Windows 8 Good or bad for PC

[angelize]

I am looking at perhaps later this spring investing in a new laptop would I be better off waiting until fall and getting one with Windows 8? What advantages would windows 8 give me?

[Rik]

... What advantages would windows 8 give me?

1 more than 7.

Sorry Frances. I just couldn't resist that one.

[angelize]

Groooaaann...

[AndFarr]

I have installed the Windows 8 consumer preview version on my Desktop computer, and I can't say I totally love it.
It was designed for use in a tablet so the experience on a desktop isn't great. In a word I would call it awkward.
Perhaps the biggest shortcoming is the lack of a start button. So accessing your programs has to be done via a Metro interface icon or a desktop shortcut.
So If you thought your desktop was cluttered before, be prepared for more chaos in Windows 8 !

Several programs seemed to disappear entirely after installation until I drilled down to the program folder and started the program as Administrator. ( My computer > local disk C > Programs > folder for program you are looking for > locate the program's executable program icon, right click on it and choose "Run as Administrator". ) You will then get a window that asks if it is OK to let this program make changes to your computer. Click on the "OK" button, and the program will finish installing. Hopefully it will create program icons. If not you will have to make them yourself ( as in creating shortcuts ).

If you stop using your computer for a while it will put itself to sleep. Useful for quick restarts. However, if you want to shut it all the way down there is no easily accessible button, you have to use "Control-Alt-delete", then sign out, then click on the power icon in the lower right hand corner, then click "Shut down". ( at least that is the only way I've found so far )

Does this sound "Better" than what you are using now? I don't think so !

- Andy

[steve.ledger]

However, if you want to shut it all the way down there is no easily accessible button, you have to use "Control-Alt-delete", then sign out, then click on the power icon in the lower right hand corner, then click "Shut down". ( at least that is the only way I've found so far )

You can always switch over to Desktop mode and press alt+F4 to receive your shutdown options.
But you can also create actual shutdown tiles that accomplish the same effect in Metro.

Within Desktop mode, right-click on the desktop and create a new shortcut.
For it’s “location”, you’ll want to type in the following: shutdown.exe -s -t 00.
Feel free to name the shortcut whatever you want.
Once it’s on your desktop, fire up Windows Explorer and move the shortcut to your C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs directory.
Jump back to your Metro interface and you’ll see your Shutdown button appear as a brand-new tile.
Click once, and off goes your system!



More about Metro from M$

[The Alien]

More about Metro from M$

I threw up a little while watching that...

[handrawn]

put my fingers all over a screen I am going to be using for work purposes - I don't think so...

so metro is not for me I guess...

[angelize]

That's one of the things that annoys me about my Windows 7 smart phone... The screen is always dirty!

[AndFarr]

To be fair I should say again that this operating system is designed for Tablet computers, not laptops or desktops.

I assume the experience would be much better on a tablet.

Ultimately I expect they will make different flavors of Windows 8 , one for each of the different platforms.

- Andy

[steve.ledger]

Actually no, the OS is designed for all platforms (as mentioned in the M$ video). You can switch modes. See post #3
Windows 8 Consumer Preview works great on the same hardware that powers Windows 7

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview is designed to be used on all PC types for all consumers to try and then give feedback.

Requirements:

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster

RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)

Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher

To use touch, you need a tablet or monitor that supports multitouch