Windows 8 Consumer Preview Available 29th Feb

[X-13]

Does anyone know what the time limit actually is?

 

I can't find anything apart from people asking how to remove the time limit from the Dev preview...

[caffrey]

windows key + R then winver

 

jan 15 2013 apparently.

 

Perhaps this video will change you mind?

 

 

Nope, I find with win7 i just use the windows key then use the search box to find my applications etc - rarely use the start menu at all now (that or pinned to the task bar)

why they need a huge flashy set of square icons to do the same task screams tablet.

[RabbieBurns]

I really dont see what the issue is with regards to using it on a desktop. Ive installed it on a Dell Latitude ST tablet, and for that the metro interface and apps are fine, but on a laptop, Ive removed all the metro apps from the 'start' menu, pinned server manager, run, and cmd to the taskbar, and have a few icons on the desktop.

 

Ive been using it as my main laptop now for 2 days at work and there really is minimal difference in useability. Obviously using it in Desktop mode, but I have actually had 0 reason to even go into metro mode.

 

For those who launch their apps with windows+R, which is what i do mostly, this still works.

 

There are only minimal additions that make it better than windows 7, apart from the ribbon in explorer (enabling hidded files and file extensions was 2 clicks, rather than drilling down through tools, folder options, etc etc you just click view, and theres a tick box for hidden files), and a few other things like task manager and file transfer windows etc, I really dont see the big deal a lot of you are making.

 

Im not sure if Im using it the wrong way, but to me it seems obvious the metro interface and the metro apps are for a tablet, and desktop mode with normal programs are for the desktop mode. EG, windows+r, mstsc, to run remote desktop is exactly the same on this as it was in win7. Now on the tablet i use the remote desktop app, and its a nice easy touch interface to connect through to the servers.

 

Im gonna be using this for the forseeable future on my laptop. Just need to find a way to get it to load straight to the desktop mode rather than the metro interface, anyone know if thats an option?

 

Edited March 2, 2012 by RabbieBurns
adding screenshots

[gshaw]

Been so busy with Moodle I've only just seen this!

 

Just looking at that Ars Technica article... right now I've got a nice and stylish Windows 7 desktop, high bit colour icons and for an "upgrade" I get this insult on the eyes... 2 different primary colours is bad enough but >6 is painful to look at... really hope there will be a way to skin that to remove the colour glare.

 

Downloading at the moment so can't yet say what the UI experience is like but it doesn't look radically different to what I've seen before... is it fair to say it still feels disjointed on a desktop but good on a tablet?

[X-13]

@RabbieBurns Is there anyway to remove the desktop watermark?

 

That would get annoying after a while...

[HaleStorm]

Anyone got a key i can use? I wrote the generated one down and have lost it over night

 

cheers guys

[RabbieBurns]

earlier on in the thread @SYSMAN_MK posted the install key

@X-13 im gonna give this a try just now: How to Remove Windows 8 Desktop Watermark, Hash and Microsoft Confidential Text « My Digital Life

[HaleStorm]

Cheers @RabbieBurns i must have missed it

[RabbieBurns]

NF32V-Q9P3W-7DR7Y-JGWRW-JFCK8. is the one for installing from media

 

DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J is another key which im not sure what was for

[X-13]

Anyone got a key i can use? I wrote the generated one down and have lost it over night

 

cheers guys

 

There are keys here.

 

They're for the ISO versions, the key for the setup is automagically done for you.

 

 

Also, FAQ says put in this: NF32V-Q9P3W-7DR7Y-JGWRW-JFCK8 [if you made installation media.]

 

 

@X-13 im gonna give this a try just now: How to Remove Windows 8 Desktop Watermark, Hash and Microsoft Confidential Text « My Digital Life

 

Awesome. If it's possible, let me know.

 

I may move to Win8 CP as my main OS. [Hacked Win7 and no Vista install I can actually use.]

 

DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J is another key which im not sure what was for

 

That's the ISO key.

Edited March 2, 2012 by X-13

[AngryTechnician]

I find with win7 i just use the windows key then use the search box to find my applications etc - rarely use the start menu at all now

And you can continue to do exactly the same thing with Windows 8.

[X-13]

And you can continue to do exactly the same thing with Windows 8.

 

I think that's the point caffrey was making.

 

It's not an incentive to upgrade as it's not a new feature.

[RabbieBurns]

not sure if anyone else has posted this yet, but earlier on in the thread i asked how to close a fullscreen metro app on a non-touch device.

 

Solution is to click at the top of the screen and drag down, and it closes the metro app.

[RabbieBurns]

how do you boot into safe mode ?? Im stuck in a boot-loop ;/

[Arthur]

F8 is now Shift + F8 to get into Safe Mode.

 

You have to hold down Shift, btw.

Edited March 2, 2012 by Arthur

[ndart]

Interesting to note:

 

Can't get SIMS to install and if you have UAC off in GPO (I have) then metro app don't work!

 

I agree with other comments here in as much as:

 

I think during the install process and as a control panel later MS should offer:

 

A Metro or Desktop with Start Button option

 

To use Metro on a desktop computer is just plain dumb imho.

 

What I like:

 

The speed it installed

The speed of booting

 

 

Any other stuff I will post here as I discover and if Server 8 doesn't have a Start Menu either as a previous post said I won't be upgrading anytime soon, linux anybody - ubunto here I come....

[Arthur]

All this fuss over a slightly different looking Start menu. It's ridiculous!!!

[ndart]

slightly?

 

That's a joke right?

[zag]

As usual the Reg is spot on with its views on Windows 8

 

Windows 8 is at times refreshing and delightful, at times puzzling, and at times awkward and annoying. Microsoft is presenting it as the next generation, but in truth it will be a transitional release.

 

Windows 8: Sugar coating on Microsoft's hard-to-swallow tablet ? The Register

[ndart]

I Agree, the reg is....spot on that is...

 

I quite like it but from an education POV the desktop may need some tweaking I fear.

[Mr.Ben]

I'm still deciding - the desktop mode feels really disjointed on the PC that I'm running here, although when using Metro and a touchscreen it's actually quite good.

 

It took me an age to find Control panel on the desktop...

[RabbieBurns]

It took me an age to find Control panel on the desktop...

 

Once I discovered the right click where the start button used to be and found that hidden menu it became a lot easier.

[caffrey]

Been playing around in the local gpo, can't really find much new (no real metro options except local proxy settings) - also noticed that windows classic theme has gone now too.

[gshaw]

Once I discovered the right click where the start button used to be and found that hidden menu it became a lot easier.

 

The idea of a UI with hidden options that aren't immediately obvious to the user seems counter-intuitive to me. Unless that's deliberate to force users to a certain way of working...

[AngryTechnician]

The idea of a UI with hidden options that aren't immediately obvious to the user seems counter-intuitive to me.

Sounds like you've not used a Mac for any significant amount of time. The OS X UI is packed with this, especially on settings dialogues. The number of times I've found the 'magic' hidden options screen by holding down Cmd to find that a particular button changes into a different button!

 

Photoshop is the same, try holding down Ctrl or Alt next time you're in something like the Curves dialogue.