Windows 8 Release Preview

[Crafty_Pat]

Is anyone here using this? What are your thoughts?

[The_Grand_User]

I'll be installing it tomorrow and shall give you my thoughts then

[The_Grand_User]

Ok, so I got caught up in a "One More Turn" state all afternoon and evening playing X-Com yesterday, and didn't get to Windows 8 >.>

I'll try again next time I have time.

[The_Grand_User]

And "Hi" from Windows 8

Just got it installed itself, now on to installing all my stuff I need.

[Tegyrius]

The Metro UI looks a lot like an explosion in a banner ad factory.

- C.

[Mister Andersen]

And I thought the Ribbon was bad enough.

Does it at least have a "classic" option?

[The_Grand_User]

No it doesn't have a "classic" option, and after spending an hour or so getting used to it (definitely learn the new hotkeys), I don't think it really needs it either. While the change of the Start Menu to the Start Screen seems pretty big, it's more of a presentation change than a functional one, though easier to get to stuff, since you can organize them into convenient groups (technically, you could do the same with icons on the desktop, but now you can benefit from that without a cluttered desktop).
 
Also if you don't use Metro Apps but stick to regular desktop ones, there isn't much of any other change. The desktop is much the same as it was before, just with a little extra room on the taskbar for applications to pin, as well as screen specific taskbars, which is nice, even more room. And the minor bonus feature of different desktop backgrounds on each screen.

If you do use Metro Apps, you'll probably be using the small snap to the left or right of the screen, leaving your desktop up for most of the time, with occasionally going into a full screen mode for a particular app your concentrating on.

If you have multiple monitors, you can set which one displays the start screen/metro apps with a nice easy click + drag. Though if the monitor isn't widescreen, then you won't be able to use the snap view for the metro apps.

Now, a few of their preview metro apps that they included I have some issues with, but there's also alternatives to them, same as I was using before. And their only previews as well, and have built in feedback, which I have been using, so they should get better.

Responsiveness is great!! I do believe stuff, particularly games, is running faster and smoother than it was under Windows 7. Big kudos to Microsoft on that part.

One major new feature that most people probably won't use is the introduction of Hyper-V on the client. This is your high performance, close to the metal, virtual machine. If you want to run old OSes for old programs (games ), alternate OSes for different features, or just a sandbox OS to do risky stuff in or just to keep the main OS clean, this will make it so much more convenient to do all of those.

All in all, I'm liking it.

[Crafty_Pat]

Is it possible to install it alongside Windows 7 without replacing or disrupting your current install? If so, is it possible to uninstall it without uninstalling or disrupting your Windows 7 install?

Unless the answer to both of those is yes, I'm afraid I won't be playing around with it personally until I either a) have to wipe my current machine and have a day or two to mess with Windows 8 and potentially wipe again, or b) I get a new computer.

[The_Grand_User]

Yes, it is very possible, with multiple ways to do so.

I'm using a second hard drive, so it is completely isolated from my Windows 7 install.

If you have Windows 7 Ultimate you can Boot from VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) and install Windows 8 in the VHD. Instructions can be found here.

If you don't have an extra hard drive or Windows 7 Ultimate, then you can shrink a partition on your current drive and install Windows 8 to that. This is likely the riskiest option, since you may be messing with your boot partition.

In all cases when dealing with OS installs, make a backup

So that is a "yes" to both of your questions.

[tfwfh]

If all you want to do is poke around in it a little bit, rather than actually use it, then installing to a virtual machine is supposedly also quite straight forward.  Virtual Box is free and pretty easy to set up for hosting the VM.

[Crafty_Pat]

If all you want to do is poke around in it a little bit, rather than actually use it, then installing to a virtual machine is supposedly also quite straight forward.  Virtual Box is free and pretty easy to set up for hosting the VM.

Yeah, I'm mainly interested in giving it a test drive so I can speak about it with authority. From what I've seen, I doubt that I'll be making the transition anytime soon, but a working, hands-on experience with it will be invaluable on several fronts to someone like me.

[The_Grand_User]

Well, Microsoft just revealed a first for the company: they're going to make their own tablet hardware for Windows 8. OEMs will still be able to make their own branded, of course. Info here.

It looks pretty nifty, and the built in keyboard looks really cool for a tablet. And I've enjoyed my time with the Windows 8 RP, so I'll definitely be getting one when they come out (and can afford it).

[The_Grand_User]

Microsoft has just announced a special offer for upgrading to Windows 8 Pro for $40 (from XP on up through 7) until Jan 31, 2013. It looks like also be the most painless upgrade experience yet.

Details