Anyone deploying Windows 8 now?

[PrimaryTech]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone is actually deploying or thinking about deploying Windows 8 to clients? I'm in the process of setting up one of our suite machines with W8 and Office 2013 to test functionality / compatability with existing apps but in previous roll-outs I've waited until SP1 before deployment. My reasoning is that we're a mixed XP/Vista setup and instead of rolling out 7 and then rolling 8 in a year or 18 months time maybe I could roll-out 8 now. I'm aware that I'll need at least 1 machine on W8 to administer GPO's and that AFAIK there's no easy way to manipulate the start screen but I was wondering if anyone else is planning to deploy now?

[FN-GM]

We are currently offering it to staff. We have some who want it. Just waiting for SIMS support.

[witch]

Nope
I will wait until at least SP1 and possibly for Windows 9
I have researched it and I don't think it offers anything extra we need at the moment - not for PCs anyway

[FN-GM]

I will wait until at least SP1

@witch you will be waiting a long time. Microsoft is doing away with Service Packs. If ones come for Windows 8 it will be many years down the line.

[FragglePete]

I think if I deployed Windows 8 now I would be fired! I'm keeping an eye on it, but initial feelings are 'no way'. However, we're in the early stages of planning a Sixth Form for September 2014 and may plan on putting it in there first but for the time being, Windows 7 is very nice thank you!

Pete

[sted]

on 1 touchscreen as a test

[Michael]

I have no plans to deploy Windows 8. Windows 7 and Office 2010 work absolutely fine and was a big enough change for users.

If Microsoft allowed admins to properly disable Metro via GPO for desktops and notebooks I'd certainly be more interested. After all it is better optimised than Win 7 and requires fewer patches. I've downgraded quite a few notebooks now for schools and private individuals. I don't think Microsoft's 'make Metro the default' is going to pay off.

[andy_nic]

we have 7 staff laptops running it, 5 touch screens and a class room on dual boot with all with office 2013, but the smart board drivers are a bit funny with windows 8 and Symantec ghost doesn't fully support it console side, can do them manually but it takes a bit of time, which is stopping a possible full roll out to class rooms.

[Rawns]

I'm aware of a few school in our LA who have put it on test machines/tech admin machines, and some who have put the SIMS client onto it. I could imagine once the spring release comes out, it could be deployed to staff.

We're testing SIMS on Windows 8 at the moment in preparation for that first call of "SIMS is broken, I'm on Windows 8!"...

[zag]

No plans to deploy. Dead in the water operating system.

I'm guessing Windows "9" will be a lot nicer and better thought out.

[squeeky]

From what i hear there will not be a windows 9. "Windows Blue Is Microsoft's Next OS, Will Move To Annual Release". We are in teh process of heavily modifying windows 8 to make it work how we need across the school.

First google page

[PrimaryTech]

I don't think Microsoft's 'make Metro the default' is going to pay off.

I totally agree, Education and Business must be 2 of Microsoft's biggest clients and they irriversibally change the start menu to try and break into the already-saturated phone tablet market!

- - - Updated - - -

I don't think Microsoft's 'make Metro the default' is going to pay off.

I totally agree, Education and Business must be 2 of Microsoft's biggest clients and they irriversibally change the start menu to try and break into the already-saturated phone tablet market!

[squeeky]

I don't think Microsoft's 'make Metro the default' is going to pay off.

Thats why we have completly removed metro and used an alternative shell. Explorer.exe is a gonner.... well sort of.

[JJonas]

From what i hear there will not be a windows 9. "Windows Blue Is Microsoft's Next OS, Will Move To Annual Release". We are in teh process of heavily modifying windows 8 to make it work how we need across the school.

First google page

Its all going Pokemon

[witch]

@witch you will be waiting a long time. Microsoft is doing away with Service Packs. If ones come for Windows 8 it will be many years down the line.

Okay clever clogs - until they have fixed some bits and pieces!

Windows 7 and Office 2010 were, as @Michael says, a big change for users - and they do what is wanted so why rush to change?
IMHO Windows 8 is great for mobiles and tablets - not so good on a PC in a school environment....yet...