Windows 8 Consumer preview

[razer17]

If you didn't know, you can now download and install a preview of Windows 8 from Microsoft. Given that it's free to try, I gave it a download and replaced my Windows 7.

I find it to be a terrible OS. It's a lot slower than 7, the interface is clunky and unintuitive, and some of the programs are terrible. For instance the music "app" which replaces WMP is slow, and annoying to use. iTunes doesn't seem to work, so thankfully I have a third media program.

It seems like a Microsoft developer was playing on an iPhone and thought "Damn, we should steal this." and then no one corrected him. It also has elements of ubuntu in it, and those aren't very well integrated either.

Have you tried the Windows 8 beta? How are you finding it?

Edit - Realised I made a stupid mistake in the title.

 

[Esotera]

Haven't tried it and don't really want to, for exactly the same points you've listed above. I'd even say that Windows 7 might be the new XP, and people will cling to it for as long as they possibly can.

 

[Quaxar]

It's the old Microsoft trend, if one OS is good the next one has to suck badly to make up for it.
I think just like Vista I will wait for the following one to upgrade.

 

[razer17]

Haven't tried it and don't really want to, for exactly the same points you've listed above. I'd even say that Windows 7 might be the new XP, and people will cling to it for as long as they possibly can.

Windows 7 is a good operating system. I've tried the three main OS' and of them I say that the best is Windows 7. Mac is my least favourite, though that may be due to my bias against Apple. Ubuntu is good, but it doesn't have the same level of support that a Microsoft OS can provide.

Anyway, desktop environments for desktops and tablet environments for tablets, and never shall the two mix, except when it's mutually beneficial.

This is very true. It seems very shoehorned into Win 8, and it's not all that useful. It doesn't add anything, so why put it there? It's not even a good looking interface, it's much uglier than an Android or iOS.

It's the old Microsoft trend, if one OS is good the next one has to suck badly to make up for it.
I think just like Vista I will wait for the following one to upgrade.

I don't think Vista was even that bad, it was a bit slow, but this update is possibly worse.

 

[Innegativeion]

Uuuu-u-u-u-u-ugh-h-h-h...

was exactly the noise I made when I saw this thread title.

So... it's really as bad as it looked in those previews a while back, huh? Oh lord *exhausted facepalm* *sigh*. I was unfortunate enough to get a computer packed with Vista when it first came out. I won't be making that mistake again. I'm quite comfortable with my desktop screen that actually looks like a desktop screen, thank you Microsoft.

 

[razer17]

Are you new to MS betas?

The early betas are always problematic, and they are often loaded with diagnostic bloat wear that will later be pulled out. You can't judge speed until you get further down the line.

But, as others have said, it will be bad because 7 was good.

It's not just the speed. Vista was slow, but I put up with it. The major problem is the layout and the obtuse nature of the interface.

 

[Starnerf]

The problem seems to be that they're trying to catch up to the whole tablet thing with a heavyweight desktop operating system. It's odd that Microsoft are on the back foot when it comes to tablets, actually, given that they've been developing in that field for years, but I suppose this shows that fashion matters now when it comes to computers. Pity, actually; I thought I'd found a field where I wouldn't be expected to kowtow to the "beautiful people".

Anyway, desktop environments for desktops and tablet environments for tablets, and never shall the two mix, except when it's mutually beneficial.

I've found Windows 7 to be quite pleasant to use with my convertible tablet, as long as I'm using a pen. Most of the controls aren't large enough to be used easily with a finger, but work very nicely with the precision of a stylus. The updated interface for 8 seems to be shifting more to the finger-controlled tablets than the stylus-controlled tablets.

Anyway, I've used it for about 10 minutes and I'm not sure I care for it. I've only used it on a desktop so far, and the Metro interface just seems to slow me down. I'm going to try putting it on my tablet to see if it's any better, but I think I just need some time to adjust and familiarize myself with the interface.

 

[Elvis Starburst]

Honestly, after watching a video of it, it doesn't seem too horrible. I like Windows 7 very much, and I can see this new one would take a LOT of getting used to. Buuuuuut, idk, just from the look of it, it doesn't look really bad. I can see what they're going for, that's for sure. It's obvious it's an entirely different style than before, so it won't be loved by most, and one of those are probably gonna be me XD But, who knows, I might try it on a display comp somewhere someday

 

[BreakfastMan]

Wasn't windows 8 mainly supposed to be for smart-phones, tablets, and other things of the like? I thought I heard from someone it was...

OT: Not downloaded it yet, and don't plan too. From what I saw of the UI, it looked awful, so I have no desire to try it. :/ Besides, 7 is working just fine for me. No reason to change.

 

[Kungfu_Teddybear]

Nice to see Microsoft are keeping up their trend of releasing a good OS and then a shit one right after it.

 

[Monkeyman O'Brien]

Meh. Windows is always like this. A good one then a crap one, good one, crap one. Sadly they hit a double shitter with Vista and Windows 7 but eh. If only they had of put some effort into XP 64 bit... But then no one would ever have "upgraded" to win7.

 

[ThePS1Fan]

I saw a alpha or beta version a long lime ago and thought it looked awful, touch screen based UI just doesn't seem like it'd work for keyboard and mouse desktops/laptops. I'll probably have to go Linux/Open Source with my next computer upgrade, most likely go to Ubuntu.

 

[Signa]

After seeing the UI, I pulled a Nope.avi.

I just feel bad for everyone buying a pre-built or a laptop after this is out.

 

[Arakasi]

Windows will continue to make one Vista/ME for every 7/XP.

Windows should stick to it's current GUI, whilst trying to improve general structure, user friendliness, speed and size.

More to the point, they should do their own thing instead of falling down the trap that Mac has created, where everyone tries to be like them.

 

[Waaghpowa]

Haven't tried it, might later. I heard a rumour that windows 8 may be able to play Xbox 360 games natively. If that is true, I might give a shit.

 

[evilneko]

The Metro UI can be turned off...

I have it, and am preparing my computer for it. Cleaning up my system partition prior to imaging it so I can restore it quickly after I'm done with the 8 preview.

I'm kinda hoping I find more to like about 8 than I did about 7. My experience with 7 boiled down to, "Meh, no advantage over XP64*, yet more annoying."

*why no, I didn't care about DX10+. And I still don't.

 

[EHKOS]

Haven't tried it, might later. I heard a rumour that windows 8 may be able to play Xbox 360 games natively. If that is true, I might give a shit.

[youtube]=FopyRHHlt3M[/youtube]

No no no. That will never, ever happen. Not only would it make the Xbox useless (which means less money), it wouldn't be possible due to hardware.


OT:Sounds terrible, but I'm still using Vista. Everytime I install a new OS into a computer it runs a lot slower. So I'll wait for this one to die and then I'll buy one/build one with 7.

 

[Waaghpowa]

No no no. That will never, ever happen. Not only would it make the Xbox useless (which means less money), it wouldn't be possible due to hardware.

I did say it was a rumour, and I was fairly skeptical that it would be true. But how nice would it have been if it were true?

 

[tthor]

I heard about windows 8 first on npr, and how they want to kinda mimic the ipad's type of interface. after hearing their description of it, i'm dreading windows 8...

 

[Cid Silverwing]

I've hated Vista and 7 since the start due to said OS'es being absolute cunts when it comes to retro-gaming, and the arbitrary re-arranging of everything I got used to in XP.

I do like the desktop gadgets though. Convenient things that still don't redeem the shittiness.