Windows 8 Consumer preview

[GhostMjr]

[h=1]Windows 8 Consumer Preview now available for download[/h]                                     By Brian Heater posted Feb 29th 2012 9:42AM          
                                                                              
                                     
                                                   
                                                             
                                                  

Don't say we didn't warn you. As anticipated, Leap Day is all about Microsoft in Barcelona, and Microsoft is all about you, the consumer. Redmond today officially unveiled  the Consumer Preview of its forthcoming desktop operating system. Want  to get an early look at the OS? Peep the source link below. Keep in  mind: you'll need a 1GHz processor, either 1GB (32-bit) / 2 GB (64-bit)  of RAM, 16GB (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit) available disk space, DirectX 9  graphics with WDDM 1.0 or higher and 1024 x 768 minimum screen  resolution to run the new OS. Or, for the more faint of heart, check out  our detailed preview  and have a look at the press info after the break. The beta version of  Windows Server "8" is available now as well for those who may be  interested, via the TechNet link that follows.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

[TheDvEight]

First impressions are: I don't like it, It does not seem like an OS for a pc but rather for a smart phone - too social network looking for me. But then again I miss XP Let's hope it doesnt have any issues like vista.:g:

[ArithonUK]

Official demo
[video=youtube;Og0BbYErv-s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og0BbYErv-s[/video]

If Paris Hilton has taught us anything, it's that "pretty" does not equate to "useful"....

[Tutonic]

It's a very nice touch interface, but somewhat redundant for a 'normal' desktop user.I'm more interested in the under-the-hood stuff, which hasn't been shown off yet.Loving the new file-copy screen though, it's about time that got re-worked.

[smilodon]

It's exactly what's expected from Microsoft in their crap - great cycle, where they release a really useless OS and then a really nice OS

Windows 95 - great
Windows 98 - crap
Windows 98SE - great
Windows ME - crap
Windows XP - great
Windows Vista - crap
Windows 7 - great
Windows 8 - ?

It's an OS that works in a very specific way and I hope they don't make it too hard to ditch all their extra eye candy and let us keep a nice simple desktop with a set of icons to get to our apps a pretty wallpaper and nothing else. We invented the perfect UI years ago so we don't need to change it just for the sake of change. Make a tablet desktop for a tablet and a PC desktop for a mouse and keyboard set up.. Linux Ubuntu have gone down the "this is the best way to make Ubuntu look and if you don't like it then you're wrong!" route with their Unity desktop and have been haemorrhaging user ever since.

[ArithonUK]

Well, tried to install it on my laptop and got "Error 0xe00000260 something did nothing error, try a repair or something" a nix on that then.

So, VMWare - tried again. Install crashed with "DPC WATCHDOG ERROR" (er,right?). Apparently it will only run on VirtualBox and VMWare Workstation 8 (Not VM Player) - because of "hardware incompatibility" - in a virtual environment?

So, no Windows 8. I do not have a spare state-of-the-art "just lying around doing nothing" PC to waste on it.

Based on Smilodon's equation, we should wait for Win8 SP1 or Win9 anyway....

[Penfold]

I don't like it either.

I think I'll be staying with Windows 7

[kregoron]

i wasnt able to run the 32bit in the VMware, so i tried the 64bit in with a win7 64bit profile, and disablet the virtual floppy and tadaa it worked..

tho i MISS the start menu,.,..,.,.,.,

[BrotherTobious]

woohoo gonna spend loads on a gaming machine then stick a phone os on it I am so impressed

[smilodon]

woohoo gonna spend loads on a gaming machine then stick a phone os on it i am so impressed

rotflmao

[T-Bag]

To be honest I think it looks pretty good. I'm yet to try it but the features with disk management and copying etc etc will make it a must have if they live up to what they promise. Features badly missing from any other operating system.
As far as tablets go I think that's where it will shine most. A dedicated device where you can do work as well as social and entertainment stuff. I've tried doing serious work on both an Android tablet (Eee Transformer - even with the keyboard it's useless because of the OS) and an iPad (also with the dedicated keyboard dock - though far less portable). Neither really do much. iPad especially. You can watch a video or read a book etc etc, but if you try and make powerpoint or draft a document I found them clumsy and poorly made in every respect. Windows 8 on tablet looks like it's trying to scale down a PC to a more portable computer rather than scale up a phone. If done well I might cave and finally buy a tablet which I've genuinely wanted to do for ages, but been disappointed with how lacking they are.

I'm a little worried about the mouse interface for a couple of reasons, primarily because I'm a multi-monitor user. So corners aren't actually the easiest place for me. Secondly going between 2 programs quickly isn't just a case of spreading them out so you can always click on the ones you want.
Having said that I do the vast majority of my computing using keyboard shortcuts, of which microsoft appear to have added plenty more bulking out what I can do without a mouse, I'm hoping it will counteract the downsides, but that's by no means guaranteed and even if I do it'll be quite a learning curve.

For years I've wanted to be able to control my computer through gestures and swipes on a mid size (~7") touchscreen sat beside my mouse, and it looks like this is the direction things are heading, and maybe they'll come to market with it, who knows, otherwise I'll have to make one myself. I think that will be the best thing to happen to computers since flat screen monitors.

[TheDvEight]

Lol toby & Smilo I'll be sticking with windows 7 for the near future -  Windows 7 was only released October 22, 2009. & Theres no relase date for windows 8 yet?