Windows 8 is RTM

[RabbieBurns]

Blogging Windows

Today, I am excited to announce that Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing (RTM)! This means we’ve completed the product development and testing of the product and have started handing off the final code to our OEM partners. They can now begin preparing new Windows 8 PCs and devices they’ll introduce starting with General Availability. For more on RTM, I suggest reading this blog post from Steven Sinofsky on the Building Windows 8 blog.

[Zoom7000]

And so begins the invasion of Metro in to our lives... Still think this is gonna go down in the corporate/education sector like a ton of bricks!

[jinnantonnixx]

Metro isn't that bad, surely?

Joke alert for the benefit of younger members - Metro car shown in the picture below
metro.jpg

[DrPerceptron]

Metro isn't that bad, surely?

Bad... not really.
Pointless... definitely. There's so little that actually works for the interface it's practically pointless. The next office version isn't Metro based (just looks that way), the RSATs aren't Metro based, I've been using W8 as my desktop OS for quite a while now and the only Metro app I've used is the Remote Desktop app... and even then, I don't know why. I've used SkyDrive a few times as well, but tbh I was quite happy just using the website before the app.

[Gatt]

I'm trying to like Windows 8 but it's not happening

Nor is it happening with Office 2013...

[Gatt]

Release Schedule:

August 15th: Developers will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via your MSDN subscriptions.
August 15th: IT professionals testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final version of Windows 8 through your TechNet subscriptions.
August 16th: Customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC), allowing you to test, pilot and begin adopting Windows 8 Enterprise within your organization.
August 16th: Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Windows 8.
August 20th: Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to Windows 8.
September 1st: Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers

[gshaw]

And here begins the biggest gamble MS have done in a long time, the whole future direction of the company looks to be placed on getting a chunk of the tablet market and the unified Metro UI.

Office 2013 is really bizarre at the moment, you'd expect it to have live tiles and run straight from Metro but nope it uses the standard icon tiles and runs via the Win32 desktop... very odd as an Outlook live tile would actually be a Metro feature that I'd actually find useful.

[localzuk]

Its not really a case of it being good or bad, or liking/disliking it. I just don't understand it, no matter how hard I try.

I understand Metro UI as a tablet interface. Kudos to MS for sorting this out, as Windows on tablet has always been a bit annoying.

But on the desktop, I just don't get it.

[FN-GM]

I am keen to test metro on smartboards and cleavertouch machines. Has anyone done that please?

[Oaktech]

Metro isn't that bad, surely?

Errr... yeah it is. With the sole exception of the 6R4 it was unmitigated rubbish...

[Theblacksheep]

Metro isn't that bad, surely?

No its not, just different.

RTM ADK is up: http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...k/sdksetup.exe

[Michael]

Well if you don't like it, you can always downgrade to Windows 7. Windows 7's supported until 14th January 2020, so it's not going anywhere for a while!

I'd still recommend Windows 8 on a tablet device however.

[localzuk]

Well if you don't like it, you can always downgrade to Windows 7. Windows 7's supported until 14th January 2020, so it's not going anywhere for a while!

I would suggest 'upgrade' to Windows 7...

Btw. I'm not just being 'OMG new things! EVIL! Burn the witch! about this, I was one of the few people who ran Windows ME and actually thought it was a good OS. I also thought the change from OS 9 to OS X was a good one.

I just need proof that these changes will in some way make my life better.

[CyberNerd]

I was one of the few people who ran Windows ME and actually thought it was a good OS

Are we expected to trust your judgement?

[localzuk]

Are we expected to trust your judgement?

Haha, no... Trust no-one.

I was just highlighting that I'm not just knee-jerking against change.