Windows 8 Consumer Preview to be released 02/29/2012

[GushpinBob]

I want to be the first to call this Windows Hate.

"From the creators of M$ and Windoze...

...now bringing you: Windows H8"

in theaters Fall 2012.

 

[Nearsite]

So I just installed Win 8 64 bit on my rig below. Although I'm able to use it, none of the drivers for my motherboard work on Win 8. Any idea how I can get drivers that work with Win 8 for my rig?

 

[heatlesssun]

So I just installed Win 8 64 bit on my rig below. Although I'm able to use it, none of the drivers for my motherboard work on Win 8. Any idea how I can get drivers that work with Win 8 for my rig?

Drivers are the biggest issue I'm having in Windows 8 but I've gotten most of them buy running in Windows 7 compatibility mode.

 

[daglesj]

Amazingly the 2005 spec Tecra M7 tablet laptop got about 95% of its drivers installed from install. The rest were filled in with Vista 32bit drivers.

No yellow triangles.

 

[Dmitri]

Metro is silly. Though I just see it as a continuation of the odd interface decisions they've been making for years.

I don't know which young idiots are convincing the old idiots over at MS that interfaces should look like glossy magazine DTP page layouts, or CSS webpages for beauty care products. I wonder if these UI wonderkids have ever opened a PC up and swapped a harddrive out.

What is wrong with a button? Buttons are everywhere. Doors do not have hidden doorhandles for a reason.

That said, since Windows 7 I've:

1) Stopped using the start menu other than for shutting my PC down - all my most used apps are pinned to my taskbar
2) Games are launched through Steam, that's where I purchase most of them
3) I do not use windows search ever, in fact I generally don't browse to a file I want, I use a third party search app called "Everything" that sit's on my taskbar. It builds a database of my all the files on my pc 60 seconds after start-up and produces search results in an incredibly simple window. I use it to get quick access to files I'm currently working on.
4) Stopped using Windows file explorer when Vista was released, I now exclusively use a third party explorer replacement called "Xplorer2". XP file browser on steroids.

Only specific windows UI features I use are the taskbar and task manager.

So as it stands I could probably switch to Windows 8 and mostly ignore Metro..and certainly will try to. I try to have as little of windows in my life as possible, less is more. I need a focused working environment. MS seems focused on introducing clutter.

Anyone who thinks Metro is an improvement doesn't actually use their PC for computing. I mean serious day in and day out work beyond just word processing or games. They're either gadget obsessed consumers with too much spare cash or people who exclusively use word processors.

It's clear that MS aren't interested in designing their OS for people who actually work with Windows PCs day in and day out.

 

[heatlesssun]

I wonder if these UI wonderkids have ever opened a PC up and swapped a harddrive out.

It's clear that MS aren't interested in designing their OS for people who actually work with Windows PCs day in and day out.

And here it is again, a very common theme among Windows 8 detractors, that complexity is at the center of computing. For average people it just isn't. And I've been entirely happy and productive writing code in Visual Studio 11 on a daily basis using my dual-screen keyboard and mouse driven desktop.

 

[Yoda4561]

I'm sorry, but there comes a point where taking away makes something more complex than what was there before. That point is pretty much windows 8. It doesn't make things easier or more intuitive, it just makes them harder to find and confusing. It doesn't NEED to be like that. You can have both, they just overshot the mark by a bit.

 

[heatlesssun]

I'm sorry, but there comes a point where taking away makes something more complex than what was there before. That point is pretty much windows 8. It doesn't make things easier or more intuitive, it just makes them harder to find and confusing. It doesn't NEED to be like that. You can have both, they just overshot the mark by a bit.

I think people are too often equating familiarity with intuition and somehow think that there's something inherently intuitive about current version of Windows that's really only because the UI is so freeking old. And it is a heck of lot more intuitive when you look at tablets and the fact the Metro apps can run on any Windows 8 device. Intuition isn't better than the same programs with the same capabilities and look running on your desktop and tablet though they driven differently. And yes, I know, virtually all Windows users use desktops and laptops. Thus Windows 8.

Again, I'm not saying that Metro and the Start Screen are perfect, they aren't done and there are some things that definitely need to be cleaned up but all this oh my god Windows 8 is so jarring and unintuitive, sure there's some truth to that but it will allow Windows users to stop starting at gray static menus from the 1980s finally.

 

[Dmitri]

And here it is again, a very common theme among Windows 8 detractors, that complexity is at the center of computing. For average people it just isn't. And I've been entirely happy and productive writing code in Visual Studio 11 on a daily basis using my dual-screen keyboard and mouse driven desktop.

You picked tiny portions of my post, then twisted my words, and ignored everything else. I clearly stated that I prefer LESS of Windows, that I enjoy a focused experience within the OS. Point by point I demonstrated how I have systematically been using less of Window's built-in features.

Windows 8 metro is impractical and get's in the way of work. Simplicity and straightforward UI design must mean "complexity" when you're trying to twist people's words. Why hide a button with a hotzone. Show the damn thing. But wait, that must be a desire for "complexity"! Buttons must be hidden for "average people".

 

[chinesepiratefood]

You picked tiny portions of my post, then twisted my words, and ignored everything else. I clearly stated that I prefer LESS of Windows, that I enjoy a focused experience within the OS. Point by point I demonstrated how I have systematically been using less of Window's built-in features.

Windows 8 metro is impractical and get's in the way of work. Simplicity and straightforward UI design must mean "complexity" when you're trying to twist people's words. Why hide a button with a hotzone. Show the damn thing. But wait, that must be a desire for "complexity"! Buttons must be hidden for "average people".

No it doesn't. Hyperbole much?

 

[CrimsonKnight13]

No it doesn't. Hyperbole much?

How about those of us who don't care for it, agree to disagree with you? It's not hard to see that either side of this argument will not be converted over in mind & belief to Metro's features (or lack thereof).

 

[chinesepiratefood]

I'm not even going to get into that, because so many people in this thread are so hell-bent against Metro. All I was stating was that claiming Metro gets in the way of good, productive work is just an asinine statement. There is no opinion there, you can absolutely be just as productive with Metro.

Metro still has many places/ways it can be made better, but these staunch claims of Metro being unusable, killing the desktop, and preventing work from being done are just stupid.

 

[wonderfield]

And so many are so hell-bent for Metro that they fail to acknowledge many of the perfectly valid criticisms being brought forth against it, refuse to answer incredibly simple questions asked of them and decide to call anyone who has a difficult time coming to grips with the new UI and its current lack of visual indicators "stupid".

 

[chinesepiratefood]

And so many are so hell-bent for Metro that they fail to acknowledge many of the perfectly valid criticisms being brought forth against it, refuse to answer incredibly simple questions asked of them and decide to call anyone who has a difficult time coming to grips with the new UI and its current lack of visual indicators "stupid".

I seriously doubt you have even read through this thread. I discussed many of the criticisms for pages on end. And I am so hell-bent for Metro that I haven't used Windows 8 since the week it came out

 

[bigdogchris]

If all you are doing is clicking a button to open an app, then chinsepiratefood is right, it's just as fast. If you want to do anything more than click a button to open an app, Metro gets in the way.

If Microsoft is so hell bent on forcing us to use Metro, then they need to get rid of the 'desktop' app because the bouncing between the two is driving me bananas. It's so obtuse.

 

[Virtus]

I'm actually enjoying this discussion. The CP was released so nerds like us could rip into it. So keep the debates rolling people. We shouldn't fear the changes, we should just fear the possibility that MS won't listen to our concerns (which are valid from both sides). They released a consumer preview specifically to see what we think so they can fix it.

In slate mode, I love the CP. But, I feel like a fish out of water when I use it with a mouse and keyboard. It's definitely awkward and needs improvements. The fixes are easy to implement, so let's hope that MS tweaks it a bit.

The list of problems is very short - main two complaints I see are the "hidden buttons / menus" (which annoy me in desktop mode) and the "where is the start button" problem. It's not like programs are crashing and all legacy devices and programs will suddenly stop working. They all work the same, exactly the same way they always have. When I use it as a desktop, it's almost indistinguishable from my Windows7 rig - until I need to use the start button. All my programs still have min/max/close buttons and work the same as before. Drivers are even good enough for me to play Tribes Ascend - and this is just a preview.

So MS, do something to fix the start menu for desktop users in particular. Also, make a simple toggle that makes normal desktop features always available or visible. Acknowledge the fact that most users have big hi-res monitors and we want more than a couple of basic controls on-screen when we are using a mouse. It's easy. You have time. We have faith in you. If you fail, we will buy something else. Or we'll hang onto Windows7 until you sort things out. It's simple.

 

[heatlesssun]

You picked tiny portions of my post, then twisted my words, and ignored everything else. I clearly stated that I prefer LESS of Windows, that I enjoy a focused experience within the OS. Point by point I demonstrated how I have systematically been using less of Window's built-in features.

Windows 8 metro is impractical and get's in the way of work. Simplicity and straightforward UI design must mean "complexity" when you're trying to twist people's words. Why hide a button with a hotzone. Show the damn thing. But wait, that must be a desire for "complexity"! Buttons must be hidden for "average people".

I wasn't trying to twist your words. But you've reiterated what I was trying to point out about Windows 8 detractors. There's some Holy Grail of efficiency and productivity that people seem to think that Windows 8 inhibits and ultimately I think that's just not the case. All the productive programs that people run today will still work just like always though the program launching experience may be different. But more and more people are also being productive on tablets and with Windows 8 being productive with tablets is MUCH more possible than with prior versions.

 

[YeuEmMaiMai]

No it doesn't. Hyperbole much?

yes it does as it is one more thing in the way of getting to the desktop (if you can call it that)....

 

[heatlesssun]

And so many are so hell-bent for Metro that they fail to acknowledge many of the perfectly valid criticisms being brought forth against it, refuse to answer incredibly simple questions asked of them and decide to call anyone who has a difficult time coming to grips with the new UI and its current lack of visual indicators "stupid".

I've never said Metro was perfect and I'll answer any specific question I can. My issue in this debate has been this notion of Metro being something that is ultra unintuitive and unproductive. I believe the majority of these comments stem from Windows 8 being so different from prior versions, not some inherent flaw.

Yes the Windows 8 UI can be improved, there's no doubt that there will be some fairly major changes to it between now and RTM though the essence is probably pretty much in the CP. My biggest complaint is the manageability of the Start Screen, it's too manual and there's no hierarchy mechanism like folders. I think things like that would goa long way towards answering some criticisms. I really don't believe that the Start Menu should be an option even on desktops as that creates two UI paradigms that Microsoft has historically avoided in it's products and defeats the power and purpose of Metro and the Start Screen.

 

[Dmitri]

Why do they want to split the Windows UI into a glorified menu, and the desktop? Why not just get rid of the desktop background and place Metro in there. The applications you're using should be the focus of what you're doing, why is this other thing being prioritized over my open apps.

stem from Windows 8 being so different from prior versions, not some inherent flaw.

Look at Metro. It immediately strikes me as design over function. It looks like a glossy magazine page layout. I'd go crazy if the applications I use have enormous buttons and pointless spacing between menu items. Keep in mind that I have never used a tablet, and see no link between how I operate my smartphone and desktop. I am viewing this purely from a PC user perspective.

But more and more people are also being productive on tablets and with Windows 8 being productive with tablets is MUCH more possible than with prior versions.

Tablet's have no relevancy to me. The applications I use cannot run on a tablet. Tablets make up a tiny market. What have they got to do with my desktop OS? There shouldn't be a connection, if there is it cannot be rationalized by somehow stating one product type is popular, and the other much more widespread tech isn't.

No it doesn't. Hyperbole much?

After I made my original post I read this entire thread. You've essentially been brow beating everyone here who have negative opinions regarding Win 8. I suppose your response here validates that on this matter you're too far gone to bother talking to.

 

[wonderfield]

I seriously doubt you have even read through this thread.

You're welcome to have your doubts. What bearing that has on this discussion I cannot guess.

 

[heatlesssun]

Why do they want to split the Windows UI into a glorified menu, and the desktop? Why not just get rid of the desktop background and place Metro in there. The applications you're using should be the focus of what you're doing, why is this other thing being prioritized over my open apps.

There would be a number of issues with putting Metro in the desktop, from security of app distribution to no one bothering to develop touch applications to other issues.

Look at Metro. It immediately strikes me as design over function. It looks like a glossy magazine page layout. I'd go crazy if the applications I use have enormous buttons and pointless spacing between menu items. Keep in mind that I have never used a tablet, and see no link between how I operate my smartphone and desktop. I am viewing this purely from a PC user perspective.


Tablet's have no relevancy to me. The applications I use cannot run on a tablet. Tablets make up a tiny market. What have they got to do with my desktop OS? There shouldn't be a connection, if there is it cannot be rationalized by somehow stating one product type is popular, and the other much more widespread tech isn't.

Tablets are a much faster growing market than PCs and the market is expected to be 100 million devices shipped this year, not tiny at all.

After I made my original post I read this entire thread. You've essentially been brow beating everyone here who have negative opinions regarding Win 8. I suppose your response here validates that on this matter you're too far gone to bother talking to.

I'm not trying to brow beat anyone. I simply have a different perspective. I've been using Windows on tablets since the days of Pen computing for Windows. I've been using Windows on Tablet PCs for a decade now and I've long wanted a unified Windows OS that can work well with keyboards, mice, touch, pens and any other viable input method. I see computers as tools that should work in the fashion we need them based on the task at hand. I've been using Windows 8 since the Developer Preview came out on desktops, laptops and tablets almost every day since the DP came out. There's no doubt in my mind that Windows 8 with enough good Metro apps and continuing support of desktop apps that I don't see going away anytime soon can work across devices and form factors pretty well, something no other OS has ever even really tried.

Maybe Windows 8 will flop but what it is trying to achieve has been a dream of mine long before the iPad and the current tablet frenzy. I don't want to be tied only to keyboards and mice and an ever growing number of people seem to want that as well. Microsoft can either try to deliver some type of compelling tablet experience or it can let others do it while the keyboard and mouse desktop ages into obscurity with no relevance to average people beyond work.

 

[RealityCrunch]

to no one bothering to develop touch applications

Wouldn't the current growing market of tablets make this issue moot? If the demand is there, the products will be developed. If the products are there, people will use Metro. Seems a bit crude to boost demand by brute force At least from my perspective.

 

[heatlesssun]

Wouldn't the current growing market of tablets make this issue moot? If the demand is there, the products will be developed. If the products are there, people will use Metro. Seems a bit crude to boost demand by brute force At least from my perspective.

Well there's little doubt that much of Windows 8 is about leveraging Microsoft's dominance on the desktop as way to gain entrance to tablets. And honestly it's not all just Microsoft being evil. Sure Microsoft could have done a separate tablet OS that would have been all but still born without doubt at release against the iPad and Android. It could have also allowed the conventional desktop on keyboard and mouse driven machines which would have vastly reduced the interest in developing touch capable apps as that would have vastly reduced to market size.

Microsoft is a HUGE pickle here and yes it is at the core of why Metro is front and center Windows 8. Not only do they not have a tablet OS out yet in 2012, the PC market is flatling while tablets are exploding.

As much people want to say that I'm not being objective about Windows 8 I'll freely admit that Windows 8 is probably more about solving a problem that Microsoft has than it is about solving a problem that it's current customer base has. Microsoft needs NEW customers, ones that will buy its tablet OS and it needs something unique to do it. In that regard Windows 8 is perhaps the most unique general purpose commercial OS ever released.

 

[RealityCrunch]

Pretty much agreed

 

[Sly]

My initial thoughts.

Managed to free up a spare laptop harddrive and tried it today on the Atom. The taskbar is still there and it seems to still work the same way. The only major change i've seen so far that would affect me is that of the Start menu being replaced by Metro. The application icons on the taskbar still stack and i can still pin a folder to the taskbar so i have one click access to my work directory. i.e. When working on a website, i pin the folder to the taskbar for instant access to the several dozen or so files instead of going through file explorer, i am SO glad i can still do this.

Activating the Start menu is still the same for me. I don't actually click on the start button. I've always dragged the mouse all the way to the left corner and clicked. To minimize everything, drag to the lower right and click. On the new interface, the left side of the taskbar is the new 'start' button, and the right side is the usual minimize button.

Since Windows7 when i started pinning everything to the taskbar, the start menu has become a mess. I used to keep everything in folders inside the start menu so i can have easy access from Win95 to XP, but Win7's ability to pin meant i just use the application once, and the pin their taskbar icon to make them stick there permanently.

The middle button functionality on the taskbar got passed on to metro. Using notepad as an example, if you were to pin its icon to the Win7 taskbar, middle clicking it would launch a new instance of it. So if you middle click notepad three times, you end up with three notepads on your desktop. If you hover over the notepad icon, thumbnails of the three apps would appear above the icon, and if you middle click those, that instance gets closed. I first learned this on the webbrowsers (It's always been "middleclick link = launch new instance" and "middleclick icon/tab = close instance") before i started doing it to the desktop applications too.

The desktop is still intact, so the new interface does not affect you productivity wise. Programs are still running in windows. You can still have a little video players on top of the spreadsheet you're working on.

The main thing that would affect me is that i'll likely move most of the pinned shortcuts on my Win7 taskbar to Metro.

To Launch on the Different OSes, this is how i used to go through to launch Firefox as an example:

WinXP:
Click Start -> Click 'Communcations' folder -> Click 'Firefox'

Win7:
Click Start -> Click 'Programs' -> Click 'Communcations' folder -> Click 'Firefox'
(Note: This actually irked me until i learned to simply pin the apps i often use to the taskbar, they don't take up extra space and it's really convenient)

Win8:
Click Start -> Click 'Firefox'


If you look at Metro as an enhancement of the Start Menu launcher, rather than the entire Win8 (It still primarily uses Explorer.exe). It does have potential.


BTW, i have not yet watched any Win8 video, article, or reviews, i just downloaded it and exploring with no prior knowledge on where everything is. I've only googled twice. The first was the error i kept getting while installing (Recommendation is to install Win7 first since it has working drivers, and have the Win8 installer run off that), the second was when i was looking for the shutdown button. The rest was just applying how i used the Win7 Taskbar (Corners, middleclick, tabs, etc.). Configuring it was identical to Win7 since the Control Panel and Desktop were still intact.



PS: Win7 Desktop felt like plates of glass hovering over each other. Win8 Desktop feels like stationaries or post-it notes.

 

[GushpinBob]

For anyone complaining about the number of clicks/keystrokes it takes to shutdown/sleep/reboot/locking a computer in Windows 8 here are some handy shortcuts you can place on the desktop:

Right-click on the desktop, point to "New", then "Shortcut".

For Shutdown,type:

%systemroot%\System32\shutdown.exe /s

That's for a full shutdown. For the faster startup featured in Windows 8, add the /hybrid switch to the /s switch.
For reboot, type the same command with the /r switch in place of the /s switch.
For Hibernation, use the /h switch in place of the /s switch.
For logging off, use the /L in place of the /s switch.
If you want a longer/shorter countdown, add the /t # switch, where # is the number of seconds ranging from 0 to 315360000. I'd suggest leaving this off or setting a countdown of 10 seconds in case of accidental clicks.
To abort a shutdown, reboot, or hibernation, type the same command with only the /a switch. This is very helpful for any accidental clicks

If you want a quick-to-get-to but less flexible graphical option for shutdown or reboot, use the /i switch. This brings up a dialog similar to what you would see in the server versions of Windows.


For sleep, create a shortcut with the following command:

%systemroot%\system32\rundll32.exe Powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState Sleep

For locking the computer, use this command:

%systemroot%\system32\rundll32.exe user32.dll LockWorkStation

Label these shortcuts appropriately to their function. I'd suggest putting them in a folder called "Shutdown" or "Power Options" if you create more than two or three. Feel free to customize the icon for each shortcut, too.
These shortcuts will also work in previous versions of Windows, with exception to the /hybrid switch.

Hope that helps.

 

[allen5055]

does anyone know if they'll have promotional student pricing like they did for Win 7?

 

[notarat]

You really do have to go well out of your way to avoid Metro. It's possible, assuming you never need to launch an application you don't have pinned, have a shortcut for or use Explorer to launch it (how ridiculous would that be?) or use the command prompt (ridiculous again) or case-mounted buttons to shut down/reboot your machine.

You can't just not use it. It isn't practical. In order to use Windows 8 the way any normal, sane person would use it, you must invariably encounter Metro several times per day.

I never see Metro. My system boots straight to Media Center and that's all I see.

 

[zaxour]

So, I have been using the CP for a little while now. I don't have it on my main machine, but I have it on another machine that I use to browse the internet and also do school work on. So far, I've been working on it with Agilent ADS 2009 and 2011 and I haven't had any issues, except that I had to run compatibility mode on on ADS 2011 for Windows 7. Otherwise, I'm digging Metro. I liken it to the dashboard in OSX, but with a lot more information. I can see myself upgrading all my systems when the full OS comes out later this year. I'm pretty impressed.

 

[jackofalltrades]

I "hate" windows 8 I installed and ran 1 week and formatted and went back to windows 7. Too many things were too wonky for me and my puter ran like snot.

 

[bigdogchris]

I had an epiphany the other day about Metro.

With the past two operating systems, Microsoft had a hard time pushing into the business space to replace XP. 7 has finally made some type of dent in that market. Metro is IMO going to not be business friendly and reverse the trend of some ground gained. I think Microsoft has finally given up on trying to push into the business space to replace XP. They are happy and will continue being happy with businesses running Windows 7 while consumers upgrade to Windows 8 on new PC's. Due to this, I see no incentive for Microsoft to once again try to push into the business space because of their recent history with attempting to do that. They figure this is a great time to make the move to the new UI and in a way force it on people who will just deal with it; the general consumer. Several years from now in the Windows 9 or 10 time frame, business will be ready to upgrade OSes again and at that time the touch inspired UI will be much more mature and perhaps read for that marketplace.

 

[maw]

So Microsoft's version of the "tick-tock" cycle? One version to get consumers on board, the next to get businesses on board. That actually kinda makes sense. When you get used to using an interface at home, it's much easier to adapt when that same change comes to your office. Also explains why iPads are making such inroads into the workplace.

Several years from now in the Windows 9 or 10 time frame, business will be ready to upgrade OSes again and at that time the touch inspired UI will be much more mature and perhaps read for that marketplace.

 

[RadioActiveLobster]

A friend of mine had an idea about what M$ is doing with Metro UI and why the are forcing it (at least in the Consumer Preview)

They know that given the option to disable the Metro UI on the desktop 99% of their userbase would disable Metro UI and the other 1% are people who couldn't find the option to disable it.

So they removed that ability, forcing people to use Metro UI and give feedback on it. Had they not done that then no one would actually use it (because it sucks) and they wouldn't get any feedback on it. One would think that having most of your userbase immediately disable the shitty Metro UI would be feedback enough...

He seems to think that by RC time the option to disable Metro UI will be back, I highly doubt it.

 

[x509]

Has anyone tried to install Win 8 TO a USB bootable drive? That way, you can play around with Win 8 without messing with your system.

 

[Druneau]

A friend of mine had an idea about what M$ is doing with Metro UI and why the are forcing it (at least in the Consumer Preview)

They know that given the option to disable the Metro UI on the desktop 99% of their userbase would disable Metro UI and the other 1% are people who couldn't find the option to disable it.

So they removed that ability, forcing people to use Metro UI and give feedback on it. Had they not done that then no one would actually use it (because it sucks) and they wouldn't get any feedback on it. One would think that having most of your userbase immediately disable the shitty Metro UI would be feedback enough...

He seems to think that by RC time the option to disable Metro UI will be back, I highly doubt it.

I didn't know I was your friend

This is what I like to tell myself also. That they are forcing us to use it in the Preview build, but in the end the option will be there. I really don't see the reason to NOT have the option. But in a preview you'd want feedback on the main feature I guess.

 

[heatlesssun]

He seems to think that by RC time the option to disable Metro UI will be back, I highly doubt it.

I think your friend is wise and you are correct on this statement. Yes, Microsoft definately wanted the feedback but also to let people know, "Hey, this is where we are going with Windows. Hope you like it."

As to your point, Microsoft and as well as PC OEMs have a problem and that's simply that desktop and even laptop sales have flat lined. There's just nothing to offer in the desktop/laptop space in and of itself to draw sales and interest and developers from tablet software. A pretty smart way to do that is indeed to make desktop and laptops work like tablets, and as much as experienced users want to harp on efficiency and mice and keyboards, well efficiency, keyboards and mice aren't what sold 3 millions iPads in the launch weekend of the new iPad.

The PC HAS to be more of a causal computing device or it's just going to die in the consumer space, surely that's obvious by now.

 

[RealityCrunch]

He seems to think that by RC time the option to disable Metro UI will be back, I highly doubt it.

Yep. Options are a thing of the past. You will accept Metro, and you WILL like it

 

[heatlesssun]

Yep. Options are a thing of the past. You will accept Metro, and you WILL like it

Actually, when it comes to the core UI, Windows has never been about options. Indeed the idea I think from Microsoft's standpoint is that tons of options at the core UI level while they sound good in theory only offer a another level of confusion. Hate Metro of not, think of the confustion that woud happen if on one Windows 8 machine you saw the Start Menu and on another you saw the Start Screen?

From a distance that's 100 times more confusing that even Metro though on a user by user basis it wouldn't probably be.

But the notion that Windows 8 isn't about options isn't the case. Windows 8 on x86 is the most powerful and complete consumer OS ever. It will effectively run on more kinds of hardware than any OS before it. It will work with one screen, three screens, touch screens, mice keyboards and pens.

Windows 8 will offer more options to more people than any OS ever.

 

[brucedeluxe169]

Got to play with Windows 8 on an HP slate today..... its a nice tablet OS (albeit with a UI that takes some getting used to).... I can definitely see myself buying a 7 inch Win 8 x86 tablet if they ever come out at a reasonable price. Windows on ARM is dead to me without the desktop, and the ability to install your own apps