[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Here is your Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 launch guide: Event and product highlights here

[garak0410]

Getting excited...just sold my Android tablet to get a Surface. Already running Windows 8 on my laptop and main desktop and am enjoying it.

[BrickPotato]

I know! I love windows 8. Running it on my all-in-one 23" toshiba. Its perfect, I have been using it through all the beta's on touchscreens and standard desktops. Each feel very smooth and responsive.

[marootn]

I'm very much looking forward to WP8 and dumping my iPhone 4s. I'm tired of the old icon interface for years. I was happy to switch from my Blackberry OS to Android, and Android to iOS. They were all the same boring icon UI. Microsofts Live Tiles in WP8 is in my opinion, evolutionary/revolutionary. They had it in in WP7 and with WP8 I'm thinking is improved and time to switch.

WP8 tiles are "live" and not static and is in fact, more user friendly. not only that, but more informative. Both android and iOS use static icons. notices/alerts pop in or drop down and disappear. Weather reports, stock quotes, emails, twitter, facebook, missed calls all have to be sought after if you have static icons. But WP8 with "live" tiles have ALL that info "live" on your home screen. how cool is that?

[ImprovYield]

So...where in the world is the pricing for the OS? It's launching this month and I have no idea how much it's going to cost

[jdonalds]

I thought I read Microsoft is going to charge $14 for an upgrade from W7 to W8.

[compnovo]

jdonalds, on 05 October 2012 - 10:19 PM, said:

I thought I read Microsoft is going to charge $14 for an upgrade from W7 to W8.

You read correctly:
http://windows.micro...s/upgrade-offer

[noone99]

Quote

jdonalds said
I thought I read Microsoft is going to charge $14 for an upgrade from W7 to W8. You read correctly: http://windows.micro...s/upgrade-offer

You read correctly if you buy a new PC currently with windows 7. If you want to buy a retail or OEM copy it won't be $15. Assume it will be similar to windows 7 pricing

[compnovo]

noone99, on 06 October 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

Quote

jdonalds said
I thought I read Microsoft is going to charge $14 for an upgrade from W7 to W8. You read correctly: http://windows.micro...s/upgrade-offer

You read correctly if you buy a new PC currently with windows 7. If you want to buy a retail or OEM copy it won't be $15. Assume it will be similar to windows 7 pricing

There's going to be a window where you can upgrade an XP, Vista, or Win7 system to Win8 for $40 (download) or $70 (disc)...
http://www.theverge....e-upgrade-price

I assumed, perhaps mistakenly, that jdonalds was referring to a new PC with Win7.

[RyanDaLyon]

More than excited for Windows 8. Im an IT major so I had early access, and Im running Win 8 professional, and its more than Amazing, its Genius.

[dfschmid]

It will be interesting to see how Win 8 will pan out over the coming year. In my opinion, it's going to be another Vista/ME situtation.

I'm old enough to have witnessed the evolution of computers and the OS over the past 20 years. I am not against change or improvement, but I have great difficulty seeing how Windows 8 can be used practically in an office environment -- that is, to actually get work done.

For example,

- imagine a GIS department with cartographers that have to produce 20, 50 or 100 maps, or design and build geodatabases. They must use a mouse.

- imagine engineers using AutoCad designing hundreds or thousands of parts, or designing buildings, etc.

- imagine scientists entering data into Excel spreadsheets - I mean several thousand rows of data of biological data or analysis results.

- imagine those working with SQL Server and Oracle databases, designing and building databases, database queries where many tables are joined.

- imagine those doing word processing, preparing large documents hundreds or thousands of pages long with complicated formatting.

So, now imagine doing all that kind of work on a tiny tablet with Windows 8 that forces the user to use their fingers on a touch screen. One can't use a mouse. Also, there’s the Metro UI screen. So, how is anyone supposed to get work done?
That’s why I think most people will not be rushing to install to Windows 8. Even worse, I think Windows 8 seems to have been designed for children. I’m not a child. I work in an office, and my computer is not a cell phone. I think Microsoft is going to have to rethink Windows again and get it right in Windows 9. Otherwise, I think most people are going to stick with Windows 7 for a while. Maybe I’m wrong.

[compnovo]

dfschmid, on 08 October 2012 - 09:43 AM, said:

It will be interesting to see how Win 8 will pan out over the coming year. In my opinion, it's going to be another Vista/ME situtation.

I'm old enough to have witnessed the evolution of computers and the OS over the past 20 years. I am not against change or improvement, but I have great difficulty seeing how Windows 8 can be used practically in an office environment -- that is, to actually get work done.

For example,

- imagine a GIS department with cartographers that have to produce 20, 50 or 100 maps, or design and build geodatabases. They must use a mouse.

- imagine engineers using AutoCad designing hundreds or thousands of parts, or designing buildings, etc.

- imagine scientists entering data into Excel spreadsheets - I mean several thousand rows of data of biological data or analysis results.

- imagine those working with SQL Server and Oracle databases, designing and building databases, database queries where many tables are joined.

- imagine those doing word processing, preparing large documents hundreds or thousands of pages long with complicated formatting.

So, now imagine doing all that kind of work on a tiny tablet with Windows 8 that forces the user to use their fingers on a touch screen. One can't use a mouse. Also, there’s the Metro UI screen. So, how is anyone supposed to get work done?
That’s why I think most people will not be rushing to install to Windows 8. Even worse, I think Windows 8 seems to have been designed for children. I’m not a child. I work in an office, and my computer is not a cell phone. I think Microsoft is going to have to rethink Windows again and get it right in Windows 9. Otherwise, I think most people are going to stick with Windows 7 for a while. Maybe I’m wrong.

While I think many will stay with Windows 7, simply because it's a very good OS, your post tells me you haven't researched Windows 8. Everything that can be done with past Windows OSs and legacy software (32-bit or greater) can be done with Windows 8 using a mouse and keyboard on a standard desktop or laptop; no one is restricted to using the "metro" interface. On a desktop the "metro" interface becomes a fancy start menu with enhanced search capabilities.

I'm not saying you or anybody should upgrade, that's a personal decision.

[WinTard]

dfschmid, on 08 October 2012 - 09:43 AM, said:

It will be interesting to see how Win 8 will pan out over the coming year. In my opinion, it's going to be another Vista/ME situtation.

I'm old enough to have witnessed the evolution of computers and the OS over the past 20 years. I am not against change or improvement, but I have great difficulty seeing how Windows 8 can be used practically in an office environment -- that is, to actually get work done.

For example,

- imagine a GIS department with cartographers that have to produce 20, 50 or 100 maps, or design and build geodatabases. They must use a mouse.

- imagine engineers using AutoCad designing hundreds or thousands of parts, or designing buildings, etc.

- imagine scientists entering data into Excel spreadsheets - I mean several thousand rows of data of biological data or analysis results.

- imagine those working with SQL Server and Oracle databases, designing and building databases, database queries where many tables are joined.

- imagine those doing word processing, preparing large documents hundreds or thousands of pages long with complicated formatting.

So, now imagine doing all that kind of work on a tiny tablet with Windows 8 that forces the user to use their fingers on a touch screen. One can't use a mouse. Also, there’s the Metro UI screen. So, how is anyone supposed to get work done?
That’s why I think most people will not be rushing to install to Windows 8. Even worse, I think Windows 8 seems to have been designed for children. I’m not a child. I work in an office, and my computer is not a cell phone. I think Microsoft is going to have to rethink Windows again and get it right in Windows 9. Otherwise, I think most people are going to stick with Windows 7 for a while. Maybe I’m wrong.

Yes you are wrong. Because you purposely omitted the Windows 8 Desktop mode. In the desktop mode, nothing changes. The start button is replaced with a much cooler start screen. Otherwise, everything else functions as expected. Just like under Windows 7.

Except that Windows 8 is much more efficient, performing, and fluid than Windows 7. Under the exact same hardware! One can even use existing Windows 7 64-bit drivers under Windows 8. But why? Systems that required custom motherboard drivers for Windows 7 auto-magically load without any external device drivers under Windows 8. At least that's my experience.

Here are the systems I currently use with Windows 8, Windows Server 2012:

WinTard, on 23 September 2012 - 06:21 PM, said:

jeepmanjr, on 23 September 2012 - 04:59 PM, said:

You know what's worse? Upgrading a really nice, cutting edge PC to Windows 8.

Care to share why you think so? And how would you really know?

Unfortunately you don't even understand the meaning of nice or cutting edge. How could you? You obviously haven't even seriously tried Windows 8.

Whereas, many true open-minded enthusiasts experienced the preview versions of Win8 (DP, CP, RP) since its initial release on September 13, 2011.

Personally, I currently run the full RTM (not previews) of Windows 8 Enterprise on my six core HTPC, Windows 8 Pro on my Dell Studio 1558, and Windows 2012 Server on my main server. All 64-bit of course.

http://i.imgur.com/FVbTt.png

http://i.imgur.com/q64jk.png

http://i.imgur.com/mv48S.png

What's the point of running a 32-bit OS on a 64-bit CPU? Duh!

32-bit is only limited to all current ARM based systems. Since all ARM processors are 32-bit.

Hey, I also run a Samsung manufactured, Broadcom based ARM chip on my Raspberry Pi, with Linux, just for fun! And simply love my Samsung Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.1.1.

Please grow up, and try to understand stuff, before putting it down, just like a dumb fanboi on blinders.

~~~~~~~~~
People are eternally divided into two classes, the believer, builder, and praiser, and the unbeliever, destroyer and critic.
~ John Ruskin

Knowledge is the antidote to fear.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do.
~ Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955

And to make things crystal clear, I do not use touchscreens with any of the above systems. I still use a mouse with the Destkop Mode exclusively. I do not use the Metro Modern UI yet, until I get a Surface Pro x64 tablet, when they become available.

In the meantime, also just for fun, I acquired a super-sexy Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A loaded with Windows 7 and upgrade to Windows 8 for $15. I don't wait. I just do. 99% of all my motherboards are Asus. I love Asus. I'm really into Asus!

This post has been edited by WinTard: 08 October 2012 - 10:33 AM

[compnovo]

WinTard, on 08 October 2012 - 10:14 AM, said:

In the meantime, also just for fun, I acquired a super-sexy Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A loaded with Windows 7 and upgrade to Windows 8 for $15. I don't wait. I just do. 99% of all my motherboards are Asus. I love Asus. I'm really into Asus!

Sweet

This post has been edited by compnovo: 08 October 2012 - 11:06 AM

[jazzy007]

Quote

It will be interesting to see how Win 8 will pan out over the coming year. In my opinion, it's going to be another Vista/ME situtation. I'm old enough to have witnessed the evolution of computers and the OS over the past 20 years. I am not against change or improvement, but I have great difficulty seeing how Windows 8 can be used practically in an office environment -- that is, to actually get work done. For example, - imagine a GIS department with cartographers that have to produce 20, 50 or 100 maps, or design and build geodatabases. They must use a mouse. - imagine engineers using AutoCad designing hundreds or thousands of parts, or designing buildings, etc. - imagine scientists entering data into Excel spreadsheets - I mean several thousand rows of data of biological data or analysis results. - imagine those working with SQL Server and Oracle databases, designing and building databases, database queries where many tables are joined. - imagine those doing word processing, preparing large documents hundreds or thousands of pages long with complicated formatting. So, now imagine doing all that kind of work on a tiny tablet with Windows 8 that forces the user to use their fingers on a touch screen. One can't use a mouse. Also, there’s the Metro UI screen. So, how is anyone supposed to get work done? That’s why I think most people will not be rushing to install to Windows 8. Even worse, I think Windows 8 seems to have been designed for children. I’m not a child. I work in an office, and my computer is not a cell phone. I think Microsoft is going to have to rethink Windows again and get it right in Windows 9. Otherwise, I think most people are going to stick with Windows 7 for a while. Maybe I’m wrong.

Not maybe, you are wrong. Obviously you have not try Windows 8, you just are repeating the same rhetoric of morons to write those comments. First of all, you can use all those programs you mention in your comments. If it runs on Windows 7 or XP, it will run on Windows 8. You will be using your keyboard and mouse in addition to your finger. Now, you have three way to interface with your computer instead of just two.

You know, that little button that said START and you click to see your programs, or all those icons on the desktop that you use to open your program? There are right there at the opening windows of W8. Now their are larger and dynamic tiles. You can change the size, color, group them by category or any way you want. Some are real programs and others are apps. The program will take you to the desktop and open, while the apps while which are light programs will open there because they do not need all the power of your PC.

Best of all, you can buy a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, a phone and all of them using the same interface and tie up together sharing the information between all your devices.

You are working on your desktop, need to go to the field, but you need a light device to carry with your work. Take a Windows 8 tablet, like Windows Surface Pro, and the same work you were doing on the desktop can now be done in a tablet with just a smaller screen. But wait, you can pinch or enlarge the area of the screen that you need with your fingers and the cover of the tablet have a keyboard to write comments or whatever you need to do.

So, what is wrong with all those options? None, but you need to try it for yourself before beliving those morons or Windows haters. Don't be a troll.

[crackers]

I've been reading these win8 comments for 4 months - and have yet to read a negative comment from someone who IS ACTUALLY RUNNING WIN8.
I'm into my second month of Win8/Office 2010 on a 3rd gen i5, SSD based desktop with mouse, AND on an two year old ASUS EP121 touchscreen, stylus or mouse based 2nd gen i5. Both units cold boot in less than 10 seconds. Both units accept everything (so far) designed for Win7. IMHO - Win8 is the most efficient OS on the market. ESPECIALLY IF YOUR INTEREST IS COMPUTER PRODUCTIVITY instead of entertainment.

[sjpearsall]

I am very much on the fence when it comes to switching from win 7 to win 8. Few business IT departments are going to be able to justify the expense of another OS upgrade so soon after doing upgrading to win 7 so sticking with win 7 will fit better when using my laptop when at work.

I read that MS disabled the option to set the OS to boot into desktop mode and that you have to boot into Metro and then manually switch to desktop mode. If this is still true then that would be an annoyance that would end up as a don't upgrade check mark.

I read (and watched) one of the videos that MS has produced and is distributing to sales folks that directs and instructs sales people how to teach people to use new UI elements in win 8 as they are concerned that win 8 is such a departure from previous windows versions that it will be unintuitive for most users.

Finally my impressions from reading several articles published on tech web sites is that win 8 is a really has a UI designed for touchscreen devices that doesn't really work as efficiently as the standard windows desktop UI which is why they left the option to switch back to the old UI for desktop users, but desktop functionality really took a backseat to smartphone and tablet functionality in the design.

Even though I recently bought a laptop and can upgrade it for $15 I am in no hurry to upgrade it and in fact since the laptop is a key professional tool, if I do get a copy of win 8 it will be a version I install on my gaming rig where it can't cause any critical professional issues and then check it out there, but I won't be in any rush to do that either.

BTW I have SSD drives installed in 3 of the 5 computers in my home office and they all boot in a matter of seconds without win 8.

[waldojim]

sjpearsall, on 12 October 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

I am very much on the fence when it comes to switching from win 7 to win 8. Few business IT departments are going to be able to justify the expense of another OS upgrade so soon after doing upgrading to win 7 so sticking with win 7 will fit better when using my laptop when at work.

I read that MS disabled the option to set the OS to boot into desktop mode and that you have to boot into Metro and then manually switch to desktop mode. If this is still true then that would be an annoyance that would end up as a don't upgrade check mark.

I read (and watched) one of the videos that MS has produced and is distributing to sales folks that directs and instructs sales people how to teach people to use new UI elements in win 8 as they are concerned that win 8 is such a departure from previous windows versions that it will be unintuitive for most users.

Finally my impressions from reading several articles published on tech web sites is that win 8 is a really has a UI designed for touchscreen devices that doesn't really work as efficiently as the standard windows desktop UI which is why they left the option to switch back to the old UI for desktop users, but desktop functionality really took a backseat to smartphone and tablet functionality in the design.

Even though I recently bought a laptop and can upgrade it for $15 I am in no hurry to upgrade it and in fact since the laptop is a key professional tool, if I do get a copy of win 8 it will be a version I install on my gaming rig where it can't cause any critical professional issues and then check it out there, but I won't be in any rush to do that either.

BTW I have SSD drives installed in 3 of the 5 computers in my home office and they all boot in a matter of seconds without win 8.

Will most businesses move to Windows 8? Hard to say. That really depends on weather or not they dumped XP yet. It makes no sense to move to Windows 7 at this point.

Rather than think of things in "modes" think of it like this: When Windows 8 boots, you are presented with your start menu. You select what you want to do from boot, and use Metro as your start menu. With several months using Windows 8, that is exactly how I treat Metro. Who starts their machine just to look at a desktop? So why so worried about seeing it first thing on start up?

They also included a short video with basic instructions after you are done installing it. In reality, there isn't much to grasp. Corners have a function, and there are hidden side bars as well.

Rather than rely on sources telling you what their unprofessional opinion is (sorry, but most tech writers are unprofessional), download it from MS - for free - and try it. I run it on several machines, and not a single one of them is a touchscreen.

[compnovo]

sjpearsall, on 12 October 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

BTW I have SSD drives installed in 3 of the 5 computers in my home office and they all boot in a matter of seconds without win 8.

I have SSDs in all three of our desktops and a netbook at home, but Win8 still boots faster (and performs better) in all of the systems.

Just sayin'........

[LiveBrianD]

waldojim, on 12 October 2012 - 09:43 AM, said:

sjpearsall, on 12 October 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

I am very much on the fence when it comes to switching from win 7 to win 8. Few business IT departments are going to be able to justify the expense of another OS upgrade so soon after doing upgrading to win 7 so sticking with win 7 will fit better when using my laptop when at work.

I read that MS disabled the option to set the OS to boot into desktop mode and that you have to boot into Metro and then manually switch to desktop mode. If this is still true then that would be an annoyance that would end up as a don't upgrade check mark.

I read (and watched) one of the videos that MS has produced and is distributing to sales folks that directs and instructs sales people how to teach people to use new UI elements in win 8 as they are concerned that win 8 is such a departure from previous windows versions that it will be unintuitive for most users.

Finally my impressions from reading several articles published on tech web sites is that win 8 is a really has a UI designed for touchscreen devices that doesn't really work as efficiently as the standard windows desktop UI which is why they left the option to switch back to the old UI for desktop users, but desktop functionality really took a backseat to smartphone and tablet functionality in the design.

Even though I recently bought a laptop and can upgrade it for $15 I am in no hurry to upgrade it and in fact since the laptop is a key professional tool, if I do get a copy of win 8 it will be a version I install on my gaming rig where it can't cause any critical professional issues and then check it out there, but I won't be in any rush to do that either.

BTW I have SSD drives installed in 3 of the 5 computers in my home office and they all boot in a matter of seconds without win 8.

Will most businesses move to Windows 8? Hard to say. That really depends on weather or not they dumped XP yet. It makes no sense to move to Windows 7 at this point.

Considering their upgrade cycles, how slowly they're adopting Windows 7, and the fact they there's no advantage for them outside of tablets, I doubt they'll adopt it. At the least, since this is quite a bit different, they'll probably wait until SP1.