The Official Windows 8 User Thread

[gizbug]

Which version expires in 30 days?

 

[gmaster456]

What a lot of people don't understand is that 'Metro' is not a just user interface. It IS windows now. For better or for worse. It's too far under the hood to simply flip a toggle switch to turn it off.

 

[hhhd1]

The new feature, "windows on the go", which allows running windows from a usb, is only available to enterprise.

Is there an available option for windows 7 home premium to upgrade to windows 8 enterprise ?

Edit:

I mean for regular users, like home users, and not through bulk enterprise purchase.

 

[tornadog]

I was really impressed by the seamless upgrade from the windows 7 HP on my desktop to windows 8 Pro. All I had to do was uninstall MSE which is already builtin. Couple of reboots and I am on Windows 8. All my programs work flawlessly and all my settings are saved.


I am wondering if I screwed the pooch on getting the 40 buck upgrade since I am already on Windows 8 RTM. Would suck if I had to reinstall Windows 7 just to get the upgrade.

 

[hhhd1]

I was really impressed by the seamless upgrade from the windows 7 HP on my desktop to windows 8 Pro. All I had to do was uninstall MSE which is already builtin. Couple of reboots and I am on Windows 8. All my programs work flawlessly and all my settings are saved.


I am wondering if I screwed the pooch on getting the 40 buck upgrade since I am already on Windows 8 RTM. Would suck if I had to reinstall Windows 7 just to get the upgrade.

Yes, I think you need windows 7 installed so it can be validated.

Have you noticed how much the free space decreased by doing the upgrade ?

 

[Dominato3r]

The new feature, "windows on the go", which allows running windows from a usb, is only available to enterprise.

Is there an available option for windows 7 home premium to upgrade to windows 8 enterprise ?

Edit:

I mean for regular users, like home users, and not through bulk enterprise purchase.

Interesting question. Since there is no ultimate version this time around I wonder if the general public will have access to enterprise features

 

[dagamer34]

There is stuff under the hood, but Microsoft never talks about it. Windows 8 is supposed to be slimmed down to make things run faster/longer even with mobile devices. That is probably why Aero and other fancy UI stuff is gone. Also in previous versions, Windows included tons of printer drivers. That is not being done anymore as the OS is supposed to be able to print without the need of large-sized drivers that are typical from the vendors. File history is also something new. Both Anti-virus and anti-spyware is now built into the OS. There seems to be interest in Windows To Go, but that is an enterprise-only feature.

As I suspected, liking or not liking Metro makes no difference. Reason is if you like the Metro style, it is there. If not, you can download a 3rd-party Start Menu and stay in Desktop. My guess is that will be quite a few people coming out with their own Start Menu (maybe even from big names). If others have convinced you that you do not even want to interact with Metro at all, put a utility called FxxkMetro in your startup folder.

As for speed, it seems a little on the slow side for me. Obviously, this is not good as my desktop computer is only 2 years old. Not sure if it the cause is the OS, hardware, driver, or what with me. Not many others have mentioned any performance issues (speed or latency), so I am guessing it has been fine for the few days they have been using RTM.

Sounds like driver issues. I haven't installed it on my main HTPC because I'm waiting for a key from TechNet. Currently running RTM in a Parallels VM and it's great.

 

[Infraction Jack]

How long do you think it will be before amd has official drivers out?

 

[CSMR]

What a lot of people don't understand is that 'Metro' is not a just user interface. It IS windows now. For better or for worse. It's too far under the hood to simply flip a toggle switch to turn it off.

It's not just a UI, it's an application framework (WinRT). It is not Windows, it is a part of Windows. If you do not use WinRT apps, you should have no need to use "Metro".

 

[gizbug]

How long do you think it will be before amd has official drivers out?

Last week of October before official drivers start rolling out on the internet.

 

[hhhd1]

It's not just a UI, it's an application framework (WinRT). It is not Windows, it is a part of Windows. If you do not use WinRT apps, you should have no need to use "Metro".

Not true, it is the other way

If you do not use desktop applications, you have no need to use the desktop at all.

try those in desktop:

- in the taskbar, click on the network icons.
- right click on any file, select 'open with', click choose default program.
- try to shutdown ??
- try to open any file like a music or a video or an xps document, the default is to open in metro, and you have to switch all files manually to regular programs.
- at the start screen, when viewing 'all apps', the metro apps are using all the screen, u have to scroll for a bit to see the normal apps.
- try to insert a dvd, autoplay menu is metro, click anywhere else accidentally and the menu is instantly gone.

MS is simply giving desktop users the finger.

 

[Jaskalas]

Is this really the place for the invasive Metro discussion? We've had a thread for that.

 

[hhhd1]

Is this really the place for the invasive Metro discussion? We've had a thread for that.

You are correct.

Was just replying to a post, wasn't sure how to post it in the other thread while replying to a post in this thread.

 

[Dominato3r]

It's not just a UI, it's an application framework (WinRT). It is not Windows, it is a part of Windows. If you do not use WinRT apps, you should have no need to use "Metro".

A better framework, IMO.

 

[hclarkjr]

Last week of October before official drivers start rolling out on the internet.

i hope you are wrong about that, i really do. i have a crossfire setup and am Leary of installing it due to the problems some are having

 

[Jaskalas]

i hope you are wrong about that, i really do. i have a crossfire setup and am Leary of installing it due to the problems some are having

Is there some need to bring crossfire into this environment so soon? Save yourself some headaches until it matures.

 

[jhansman]

I'm surprised that Microsoft isn't trying to sue everyone who's downloaded the RTM version.

You're thinking of Apple. In any case, the Preview was quite snappy on the 7200 RPM SATA II drive I tried it on, and the, erm, tiled screen was easily gotten past. My understanding was that Windows Live was history as far as Win8 was concerned; does anyone know if this is true? My time with it seemed to offer either Outlook or webmail as the only email choices.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I just installed W8 but didn't get a lot of time to mess around with it too much yet. My initial impression was that I kinda liked it. Metro felt smooth transitioning between apps and I actually like the way it looked. BUT....

I can't see myself using this on MY desktop. Like I said, I haven't had a lot of time to play with it, but from what I was able to play with, it seemed like it was too much clicking just to launch a game or other program. Having to go to the desktop then navigating to the program was a bit much. I'm sure there's gotta be shortcuts I can create etc., I just haven't had the time yet.

I do think I will be purchasing the upgrade to get rid of vista on my wife's laptop. I think this would be an ideal place to learn and tinker with W8 because we don't use it that much and Vista on a laptop is just too slow and such a resource hog that any OS other than it will suffice. I may throw in ubuntu and learn on this laptop also.

 

[lopri]

Not true, it is the other way

If you do not use desktop applications, you have no need to use the desktop at all.

try those in desktop:

- in the taskbar, click on the network icons.
- right click on any file, select 'open with', click choose default program.
- try to shutdown ??
- try to open any file like a music or a video or an xps document, the default is to open in metro, and you have to switch all files manually to regular programs.
- at the start screen, when viewing 'all apps', the metro apps are using all the screen, u have to scroll for a bit to see the normal apps.
- try to insert a dvd, autoplay menu is metro, click anywhere else accidentally and the menu is instantly gone.

MS is simply giving desktop users the finger.

One of the first things I did after the Win8 installation was to go into Contol Panel's "Default Programs" and change all the files associations from default Metro apps (e.g., Photos, Video) to desktop apps (e.g., Windows Photo Viewer, Windows Media Player) Thankfully, that did not take too long.

 

[piasabird]

Their oper system is also competing against another oper system. Even Linux is getting competition from the phone OS. My son is working on a lightweight flying webserver with some of his buddies. He used neither windows or linux. With all of these tablets windows could be replaced. This could be the beginning of the end for Microsoft.

Here it is an android based motherboard from VIA. I saw this while looking at some Mini-ITX information.

http://www.mini-itx.com/2012/05/22/via-launches-neo-itx-with-49-apc-android-pc

Maybe the ultra low power small Android PC is coming.

I am being over dramatic. But why not make some android based PC's? They are already making games for android based tablets.

http://apc.io/blog/2012/08/07/the-little-red-box-by-mexel/?pid=21&pageid=418

??? NO HEATSINKS ???

 

[piasabird]

So are android servers coming too?

 

[Bryf50]

Android=Linux. If you were building a headless server idk why the hell you'd use android and not an arm Linux distro. Furthermore android is very poor as a desktop or laptop os and those cheap boards like the raspberry pi and via one would be like travelling back a decade performance wise if attempted to use as a full fledged desktop.

 

[hclarkjr]

Is there some need to bring crossfire into this environment so soon? Save yourself some headaches until it matures.

looks likew there is beta driver that works 9.00-120612a-140545E

 

[gmaster456]

You're thinking of Apple. In any case, the Preview was quite snappy on the 7200 RPM SATA II drive I tried it on, and the, erm, tiled screen was easily gotten past. My understanding was that Windows Live was history as far as Win8 was concerned; does anyone know if this is true? My time with it seemed to offer either Outlook or webmail as the only email choices.

Since they are dropping the Windows Live essentials, it will just be called Windows essentials 2012

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-essentials-2012-preview-143943

 

[gizbug]

Most of you activate the Windows 8 RTM?