[SCHUEY F1]

Looking forward to the RP. Hopefully we can just upgrade the CP, but I doubt it.

[celebi23]

Will it be possible to upgrade from the CP to the Release Preview? What about Release Preview to final?

I don't think so. But, if you used a Windows Live ID to sign in, it should transfer your apps & settings when you log into the Release Preview (at least I think so). But, yeah, you'll probably need to have a new install of the Release Preview & then the final version too.

[Tuck]

This is actually one of the best things they've done. Enough with the distracting, ugly graphical fluff that serves no purpose.

I liked Aero. It looked professional. It just didn't fit with Metro. The difference between the desktop still doesn't look great, but at least its better now.

[DarkFlow]

so what about windows 2000.

Windows 2000 wasn't a consumer operating system... Much like NT 3.5/4.0 before it

What he said. Windows 2000 was mostly a business OS that I've only ever seen installed at work. It was based off Windows NT and was the ground work for XP.

Windows Me was released seven months after Windows 2000 and one year before Windows XP, but Windows Me was not intended to be, nor did it serve as the successor to Windows 2000. Windows Me was designed for home use, while Windows 2000 was designed for business.

[jagowar]

I liked Aero. It looked professional. It just didn't fit with Metro. The difference between the desktop still doesn't look great, but at least its better now.

It might have looked professional but it was at the expense of a few ticks on the gpu/ram to make it run (and a bit of a hit to battery life).... one of the mantras of metro is above all else to make things run smoothly and even in the beta w8 is smoother than 7 ever was.

We will see what it looks like soon enough but I think if they allow you to make it darker it will look more in line with metro.... I think the bright white is still too much of a contrast.

[Road]

This is actually one of the best things they've done. Enough with the distracting, ugly graphical fluff that serves no purpose.

Too bad you could never turn transparency off in Windows 7.

[BocoDragon]

I liked Aero. It looked professional. It just didn't fit with Metro. The difference between the desktop still doesn't look great, but at least its better now.

I would be fine with a simple and bold desktop UI that actually looked in line with the design language of metro.

But this isn't it. It's just the Win 7 desktop with all the aesthetics and personality ripped out.

[DarkFlow]

If they would let us turn off Metro UI I would be all over this. As it is, it's a pain in the ass to use my desktop as you know.... A desktop. Having a UI designed for Touchscreens on a desktop is beyond useless.

[FLEABttn]

you can disagree with the new UI directions, but the objective advantages outweigh the "disadvantages" which are more of a subjective kind of nature heavily.

The UI changes are so nonsensical and frustrating on a desktop, I don't care about objective advantages 8 may offer. I don't even want to use the thing.

[Zombie James]

Too bad you could never turn transparency off in Windows 7.

One of the first things I do when installing Windows 7 is get rid of Aero Glass (I highly recommend the iBaked theme).

This might be old - it was posted yesterday - but I just stumbled onto this:

Related to this second point is information I’ve received that Microsoft has been furiously ripping out legacy code in Windows 8 that would have enabled third parties to bring back the Start button, Start Menu, and other software bits that could have made this new OS look and work like its predecessor. In fact, I’ve seen that several well-known UI hacks that worked fine with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview are no longer functional in the coming Release Preview. And those with hopes that Microsoft would allow businesses, at least, to boot directly to the desktop should prepare for disappointment. That feature not only isn’t happening, it’s being removed from Windows Server 12 (Windows 8’s stable mate) as well.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/...inesses-143238

[upJTboogie]

The old start menu.

If only.

[eastmen]

Wait what is this $15 upgrade thing they are talking about ?

[BocoDragon]

(I highly recommend the iBaked theme).

That's a style that has been designed to be flat, non-transparent and attractive. I don't get that impression from turning off Aero Glass in Win 7 or the standard Win 8.

[Zombie James]

That's a style that has been designed to be flat, non-transparent and attractive. I don't get that impression from turning off Aero Glass in Win 7 or the standard Win 8.

The new theme won't even be in the RC, iirc, so we'll have to wait and see.

[BocoDragon]

The new theme won't even be in the RC, iirc, so we'll have to wait and see.

Wait, what? So the desktop UI theme I'm seeing now isn't final?

[rozay]

Wait, what? So the desktop UI theme I'm seeing now isn't final?

that's what people are saying. Icons will change as well.

[BocoDragon]

that's what people are saying. Icons will change as well.

Then I withdraw my whining. If it's not final, then I get it.

[dude]

I really don't understand the hate Windows 8 gets...

[Nobility]

I can accept the start menu changes, I still want the ability to boot into desktop.

Still have no desire to use apps on my home computer.

[rozay]

The funny thing is that even though the OS boots to the start screen, the overall time it takes from a cold start to the start screen plus me clicking desktop is shorter than how long it took to boot a clean install of win 7 on my laptop (7200rpm hard drive). I would appreciate if the OS worked like that but it's probably the lowest on the list in terms of gripes.

[radioheadrule83]

"Upgrade offer for Windows 7 users: Microsoft is also providing an upgrade offer to Windows 7 users to get their PC updated with latest Windows 8 by paying just $14.99."

This makes me happy, they'll do this internationally right?

[Totakeke]

It's only too easy for them to bring back the start menu. You have to commend them sticking with their direction.

[Jayayess1190]

Wait what is this $15 upgrade thing they are talking about ?

Microsoft's $15 Windows 8 upgrade offer to run from June 2nd to January 31st, will include free workshops

Details leaked about Microsoft's $15 Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer earlier this month, and we are now able to confirm it will run from June 2nd to January 31st, 2013, according to one source familiar with the company's plans. Microsoft Store customers who purchase a Windows 7 PC from June 2nd will be offered a Windows 8 Pro upgrade for only $14.99. The limited-time "Windows Step-Up Offer" will run until January 31st, 2013 — providing upgrades for holiday and sales shoppers. Microsoft Store customers who participate in the Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer will also be invited to exclusive workshops to learn more about Windows 8. Microsoft will also supply a $20 Microsoft Store gift card in exchange for attendance at one of its planned workshops. With the free Windows 8 Pro offer available for PCs running Windows 7 Home Basic or above, we'd expect this offer to be popular over the back-to-school and holiday periods.

[Zombie James]

I really don't understand the hate Windows 8 gets...

I wouldn't call it hate, more like concern. Good starting point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIMuJTrxuhQ (from this article).

[MWS Natural]

Every time I see "windows 8" I just think to myself, 'why'. I feel like I just got Win7 and that I could use it for another 5+ years easily. Windows 8 go away.

I see no reason to upgrade unless MS starts releasing updates to intentionally break Windows 7 lol.

[Moaradin]

I don't get a lot of the hate it gets. What gets me excited is the general performance boost that it offers and the dual monitor support. I hardly use the W7 start menu other than the search function (which works just as well, if not better in win8). If MS added a more traditional start menu with the metro style look, would you guys be happier with it?

[eastmen]

I wouldn't call it hate, more like concern. Good starting point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIMuJTrxuhQ (from this article).

Quite literally is an old man yelling at clouds.


Metro is working just fine on phones and while its a huge change , its not like many people haven't embraced large changes for hype. Just look at all the people jumping from ms to apple in laptops and desktops. They are willing to learn a new os for that.

[NJ Shlice]

Can I dual boot the preview with bootcamp on Mac?

[BocoDragon]

Quite literally is an old man yelling at clouds. Metro is working just fine on phones and while its a huge change , its not like many people haven't embraced large changes for hype. Just look at all the people jumping from ms to apple in laptops and desktops. They are willing to learn a new os for that.

Metro isn't really idea for a mouse and keyboard, or even a laptop. And even if you had a touchscreen at home, reaching up and touching a screen is not ideal. Nice as a bonus, maybe... but it's not ideal for everyday use.

It makes sense on phones and tablets. You hold those. Your fingers are already near the screen.

The main reason we're seeing this is not because it's the best thing for desktop user interface, necessarily. It's because Microsoft wants to use its success in Windows as a competitive advantage against iPad. Hence, the tablet OS and the home OS are the same thing....

I do like the notification/app ideas though.

[Totakeke]

Quite literally is an old man yelling at clouds. Metro is working just fine on phones and while its a huge change , its not like many people haven't embraced large changes for hype. Just look at all the people jumping from ms to apple in laptops and desktops. They are willing to learn a new os for that.

That's a good point. How come people can learn OS X and yet the sky is falling when Windows 8 replaces the start menu? Probably not the same people, but probably highlights how much flack Microsoft gets for changing things.

[epmode]

I have enough interest in this subject to post in this thread, but that is all. I wish Windows 8 would go away.

[markot]

So much better ^_^ inb4 lm8r 'omg thats awfullllllll!'

[BocoDragon]

So much better ^_^ inb4 lm8r 'omg thats awfullllllll!'

aha see that looks like a metro-style desktop! much better.

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

So much better ^_^ inb4 lm8r 'omg thats awfullllllll!'

That's what it should've looked like. Have Metro apps behave like normal windowed apps with the optional ability to have fullscreen mode (a la Lion). Microsoft chose instead to shit the bed.

[Moaradin]

So much better ^_^ inb4 lm8r 'omg thats awfullllllll!'

That looks pretty good.

Wait, that isn't official?

[upJTboogie]

So now the built in music and video apps have ads?

[Zombie James]

That looks pretty good. Wait, that isn't official?

Just a mock-up.

[a Master Ninja]

• Upgrade offer for Windows 7 users: Microsoft is also providing an upgrade offer to Windows 7 users to get their PC updated with latest Windows 8 by paying just $14.99.

That's cheaper than a Mac OS upgrade. What's the catch?

[rozay]

That's cheaper than a Mac OS upgrade. What's the catch?

it's for people that are buying windows 7 PCs right now, not all windows 7 users.

[Moaradin]

Just a mock-up.

That sucks. I really hope they don't use the same desktop as windows 7. Two different looks for the Metro start screen and desktop would be dumb.

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

That's cheaper than a Mac OS upgrade. What's the catch?

You can't downgrade back when you've realized you made a big mistake.

[killer rin]

That's cheaper than a Mac OS upgrade. What's the catch?

I'm thinking its talking about the Microsoft Store upgrade price... so you would need to buy a new computer if that's the case

[DarkFlow]

That's cheaper than a Mac OS upgrade. What's the catch?

You have to buy a new PC within the last month or so to get that deal. If you have a computer already with Win 7, your SOL. I'm guessing that they will offer a student discount at some point like they did with Win 7. I only paid $30 for my copy using my student e-mail.

[markot]

The mock up is also alot more finger friendly.

And ads in the music / video app >_>? uhhhh

[FLEABttn]

How come people can learn OS X and yet the sky is falling when Windows 8 replaces the start menu? Probably not the same people, but probably highlights how much flack Microsoft gets for changing things.

Someone who leaves Windows for OSX has either decided or been convinced that what they're going to is better than what they're leaving and any frustrations caused by the learning curve are going to be more than made up for by after the curve been conquered.

[Bullza2o]

I just deleted my Win8 partition yesterday...

[celebi23]

If you try clicking the download links, the don't redirect to anything anymore. I'll update the OP when the new links go live.

[PG2G]

So much better ^_^ inb4 lm8r 'omg thats awfullllllll!'

That version of explorer has a fraction of the functionality that the ribbon has. Add more and more options and you start to lose the elegance of the design.

[DarkFlow]

I just deleted my Win8 partition yesterday...

I deleted mine like a week ago after not using it for over a month. I'm sure I'll get the bug and install it again only to uninstall it a few months later.

On the plus side games run pretty well on Win 8, I just don't like having to install them twice on my HDD to get them to run.

[markot]

Im not saying it should be the final version.

I just think the 'metro apps' and the desktop apps side by side doesnt work that well... why not make it all metro style designed for finger as well as mouse? Why half ass it?