Read this post for more details.
This is about you, the reader.
I think it would be cool to have a thoughtful, objective discussion about the things you don’t like about Windows 8 from what you know so far.
I need the comments to be substantive and thoughtful. Think about what you don’t like and what you can’t stand and simply say why.
Pretend that the folks at Microsoft are reading this (which they probably will), what would you like them to know that they have done right or wrong?
You can also say what you think they got right here.
Thanks for your time.
Leave your comments below and share with your friends.
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what can I say.the live tiles on metro are boring and dont leave much room for dressing up the desk top the way I would like to.Would love to be able to turn the metro interface off.unfortunatly as it stands now I dont care for this step backward.I will remain with windows seven.
I have been testing it in my work environment and I even got a touch monitor to try out the new features, but I work with multiple monitors and that seems to be the end game for me and windows 8, I currently use 5 monitors without the touch screen and the metro interface is not a good replacement for the start menu. Also the idea of the touch screen was cool, and I see where on a tablet it would be great, but on a laptop and desktop I am not too sure. It feels very cumbersome and the old dog new tricks applies big time at the office I work at, if I installed this right now, at minimum 3/4 of my office would pull their hair out. It is not a total loss, I just wish I knew what to suggest that could stir them in the right direction.
I like windows 8 speed, but the gooey is shit !
Turn,easily, Off the Metro Interface On Desktop/Laptop Apps,Return to the Start Menu,Interface and then……Maybe,then……We,can Seriously Talk,about Purchasing their new O/S……It’s not my Problem,I Have a lot Of other Choices…..It’s Their Problem……It’s,on the Seller’s Side……I Don’t Have The Patience for a Long Learning Curve…..
There are a couple of good things about windows 8: (1) It runs better on netbooks & lower-end computers than windows 7 [tweaking required]. (2)It can be configured into a good OS after some major reconfiguration and making the metro interface unobtrusive. It seems the path that Microsoft is taking is to force everyone to switch to the metro type interface and that I believe is a major mistake for them in my opinion. If their goal is to compete with the Ipad; then putting windows 8 on a cheap tablet just isn’t going to get it! Ipads are great if you are only looking for media consumption devices but using Windows 8, I expect a lot more than that and my opinion of Metro is definitely less than impressive. Microsoft had some good things going for them in windows 7 after a botched-up release of Vista. They should work on improving what they have for computer users and make the Metro separate for tablets and other “Computers for Dummies”
Microsoft had to go in this direction. If they made 4 Windows 8 versions (Windows 8 for PC’s, Windows 8 for x86 tablets with Metro, Windows 8 RT for ARM, and Windows Phone 8) Microsoft would go from a good chance at succeeding in the tablet market to a moderately bad chance. I think when Windows 8 ships there will be a decent amount of apps (especially if devs convert their Windows phone 7 apps to Windows 8) but 1) there are app developers that are waiting to see what happens with Windows 8 and 2) I don’t think major Windows Programs like Photoshop, Quicken, Quickbooks and such will be made into Metro apps right away. So to get the best chance to succeed in this market they had to make a hybrid Metro/Windows desktop OS. Ultimately I think Microsoft wants to make the WIndows desktop like Command Prompt is now where most of your programs will be in Metro but once in a while you may need to go into Windows Desktop maybe to play an older game or something. I don’t think that will be till Windows 9 or 10. If Microsoft plays their cards right people won’t buy a tablet and a laptop or desktop, they’ll just buy a tablet. That is what Microsoft (and other companies) are counting on. Maybe even one day you can buy a Windows ARM which will only run Metro apps but the buy a keyboard dock which has a core i7 and a high end mobile Nvidia or ATI graphics chip and you have yourself an Asus Transformer type device that is a slim, light tablet when thats all you need and a high end (or they can make mid end and lower end by putting in core i3 and i5 and lower end graphics) work or gaming machine.
Also Microsoft going in this direction does 2 things. 1) it pushes developers to make Metro apps of their desktop programs. 2) It gives developers one ecosystem to write for if they want to write a Windows 8, or Windows Phone 8 app. If they did it your way they’d have to write 2 apps and a lot of developers probably wouldn’t want to. So what would happen? You’d have (say Intuit) just updating Quickbooks for Windows desktop and maybe not making a Metro app. It just fragments the Windows OS.
You say Metro is for dummies but the whole idea of technology is to make things easier. Sure there will always be nerds who want things the old way but most of the human population want things easier. Out went film cameras for digital, computers are made faster so we can do more things with them and OS’ are made easier so regular people can have an easier time to use them. You say dummies but tech companies call them regular people. If it were up to you Windows would stay the same for the next 20+ years, well its not, if you don’t like it go to Linux (but not Ubuntu because they’re getting easier too).
Microsoft is going in the direction they need to go in and I’ll explain that in the article “What do you think of Windows 8).
There isn’t much I don’t like about Windows 8. But here they are.
1) When you’re on the Metro desktop you move your mouse to the end of the screen and it scrolls. Its a wonderful thing, it works well and I loved it. I was just upset when I went into other apps (like the market place) and I couldn’t do it. Its like having a car that can drive itself but only on one road.
2) This isn’t much of a problem for me but it will be for others. The lack of a start menu or at least a representation of a start menu will be a problem. I’ve seen videos of people letting others test Windows 8 and they get stuck in Windows Desktop. Sure they may have a video but or some type of tour but I don’t think a lot of people will watch it.
3) Unless they get Windows Desktop program developer to make Metro apps people may stay in Windows desktop or go back to Windows 7. I think they’ll have some good apps but how many? I think on non-touch machines they should let you choose if you want to login to Windows Desktop or Metro. They should probably have a working start menu too. Hopefully by Windows 9 there will be enough apps to make Metro the dominant desktop.
4) Paul Thurratte came up with a good idea that I think could help people get use to Windows 8. http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/windows8/doesnt-windows-8-142937  This idea would make being in Windows desktop more Metro. I think it should be apps that you have open should show up on the left so you can see any notifications that come your way. The problem right now is if you get a new email you don’t know it unless you’re in Metro. The other issue I have is that not all Windows programs show up in the multi-tasking pane (like pidgin). They should fix this as well.
Those are the issues I see with Windows 8.
@Rog
Hey Rog, liked your post. I just wanted to say that I side with you on the more positive views you have about Windows 8. The part about the scrolling in certain apps, you’re right but I’m sure MS isn’t done with things of that nature (that’s why they have us!). Another thing is the part where you stated that email notifications wouldn’t be known unless you’re in Metro- not quite. You can always have the email app opened in the side panel of the desktop; you can even drag it to resize it and make it as big as you want it on your desktop. I love windows 8, there isn’t a thing I dislike about it except that it hasn’t been released yet so that we can see what the full Metro experience is like. Consequently however, we will all be faced with the duty of having to uprade our machines and equipment to truly receive the full Metro experience- there’s no getting around it and some of us haven’t changed computers since Windows 2000 perhaps. That’s just a part of technology- can’t live with it, can’t live with it without proper computers, upgrades, and devices!!! o(._.)o
i am not a very smart computer person and i dont use the p c for a lot but to check email and play a few old school games i found windows 8 way to hard to use i keep it on a laptop for a few days and ran all the upgrades but spent many hours reading how to use windows 8 and still found it to be to much for me and i could not even upload a photo on it and i miss the start button i like my old x p system it dose every thing that i need i have a vista system but it keep going down and i need to reload it do to something that dose not boot up all the time i not tryed windows 7 yet but i not heard much about it yet so i will wait but i would not buy a p c with windows 8 on it i just dont like it
I saw it, I downloaded it, I tried it, I erased it and will most likely never look at it again. This Microsoft Bob II
I think Microsoft may be heading in the right direction for mobile and touch devices. I definately believe they should offer the ability to turn off Metro for desk tops. If they don’t I believe they will meet far more resistance than they anticipate. I for one have looked forward to windows 8 on a smart phone. If I have to endure Metro on a desktop I simply won’t and I will never use another Microsoft driven device.
I feel that Windows 8 is an unnecessary step for Microsoft. There isn’t really a need for this to be a whole brand-new OS. While there are some admitted improvements in this release, I honestly don’t feel that this warrants marketing an entirely new OS, versus simply making this a Service Pack for Windows 7. There is much more that I could say, and I could include more details, but at this point I choose not to. I simply wanted this to be a blanket statement of my overall feelings about Windows 8.
The Beta version does function well with rotation or enlargement of photos on my tablet.
Once again some aspects are not backward compatible I have lost the use of my HP printer scanner machine as the driver is not Windows 8 compatible!!! Some things are good but please keep printers & such working as before!!!
Love the startup but the lack of integration for the start menu and button, no access to control panel direct…using the desktop right click and choosing something else to get to it and then having to click again to get to actual control panel.
There’s a lot of extra steps required for a “non touch” desktop which aren’t pleasant and adds extra work which diminishes productivity which is what a pc is for…this doesn’t bode well for this O/S.
Sure there’s a lot of ways to get things done but the user input and modding with scripts or adding tiles to the Metro GUI isn’t exactly helping out here.
Under the hood…it feels like I’m using a Linux version of the O/S and have to adapt everything to use it “like” I would a Windows machine.
I guess that’s the crux of the matter…the version isn’t nor does it feel like…WINDOWS…it’s several steps backwards for IO but it’s nice on memory management, performance, boot times, and a host of other “technical” improvements which aren’t readily apparent or visible.
So to sum it up…it’s windows…with a decidedly Linux experience for the user UNLESS it’s a tablet or other touch device.
Not what I was hoping for in a user experience!
I think they should make the app menu customizable, and an option to turn it off.
forget it for desktop uses.
Don’t like not being able to turn off Metro. As a desktop user exclusively Metro is just a nuisance. I can use it with my mouse, but just put all my apps on the taskbar. On booting up, clicking one of my apps to make Metro go away is the first thing I do.
For a PC, it just doesn’t work. It’s too cumbersome. I’ve only played with it a bit, but that told me I don’t want to use it. Some things that used to be easy to find are nearly impossible (Control Panel). I only wanted to change my mouse buttons and it took me way too long to find the Control Panel. Bring back the start button! There are a lot of people out there who are not very computer literate and will have a hard time migrating to Windows 8, if they even want to. Windows 8 has too many “bells and whistles”. Metro is an extra step I don’t want to take to try to find my apps. The Settings lacks. If you want the settings all in one place, are you replacing the control panel? Not everything is there. Knowing it was a beta, I didn’t try all my hardware or look for drivers. Keep it simple. Let me log on to my computer and find all the apps I use on my desktop. Metro is probably great for tablets, but not a PC.
Just ‘pin’ control panel to the start screen – toward the end with all the not ‘often used’ tiles – simple! 😉
yup correct!i put ctrl panel on a desktop, i seldom use the start button anyway since winxp :/
 @2159f54cc68bc553e5abace02ac98bfa:disqus
  If you would like the Start button optionality still- simply right-click on the metro button (still start button btw), and there will be a list of options pretty darn similar if not exactly to the old start button. Besides, why would you want to stick to same ole same norm? Live a little for a change!!! o(._.)o
 I think they are going in the wrong direction for desktop use.
 Microsoft comes out with a new platform every 2 or 3 years, but when it hits the stores and is built into OEM computers, MS stopps developing it so they can start the new one that will be out in the next 2 years.
Windows 8 is user friendly with mobile devices but not that way for desktops because unless you are Tech savvy, you have to search for things and use search engines on “how to’s” to get it done.
 With Smart TV’s hitting the shelves, and the person able to use their mobile device to access the large screen, I think MS should have pushed for the Windows 8 to be the next generation smart TV application/platform.
 Apple sure looks better every day because of having to learn how to use a computer again—thanks to microsoft.
I don’t like Homegroups, I have yet to be able to get my XP laptop to communicate with Win 8 and vice versa. I would like to just make a regular workgroup, using the same network name I have always used. Vista connects without issues.
what can I say.the live tiles on metro are boring and dont leave much room for dressing up the desk top the way I would like to.Would love to be able to turn the metro interface off.unfortunatly as it stands now I dont care for this step backward.I will remain with windows seven.
I have been testing it in my work environment and I even got a touch monitor to try out the new features, but I work with multiple monitors and that seems to be the end game for me and windows 8, I currently use 5 monitors without the touch screen and the metro interface is not a good replacement for the start menu. Also the idea of the touch screen was cool, and I see where on a tablet it would be great, but on a laptop and desktop I am not too sure. It feels very cumbersome and the old dog new tricks applies big time at the office I work at, if I installed this right now, at minimum 3/4 of my office would pull their hair out. It is not a total loss, I just wish I knew what to suggest that could stir them in the right direction.
I like windows 8 speed, but the gooey is shit !
Turn,easily, Off the Metro Interface On Desktop/Laptop Apps,Return to the Start Menu,Interface and then……Maybe,then……We,can Seriously Talk,about Purchasing their new O/S……It’s not my Problem,I Have a lot Of other Choices…..It’s Their Problem……It’s,on the Seller’s Side……I Don’t Have The Patience for a Long Learning Curve….. Â
There are a couple of good things about windows 8: (1) It runs better on netbooks & lower-end computers than windows 7 [tweaking required]. (2)It can be configured into a good OS after some major reconfiguration and making the metro interface unobtrusive. It seems the path that Microsoft is taking is to force everyone to switch to the metro type interface and that I believe is a major mistake for them in my opinion. If their goal is to compete with the Ipad; then putting windows 8 on a cheap tablet just isn’t going to get it! Ipads are great if you are only looking for media consumption devices but using Windows 8, I expect a lot more than that and my opinion of Metro is definitely less than impressive. Microsoft had some good things going for them in windows 7 after a botched-up release of Vista. They should work on improving what they have for computer users and make the Metro separate for tablets and other “Computers for Dummies”
 Microsoft had to go in this direction. If they made 4 Windows 8 versions (Windows 8 for PC’s, Windows 8 for x86 tablets with Metro, Windows 8 RT for ARM, and Windows Phone 8) Microsoft would go from a good chance at succeeding in the tablet market to a moderately bad chance. I think when Windows 8 ships there will be a decent amount of apps (especially if devs convert their Windows phone 7 apps to Windows 8) but 1) there are app developers that are waiting to see what happens with Windows 8 and 2) I don’t think major Windows Programs like Photoshop, Quicken, Quickbooks and such will be made into Metro apps right away. So to get the best chance to succeed in this market they had to make a hybrid Metro/Windows desktop OS. Ultimately I think Microsoft wants to make the WIndows desktop like Command Prompt is now where most of your programs will be in Metro but once in a while you may need to go into Windows Desktop maybe to play an older game or something. I don’t think that will be till Windows 9 or 10. If Microsoft plays their cards right people won’t buy a tablet and a laptop or desktop, they’ll just buy a tablet. That is what Microsoft (and other companies) are counting on. Maybe even one day you can buy a Windows ARM which will only run Metro apps but the buy a keyboard dock which has a core i7 and a high end mobile Nvidia or ATI graphics chip and you have yourself an Asus Transformer type device that is a slim, light tablet when thats all you need and a high end (or they can make mid end and lower end by putting in core i3 and i5 and lower end graphics) work or gaming machine.
Also Microsoft going in this direction does 2 things. 1) it pushes developers to make Metro apps of their desktop programs. 2) It gives developers one ecosystem to write for if they want to write a Windows 8, or Windows Phone 8 app. If they did it your way they’d have to write 2 apps and a lot of developers probably wouldn’t want to. So what would happen? You’d have (say Intuit) just updating Quickbooks for Windows desktop and maybe not making a Metro app. It just fragments the Windows OS.
You say Metro is for dummies but the whole idea of technology is to make things easier. Sure there will always be nerds who want things the old way but most of the human population want things easier. Out went film cameras for digital, computers are made faster so we can do more things with them and OS’ are made easier so regular people can have an easier time to use them. You say dummies but tech companies call them regular people. If it were up to you Windows would stay the same for the next 20+ years, well its not, if you don’t like it go to Linux (but not Ubuntu because they’re getting easier too).
Microsoft is going in the direction they need to go in and I’ll explain that in the article “What do you think of Windows 8).
There isn’t much I don’t like about Windows 8. But here they are.
1) When you’re on the Metro desktop you move your mouse to the end of the screen and it scrolls. Its a wonderful thing, it works well and I loved it. I was just upset when I went into other apps (like the market place) and I couldn’t do it. Its like having a car that can drive itself but only on one road.
2) This isn’t much of a problem for me but it will be for others. The lack of a start menu or at least a representation of a start menu will be a problem. I’ve seen videos of people letting others test Windows 8 and they get stuck in Windows Desktop. Sure they may have a video but or some type of tour but I don’t think a lot of people will watch it.
3) Unless they get Windows Desktop program developer to make Metro apps people may stay in Windows desktop or go back to Windows 7. I think they’ll have some good apps but how many? I think on non-touch machines they should let you choose if you want to login to Windows Desktop or Metro. They should probably have a working start menu too. Hopefully by Windows 9 there will be enough apps to make Metro the dominant desktop.
4) Paul Thurratte came up with a good idea that I think could help people get use to Windows 8. http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/windows8/doesnt-windows-8-142937 This idea would make being in Windows desktop more Metro. I think it should be apps that you have open should show up on the left so you can see any notifications that come your way. The problem right now is if you get a new email you don’t know it unless you’re in Metro. The other issue I have is that not all Windows programs show up in the multi-tasking pane (like pidgin). They should fix this as well.
Those are the issues I see with Windows 8.
   @Rog                                                                                                            Â
Hey Rog, liked your post. I just wanted to say that I side with you on the more positive views you have about Windows 8. The part about the scrolling in certain apps, you’re right but I’m sure MS isn’t done with things of that nature (that’s why they have us!). Another thing is the part where you stated that email notifications wouldn’t be known unless you’re in Metro- not quite. You can always have the email app opened in the side panel of the desktop; you can even drag it to resize it and make it as big as you want it on your desktop. I love windows 8, there isn’t a thing I dislike about it except that it hasn’t been released yet so that we can see what the full Metro experience is like. Consequently however, we will all be faced with the duty of having to uprade our machines and equipment to truly receive the full Metro experience- there’s no getting around it and some of us haven’t changed computers since Windows 2000 perhaps. That’s just a part of technology- can’t live with it, can’t live with it without proper computers, upgrades, and devices!!! o(._.)o
i am not a very smart computer person and i dont use the p c for a lot but to check email and play a few old school games i found windows 8 way to hard to use i keep it on a laptop for a few days and ran all the upgrades but spent many hours reading how to use windows 8 and still found it to be to much for me and i could not even upload a photo on it and i miss the start button i like my old x p system it dose every thing that i need i have a vista system but it keep going down and i need to reload it do to something that dose not boot up all the time i not tryed windows 7 yet but i not heard much about it yet so i will wait but i would not buy a p c with windows 8 on it i just dont like itÂ
I saw it, I downloaded it, I tried it, I erased it and will most likely never look at it again. This Microsoft Bob II
My actual feeling is that Microsoft is moving to the North, South, East, West, skyward and towards the other side all at the same time.Lets look at the whole picture and see where it gets us:
Overall software ‘feel’ is FAST, QUICK, CLEAN. This is definitely move upward.Many of the basic windows apps have been upgraded in nice ways (explorer copy function, task manager, use of skydrive to share documents and work between home, work, tablet, etc)  This is a move that is definitely UPRIGHT (i.e. improved function while keeping old stuff working)Metro Interface: unless my only interaction with Microsoft was the Phone I would be hard pressed to see how the addition of the Metro interface to Windows is a step forward. If there were a set of tutorials on how and why Metro is good (and how using it will enable one to ‘a, b, c and d’ which only c & d could previously be done and much additional overhead) then I would vote the Metro in a UpRight position also. Right now It is between Up and LeftUp.
NO BUTTERFLY (need I say more)I am having an almost impossible time with video from any internet source and most recorded sources on my Win8 System. It is using a quad core Phenom II along with an AMD 4600 graphics card! These should speak nicely to each other, not freeze upon use of any graphics display or editing program. I have been unable to update any of the Metro Apps. Again, this is a little late in the game to start getting hardware and video working….
I think all the comments before mine are spot on. I’ve posted this on other forums – I love my Windows Phone! I hate Win 8.
Why does Win 8 need to look like the screen resolution has gone back to 640×480?
Why did they ruin non-Metro apps like IE so that when you narrow the window, the text no longer “flows” like the same web page in Win 7?
Win 7 is wonderful. Why couldn’t they have just made a better Win 7?
What is with this “reimagine” spin?
I would hate to switch to apple, but I would do so before I would switch to Win 8. I will stay with Win 7 as long as I can.
Well, Im disappointed about W8CP coz:
1) I hate Metro Start Screen (Im using a script 2 go directly 2 da desktop, but it needs something alike 1 minute b4 2 b effective)2) I hate da Orb / Start menu removal (I’d 2 install Start Menu 7 – release 4.23 – 2 get it bk as -almost- on W7)3) I hate da already installed apps coz a) even if my OS is in english (of course) they open up in german (I live in Argentina, using a European Spanish keyboard! What da german has 2 do wz that????) b) they’re poors if compared 2 3rd party sw (read Outllok 2010 or WL Mail, Adobe PDF Reader, Windows Live Photo Gallery, etc.; I mean I dont hate MS products coz Im against MS theirselves, they’re able 2 build wonderful pieces of sw if n when they wanna do it)4) On my 1st W8CP (x86) install CPU was always used at 90% from Windows Explorer process (basically da main interface process on Windows, as GNOME n KDE r 4 Linux OSs); I reinstalled it but didnt have da time 2 configure / personalize it (hacking da registry 4 havin’ all sw installled by default on a different partition than da OS one, as I usually do since Win XP)Thats all right now folks; any further news will b posted over here.Cheers.
for a pc the metro interface is bit difficult to use please bring back the start menu for now i would like to stay with windows 7
For the most part I like the GUI but it is frustrating to have to search around for a simple My Computer representation and file manager. I also dislike very much the inability to simply shut down or restart if it is my wish to do so. I will continue to play with the program but it will have to change somewhat before I will be interested enough to have it as my main interface……I will move to Linux if I have to.
Using a desktop/laptop without the start Orb is what a lot of people who are not Tech Savvy will be missing.
was fired up about it but uninstalled it very quickly. if the release preview sucks, I won’t be postponing purchasing a tablet for the sake of getting windows 8. the metro interface is only good for about 10-20% of what I use all the time and then I have to go to the desktop. this leaves me annoyed. plus, the interaction with a mouse is terrible.Â
I think a lot of people are going to look at windows 8 as learning a completely different operating system from the traditional windows systems that we have used for years. This opens the door for linux as an option because if they have to learn a new system a free OS may seem like a better option. People are comfortable with the start menu we have had for many years and the new interface is much harder to use in my opinion.
Using as desktop OS, this 8 is very buggy. Hard to say without major bug fixes, is it good or bad. This is not the final status and I hope that’s true.Â
The desktop part is better and faster than Windows 7. I don’t need Metro on my desktop.
2 things:
u cant use it with multiple monitors, cause there are no corners.
and window popping up is a little slow (faster with a dark basic theme under windows7)
and i see no one wirte windows 8 buged and dont launch programs wich one requrements netframework 2.0Â
Am running Consumer Preview on a few machines. Generally feels like it was designed for a three year old – big and clunky. Metro Internet Explorer is big to the point of unuseable. Would be OK on a tablet, but what we are seeing so far is the x86 versions. On a Touchscreen everything feels backward. Counterintuitive to swipe and then enter password. Feels to offer nothing to Enterprise markets, my staff struggle with small operational changes – Vista to 7 was a struggle. This will cause more support issues than I care to thinjk about. I stopped using Gnome after Gnome three, at least there are other desktop environments. With Microsoft you must either use what you pay for, or rely on third parties / hacks to fudge the situation.
The speed of the os is great and could easily be the best OS they have made if it wasn’t for metro, I actually like metro but not in windows 8, it gets in the way. clearly MS had to get a decent tablet OS out there but it should have been the windows phone OS and then moved to integrate the two rather than slap a half baked GUI over windows.
Windows 8 should be a transistional OS (and it is) but I think consumers need to be eased into this kind of change slowly. the desktop windows shell should have had a face lift to make it look more metro but not having the full blown metro UI. the start menu should still be there but maybe be like a mini metro start screen, this would provide the functionality we need and still prepare people for a full metro UI in windows 9.
I cannot take metro seriously because I can’t even do basic tasks in it, I have to use the desktop, if MS were serious about this and if it was thought out well they would have introduced metro when all functionality of the PC could be “ported” to metro
 @Rossco                                                                                                                                                                                  I agree with you partially on the last sentence of your proclamation about the new windows 8 metro shell. However, what is all the fuss about so early when it should be already understood that MS isn’t quite done yet. We all know how this goes- and frankly, MS has been so kind as to take some steps or “phases” out of the normal routine just to make sure we got the privilege to test out the new os in enough lights and angles. Sure it’s not complete and bug free- what beta is? Besides, you for sure know that half of the stuff complained about has already been discovered before we got it out of our mouths. I say all that to say this; don’t complain so early just wait for the RTM and if they still haven’t gotten it right yet  … raise HELL!!! o(._.)o Â
I can appreciate that it is beta software and by no means finished but I really can’t see MS moving back on any of the major changes. can’t escape the feeling that they jumped the gun. I really do hope metro is tweaked enough to be pleasant to use on desktop machines but with only a few months left I’m skeptical that enough has been done, and its just not enough time to integrate enough of the desktop into the metro interface, to be honest I might be happy if there is some kind of metro file manager. and you would have thought that they could hide the desktop interface completely when launching desktop apps but hey, hears hoping for the RTM! 😀
I cannot take metro seriously because I can’t even do basic tasks in it, I have to use the desktop, if MS were serious about this and if it was thought out well they would have introduced metro when all functionality of the PC could be “ported” to metro
Dear Onuora,
Windows finally has a new Operating System and are still in the Work In Process Departement. If Microsoft thinks that releasing this Windows would harm the entire company why not come back to the usual manner by using alphabetical or words for naming the product instead of numerical for Windows, which has increase uncertaintyness to the users. It won’t take long.
The disadvantages in the new Windows;
1. MEMORY: It need more memory than it use to be and that’s why I can’t use them and even follow the technology brought by Windows. the installation stops premature at the first installation and refuse to go on by showing to press the cancel button if the system is less than 1GB RAM memory.
2. BACKGROUND COLOR: Windows shows less for choice of color for background.
3. INTERNET: It runs slower on the internet compare to the previous Windows.
This weaknesses I know at the moment.
Thank you.
to hard to get started on startup.no easy way for me to get to the tools part, made for the people who have smart phones in other words the young generation.
Like some have said, both Apple and Microsoft are taking two separate approaches of integrating their mobile devices with their desktop operating systems.
First, Apple’s Mac OS X user-interface and iOS user-interface look similar. This methodology allows Apple to merge certain ideologies into both systems. Two examples are Lion’s Launchpad and Mountain Lion’s notifications.
Second, Microsoft’s Windows and Metro are completely different user-interfaces.  Microsoft chose Metro for their Windows 7 phone in order to compete against Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android phone. In order to compete with Apple’s iPad, however, Microsoft chose to integrate Metro with Window’s.  How could this be done since the two are entirely different? Microsoft decided to remove the start button and menu and replace it with Metro. Plus, they decided that Metro is the default screen when booting up Windows.
Third, I see dual operating systems as a problem for Microsoft. They will have to deal with Windows/Metro on the PC, Windows/Metro on a tablet, Metro on a phone, and Windows RT (Metro) on a tablet. This tablet uses the ARM processor, which is nothing more than a RISC (reduced instruction set code) processor.
Fourth, Windows 8 is mostly geared toward the techie, consumer market. I don’t see corporate markets or non-techie groups transitioning to Windows 8.
Last, I have downloaded Windows 8 Consumer Preview at my business for testing. I installed all necessary Windows programs, and customized the Metro screen and Windows desktop to my liking.  Plus, I have read numerous articles on the future of .NET, Visual Studio, XNA, etc. Personally, I do not like where it is all heading. Plus, think of all of the re-certifications for IT Departments.
Apple’s merging of Mac OS X and iOS will be a success. Microsoft’s merging of Windows and Metro will be their failure.
It seems to me that since Windows XP, Microsoft has been playing some sort of catch-up with Apple – like “Gees, what are we going to do next? OK, lets put out another version and give it a cool name.” Windows XP was the best since DOS 6.0 and still seems the most stable and yet still, none of the OS’s from Mircosoft match Apple’s appeal. Every new version of Windows requires a mountain learning curve, especially for us techies, and still doesn’t achieve what the marketing pundits claim.
Sorry, but having trouble with the part about being a techie and learning curves. This is par for the course in IT. Also saying XP is the most stable of all MS OS’s doesnt speak highly either. Both Vista and 7 are both on the order of magnitudes more stable. The problems with Vista have never been about stability.
At first look I don’t like the colors. They are to0 hard and harsh in my opinion. They are bisic primary colors. That may have looked cool 20 yars ago with VGA monitors. Today it’s very lacking. Navigation seems clunky. The pages are just cluttered. It’s like you are trying to play ‘catch up’ with Apple vs. creating an OS that can wow me. Build a stable interface with eye appeal. You’ve already got the features.
I agree, the metro colors distract and when you go from metro to desktop and back it hits you in the face every time. The colors will age very quickly and will look dated (already is starting to).
I can agree, I expect there to be more options when this goes live. If my expectations are wrong, then I will be a little miffed. But I have take it for granted that more options will be available. Maybe I shouldnt.
To get the full monte with Windows 8, I would need a touch screen, but then playing games would be impossible. Windows 8 looks like Windows 3.1 on steroids, fast but short stamina.Â
Why would having a touch screen mean you cant play games? Im confused. Mouse and keyboard still work with a touch screen.
find a way to make metro more functioning to replace traditional desktop functions – MS Office for Metro would be a great start
It used to be “How do you turn off Microsoft computers? Press the Start button”
Now you have to go through about three steps, all having nothing to do
with turning off the computer before you can actually turn off the
computer.
I actually turned it off a few times using my hardware button. Frustration sets in fast.
I will play with it a little longer but haven’t found any redeeming qualities that would convince me to buy it.
I think there are many ways to shut off. I just hit win+l to lock the screen and use the power button on the screen.
a total fuck up of windows 7Â metro apps need to go away or be turned off ,as for me i would not buy it, just all wrong
I think for a mobile and tablet platform, it’s great, but for workstations and businesses requiring productivity, KEEP WINDOWS 7 and keep improving it. I think you went way off the wall this time if you think this operating system will satisfy everyone. As a toy, its fine. For productivity, its garbage.
Reminds me of Windows ME, which was a total dog.
1) As a pc Windows 8 is too simple while as a tablet it is too complex (too many buttons in control panel and settings – I want dumb simplicity that is in your face for my tablet). 2) Metro interface is irritating on a pc 3) Stop the intrusive updating – I JUST lost work at work when my tablet restarted to install updates 4) metro screen and desktop screen is irritating and jarring 5) On a pc W8 is too tablet (metro) and on a tablet W8 is too pc (desktop). 6) the charms (finger swipe from right of screen) are irritating. 7) too many steps to do simple things like power down and restart and to close the keyboard 8) no start button. At first I didn’t care but more and more I miss it! 9) it is not clear and easy to add new metro apps to the page. 10) the buttons (minimize, maximise etc.) are too small for tablets.11) the name: should call it windows touch / tablet because that is the market while the pc is not the market.Â
Having one and a half metros being on the metro screen. That half visible metro that begs me to drag it into visibility drives me CRAZY! Have pages instead like all other tablet systems.
Where is skype, kinect, office app, cloud services, back up services? Why almost NOTHING on Windows 8 RT (ARM) and why call it RT and not ARM (unless Intel wouldn’t like it to directly highlight that company).
Windows 8 will fail just like Windows ME and Windows Vista. Windows 8 has been designed for Tablets and the like and not for PC/Laptops. I’ve been saying this ever since the Developer Preview that I tested but I’m no longer interested in testing Windows 8. It has been wiped from my test computer.
I have spent a lot of time thinking about this. I use Vista and like it quite well, but it remains a failure in the eyes of most people even though it sold around 100 times as many copies as the highly successful iPad to date. I do think Windows 8 will be a “failure” on the same level. I expect it to drive phone and tablet sales and bring MS fully into these markets. I also expect it to lead Apple into eating their words and producing a touch screen laptop and even touch screen computers.  But I think that it will still go down in history as one of the most hated Windows versions. Just saying, not bad for a failed OS.
Bring back the start button, its very hard to switch by sliding mouse off the screen.
Ok, Here it goes. I really hate Metro IE. If it is not changed, I will replace it straight away. I have usually around 100 favorites and there is no way I am going to clutter the Metro page with them. MS, if you dont create a way to organize them and link them to desktop favorites, your plan to tie Metro and Desktop web surfing will backfire and you will loose all the gains in marketshare you have made over the last couple years.Â
This then ties with my general complaint. Metro needs a way to organize better. Right now it is not too bad, but in the future when I have hundreds of Metro Apps and Desktop programs, I can see it getting to be a problem. Please take care of it before that happens. You need to keep those of us who like it happy or you will be in real trouble.
If you have a tablet or a “Windows phone I think it is great but the rest of us with laptops/desktops I don’t think that is that great
I see reason to change from my Win 7 to Win 8
Arne
Microsoft, please don’t leave the Hibernate option disabled by default because it will be hard to find for many unexperienced laptop users.
the only problem i found with windows 8 like many others did was the lack of a start menu but me being a programmer i just made my own and my windows 8 experience has been fantastic since then and i genuinely cant think of anything else i hate about it.
The two interfaces (metro and seven) are totally different. Why not take the metro style in the desktop? I believe the taskbar and basically everything else that is all “shiny and transparent” should become clean and simple.
I mean, either you make the move to a new interface or you don’t! You can’t just do half half in my opinion.
Also, why do we (on a PC) need applications? We already have them, they are called programs!! And I simply don’t see how making a program fullscreen and getting rid of the close button is an improvement.
Why on earth would I need 2 internet explorers, however great they may be?
Expand the metro interface to the whole system and get rid of the apps.
Last thing, clear the multimedia mess up! Media center is awesome but then again, why do I have Media Player and now the Music and Viedo App? Improve media center so that everything fits into that program.
R7
I like your insight- especially the one about the “many media options”. There are a gamut of choices for your multi-media needs. However, I don’t think that MS planned for us to have all that in the RTM- not unless they plan on releasing a Media Edition extra package like in XP or some new Ultimate OS for metro. I think we’ll see all of that in the RTM. I do want to comment on your statement about the “half and half” OS; this was a tactic by MS to allow the end-user to compare the regular desktop experience to the new metro experience to see which one you would find more effective. Also, it was also a heads up for Windows 8 Phone junkies who might want to know what to expect in the new phones close to release- and tablets as well. So you see, it was quite like a “three birds with one stone” attempt by MS. You gotta admit though- it’s alot more exciting than the average run-of-the-mill desktop usual wouldn’t you say? o(._.)oÂ
Â
The problem was the activitation program. After I bought the program then the activitation program ask me for the product key and after I put it always wrong. Why? Because I format the Hardisk? Why? That is the same hardisk and the same program that I bought with my money. Or to pay for another product key number.
I’m the one who couldn’t get W8 to run well, I’m on pentium D 2.8, 3G
memory and Geforce 6600. The altered NT engine already taxes
resources. Substituting a shell alternate to Metro made W8 run
just-acceptably; unless the actual release pares down the demand of
Metro, W8 will probably fail — especially the retail box segment. The
majority of people are not power users. They just want something that
runs and gets the job done. Most demonstrable is the startup screen.
Why is a sweep gesture needed to login? If my Mom saw that she would
just put new computer back in the box and return it to the store. I
know enough to just hit the escape key, but beginners and novices
generally don’t understand the various key commands etc.
Steve
I’m the one who couldn’t get W8 to run well, I’m on pentium D 2.8, 3G
memory and Geforce 6600. The altered NT engine already taxes
resources. Substituting a shell alternate to Metro made W8 run
just-acceptably; unless the actual release pares down the demand of
Metro, W8 will probably fail — especially the retail box segment. The
majority of people are not power users. They just want something that
runs and gets the job done. Most demonstrable is the startup screen.Â
Why is a sweep gesture needed to login? If my Mom saw that she would
just put new computer back in the box and return it to the store. I
know enough to just hit the escape key, but beginners and novices
generally don’t understand the various key commands etc.
Steve
In my mind what windows 8 should focus on is – better file management – things like cleaning temporoary files, installing & uninstallation, defragging etc. From the very beginning I have taken a dislike to the Windows 8 interface – I may be a minority out here, but seeing that interface makes me want to switch to Linux. God, why can’t Microsoft create something which is visually appealing?
I hate it that you can’t close apps and apps add up while swiping with your left thumb.Â
Metro tiles are not easily configured. Too much thinking
Windows 8 will probably going to be good to some users but fpr the others idk. For me it is a good os for many tablets and probably even for PC’s. I’m actually running W8 as a main os on my pc for 3 mos. It’s not bad actually. It’s like actually having two OS in one OS in other words you’re like using a tablet os and a pc os. Once you click start menu you’re like having a tablet on you’re pc especially if you’re running on an metro app but when you switch to your desktop you’re like using a windows 7 with no start button. That is actually good for me cause I seldom use start button on my windows 7 as for others it is bad. Metro UI is a better and new way to manipulate your pc.
Desktops and most currant laptops do not have touch screens. Therefore having an OS set up for touch screen is not beneficial. It must be able to be optioned out of.
Don
The optimised operating system features of Win8 should be incorporated into Win7. The Metro interface should just be tablet based UNLESS we can see some of those ultra notebooks with a touch screen interface to demonstrate how the heck this is going to really work!
it’s more dificult to use than i thought. why did they finished with the Start botton? it’s an stupid idea. And did they check if all already have toutch screen on desktop?                 Microsoft, think about it…!!!
Right now I don’t use Windows. I switched from Win2k on an ancient compaq desktop PC to OSX 10.2 in a PowerBook G4, then I decided to try slackintosh (slackware linux for powerpc macs) on it. Then I upgraded to OSX 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 and every new slackintosh release until I replaced the PowerBook with a Toshiba and then finally a HP laptop. In the toshiba I went with Linux as the only OS. And now in the HP I have OSX86 10.6.8 and Gentoo Linux.Â
But although I don’t use it I had to try windows 8 out (in a vm) to learn how to deal with problems in other people’s windows 8-based PC’s (the moment OEM’s start preinstalling windows 8) And all I can say is that windows 8 sucks and blows. Metro is ugly, Windows 8 is more crippled and restricted than the previous versions were and is only suitable for MS fanboys and children.
If windows-8 installs and works on my six-yr old Inspiron 1501, I’ll be impressed. If it does’nt, I probably won’t ever buy another Microsoft O/S ever again. I’m tired of ‘keeping up with having to keep-up. Build an O/S that works, and stick with it, via updates that the user can choose to download, or refuse to download. Tired of having to upgrade the hardware to keep up with the damn software, and vice-versa…that’s a KIDS game.
Microsoft needs to change and or adjust the following:
– Enable windows mode when running apps via Metro, especially IE and with full features turned on.
– In Desktop mode give us back the Start button and access to all apps via the start button.
– In Metro mode must have the option to logoff and shutdown the PC options on the same window/screen.
– Enable easier scrolling with mouse when in Metro, as an example; by holding down the mouse button and drag, this would be great if you don’t have a touch screen.
– PC enthusiasts need to have the option to run either Metro or Desktop if they choose, this is a must, this is the deal breaker right here! Otherwise people will just stay on Windows 7 or they will find an allernative to Windows – a version Linux or they might even buy a Mac – my goodness!
– On the positive though – Windows 8 has a fresh new look, and i especially like the sharp edged Windows instead of the rounded Windows 7 look. I like the fact Windows 8 starts up with Metro on, I kind of like the fact it hides the desktop from preying eyes. It’s quicker to startup and shutdown. I like the new Office style button’s buid into Windows Explorer, the graphics when moving or copying files, the new Windows Task manager. Looks great!
I do like Windows 8. I like that MS took a refreshing new perspective of *unifying* the OS across devices.
I like Metro.
I will buy a touch screen Desktop PC to take advantage of its design. I have a no touch screen laptop and already like it anyway.
With respect to the Start Menu, I think that we sometimes miss something that we are used to use, but is not necessarily indispensable Even Apple is (slowly) trying to merge (or at least shorten the distance between) iPhone/iPad and Mac. Look at those gestures, notification center and … Launchpad that is like Metro, but without the widgets.
I think that usually we begin complaining about something even without giving it a trial. Come on, it is easier to just “throw” the mouse to the corner to get the “start” menu, just in a Metro style.
Any way, what I normally use, in Win 7 or in Win 8, is to press the Windows key and type the first letters of the app or document that I want and get it.
Microsoft is going a good job to make a uniform experience on PCs, Laptops and Tablets with Windows 8.
I do not particularly dislike the Metro UI (which it will not be called for long anymore – patent trolls…) – I could get used to it. I could also get used to not having the start button.
What I could NOT get used to is the fullscreen apps – what would the point of having my three screens for productivity and games then be? It feels like MS just left a huge turd in my front yard.
I also dislike the “general tendency” of things NEEDING to be simple nowadays. Simplifying things is not good.
Win8 now offers integrated .zip’ing with greater speeds than before and mounting/unmounting – effectively putting a lot of programs in the same category out of the question (7zip/Daemon tools and the like.) – many users would simply not install these programs since they are already there. The average Joe would simply view other programs to solve the same problem as bloatware.
It might be simpler for the user experience, OK.
And the new Windows Store, where MS would start gaining their profits from; selling all sorts of apps, games and the like would probably also be a “good” thing for the average Joe.
But it would obviously hurt already established programs and companies (and also independent devs), who would not want to pay 20 to 30 % of their profits to MS for having their programs and apps in the store. If you do not pay, you are out. Business, yeah?
But MS is going down the Apple app store way of things and is gradually closing the open platform of Windows.
And that is what I dislike. The monopolistic route, which I see MS walking down, slowly, but surely.
I like the current Windows for the openness; the “pay-once” OS, which allows me to “install the fuck ever i want and do the fuck ever i want with it”.
Now before somebody goes go: “If you revert to the desktop version, everthing that worked on pre-win8 will work on win8.”
Oh, but for how long? What about the next OS, will it also be so nice to me? I do not like the way Windows went from Win7 to Win8; from open to semi-closing so quickly.
The day Windows closes, is the day I go Linux-based.
Since it seemingly is the only open option left.
Whoever thought of merging tablet surface with computer desktop has no clue.
Switching between leisure metro applications and desktop for serious work/gaming is a pain.
Metro applications are simple. Most of them don’t work when not connected or behind a restrictive firewall.Â
Do people see no issues with logging on with microsoft account and storing all sorts of data with them?
Do MS really think they will get that many new users they are willing to risk current user base?
Windows8 really, but really sucks, Â they wonted to make awesome GUI but in that they failed as hell…
Sorry, no such option in the release version.
GUI
This is by design. They don’t think you should turn it off…they just want you to allow it to sleep or hibernate on it’s own.
Modern (Metro) UI apps don’t seem to do dual screen monitors very well, but it works great in desktop. Fix that, and I’m 100% sold. It would also be nice to be able to “snap” applications with smaller screen resolutions. Other than that i’m already 99% sold. I love windows 8, and happily applaud the death of the desktop & start menu. It’s a great OS, very stable, smooth, and fast. Windows 8 rocks!
Cannot comment here, nothing to dislike!
moving your hand across the screen of laptop to control its functions may prove a need for an improvement to the soft surface. we need a Microsoft press windows 8 book to find all the turf we are used to in windows 7. jg
I’ve FORCED myself to use it for months. I still completely hate it. It is awful… I can’t just make a list… EVERYTHING about it is stupid & horrible. Windows is supposed to be a multitasking OS but they are making it into one “APP” at a time… This is one fault in a list of at least a million. It is the worst release of WIndows that I have ever used… and I’ve used them all. Windows 7 is a trillion times better than Windows 8. I still have a new laptop with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit but I just bought a new Mac with Mac OS X Mountain Lion (10.8). Don’t sit there and say that I’m a Mac user hating on Microsoft. I’m a diehard Microsoft Windows user hating on Windows 8. Back to this mac… this is the first Mac that I’ve ever used, the first Mac that I’ve ever touched, and the first Mac that I’ve ever seen in person. There are things missing on a Mac that Windows machines always have had but I can certainly adjust to this much easier than I could ever adjust to the stupidity of Windows 8. That is a poor statement… I could never adjust to something as bad as Windows 8.
I’m very happy with both my Windows 7 laptop and my Mac Mini with OS X. I am very disappointed in the money that I threw away on my Windows 8 upgrade. My Windows laptop is what I used 8 on since the upgrade was released. This week, I finally restored this laptop back to WIndows 7 Pro. What a relief to get back to a usuable version of Windows.
Just got a new win 8 pro desktop (could not get a Win 7 Pro version) & Installed Win 7 Pro UPGRADE right out of the box.Conventional desktop for me w/o that metro crap.
Well all you have to do is set the Control panel shortcut to display on the desktop or if in Metro Interface just start typing “control”
There is nothing wrong with Windows 8 it works its fast. OK you have to get used to a different format but it is not rocket science to learn. SO to all you people out there that are complaining get a life and move on with the times !!!
There is nothing wrong with Windows 8 it works its fast. OK you have to get used to a different format but it is not rocket science to learn. SO to all you people out there that are complaining get a life and move on with the times !!!
This move to force the “hand held” Metro interface onto corporate business customers is going to be devastating, that interface and it’s RT flavor should be a separate product line in my opinion, for example iOS versus MacOS for two different types of devices. It would seem to me that Microsoft is trying to have a “one size fits all” approach and has gutted WIndows 7 and created yet another Windows 3.1(RT) and have it running on top of DOS (Windows 7) in this example…
Here’s my attempt at thoughtful feedback, since you asked. Background first: I use a desktop PC with conventional mouse & keyboard. I have a 24″ monitor, and generally run several applications (as opposed to “apps”) at once: multiple instances of MS Word, Excel, frequently one or two instances of Access, PowerPoint, Visio & sometimes Project. Outlook is always running in the background, too, and finally I have 3-4 proprietary applications running (Citrix, Oracle or Thin Client based). Finally toss in IE with a few tabs tracking dynamic reports. This is typical for me at home when I’m connected to work (at work we still use XP). I have used Win8 for a little over two months, since it came with my most recent PC.
Metro is of no use whatsoever. I use none of the “apps” and have uninstalled all that Win8 will permit. I do not have a tablet, nor a touchscreen and have no intention of buying either as they are of little use for content creation. The full screen apps of Metro look ridiculous on a large monitor. Therefore I’ve completely bypassed Metro by using one of the 3rd party applications (currently IOBit’s Start Menu 8). This has the advantage of disabling the Charms Bar (a truly useless feature) and all the corners that are so annoying when grabbing the scroll bar or hitting the X to close a program.
Most of my common applications are pinned to the taskbar. Less commonly used applications are accessed via the Start Button which I have customized to meet my needs and enhance my productivity. I’m constantly tabbing from application to application through the day, or as I cut and paste data from reports. Often I have my windows tiled or cascaded so I can keep an eye on them easily. Metro doesn’t allow this. Since the original idea behind Windows (which I’ve used since 3.0) was to allow multitasking and easy sharing of data between applications, I see Metro as a step backward.
Those who claim that rejecting Metro is rejecting the future are mistaken. Companies introduce poor products all the time (remember ME, Bob, Clippy, etc) which they later amend, patch or discontinue. Just because its newer does not mean it is inherently better. What matters to Microsoft will be meeting their customers needs– all their customers, not just home consumers but corporate consumers as well.
There are several things I like about Win8, but that’s for another post…
One shortcut to remember Win+X.
One other thing that you want to remember is you would exactly do the same thing you used to do in Windows 7. On Windows 7 you would push Start button and then you will be typing ‘control’ to find it. Just do the same on Windows 8. If you are already on metro start screen, just type ‘control’ and if you are somewhere else, push START and type ‘control’.
One shortcut to remember Win+X.
One other thing that you want to remember is you would exactly do the same thing you used to do in Windows 7. On Windows 7 you would push Start button and then you will be typing ‘control’ to find it. Just do the same on Windows 8. If you are already on metro start screen, just type ‘control’ and if you are somewhere else, push START and type ‘control’.
Windows 8 has disappointed long time users. I was using Windows since 1994, now almost deserting in 2013 in favor Linux Ubuntu/Gnome desktop which is closer to Windows older avatars. I can still convert to Windows if they do the following:
PLEASE BRING BACK FOLLOWING ON WINDOWS 8 DESKTOP EDITION:
1- Start Menu – Who the heck has removed it from desktop version, fluck goodbye them all.
2- Remove “Whole screen filled with icons” (… looks like expanded start menu) on Win 8 desktop edition.
3- Not sure why you didn’t bring a de-facto desktop edition? Tablet is a hype which is only suitable for web browsing and gaming. For all other serious computing, we still need a real PC (desktop/laptop). Who has the patience of rubbing their fingers over surface of tablets? You still need a real keyboard, a real mouse, a 13″+ screen to make life easier. Mind it, keyboard/mouse are forever. TABLET IS JUST A HYPE. IT IS JUST AN ADJUNCT TO YOUR MAIN PC.
4- Bring back the quick launch bar and remove ‘pinning of app on taskbar’ feature. It is SO CONFUSING, are you stupid or what?
5- You don’t need to change if something is already popular and perfect just for the heck of it. If you had kept selling Win 7, what would have happened? Sky would have fallen over you? Someone might have developed a better Windows ? Nope!
6- Collect usability stats from Win8 users, how many users use what?
Windows 8 has disappointed long time users. I was using Windows since 1994, now almost deserting in 2013 in favor Linux Ubuntu/Gnome desktop which is closer to Windows older avatars. I can still convert to Windows if they do the following:
PLEASE BRING BACK FOLLOWING ON WINDOWS 8 DESKTOP EDITION:
1- Start Menu – Who the heck has removed it from desktop version, fluck goodbye them all.
2- Remove “Whole screen filled with icons” (… looks like expanded start menu) on Win 8 desktop edition.
3- Not sure why you didn’t bring a de-facto desktop edition? Tablet is a hype which is only suitable for web browsing and gaming. For all other serious computing, we still need a real PC (desktop/laptop). Who has the patience of rubbing their fingers over surface of tablets? You still need a real keyboard, a real mouse, a 13″+ screen to make life easier. Mind it, keyboard/mouse are forever. TABLET IS JUST A HYPE. IT IS JUST AN ADJUNCT TO YOUR MAIN PC.
4- Bring back the quick launch bar and remove ‘pinning of app on taskbar’ feature. It is SO CONFUSING, are you stupid or what?
5- You don’t need to change if something is already popular and perfect just for the heck of it. If you had kept selling Win 7, what would have happened? Sky would have fallen over you? Someone might have developed a better Windows ? Nope!
6- Collect usability stats from Win8 users, how many users use what?
The desktop part is better and faster than Windows 7. I don’t need Metro on my desktop.
Using a desktop/laptop without the start Orb is what a lot of people who are not Tech Savvy will be missing.
Using as desktop OS, this 8 is very buggy. Hard to say without major bug fixes, is it good or bad. This is not the final status and I hope that’s true.
2 things:
u cant use it with multiple monitors, cause there are no corners.
and window popping up is a little slow (faster with a dark basic theme under windows7)
I think a lot of people are going to look at windows 8 as learning a completely different operating system from the traditional windows systems that we have used for years. This opens the door for linux as an option because if they have to learn a new system a free OS may seem like a better option. People are comfortable with the start menu we have had for many years and the new interface is much harder to use in my opinion.
Am running Consumer Preview on a few machines. Generally feels like it was designed for a three year old – big and clunky. Metro Internet Explorer is big to the point of unuseable. Would be OK on a tablet, but what we are seeing so far is the x86 versions. On a Touchscreen everything feels backward. Counterintuitive to swipe and then enter password. Feels to offer nothing to Enterprise markets, my staff struggle with small operational changes – Vista to 7 was a struggle. This will cause more support issues than I care to thinjk about. I stopped using Gnome after Gnome three, at least there are other desktop environments. With Microsoft you must either use what you pay for, or rely on third parties / hacks to fudge the situation.
and i see no one wirte windows 8 buged and dont launch programs wich one requrements netframework 2.0
The speed of the os is great and could easily be the best OS they have made if it wasn’t for metro, I actually like metro but not in windows 8, it gets in the way. clearly MS had to get a decent tablet OS out there but it should have been the windows phone OS and then moved to integrate the two rather than slap a half baked GUI over windows.
Windows 8 should be a transistional OS (and it is) but I think consumers need to be eased into this kind of change slowly. the desktop windows shell should have had a face lift to make it look more metro but not having the full blown metro UI. the start menu should still be there but maybe be like a mini metro start screen, this would provide the functionality we need and still prepare people for a full metro UI in windows 9.
I cannot take metro seriously because I can’t even do basic tasks in it, I have to use the desktop, if MS were serious about this and if it was thought out well they would have introduced metro when all functionality of the PC could be “ported” to metro
@Rossco I agree with you partially on the last sentence of your proclamation about the new windows 8 metro shell. However, what is all the fuss about so early when it should be already understood that MS isn’t quite done yet. We all know how this goes- and frankly, MS has been so kind as to take some steps or “phases” out of the normal routine just to make sure we got the privilege to test out the new os in enough lights and angles. Sure it’s not complete and bug free- what beta is? Besides, you for sure know that half of the stuff complained about has already been discovered before we got it out of our mouths. I say all that to say this; don’t complain so early just wait for the RTM and if they still haven’t gotten it right yet … raise HELL!!! o(._.)o
I can appreciate that it is beta software and by no means finished but I really can’t see MS moving back on any of the major changes. can’t escape the feeling that they jumped the gun. I really do hope metro is tweaked enough to be pleasant to use on desktop machines but with only a few months left I’m skeptical that enough has been done, and its just not enough time to integrate enough of the desktop into the metro interface, to be honest I might be happy if there is some kind of metro file manager. and you would have thought that they could hide the desktop interface completely when launching desktop apps but hey, hears hoping for the RTM! 😀
I cannot take metro seriously because I can’t even do basic tasks in it, I have to use the desktop, if MS were serious about this and if it was thought out well they would have introduced metro when all functionality of the PC could be “ported” to metro
Like some have said, both Apple and Microsoft are taking two separate approaches of integrating their mobile devices with their desktop operating systems.
First, Apple’s Mac OS X user-interface and iOS user-interface look similar. This methodology allows Apple to merge certain ideologies into both systems. Two examples are Lion’s Launchpad and Mountain Lion’s notifications.
Second, Microsoft’s Windows and Metro are completely different user-interfaces. Microsoft chose Metro for their Windows 7 phone in order to compete against Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android phone. In order to compete with Apple’s iPad, however, Microsoft chose to integrate Metro with Window’s. How could this be done since the two are entirely different? Microsoft decided to remove the start button and menu and replace it with Metro. Plus, they decided that Metro is the default screen when booting up Windows.
Third, I see dual operating systems as a problem for Microsoft. They will have to deal with Windows/Metro on the PC, Windows/Metro on a tablet, Metro on a phone, and Windows RT (Metro) on a tablet. This tablet uses the ARM processor, which is nothing more than a RISC (reduced instruction set code) processor.
Fourth, Windows 8 is mostly geared toward the techie, consumer market. I don’t see corporate markets or non-techie groups transitioning to Windows 8.
Last, I have downloaded Windows 8 Consumer Preview at my business for testing. I installed all necessary Windows programs, and customized the Metro screen and Windows desktop to my liking. Plus, I have read numerous articles on the future of .NET, Visual Studio, XNA, etc. Personally, I do not like where it is all heading. Plus, think of all of the re-certifications for IT Departments.
Apple’s merging of Mac OS X and iOS will be a success. Microsoft’s merging of Windows and Metro will be their failure.
To get the full monte with Windows 8, I would need a touch screen, but then playing games would be impossible. Windows 8 looks like Windows 3.1 on steroids, fast but short stamina.
Why would having a touch screen mean you cant play games? Im confused. Mouse and keyboard still work with a touch screen.
Dear Onuora,
Windows finally has a new Operating System and are still in the Work In Process Departement. If Microsoft thinks that releasing this Windows would harm the entire company why not come back to the usual manner by using alphabetical or words for naming the product instead of numerical for Windows, which has increase uncertaintyness to the users. It won’t take long.
The disadvantages in the new Windows;
1. MEMORY: It need more memory than it use to be and that’s why I can’t use them and even follow the technology brought by Windows. the installation stops premature at the first installation and refuse to go on by showing to press the cancel button if the system is less than 1GB RAM memory.
2. BACKGROUND COLOR: Windows shows less for choice of color for background.
3. INTERNET: It runs slower on the internet compare to the previous Windows.
This weaknesses I know at the moment.
Thank you.
Bring back the start button, its very hard to switch by sliding mouse off the screen.
Windows 8 will fail just like Windows ME and Windows Vista. Windows 8 has been designed for Tablets and the like and not for PC/Laptops. I’ve been saying this ever since the Developer Preview that I tested but I’m no longer interested in testing Windows 8. It has been wiped from my test computer.
I have spent a lot of time thinking about this. I use Vista and like it quite well, but it remains a failure in the eyes of most people even though it sold around 100 times as many copies as the highly successful iPad to date. I do think Windows 8 will be a “failure” on the same level. I expect it to drive phone and tablet sales and bring MS fully into these markets. I also expect it to lead Apple into eating their words and producing a touch screen laptop and even touch screen computers. But I think that it will still go down in history as one of the most hated Windows versions. Just saying, not bad for a failed OS.
Ok, Here it goes. I really hate Metro IE. If it is not changed, I will replace it straight away. I have usually around 100 favorites and there is no way I am going to clutter the Metro page with them. MS, if you dont create a way to organize them and link them to desktop favorites, your plan to tie Metro and Desktop web surfing will backfire and you will loose all the gains in marketshare you have made over the last couple years.
This then ties with my general complaint. Metro needs a way to organize better. Right now it is not too bad, but in the future when I have hundreds of Metro Apps and Desktop programs, I can see it getting to be a problem. Please take care of it before that happens. You need to keep those of us who like it happy or you will be in real trouble.
If you have a tablet or a “Windows phone I think it is great but the rest of us with laptops/desktops I don’t think that is that great
I see reason to change from my Win 7 to Win 8
Arne
the only problem i found with windows 8 like many others did was the lack of a start menu but me being a programmer i just made my own and my windows 8 experience has been fantastic since then and i genuinely cant think of anything else i hate about it.
Microsoft, please don’t leave the Hibernate option disabled by default because it will be hard to find for many unexperienced laptop users.
The two interfaces (metro and seven) are totally different. Why not take the metro style in the desktop? I believe the taskbar and basically everything else that is all “shiny and transparent” should become clean and simple.
I mean, either you make the move to a new interface or you don’t! You can’t just do half half in my opinion.
Also, why do we (on a PC) need applications? We already have them, they are called programs!! And I simply don’t see how making a program fullscreen and getting rid of the close button is an improvement.
Why on earth would I need 2 internet explorers, however great they may be?
Expand the metro interface to the whole system and get rid of the apps.
Last thing, clear the multimedia mess up! Media center is awesome but then again, why do I have Media Player and now the Music and Viedo App? Improve media center so that everything fits into that program.
R7
I like your insight- especially the one about the “many media options”. There are a gamut of choices for your multi-media needs. However, I don’t think that MS planned for us to have all that in the RTM- not unless they plan on releasing a Media Edition extra package like in XP or some new Ultimate OS for metro. I think we’ll see all of that in the RTM. I do want to comment on your statement about the “half and half” OS; this was a tactic by MS to allow the end-user to compare the regular desktop experience to the new metro experience to see which one you would find more effective. Also, it was also a heads up for Windows 8 Phone junkies who might want to know what to expect in the new phones close to release- and tablets as well. So you see, it was quite like a “three birds with one stone” attempt by MS. You gotta admit though- it’s alot more exciting than the average run-of-the-mill desktop usual wouldn’t you say? o(._.)o
The problem was the activitation program. After I bought the program then the activitation program ask me for the product key and after I put it always wrong. Why? Because I format the Hardisk? Why? That is the same hardisk and the same program that I bought with my money. Or to pay for another product key number.
I hate it that you can’t close apps and apps add up while swiping with your left thumb.
Metro tiles are not easily configured. Too much thinking
Windows 8 will probably going to be good to some users but fpr the others idk. For me it is a good os for many tablets and probably even for PC’s. I’m actually running W8 as a main os on my pc for 3 mos. It’s not bad actually. It’s like actually having two OS in one OS in other words you’re like using a tablet os and a pc os. Once you click start menu you’re like having a tablet on you’re pc especially if you’re running on an metro app but when you switch to your desktop you’re like using a windows 7 with no start button. That is actually good for me cause I seldom use start button on my windows 7 as for others it is bad. Metro UI is a better and new way to manipulate your pc.
In my mind what windows 8 should focus on is – better file management – things like cleaning temporoary files, installing & uninstallation, defragging etc. From the very beginning I have taken a dislike to the Windows 8 interface – I may be a minority out here, but seeing that interface makes me want to switch to Linux. God, why can’t Microsoft create something which is visually appealing?
The optimised operating system features of Win8 should be incorporated into Win7. The Metro interface should just be tablet based UNLESS we can see some of those ultra notebooks with a touch screen interface to demonstrate how the heck this is going to really work!
Desktops and most currant laptops do not have touch screens. Therefore having an OS set up for touch screen is not beneficial. It must be able to be optioned out of.
Don
Right now I don’t use Windows. I switched from Win2k on an ancient compaq desktop PC to OSX 10.2 in a PowerBook G4, then I decided to try slackintosh (slackware linux for powerpc macs) on it. Then I upgraded to OSX 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 and every new slackintosh release until I replaced the PowerBook with a Toshiba and then finally a HP laptop. In the toshiba I went with Linux as the only OS. And now in the HP I have OSX86 10.6.8 and Gentoo Linux.
But although I don’t use it I had to try windows 8 out (in a vm) to learn how to deal with problems in other people’s windows 8-based PC’s (the moment OEM’s start preinstalling windows 8) And all I can say is that windows 8 sucks and blows. Metro is ugly, Windows 8 is more crippled and restricted than the previous versions were and is only suitable for MS fanboys and children.
Microsoft is going a good job to make a uniform experience on PCs, Laptops and Tablets with Windows 8.
If windows-8 installs and works on my six-yr old Inspiron 1501, I’ll be impressed. If it does’nt, I probably won’t ever buy another Microsoft O/S ever again. I’m tired of ‘keeping up with having to keep-up. Build an O/S that works, and stick with it, via updates that the user can choose to download, or refuse to download. Tired of having to upgrade the hardware to keep up with the damn software, and vice-versa…that’s a KIDS game.
it’s more dificult to use than i thought. why did they finished with the Start botton? it’s an stupid idea. And did they check if all already have toutch screen on desktop? Microsoft, think about it…!!!
Whoever thought of merging tablet surface with computer desktop has no clue.
Switching between leisure metro applications and desktop for serious work/gaming is a pain.
Metro applications are simple. Most of them don’t work when not connected or behind a restrictive firewall.
Do people see no issues with logging on with microsoft account and storing all sorts of data with them?
Do MS really think they will get that many new users they are willing to risk current user base?
I do like Windows 8. I like that MS took a refreshing new perspective of *unifying* the OS across devices.
I like Metro.
I will buy a touch screen Desktop PC to take advantage of its design. I have a no touch screen laptop and already like it anyway.
With respect to the Start Menu, I think that we sometimes miss something that we are used to use, but is not necessarily indispensable Even Apple is (slowly) trying to merge (or at least shorten the distance between) iPhone/iPad and Mac. Look at those gestures, notification center and … Launchpad that is like Metro, but without the widgets.
I think that usually we begin complaining about something even without giving it a trial. Come on, it is easier to just “throw” the mouse to the corner to get the “start” menu, just in a Metro style.
Any way, what I normally use, in Win 7 or in Win 8, is to press the Windows key and type the first letters of the app or document that I want and get it.
I do not particularly dislike the Metro UI (which it will not be called for long anymore – patent trolls…) – I could get used to it. I could also get used to not having the start button.
What I could NOT get used to is the fullscreen apps – what would the point of having my three screens for productivity and games then be? It feels like MS just left a huge turd in my front yard.
I also dislike the “general tendency” of things NEEDING to be simple nowadays. Simplifying things is not good.
Win8 now offers integrated .zip’ing with greater speeds than before and mounting/unmounting – effectively putting a lot of programs in the same category out of the question (7zip/Daemon tools and the like.) – many users would simply not install these programs since they are already there. The average Joe would simply view other programs to solve the same problem as bloatware.
It might be simpler for the user experience, OK.
And the new Windows Store, where MS would start gaining their profits from; selling all sorts of apps, games and the like would probably also be a “good” thing for the average Joe.
But it would obviously hurt already established programs and companies (and also independent devs), who would not want to pay 20 to 30 % of their profits to MS for having their programs and apps in the store. If you do not pay, you are out. Business, yeah?
But MS is going down the Apple app store way of things and is gradually closing the open platform of Windows.
And that is what I dislike. The monopolistic route, which I see MS walking down, slowly, but surely.
I like the current Windows for the openness; the “pay-once” OS, which allows me to “install the fuck ever i want and do the fuck ever i want with it”.
Now before somebody goes go: “If you revert to the desktop version, everthing that worked on pre-win8 will work on win8.”
Oh, but for how long? What about the next OS, will it also be so nice to me? I do not like the way Windows went from Win7 to Win8; from open to semi-closing so quickly.
The day Windows closes, is the day I go Linux-based.
Since it seemingly is the only open option left.
Windows8 really, but really sucks, they wonted to make awesome GUI but in that they failed as hell…
Sorry, no such option in the release version.
This is by design. They don’t think you should turn it off…they just want you to allow it to sleep or hibernate on it’s own.
GUI
moving your hand across the screen of laptop to control its functions may prove a need for an improvement to the soft surface. we need a Microsoft press windows 8 book to find all the turf we are used to in windows 7. jg
Having one and a half metros being on the metro screen. That half visible metro that begs me to drag it into visibility drives me CRAZY! Have pages instead like all other tablet systems.
was fired up about it but uninstalled it very quickly. if the release preview sucks, I won’t be postponing purchasing a tablet for the sake of getting windows 8. the metro interface is only good for about 10-20% of what I use all the time and then I have to go to the desktop. this leaves me annoyed. plus, the interaction with a mouse is terrible.
I think for a mobile and tablet platform, it’s great, but for workstations and businesses requiring productivity, KEEP WINDOWS 7 and keep improving it. I think you went way off the wall this time if you think this operating system will satisfy everyone. As a toy, its fine. For productivity, its garbage.
1) As a pc Windows 8 is too simple while as a tablet it is too complex (too many buttons in control panel and settings – I want dumb simplicity that is in your face for my tablet). 2) Metro interface is irritating on a pc 3) Stop the intrusive updating – I JUST lost work at work when my tablet restarted to install updates 4) metro screen and desktop screen is irritating and jarring 5) On a pc W8 is too tablet (metro) and on a tablet W8 is too pc (desktop). 6) the charms (finger swipe from right of screen) are irritating. 7) too many steps to do simple things like power down and restart and to close the keyboard 8) no start button. At first I didn’t care but more and more I miss it! 9) it is not clear and easy to add new metro apps to the page. 10) the buttons (minimize, maximise etc.) are too small for tablets.11) the name: should call it windows touch / tablet because that is the market while the pc is not the market.
Reminds me of Windows ME, which was a total dog.
a total fuck up of windows 7 metro apps need to go away or be turned off ,as for me i would not buy it, just all wrong
It used to be “How do you turn off Microsoft computers? Press the Start button”
Now you have to go through about three steps, all having nothing to do
with turning off the computer before you can actually turn off the
computer.
I actually turned it off a few times using my hardware button. Frustration sets in fast.
I will play with it a little longer but haven’t found any redeeming qualities that would convince me to buy it.
I think there are many ways to shut off. I just hit win+l to lock the screen and use the power button on the screen.
Where is skype, kinect, office app, cloud services, back up services? Why almost NOTHING on Windows 8 RT (ARM) and why call it RT and not ARM (unless Intel wouldn’t like it to directly highlight that company).
My actual feeling is that Microsoft is moving to the North, South, East, West, skyward and towards the other side all at the same time.Lets look at the whole picture and see where it gets us:
Overall software ‘feel’ is FAST, QUICK, CLEAN. This is definitely move upward.Many of the basic windows apps have been upgraded in nice ways (explorer copy function, task manager, use of skydrive to share documents and work between home, work, tablet, etc) This is a move that is definitely UPRIGHT (i.e. improved function while keeping old stuff working)Metro Interface: unless my only interaction with Microsoft was the Phone I would be hard pressed to see how the addition of the Metro interface to Windows is a step forward. If there were a set of tutorials on how and why Metro is good (and how using it will enable one to ‘a, b, c and d’ which only c & d could previously be done and much additional overhead) then I would vote the Metro in a UpRight position also. Right now It is between Up and LeftUp.
NO BUTTERFLY (need I say more)I am having an almost impossible time with video from any internet source and most recorded sources on my Win8 System. It is using a quad core Phenom II along with an AMD 4600 graphics card! These should speak nicely to each other, not freeze upon use of any graphics display or editing program. I have been unable to update any of the Metro Apps. Again, this is a little late in the game to start getting hardware and video working….
I think all the comments before mine are spot on. I’ve posted this on other forums – I love my Windows Phone! I hate Win 8.
Why does Win 8 need to look like the screen resolution has gone back to 640×480?
Why did they ruin non-Metro apps like IE so that when you narrow the window, the text no longer “flows” like the same web page in Win 7?
Win 7 is wonderful. Why couldn’t they have just made a better Win 7?
What is with this “reimagine” spin?
I would hate to switch to apple, but I would do so before I would switch to Win 8. I will stay with Win 7 as long as I can.
Well, Im disappointed about W8CP coz:
1) I hate Metro Start Screen (Im using a script 2 go directly 2 da desktop, but it needs something alike 1 minute b4 2 b effective)2) I hate da Orb / Start menu removal (I’d 2 install Start Menu 7 – release 4.23 – 2 get it bk as -almost- on W7)3) I hate da already installed apps coz a) even if my OS is in english (of course) they open up in german (I live in Argentina, using a European Spanish keyboard! What da german has 2 do wz that????) b) they’re poors if compared 2 3rd party sw (read Outllok 2010 or WL Mail, Adobe PDF Reader, Windows Live Photo Gallery, etc.; I mean I dont hate MS products coz Im against MS theirselves, they’re able 2 build wonderful pieces of sw if n when they wanna do it)4) On my 1st W8CP (x86) install CPU was always used at 90% from Windows Explorer process (basically da main interface process on Windows, as GNOME n KDE r 4 Linux OSs); I reinstalled it but didnt have da time 2 configure / personalize it (hacking da registry 4 havin’ all sw installled by default on a different partition than da OS one, as I usually do since Win XP)Thats all right now folks; any further news will b posted over here.Cheers.
For the most part I like the GUI but it is frustrating to have to search around for a simple My Computer representation and file manager. I also dislike very much the inability to simply shut down or restart if it is my wish to do so. I will continue to play with the program but it will have to change somewhat before I will be interested enough to have it as my main interface……I will move to Linux if I have to.
to hard to get started on startup.no easy way for me to get to the tools part, made for the people who have smart phones in other words the young generation.
for a pc the metro interface is bit difficult to use please bring back the start menu for now i would like to stay with windows 7
At first look I don’t like the colors. They are to0 hard and harsh in my opinion. They are bisic primary colors. That may have looked cool 20 yars ago with VGA monitors. Today it’s very lacking. Navigation seems clunky. The pages are just cluttered. It’s like you are trying to play ‘catch up’ with Apple vs. creating an OS that can wow me. Build a stable interface with eye appeal. You’ve already got the features.
I can agree, I expect there to be more options when this goes live. If my expectations are wrong, then I will be a little miffed. But I have take it for granted that more options will be available. Maybe I shouldnt.
I agree, the metro colors distract and when you go from metro to desktop and back it hits you in the face every time. The colors will age very quickly and will look dated (already is starting to).
It seems to me that since Windows XP, Microsoft has been playing some sort of catch-up with Apple – like “Gees, what are we going to do next? OK, lets put out another version and give it a cool name.” Windows XP was the best since DOS 6.0 and still seems the most stable and yet still, none of the OS’s from Mircosoft match Apple’s appeal. Every new version of Windows requires a mountain learning curve, especially for us techies, and still doesn’t achieve what the marketing pundits claim.
Sorry, but having trouble with the part about being a techie and learning curves. This is par for the course in IT. Also saying XP is the most stable of all MS OS’s doesnt speak highly either. Both Vista and 7 are both on the order of magnitudes more stable. The problems with Vista have never been about stability.
find a way to make metro more functioning to replace traditional desktop functions – MS Office for Metro would be a great start
I think Microsoft may be heading in the right direction for mobile and touch devices. I definately believe they should offer the ability to turn off Metro for desk tops. If they don’t I believe they will meet far more resistance than they anticipate. I for one have looked forward to windows 8 on a smart phone. If I have to endure Metro on a desktop I simply won’t and I will never use another Microsoft driven device.
Here’s my attempt at thoughtful feedback, since you asked. Background first: I use a desktop PC with conventional mouse & keyboard. I have a 24″ monitor, and generally run several applications (as opposed to “apps”) at once: multiple instances of MS Word, Excel, frequently one or two instances of Access, PowerPoint, Visio & sometimes Project. Outlook is always running in the background, too, and finally I have 3-4 proprietary applications running (Citrix, Oracle or Thin Client based). Finally toss in IE with a few tabs tracking dynamic reports. This is typical for me at home when I’m connected to work (at work we still use XP). I have used Win8 for a little over two months, since it came with my most recent PC.
Metro is of no use whatsoever. I use none of the “apps” and have uninstalled all that Win8 will permit. I do not have a tablet, nor a touchscreen and have no intention of buying either as they are of little use for content creation. The full screen apps of Metro look ridiculous on a large monitor. Therefore I’ve completely bypassed Metro by using one of the 3rd party applications (currently IOBit’s Start Menu 8). This has the advantage of disabling the Charms Bar (a truly useless feature) and all the corners that are so annoying when grabbing the scroll bar or hitting the X to close a program.
Most of my common applications are pinned to the taskbar. Less commonly used applications are accessed via the Start Button which I have customized to meet my needs and enhance my productivity. I’m constantly tabbing from application to application through the day, or as I cut and paste data from reports. Often I have my windows tiled or cascaded so I can keep an eye on them easily. Metro doesn’t allow this. Since the original idea behind Windows (which I’ve used since 3.0) was to allow multitasking and easy sharing of data between applications, I see Metro as a step backward.
Those who claim that rejecting Metro is rejecting the future are mistaken. Companies introduce poor products all the time (remember ME, Bob, Clippy, etc) which they later amend, patch or discontinue. Just because its newer does not mean it is inherently better. What matters to Microsoft will be meeting their customers needs– all their customers, not just home consumers but corporate consumers as well.
There are several things I like about Win8, but that’s for another post…
Microsoft needs to change and or adjust the following:
– Enable windows mode when running apps via Metro, especially IE and with full features turned on.
– In Desktop mode give us back the Start button and access to all apps via the start button.
– In Metro mode must have the option to logoff and shutdown the PC options on the same window/screen.
– Enable easier scrolling with mouse when in Metro, as an example; by holding down the mouse button and drag, this would be great if you don’t have a touch screen.
– PC enthusiasts need to have the option to run either Metro or Desktop if they choose, this is a must, this is the deal breaker right here! Otherwise people will just stay on Windows 7 or they will find an allernative to Windows – a version Linux or they might even buy a Mac – my goodness!
– On the positive though – Windows 8 has a fresh new look, and i especially like the sharp edged Windows instead of the rounded Windows 7 look. I like the fact Windows 8 starts up with Metro on, I kind of like the fact it hides the desktop from preying eyes. It’s quicker to startup and shutdown. I like the new Office style button’s buid into Windows Explorer, the graphics when moving or copying files, the new Windows Task manager. Looks great!
I feel that Windows 8 is an unnecessary step for Microsoft. There isn’t really a need for this to be a whole brand-new OS. While there are some admitted improvements in this release, I honestly don’t feel that this warrants marketing an entirely new OS, versus simply making this a Service Pack for Windows 7. There is much more that I could say, and I could include more details, but at this point I choose not to. I simply wanted this to be a blanket statement of my overall feelings about Windows 8.
The Beta version does function well with rotation or enlargement of photos on my tablet.
Once again some aspects are not backward compatible I have lost the use of my HP printer scanner machine as the driver is not Windows 8 compatible!!! Some things are good but please keep printers & such working as before!!!
I think they should make the app menu customizable, and an option to turn it off.
Love the startup but the lack of integration for the start menu and button, no access to control panel direct…using the desktop right click and choosing something else to get to it and then having to click again to get to actual control panel.
There’s a lot of extra steps required for a “non touch” desktop which aren’t pleasant and adds extra work which diminishes productivity which is what a pc is for…this doesn’t bode well for this O/S.
Sure there’s a lot of ways to get things done but the user input and modding with scripts or adding tiles to the Metro GUI isn’t exactly helping out here.
Under the hood…it feels like I’m using a Linux version of the O/S and have to adapt everything to use it “like” I would a Windows machine.
I guess that’s the crux of the matter…the version isn’t nor does it feel like…WINDOWS…it’s several steps backwards for IO but it’s nice on memory management, performance, boot times, and a host of other “technical” improvements which aren’t readily apparent or visible.
So to sum it up…it’s windows…with a decidedly Linux experience for the user UNLESS it’s a tablet or other touch device.
Not what I was hoping for in a user experience!
Don’t like not being able to turn off Metro. As a desktop user exclusively Metro is just a nuisance. I can use it with my mouse, but just put all my apps on the taskbar. On booting up, clicking one of my apps to make Metro go away is the first thing I do.
I think they are going in the wrong direction for desktop use.
Microsoft comes out with a new platform every 2 or 3 years, but when it hits the stores and is built into OEM computers, MS stopps developing it so they can start the new one that will be out in the next 2 years.
Windows 8 is user friendly with mobile devices but not that way for desktops because unless you are Tech savvy, you have to search for things and use search engines on “how to’s” to get it done.
With Smart TV’s hitting the shelves, and the person able to use their mobile device to access the large screen, I think MS should have pushed for the Windows 8 to be the next generation smart TV application/platform.
Apple sure looks better every day because of having to learn how to use a computer again—thanks to microsoft.
forget it for desktop uses.
I don’t like Homegroups, I have yet to be able to get my XP laptop to communicate with Win 8 and vice versa. I would like to just make a regular workgroup, using the same network name I have always used. Vista connects without issues.
For a PC, it just doesn’t work. It’s too cumbersome. I’ve only played with it a bit, but that told me I don’t want to use it. Some things that used to be easy to find are nearly impossible (Control Panel). I only wanted to change my mouse buttons and it took me way too long to find the Control Panel. Bring back the start button! There are a lot of people out there who are not very computer literate and will have a hard time migrating to Windows 8, if they even want to. Windows 8 has too many “bells and whistles”. Metro is an extra step I don’t want to take to try to find my apps. The Settings lacks. If you want the settings all in one place, are you replacing the control panel? Not everything is there. Knowing it was a beta, I didn’t try all my hardware or look for drivers. Keep it simple. Let me log on to my computer and find all the apps I use on my desktop. Metro is probably great for tablets, but not a PC.
@2159f54cc68bc553e5abace02ac98bfa:disqus
If you would like the Start button optionality still- simply right-click on the metro button (still start button btw), and there will be a list of options pretty darn similar if not exactly to the old start button. Besides, why would you want to stick to same ole same norm? Live a little for a change!!! o(._.)o
Just ‘pin’ control panel to the start screen – toward the end with all the not ‘often used’ tiles – simple! 😉
yup correct!i put ctrl panel on a desktop, i seldom use the start button anyway since winxp :/
Modern (Metro) UI apps don’t seem to do dual screen monitors very well, but it works great in desktop. Fix that, and I’m 100% sold. It would also be nice to be able to “snap” applications with smaller screen resolutions. Other than that i’m already 99% sold. I love windows 8, and happily applaud the death of the desktop & start menu. It’s a great OS, very stable, smooth, and fast. Windows 8 rocks!
Cannot comment here, nothing to dislike!
I’ve FORCED myself to use it for months. I still completely hate it. It is awful… I can’t just make a list… EVERYTHING about it is stupid & horrible. Windows is supposed to be a multitasking OS but they are making it into one “APP” at a time… This is one fault in a list of at least a million. It is the worst release of WIndows that I have ever used… and I’ve used them all. Windows 7 is a trillion times better than Windows 8. I still have a new laptop with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit but I just bought a new Mac with Mac OS X Mountain Lion (10.8). Don’t sit there and say that I’m a Mac user hating on Microsoft. I’m a diehard Microsoft Windows user hating on Windows 8. Back to this mac… this is the first Mac that I’ve ever used, the first Mac that I’ve ever touched, and the first Mac that I’ve ever seen in person. There are things missing on a Mac that Windows machines always have had but I can certainly adjust to this much easier than I could ever adjust to the stupidity of Windows 8. That is a poor statement… I could never adjust to something as bad as Windows 8.
I’m very happy with both my Windows 7 laptop and my Mac Mini with OS X. I am very disappointed in the money that I threw away on my Windows 8 upgrade. My Windows laptop is what I used 8 on since the upgrade was released. This week, I finally restored this laptop back to WIndows 7 Pro. What a relief to get back to a usuable version of Windows.
Well all you have to do is set the Control panel shortcut to display on the desktop or if in Metro Interface just start typing “control”
Just got a new win 8 pro desktop (could not get a Win 7 Pro version) & Installed Win 7 Pro UPGRADE right out of the box.Conventional desktop for me w/o that metro crap.
This move to force the “hand held” Metro interface onto corporate business customers is going to be devastating, that interface and it’s RT flavor should be a separate product line in my opinion, for example iOS versus MacOS for two different types of devices. It would seem to me that Microsoft is trying to have a “one size fits all” approach and has gutted WIndows 7 and created yet another Windows 3.1(RT) and have it running on top of DOS (Windows 7) in this example…