icons just go in the tiles. I found it a real pain for desktop use, and was soon downloading Start8 by Stardock, which adds a start menu to the desktop experience of windows 8, though with a couple of features missing, like the correct menus when right-clicking on some icons for example.
Overall, I'd say it'll make a decent enough tablet/touch screen experience, but for desktops, they really should've put a "classic" start menu in there, in my opinion.

 

[cHodAX]

It's a good OS but out of the box it is too much of 'touch screen' design for me, fortunately much of it can be stripped out and I imagine with tools and tweaks to come you can get a proper windows experience.

A few useful bits here...

http://www.techradar.com/news/softw...ips-tricks-and-secrets-1028220#articleContent

 

[soze]

The ability to natively mount an ISO has been a long time coming. I need to use it before we sell it and I am getting used to it.

 

[Embattle]

It's a good OS but out of the box it is too much of 'touch screen' design for me, fortunately much of it can be stripped out and I imagine with tools and tweaks to come you can get a proper windows experience.

A few useful bits here...

http://www.techradar.com/news/softw...ips-tricks-and-secrets-1028220#articleContent

While that is true the problem is then why bother upgrading.

 

[Yaka]

fucked if i am gona get it. 7 is fine for me. only use windows for gaming, ip00 backups zbrush and 3dsma. use linux for everything else

 

[soze]

Unless Windows release a start menu option that loses Metro I don't see why any business would pick it up it is not mouse optimized and it is shit to use metro on a touch pad mouse. If you can lose Metro then if it boots faster and is stable then why not upgrade. My colleagues who are already using it have found a way to disable metro with a £5 add on but the problem is we need to support 8 so I am going to have to use it with Metro I am tempted to get myself a touch screen.

 

[cHodAX]

There will be free utils on release to disable the metro bollocks for those on key/mouse, worry not! As an O/S you just have to consider it an updated Windows 7 at a great price and with a ton of enhancements.

 

[dysfunction]

I really like windows 7. If you can de-metro win 8 then I'd be happy to upgrade.

 

[Tilda]

So inital install was very easy, and it looks quite nice.

Had a lot of problems with my wifi card and a lot of messing around to get that installed but everything else installed fine.
The os and Metro start screen looks nice but is annoying. I have two monitors and it stays fullscreen on one, while showing the desktop on the other. Its a pain to have stuff on one screen, and then split things on the other screen - this was easy in Win7.

Start 8 is good and gives you back a start menu, but its not perfect and the metro ui still pops up from time to time.

Based on this, when my new hdd arrives next week I think i'll go back to win 7.

I have to say that Office 2013 is really nice, its a log slicker and actually seems to have some useful changes rather than just ui changes.
Anybody else got any experiences?

 

[cHodAX]

Once Win 8 ships you will see a ton of hacks/tweaks to get a Win 7 UI experience with a more feature rich Win 8 O/S. If you can get it on the cheap then it is more worthwhile buying than Win 7 just because the EOL date is 2 years further on and so your O/S will be better supported with updates.

 

[soze]

Office 2013, the best thing I can say about it is that i forgot i was using a beta it really is very smooth and does not ruffle any feathers. The way the windows open inside the app rather than as a separate windows is very nice and obviously geared towards Metro.

 

[MYstIC G]

So, launch day.

Windows 8 anyone?

 

[cHodAX]

Nope not me, waiting on the hacks to appear so I can get a more normal desktop experience. Metro is great for touch screens but I remain to be convinced on PC so I want a way to disable the stuff I don't need.

 

[Moriath]

cant see any reason to upgrade, win7 is great and does everything i need, no direct x reason to upgrade so will stick where i am tbh.

 

[soze]

Personal machine will go nowhere near it. Work machine has been running it for a week and hating it. I am hearing that there will be a Windows 8 Professional upgrade which loses the Windows 8 UI (You are not allowed to call it Metro anymore!) completely and they will be releasing it within a year but currently they want people to develop for Windows 8 UI rather than just for the desktop versions.

 

[Embattle]

While I have always upgraded to a new version of Windows I just can't justify making things harder for myself...even if it is only £25.

 

[Tilda]

I'm tempted, I kinda think of the big fullscreen thing just as a start menu. I can see it being useful if I'm working on a paper document at my desk to just have that up giving me updates.
That said £25 each for 2pcs, plus I MUCH MUCH would rather get the Office 2013 upgrade I'm uncertain.

 

[MYstIC G]

The new boot feature is the only draw for me, metro is of no fucking interest. I think it's cheap windows tbh.

7 lasted 3 years (roughly) at £50 = £16ish a year
8 is £25 and if it lasts 3 years = £8ish a year.

I've spent more on Borderlands 2 than it would cost me to upgrade and if it kills my boot times even more then I'd be a happy chappy because my box is getting old and that shit makes a difference now and is a damn sight cheaper than an upgrade!

 

[Syri]

I'm thinking of getting it while it's cheap, for my new pc build at christmas. I've been trying the pre-release version on my current desktop, and as long as you avoid metro, it's alright. It's pretty much windows 7, but a little quicker and cheaper.
I've ditched Start8 though, as they've started charging for it, so I'm now trying Classic Shell, which isn't quite as faithful a replica of the start menu of old, but is certainly more functional than metro.

 

[ECA]

Where can you buy it for so cheap?

 

[Syri]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/buy?ocid=GA8_O_WOL_Hero_Home_FPP_Null

 

[MYstIC G]

Where can you buy it for so cheap?

Direct from MS mate. Download the upgrade adviser. It comes as an ISO apparently.

 

[dysfunction]

the upgrade means I need a prev version of windows which is not a problem but a tad irritating.

Was hoping to get an ssd and install win 8 but I guess I'll have to put win 7 then upgrade to 8.

 

[Overdriven]

Been using it for a while now on work laptop, it's not bad - Just need to get use to using the windows key and right clicking for options.

 

[Kryten]

The whole OS is so counter-intuitive on anything that isn't touchscreen, it's just plain lose. Same goes for server 2012 too, it feels very much as if they're trying to force people towards server core.
8 though - the flatness of it all makes it look behind and more importantly makes it difficult to distinguish different sections of the ribbon or separate text. It feels a bit like trying to use Excel with gridlines turned off.

Intuition: where you can turn on a system you've never known before and find your way around with a little logical thinking and common sense.

That logical thinking shouldn't be "Ah, I've found the link to IE, now I can google how the fuck to use this flagpolefucking OS"

Sorry MS, must try harder.

 

[TdC]

wasn't this released version the shit one? is this the same thing as when 7 came out that the most basic version was crap? I mean, I have home premium on this lappy and for example it won't let me change the system language. meh.

 

[ECA]

Bought a bunch of copies @£25, thanks duders.

 

[dysfunction]

wasn't this released version the shit one? is this the same thing as when 7 came out that the most basic version was crap? I mean, I have home premium on this lappy and for example it won't let me change the system language. meh.

I don't think so. it's the pro version which is the top one for individuals I think.

I think there is a business version but not necessary for even geeky pc nerds