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| Windows 8 RTM relased to MSDN; Evaluation version released |
| By Thom Holwerda on 2012-08-15 21:30:05 |
| Microsoft has made Windows 8's final release available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, so if you are one of those - have fun. The 90-day trial has also been released, so us mere mortals can have a go at it as well. The evaluation version is Windows 8 Enterprise, so it contains a number of features regular users normally won't see. As far as I can tell - it's a bit unclear - the trial version cannot be upgraded to a final version a few months down the line. Happy testing! |
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| RE[3]: No upgrades |
| By Stephen! on 2012-08-16 13:30:55 |
|
> My guess is the timer is made so hacker proof that it just can't be removed/deactivated without blowing up the computer. Is anything ever truly hacker proof though? |
 - Score: 4 |
| RE[4]: Pass |
| By drcouzelis on 2012-08-16 13:39:23 |
| In addition to that, the only Windows 8 style applications we've essentially seen so far are from Microsoft. We'll have to wait and see how polished and unified the new start screen and user interface feels once the market is flooded with third party applications. |
| - Score: 1 |
| RE[3]: Pass |
| By Dave_K on 2012-08-16 14:03:11 |
|
> Compared to previous releases it finally appears that Microsoft understands the concept of fit and finish rather than previous releases looking little more than quasi distributions resulting from the haphazard amalgamation of different groups works into a single distribution. In my opinion Windows 8 has about the worst "fit and finish" of any Windows version released in the last 20 years. The Windows 8/Metro UI just doesn't fit in alongside the traditional desktop. Using the two together has the feel of an unnatural Frankensteinian creation, patched together from different UIs designed for different purposes. It's much less consistent, both visually and functionally, than the mix of Classic and Aqua apps back in the early days of Mac OS X. And unlike that situation, Metro/Win8 is too limited to be a full replacement for the desktop. Because of that this inconsistent mix of user interfaces will hang around indefinitely, rather than just being a temporary issue as people transition from the old to the new. Of course this isn't a big issue if the only Win8/Metro component being used is the Start Screen, but Microsoft seem determined that this restrictive tablet interface is the future of the desktop OS. My main negative reaction to Windows 8 is down to the thought of eventually having to use crippleware full-screen mobile apps on my large screen mouse+keyboard desktop PC. |
| - Score: 4 |
| RE[4]: Pass |
| By kaiwai on 2012-08-16 14:40:34 |
|
> "Compared to previous releases it finally appears that Microsoft understands the concept of fit and finish" Seriously? you have two totally different GUIs running at the same time. You jump between them depending on which app you are running. One of these GUIS is really inconvenient on a desktop PC and its best "feature" is that it shows you less information instead of more on the screen. Sorry I should have been more accurate in what I meant by 'fit and finish' - what I meant was in regards to previous releases. Yes, it can be a bit jarring moving between the 'Metro' interface to the traditional desktop but in terms of the desktop theme it is a lot better than the gaudy Windows Vista and the marginally improved Windows 7 appearance but that doesn't take away from the fact that the icons are out of place, the inconsistent usage of different GUI elements from various generations of libraries give a rough experience when compared to using Mac OS X. I'm back on Mac OS X again and my brief experience has re-enforced why I've a Mac user because the more I used it the more my OCD went crazy to the point that I wanted to punch a box of kittens. Maybe it was my optimism that clouded my judgement but now that I've come down from my 'two day high' having used Windows 8 (used the leaked RTM then tried the 90 day trial) and faced the problems that I initially looked over in my excitement of trying a 'new toy' out. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE[4]: Pass |
| By kaiwai on 2012-08-16 14:52:07 |
|
> In my opinion Windows 8 has about the worst "fit and finish" of any Windows version released in the last 20 years. I disagree - Windows Vista had to be the worse; mixture of different elements, different ways the control panel items worked etc. > The Windows 8/Metro UI just doesn't fit in alongside the traditional desktop. Using the two together has the feel of an unnatural Frankensteinian creation, patched together from different UIs designed for different purposes. True; I think what they're trying to do is create a Metro operating system where by the desktop is the optional extra rather than it being the other way around hence the feeling that the way the desktop operates is as though it is an uninvited guest that really doesn't work well with how Metro operates. One wishes there was a way to fine tune things but alas it appears that Steven Sinofsky 'knows best'. > It's much less consistent, both visually and functionally, than the mix of Classic and Aqua apps back in the early days of Mac OS X. And unlike that situation, Metro/Win8 is too limited to be a full replacement for the desktop. Because of that this inconsistent mix of user interfaces will hang around indefinitely, rather than just being a temporary issue as people transition from the old to the new. Which is my biggest problem - I don't think Metro will even be able to scale up to handle complex applications like Photoshop or Microsoft Office which leaves me asking what is Microsoft going to offer to desktop application developers? Yes I was lamenting the possible demise of the Mac Pro due to the long refresh cycle but at least one is still confident in Apple not doing something stupid of merging the two operating systems into a single entity. Cross pollination yes, merging no. > Of course this isn't a big issue if the only Win8/Metro component being used is the Start Screen, but Microsoft seem determined that this restrictive tablet interface is the future of the desktop OS. My main negative reaction to Windows 8 is down to the thought of eventually having to use crippleware full-screen mobile apps on my large screen mouse+keyboard desktop PC. If the move is to kill of win32 and the desktop then God help those customers who are the enterprise, engineers, designers, office workers that integrate data from multiple software packages etc. I only hope that maybe this over attention on Metro is to make up for years of neglect when it comes to tablets and with Windows 9 we'll see a more balanced focus back on desktop applications. I'm hopeful but realistic that Microsoft isn't above making stupid decisions. |
| - Score: 1 |
| RE[4]: To PAE or not to PAE? That is the question! |
| By kaiwai on 2012-08-16 15:02:10 |
|
> PAE is enforced as many companies still have to work with 16bit PLC devices with correspongind software and the 64bit systems does not support that. So this is just a way to enforce that the drivers are compatible with PAE. You might say that dosbox or some virtualization might do the trick, and indeed in some cases it will, but some devices and industrial hardware indeed need direct contact. It is not only about the ram size, but also about the exact placement of registers available with old un-updated software (Siemens, i hate you for being the biggest culprit in this) in direct access to the named industrial hardware. In PAE 32+extra bits the initial bits for the conventional memory is in the same place, in a x64bit system this is not always the case. Have a lovely day. Thanks for the information - I'm really suprised that they don't have a custom system from the ground up with custom hardware where as what it seems is a hodge-podge of off the hardware with a butchered installation of Windows :-/ |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[3]: Pass |
| By AnythingButVista on 2012-08-16 15:19:14 |
|
> "Compared to previous releases it finally appears that Microsoft understands the concept of fit and finish rather than previous releases looking little more than quasi distributions resulting from the haphazard amalgamation of different groups works into a single distribution." Wait, but you just described how Windows 8 feels like. (bold text in the quote above) Jumping from non-Metro to Desktop and back from Desktop to non-Metro feels just that bad. Windows 8 has a lot going on for it, especially in the performance department, but the user experience is a downgrade compared to Windows 7, unless you are happy with the limited UX from tablets. Edited 2012-08-16 15:20 UTC |
| - Score: 4 |
| RE[3]: Pass |
| By orfanum on 2012-08-16 15:36:09 |
|
I have been quick to disagree with you in the past but I also want to show I can be just as rapid in agreement. I also find it a pain in the wotsit that people vote one down instead of replying. I also don't get the hysteria. On the Windows 8 issue itself, I am genuinely undecided - but if what I have read on there being a $40 upgrade from Windows 7 Home Premium is true, why not just try it out? It's not much more than the money I have voluntarily donated to Linux Mint in the recent-ish past, so it seems pretty reasonable on the face of it. Keep posting, naysayers or no! |
| - Score: 5 |
| RE[2]: Why would you want it on your PC? |
| By tanzam75 on 2012-08-16 16:47:05 |
|
You don't use multiple monitors? The new multi-monitor taskbar is, by itself, worth $20. That's what third-party taskbars sell for -- and they aren't as good. (Not necessarily out of any fault of theirs, but owing to the fact that developers will test against the built-in Windows taskbar, but not against third-party add-ons.) |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE[4]: No upgrades |
| By MOS6510 on 2012-08-16 17:30:52 |
| Well, someone will probably post a tool on The Pirate Bay disabling the timer. |
| - Score: 2 |
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