[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Windows 8 Release Preview: A Wish List of Changes here

[TonySmithu8ij]

And the "release preview" differs from the "consumer preview" that I am already running how exactly?
Also wondering what will happen to everyone running the previews after Windows 8 is fully released.

[JaredNewman]

TonySmithu8ij, on 24 April 2012 - 09:13 AM, said:

And the "release preview" differs from the "consumer preview" that I am already running how exactly?
Also wondering what will happen to everyone running the previews after Windows 8 is fully released.

"Consumer preview" is Microsoft's fancy way of saying "beta." "Release preview" is their fancy way of saying "release candidate," which refers to a near-final release but with some bugs. In the past Microsoft has given users a grace period to uninstall the release candidate, after which time they start automatically shutting down users' PCs every two hours without warning:

http://www.pcworld.c..._backtrack.html

Not clear yet what MS will do for Windows 8, but it'll probably be something similar.

[mikedmiked]

It will have bug fixes and probably enhancements based on user feedback. This is still in development so anything that changed from the time the consumer preview to the release preview will probably be in there.

TonySmithu8ij, on 24 April 2012 - 09:13 AM, said:

And the "release preview" differs from the "consumer preview" that I am already running how exactly?
Also wondering what will happen to everyone running the previews after Windows 8 is fully released.

[hellopoco]

If windows does all these things listed I will be a BIG fan of windows 8.

[bikdav]

hellopoco, on 24 April 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

If windows does all these things listed I will be a BIG fan of windows 8.

You may be onto something big. I have a feeling that if Windows gets this one right, they are going to pull an operating system blitz. Watch Apple and Android start scrambling to play catch up. I actually had a chance to try out their 'old' Windows 7 mobile. Guess what? I liked how easy it was to use. My concern is being able to freely share files and most operating system features between mobile and desktop. If this happens satisfactorily [it doesn't need to be 100% "perfect"], then I'm on board.

[Galexmario]

Just used it for three days and I already hate it keeps freezing when playing videos or when i open multiple websites.

[TsarNikky]

This wish list of changes would make for a much better overall Operating System. Regrettably, with MS's published stance of "no changes," this wish list will remain the vain hope category. Luckily, Windows-7 is very alive and well, which will serve us until 2020. Eight years should be long enough for MS to see their errors and fix them.

[MattChapmanlzpf]

They also need to improve their Desktop experience, which is now missing some nice things that were in Windows 7. For example, when I am in desktop mode browsing the internet (cause IE10 metro currently stinks at things like Java and Flash, it isn't really worth browsing in it), the keyboard doesn't automatically come up and there isn't a TIP anymore, you have to click into the keyboard at the bottom. MS should be better at detecting when a keyboard is desired.

Another thing that is lost is the touch gestures that were in Windows 7. When in Windows explorer or IE you could swipe left quickly to go forward, or vice versa. Why they took these helpful features out of the code for the desktop is a mystery.

[ronin7752]

TsarNikky, on 24 April 2012 - 02:01 PM, said:

This wish list of changes would make for a much better overall Operating System. Regrettably, with MS's published stance of "no changes," this wish list will remain the vain hope category. Luckily, Windows-7 is very alive and well, which will serve us until 2020. Eight years should be long enough for MS to see their errors and fix them.

Jared and many other PCW journalists appear to be completely unaware of M$'s "no changes" stance. They seem to think that M$ will listen to them. To M$, end-users are just an annoyance...

[RicoAlexander]

The start menu is gone. Get over it.

[JaredNewman]

ronin7752, on 24 April 2012 - 06:36 PM, said:

Jared and many other PCW journalists appear to be completely unaware of M$'s "no changes" stance. They seem to think that M$ will listen to them. To M$, end-users are just an annoyance...

Oh, I have no such delusions about Microsoft listening to me. Just fun to think about what could be done.

Also: People still say "M$?" Even as its profits shrink? Huh.

[AnonymousFriend]

FORGET THE START BUTTON. Geez!

I disagree with just about everything on this list except multi-monitor support needs work!

[havasu46]

Bring back the Start Button...think of the new Start screem as the old pop-up Start button. You contradict yourself? Move App Setting..easier said then done. Quit wasting $$$ on multi-monitors.

[JaredNewman]

havasu46, on 25 April 2012 - 07:28 AM, said:

Bring back the Start Button...think of the new Start screem as the old pop-up Start button. You contradict yourself? Move App Setting..easier said then done. Quit wasting $$$ on multi-monitors.

In terms of how you use it, the Start screen is similar to the pop-up start menu, but that doesn't make it any easier for people who don't know what they're doing. Never underestimate how many novices are out there.

I love my three monitors.

[ronin7752]

JaredNewman, on 25 April 2012 - 04:33 AM, said:

ronin7752, on 24 April 2012 - 06:36 PM, said:

Jared and many other PCW journalists appear to be completely unaware of M$'s "no changes" stance. They seem to think that M$ will listen to them. To M$, end-users are just an annoyance...

Oh, I have no such delusions about Microsoft listening to me. Just fun to think about what could be done.

Also: People still say "M$?" Even as its profits shrink? Huh.

The "$" doesn't stand for profit, it stands for their priorities. If good decisions for end users were their priority, their profits would be bigger and people would not be using "M$"... (Sort of a variation on "Penny wise, pound foolish." ...Maybe "Technically wise, user foolish." Is the lesson we need to learn from M$/Balimer.)

[bob3160]

Getting the old start button back in Windows 8 is as easy as installing the Classic Shell:
http://www.neowin.ne...nu-to-windows-8

[jacko15]

The vast majority of users who will eventually be forced to use Windows 8 are anything but power users. I'm in my 60's and most of my friends use a computer for simple everyday tasks such as email and web browsing. A lot of them don't even know what a newsletter or forum is all about. From what I see of the Windows 8 metro interface, confusion will be rampant. Why won't Microsoft give users a choice to let most of us do what we need the way we already know how to and are comfortable doing. We don't need to learn operating our computers all over again. What a pain this will be for the millions of casual users out here.

[WesleyValdyke]

You're basically just telling Microsoft to scrap almost all of the new UI. Sure it took me a little getting used to but I actually really like the new menu. I also like the Charms bar, but wish it was a little easier to bring up. I do agree the whole thing could come with a tutorial for some more technically challenged however.

[WesleyValdyke]

You're basically just telling Microsoft to scrap almost all of the new UI. Sure it took me a little getting used to but I actually really like the new menu. I also like the Charms bar, but wish it was a little easier to bring up. I do agree the whole thing could come with a tutorial for some more technically challenged however.