Official: Windows 8 Release Preview Now Out

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Win8 gonna be very shortlived. Just like Ballmers job.

MS have been dumbing down Win8 with every preview release. And its basicly close to hit the bottom.​

Some of those are just terrible.

● The file copy conflict dialog removes direct access to important file details like size and date which are necessary for the user to make a decision about whether to overwrite or skip. They are now hidden behind 1 additional click or keystroke. Even more additional clicks or keystrokes are required than Windows 7/Vista for UAC protected locations when copying multiple files. The “Snap To” mouse feature is also broken for the new copy dialog.

Let's not confuse users with useful information.

 

[Ichinisan]

Yeah that's it. I thought it would work like the Windows 7 "run" search does (updates as you type), but it seems you need to type in the name of the whole app. Not a big deal.

Actually knowing I can right click on the bottom left of the desktop makes a big difference. 90% of the stuff I need to troubleshoot is in that menu. :thumbsup:

I use that menu 100 times per day and I always use the Win+R keyboard shortcut.

You should use the keyboard shortcut too.

 

[kurt454]

Did a clean install of the Release Preview and it was buggy as hell on my hardware. Menus would popup behind open applications with no way to get to 'em, drop down boxes would often do nothing when I clicked on them. I got tired of futzing with it after a few hours and had to nuke it. I have been using the Consumer Preview for months and it has been rock solid for a beta OS. Did another clean install of the CP and everything is back to working fine again. Guess I'll stick with the Consumer Preview for another few months.

 

[Kristijonas]

Did a clean install of the Release Preview and it was buggy as hell on my hardware. Menus would popup behind open applications with no way to get to 'em, drop down boxes would often do nothing when I clicked on them. I got tired of futzing with it after a few hours and had to nuke it. I have been using the Consumer Preview for months and it has been rock solid for a beta OS. Did another clean install of the CP and everything is back to working fine again. Guess I'll stick with the Consumer Preview for another few months.

When words aren't enough:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFPzsXyXm14

 

[kurt454]

When words aren't enough:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFPzsXyXm14

So what did I do wrong? I am not an IT Professional. If there is an easy fix for what was happening to me then please do share.

 

[Kristijonas]

Sorry about my reaction. I too have noticed the problem with background popup that aren't accessible. But this only happened once or twice so far and there is a very easy solution: Alt+Tab. And that's it

drop down boxes would often do nothing when I clicked on them

If this is a separate issue, then I don't really understand it. What is the issue here? The facepalm was mostly because I'm used to be a win7 user and yesterday for the first time I tried win8 (RP) and it works almost flawlessly for me (it freezed several times, but could be my PC, which is only purchased from used parts and built yesterday)

 

[kurt454]

"drop down boxes would often do nothing when I clicked on them"

If this is a separate issue, then I don't really understand it. What is the issue here?

Under the "screen resolution" context menu there is a dropdown box for multiple monitors, where you can duplicate, extend, or switch to another monitor. This would stop working at all for no apparent reason. Program menus would start popping up behind the open application in several different apps. It was behaving strangely overall. I have been building my own PCs and installing my own operating systems since the mid nineties, so I am not a total noob. I chalked this up to a beta OS not liking my particular hardware combination for some reason. Weird thing is that the older Consumer Preview works just as well as Windows 7 with everything that I have thrown at it. I guess I'll just wait and download the retail version of 8 when it's released and try it again. (shrugs)

 

[happysmiles]

currently using the music program, its better than zune but it still very annoyingly comes up with marketplace results aswell (which slows it down) and there is no option to search my files only.

the more I use Win 8 the less I like it, I know my opinion has changed but it's less about kinks and bugs than intentional features, Microsoft has been unnecessarily very forceful and pushy with win 8

People are becoming more computer literate and to push them into the backseat is kind of self defeating.

Also when I think about it, Microsoft has always been good at making windows a playground for developers, now that they're trying to write their own software it shows their limitations (other than Office.)
Windows Live Essentials, Zune, Windows Media Player and IE are all second-rate to their competitors. Windows messenger and movie maker are probably the best.

If history has taught us anything, tech companies only learn by big mistakes.

 

[Ichinisan]

Under the "screen resolution" context menu there is a dropdown box for multiple monitors, where you can duplicate, extend, or switch to another monitor. This would stop working at all for no apparent reason. Program menus would start popping up behind the open application in several different apps. It was behaving strangely overall. I have been building my own PCs and installing my own operating systems since the mid nineties, so I am not a total noob. I chalked this up to a beta OS not liking my particular hardware combination for some reason. Weird thing is that the older Consumer Preview works just as well as Windows 7 with everything that I have thrown at it. I guess I'll just wait and download the retail version of 8 when it's released and try it again. (shrugs)

I bet it was the "click yes if you can see this..." dialog appearing underneath whenever you changed the drop-down option, or appearing on the wrong monitor, and it was modal...so you couldn't interact with the drop-down and couldn't see/dismiss the pop-up.

This happens to me in XP, Vista, 7, ...so I wouldn't think of this as an IE8 problem unless it happens all the time.

 

[paul878]

If this is Microsoft's tablet OS, then I think they did a pretty good job.

I just don't see how this Metro thing going to work on desktop and laptop.

 

[Kristijonas]

Dunno, I like it and won't come back to win7.

 

[arod]

Also when I think about it, Microsoft has always been good at making windows a playground for developers, now that they're trying to write their own software it shows their limitations (other than Office.)
Windows Live Essentials, Zune, Windows Media Player and IE are all second-rate to their competitors. Windows messenger and movie maker are probably the best.

If history has taught us anything, tech companies only learn by big mistakes.

You also have to remember these apps are still not finished.... I think the live essentials bits that are there are nicer than the old desktop versions (same with zune/wmp). The new apps do have some limitations still but I think even in their current states are already better than what we had.

 

[JackMDS]

If this is Microsoft's tablet OS, then I think they did a pretty good job.

+1

I just don't see how this Metro thing going to work on desktop and laptop.

Many families have a sedan, SUV, Motorcycle, Boat, etc. I.e a combination of Motor Vehicle.

I have few computing device I do a lot of real High level work on them (I can afford few computers since I do not care about "bragging rights" and I do not have any computer with a Video card that cost more than $120, and a PSU that cost more than $60).

Two Computers run metro, two keep running Win7, (believe it or Not) one "toy" runs OSX 10.6.8.

 

[Infraction Jack]

I will enjoy windows 8 when it is released but the release preview is too unstable for me currently.

 

[JackMDS]

If this is Microsoft's tablet OS, then I think they did a pretty good job.

+1

I just don't see how this Metro thing going to work on desktop and laptop.

Many families have a Sedan, SUV, Motocycle, Boat, etc. I.e., a combination of Motor Vehicle each for its own purpose.

I have few computing devices I do a lot of real High level work on them (I can afford few computers since I do not care about "bragging rights" and I do not have any computer with a Video card that cost more than $120, and a PSU that cost more than $60).

Right Now, One Desktop running Metro, One tablet running Metro, Two Desktops and One Laptop running Win7, and (believe it or Not) one "toy" runs OSX 10.6.8.

Next year the mix probably would change according to my needs.

 

[VivienM]

It needs developers to flock to the platform. Everything MS has done in Win8 is to force developers to write Metro apps.

And how exactly are developers supposed to build productivity apps for Metro?

Even MS hasn't figured out how to make a Metro version of Office. So where is a Metro version of AutoCAD, Photoshop, QuarkXPress, Visual Studio, Dreamweaver, CATIA, etc going to come from?

Windows became what it is because every day, hundreds of million of people rely on it to do serious work. You can't do serious work (including, say, creating the content that Metro users are supposed to consume) with Metro. And Microsoft doesn't seem to care because they somehow think this will let them catch up to the iPad and its far more intuitive software and, more importantly, its installed base of ~80M units and tens of thousands of apps.

The late Steve Jobs would have loved to see this...

 

[dagamer34]

And how exactly are developers supposed to build productivity apps for Metro?

Even MS hasn't figured out how to make a Metro version of Office. So where is a Metro version of AutoCAD, Photoshop, QuarkXPress, Visual Studio, Dreamweaver, CATIA, etc going to come from?

Windows became what it is because every day, hundreds of million of people rely on it to do serious work. You can't do serious work (including, say, creating the content that Metro users are supposed to consume) with Metro. And Microsoft doesn't seem to care because they somehow think this will let them catch up to the iPad and its far more intuitive software and, more importantly, its installed base of ~80M units and tens of thousands of apps.

The late Steve Jobs would have loved to see this...

You do not re-write an app suite like Office in a year. To suggest otherwise is rather foolish.

Microsoft has never said that everyone should write major productivity apps in Metro. That doesn't even make sense because of sandboxing requirements. However, the "car" and "truck" analogy is still quite apt. Most people have cars, few people have trucks, but a truck can do everything a car can do (hence why Metro exists on a desktop/laptop).

Still though, there are several line of business apps that would certainly be better as a Metro app rather than what they currently are now. IF you couldn't do actual "work" on a tablet, then I guess you are calling the 92% of Fortune 500 companies who are deploying iPads into their workforce stupid.

Source: http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/10...-500-companies-are-testing-or-deploying-ipad/

 

[JackMDS]

All of these years there was practicaly hundred of software applications (many free) that can do the "mumbo jumbo" that Instagram does. The 99% (as oppose to the 1% entusiasts) were not aware of them (or it was too intellectually cumbersome to use).

Suddenly Wow a little company that did not invent any thing New but just translated the known to a tablet application got Billion $$$ for their product.

The above is an example of what is that we are heading to. Not really many things new but rather reworking the Technology to what the 99% want.

For the last decade Millions used the "Crappy" (in the yes of the enthusiasts) Dell P-4 256/512 RAM towers.

They did not like the look and the mess of the cables etc., but they did not complain much about the technology because it was good enough for Email, Surfing, and other social, and personal activities.

The Tablet style came and slowly slowly the Dells of this kind are diminishing in personal sales and Millions get Tablets.

It is clear what the "masses" want.

The fact is that the majority of the winning concerning the Metro issue is done by Enthusiasts (the One %) and Not by Business.

Business and Enthusiasts will find their solutions (that is what they are good at).

 

[VivienM]

You do not re-write an app suite like Office in a year. To suggest otherwise is rather foolish.

Microsoft has never said that everyone should write major productivity apps in Metro.

Haven't they? They're certainly hinting that the desktop is 'deprecated'. Not a first-class citizen equal with Metro...

And if they can't rewrite their own suites in a year, are they really expecting people to shift in and out of Metro for 5+ years? Why not stick with 7 then?

 

[VivienM]

It is clear what the "masses" want.

The fact is that the majority of the winning concerning the Metro issue is done by Enthusiasts (the One %) and Not by Business.

Business and Enthusiasts will find their solutions (that is what they are good at).

And why can't Microsoft have multiple product lines?

Look at the car industry. Ford will sell an F-350 to contractors who need to carry 4000 lbs of bricks. They'll sell a Fiesta to the urban commuter. Etc. No one is putting a pickup box on a Fiesta chassis and telling contractors that that's their new truck and that they should "find their solutions".

Make a "Windows for content consumption" and a "Windows for productivity". Sell the former on tablets and $400 AMD E-450 laptops. Sell the latter on desktops, laptops with decent resolution screens, and volume licensing.

Really, they're halfway there with the no-Win32-API Windows RT on ARM. That thing will not have productivity software for years and years, if the Autodesks and Adobes of the world ever even port to Metro. But for some reason, they had to compromise the x86 version.

And finally, I hate to point out the obvious, but what the masses seem to want is the iPad (and iPhone). A device with an extremely intuitive OS, an installed base of 80M units, beautiful styling, no third-party "partners" mucking it up with crapware, and a vibrant third-party ecosystem with tens/hundreds of thousands of apps. Every other tablet has been a flop so far (and understandably - I had one of the $99 HP Touchpads, and the software on this thing was buggy s**t that should have had a beta label). What makes anyone think that this monstrosity, with a less intuitive interface, hardware of unknown quality/fashion/etc (but probably higher price given Apple's economies of scale), <50 third-party apps, is going to be well-received by the masses even as a tablet platform?

 

[arod]

Haven't they? They're certainly hinting that the desktop is 'deprecated'. Not a first-class citizen equal with Metro...

And if they can't rewrite their own suites in a year, are they really expecting people to shift in and out of Metro for 5+ years? Why not stick with 7 then?

I don't think it will take 5 years.... 3 at most or whenever the next major version of office releases. I think we will see some of the others come out before then.... oddly enough I think a ribbon like UI is what will end up working in metro to give the productivity apps in metro.

 

[VivienM]

I don't think it will take 5 years.... 3 at most or whenever the next major version of office releases. I think we will see some of the others come out before then.... oddly enough I think a ribbon like UI is what will end up working in metro to give the productivity apps in metro.

I'm still waiting to see how you do a serious productivity app without windows. One of the nice things about traditional desktop machines is that you can (on a big enough monitor) open 2-3 documents at once. Multiple software. Etc.

Let's say you do desktop publishing. You can have your InDesign or Quark project on the screen, and at the same time have Word/Photoshop/Firefox/etc open so that you can gather the content you're going to put in this project.

Metro... mostly breaks that. No more dual/triple monitor setups, all you get is the 1/3 and 2/3 split of your main screen. And how do you display multiple documents within that 2/3?

(And yes, I do sound grumpy, don't I? MS is trying to obsolete my 1920x1080 laptop screen, my 1920x1200 desktop monitor, and my two 1600x1200 monitors by shoving an interface designed for 10" 1366x768 tablets on them. Good thing I didn't buy that 2560x1440 27")

 

[arod]

Metro... mostly breaks that. No more dual/triple monitor setups, all you get is the 1/3 and 2/3 split of your main screen. And how do you display multiple documents within that 2/3?

You can run metro apps on multiple screens with the release preview but it's incomplete in that when you open the startmenu it will minimize apps on secondary screens.... who knows if that will get fixed but if it is the multiple screen argument will go away.... and that's how they solve that problem by letting you run metro apps on multiple screens.

I also think they will open more snap views as time goes on.... specifically the 50/50 split which would allow them to do a 25/50/25 view so you could have 3 open apps per screen.

 

[Dominato3r]

And how exactly are developers supposed to build productivity apps for Metro?

Even MS hasn't figured out how to make a Metro version of Office. So where is a Metro version of AutoCAD, Photoshop, QuarkXPress, Visual Studio, Dreamweaver, CATIA, etc going to come from?

Windows became what it is because every day, hundreds of million of people rely on it to do serious work. You can't do serious work (including, say, creating the content that Metro users are supposed to consume) with Metro. And Microsoft doesn't seem to care because they somehow think this will let them catch up to the iPad and its far more intuitive software and, more importantly, its installed base of ~80M units and tens of thousands of apps.

The late Steve Jobs would have loved to see this...

That's pretty unfair. A case could be made that office is even more complex than windows and switching it to a new UI paradigm in one cycle would take ridiculous amounts of time. Same case could be made for cad software and PS etc.

 

[VivienM]

That's pretty unfair. A case could be made that office is even more complex than windows and switching it to a new UI paradigm in one cycle would take ridiculous amounts of time. Same case could be made for cad software and PS etc.

They switched Office to a new UI paradigm with the ribbon in 2007.

The thing is, what problem is Metro supposed to solve? As far as I can tell, it's a complete reinvention of everything for no good reason, other than the fact that some people, for certain uses, prefer tablet-style devices (and hey, I like my iPad too!). And because that future (or rather, the fact that Microsoft doesn't seem to be a part of it) scares the hell out of Steve Ballmer, he decides to throw the most popular desktop productivity OS in the world (and the developers who made it a success) under the bus.