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Is anyone else getting the message that these apps are no longer available? I downloaded the beta and then the preview and the only app I could ever get installed was Cut the Rope. Anyone else had any luck? I am running the preview on VMWare.
What your article is trying to do is impress, but anyone with any brains can see that these are apps that you "might" have on your phone. What would anyone want these on their computer for instead of a bookmark? This whole idea of putting "apps" onto a computer for productivity or normal usage is ridiculous and hopefully Apple and MS get their a** handed back to them quickly enough to stop this madness and bring back simple fast lean OS's for the computer that are not armed with enough DRM tiltbits to sink a ship. Linux never had such a luck break as this stupid trail that Apple and MS have chosen and they will regret it. What were they thinking or drinking???
They are thinking that Apple is raking in the cash and they want some as well. Call it stupid if you want, but people are paying big dollars for it. Companies aren't stupid for cashing in on people's wants and desires.
Bill
Bill
... in Mobile. Some of these things make sense on a phone or tablet, given the compromises in usability one is willing to accept on a mobile device in terms of UI, screen size, and input devices. And even at that, I don't really anyone versed in both Android and Metro choosing the latter on a mobile device. Maybe Metro wins a few points on the "New Coke" effect... it takes a little use of it to start really hating it... might seem OK at first try. At least, that's been my experience with Win8.
On the desktop, there is no rational reason a Windows user would choose this... being unencumbered by small screens, limited input devices, a weak CPUs, all these compromises just seem stupid on a desktop. And Microsoft seems dedicated to forcing this on desktop users, in the hope of prepping them to buy mobile devices with the same UI. I think it has a much better chance of moving people off Windows entirely, or at least freezing most users at Windows 7. And I feel much stronger about thus, having set myself up with the consumer preview... much worse than I had imagined, really no redeeming features at all on the desktop.
On the desktop, there is no rational reason a Windows user would choose this... being unencumbered by small screens, limited input devices, a weak CPUs, all these compromises just seem stupid on a desktop. And Microsoft seems dedicated to forcing this on desktop users, in the hope of prepping them to buy mobile devices with the same UI. I think it has a much better chance of moving people off Windows entirely, or at least freezing most users at Windows 7. And I feel much stronger about thus, having set myself up with the consumer preview... much worse than I had imagined, really no redeeming features at all on the desktop.
There is nothing here leaping-out to tell me that I need to shell-out for a new operating system. The question is, if you want comformity - are you happy enough with your iFone/android mobile to want to ditch your Windows Desktop, or is your Windows desktop so important that you will ditch your current phone interface for Windows 8?
then you are getting a similar interface for tablets to the phone and the bonus of the desktop as well.
I thought I'd have a look at Windows 8 in a VM just to see if I needed to be afraid - very afraid and I do. For someone who just wants to use this on a standard PC as a work machine it's the roibbon interface all over again. Let's just make things difficult for the hell of it. I know that they are trying to build an environment that works from the phone to the tablet to the desktop but that's a stupid idea. When I moved from Win95 to 2000 to XP to 7 I didn't need a bunch of how to guides to figure it out but I do with this.
The ribbon in Office is horrible. It takes 5 times as many clicks to do what you need to do and it's more like what you need for a 7 yr old to use!
Access 2010 has destroyed productivity in working with databases.
The fools that made these changes should be locked up in a nut-house!
Access 2010 has destroyed productivity in working with databases.
The fools that made these changes should be locked up in a nut-house!
i dont want to see the good.... W8 isnt a backward step, its a huge backward and yes, its really ugly.
So the best app is the one used for controlling real (i.e. Pre-8) Windows desktops .. strangely enough that's also the most-used app on my iPad. What does that tell you..
It never gave a reason though.
I installed Windows 8 on a vista machine. Played with it for an hour. I personally do not see the point in the new interface. Seems to me it takes more clicks to do everything. Each edition of Windows should be an incremental improvement. If the interface is the only "improvement" I am underwhelmed and I am always anxious to jump to the newest and latest systems. Windows 7 was sooo much better than vista that it was an instant success in my book. I shall reserve judgement on Windows 8 until the final edition is ready. Unlike Most software companies, Microsoft tends to make changes for change sake. Take the infamous Ribbon for example. In Word 2007 it is not loved but usable. After several months of using Office 2010 I finally removed it and went back to office 2007. For my taste Office 2010 took more clicks to obtain the same results than office 2007.
Market saturation is the reason. MS don't make money unless they sell a new OS every couple of years. As far as I'm concerned, most uses I do can be covered by MS 2K or XP. Any thing added past this was graphic file management (which Apple can doing with their hands tied behind their back) and stupid things like icons that fade in and hide the management tools a little better.
If they had a credible Tab, they would have a potential market of tens if not hundreds of millions. However that has been left to the iPad and Android tabs, as MS have made the insane descision to do Windows 8 Jr for tabs, instead of leveraging the existing Windows Phone 7 into an XL format - which sidelines WP7 somewhat as well instead of building it up like IOS and Android are.
Dumbass move, when they could have started shipping 12 months ago.
Dumbass move, when they could have started shipping 12 months ago.
In regards to your comment(s) on Office 2010, you had not used it long enough to
make that call. I was one of the Alpha/Beta testers on it and NOTICED to date that people dislike the ribbon. BUT the ribbon is a great addition, and help you get
your work done faster, and easier. WERE you aware that you could use MS Office without the ribbon? The ribbon feature isn't mandatory, and can be shut down through options. Also you failed to mention the think ahead feature (Auto-Complete) which saves time by completing your sentences as you type them. I know it is not 100% accurate but it allows you to keep typing your thoughts anyways. and if it DOES get the right sentence, you can move on to another sentence and a major time saver.
make that call. I was one of the Alpha/Beta testers on it and NOTICED to date that people dislike the ribbon. BUT the ribbon is a great addition, and help you get
your work done faster, and easier. WERE you aware that you could use MS Office without the ribbon? The ribbon feature isn't mandatory, and can be shut down through options. Also you failed to mention the think ahead feature (Auto-Complete) which saves time by completing your sentences as you type them. I know it is not 100% accurate but it allows you to keep typing your thoughts anyways. and if it DOES get the right sentence, you can move on to another sentence and a major time saver.
The whole format looks cluttered like a smart phone. I like my desktop totally without icons let alone silly little squares all over it. If that is the best that Microsoft can do I believe they will lose loads of users.
Right. I use a Windows phone 7 and prefer it over the other options. Perfectly happy with it. But I also extensively use Android tablets at work and support iPhones and every other O/S of any significance in the workplace. What has all this to do with Windows 8? Maybe nothing. Maybe its a frustration with all the O/S snobbery I read. It's worse than pitting Democrats and Republicans against each other. I have had a blast playing with all these smartphones and computer operating systems over the years...and big surprise...duh, they all have their highs and lows. It would be good to take a lesson from a true synthesist (I can say that now after 30 years). I'm good at what I do and I embrace the best of each new innovation...even Windows 8, but make no mistake...yes, I shake my head and wonder where Microsoft comes up with some of this stuff. Still, I'm in IT. It's stressful enough. Lighten up and enjoy the ride.
You've got to be joking? Right? Well I'm glad you have had a "blast" playing with all these new devices while someone else pays your salary and the whole IT world is thrown into a morass because these A**es have been drinking koolaid instead of common sense when it comes to OS design.
Some of us have to live with the consequences of these developments in the OS's, others have to pay enormous bills for the consequences of these ridiculous changes. I have to support these OS's and it just gets more and more infuriating as these damaging changes are made without rational reason against established standards, (instituted because they work), are dropped.
Some of us have to live with the consequences of these developments in the OS's, others have to pay enormous bills for the consequences of these ridiculous changes. I have to support these OS's and it just gets more and more infuriating as these damaging changes are made without rational reason against established standards, (instituted because they work), are dropped.
It's not so much a 'contest' as who can make what nifty, as it is about making things more usable. It's also not just about strict functionality, it's about human interfacing. I've seen way too many MS products with unnecessary extra layers of something. This all too often requires extra time from me to run around showing people where things have moved, or where things are in the first place. Some stuff should be self-evident and not require classes beyond typing and the basic concepts of handling computers. So many things have shifted over the years of Windows upgrades that even I lose track of how to do some stuff. Unfortunately, too many of the Windows changes have made many things more difficult or cumbersome.
Example: One of my relatives has had a Windows based PC of some kind since Win 3.1. It never made enough sense to her. She recently picked up an Apple PC and can actually use it to a fuller extent. She's learned more about how to handle her files and manage multitasking in 3 months than she previously had in over a decade. I'm not saying Apple is the end all, be all--they also have some things that could be more consistent or improved. I am saying that MS generally seems to have less of a clue on how to make things humanly usable.
That's the reason why so many of us complain about MS. We hope they (and even Apple) eventually listen and maybe learn how to make their products more usable, not just more useful.
OK, enough ranting from me today. xD
Example: One of my relatives has had a Windows based PC of some kind since Win 3.1. It never made enough sense to her. She recently picked up an Apple PC and can actually use it to a fuller extent. She's learned more about how to handle her files and manage multitasking in 3 months than she previously had in over a decade. I'm not saying Apple is the end all, be all--they also have some things that could be more consistent or improved. I am saying that MS generally seems to have less of a clue on how to make things humanly usable.
That's the reason why so many of us complain about MS. We hope they (and even Apple) eventually listen and maybe learn how to make their products more usable, not just more useful.
OK, enough ranting from me today. xD
Microsoft has been copying Apple for years - they should continue to do so.
Apple has decided that touch devices and desktops are 2 different things, each deserving their own OS - I agree.
Microsoft now has they idea they should all be treated the same - this is wrong.
When on the desktop, Win8 should start in "classic" mode and run "classic" desktop applications. It should also be able to run any Metro style app - without switching to the Metro interface - it should all be seamless to the User (and the developer).
The new crop of "leaders" at Microsoft need to learn from their predecessors and go back to what works ??? copying Apple.
I for one hope never to have to work with Vista8.
Apple has decided that touch devices and desktops are 2 different things, each deserving their own OS - I agree.
Microsoft now has they idea they should all be treated the same - this is wrong.
When on the desktop, Win8 should start in "classic" mode and run "classic" desktop applications. It should also be able to run any Metro style app - without switching to the Metro interface - it should all be seamless to the User (and the developer).
The new crop of "leaders" at Microsoft need to learn from their predecessors and go back to what works ??? copying Apple.
I for one hope never to have to work with Vista8.
more like iOS. So Microsoft is ahead of the game in merging the two.
Apple is actually, more slowly, iOS-ifying the MacOS. And that has more than a few pundits asking questions about Apple's direction, their ability to innovate, etc.
But Apple has an actual reason for this. With iOS at over 80% of their business, with more iOS devices sold just last quarter than MacOS, ever, and Apple dropping more high-end Mac support every year, you have to wonder about the future of MacOS.
And yet, Apple sold more Macs last year than ever, the only major PC company to gain market share last year. These are iOS "coattail" buyers... I know several personally. It does make sense for Apple to push their less successful product in a direction of more potential success.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is forcing a radical change of no use to their desktop users in the hopes of some of them spilling over into markets that Microsoft has no significant success today. Really the opposite of what Apple's doing.
That leaves the horrors of Ubuntu 11.... that's just plain insanity... no other explanation makes sense. Well, maybe if all desktops are deemed Netbooks?
But Apple has an actual reason for this. With iOS at over 80% of their business, with more iOS devices sold just last quarter than MacOS, ever, and Apple dropping more high-end Mac support every year, you have to wonder about the future of MacOS.
And yet, Apple sold more Macs last year than ever, the only major PC company to gain market share last year. These are iOS "coattail" buyers... I know several personally. It does make sense for Apple to push their less successful product in a direction of more potential success.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is forcing a radical change of no use to their desktop users in the hopes of some of them spilling over into markets that Microsoft has no significant success today. Really the opposite of what Apple's doing.
That leaves the horrors of Ubuntu 11.... that's just plain insanity... no other explanation makes sense. Well, maybe if all desktops are deemed Netbooks?
you'd see they had very rational reasons for most of the changes.
I read the Windows blog, and yes, they have plenty of rationalizations. But quite a few don't even slightly hold up under scrutiny. This suggests that either they really don't know what they're doing in UI, or all the decisions were dictated long ago, and their explanations are really just fill-in stories... they're the "Intelligent Design" of the PC UI world.
The main title is Five of the best Windows 8 preview apps (so far). But the title on image 1 is Top free 91 apps. Yet there are only 36 images of apps. So where are the remaining 55 images? And is there is page on TechRepublic with links to the 91 free apps or must we do Google searches to find each one?
MS has figured out a way to beat the Vista debacle. When you cater to the masses of limited IQ "computer users" you end up with a big toy filled with apps.
Nor surprising since most "users" wouldn't know a spreadsheet from a hole in the wall.
This is just the result of the declining intelligence of Americans and computer companies cashing in on the rampant stupidity.
Nor surprising since most "users" wouldn't know a spreadsheet from a hole in the wall.
This is just the result of the declining intelligence of Americans and computer companies cashing in on the rampant stupidity.
After reading several articles from Tech Republic on "the best of", "reasons to", etc. I am coming to the conclusion your writers are being paid by MS to write them. Show me real stuff! Show me what the business version looks like and what it is going to do for the average end user that will not completely immerse my day in teaching them how to use Windows all over again...well, considering the "ribbon" in Office, I can gather at this point, I will spend the next 12 months answering the phone on "how to". Thanks for nothing MS.
No Business version yet, Microsoft is still working with the Consumer's Preview, look around December or January for the Professional version of Windows 8 O/S
from what I seen so far on MSDN, it will not be anything like the consumer's version. Microsoft has finally split professional with enduser.
from what I seen so far on MSDN, it will not be anything like the consumer's version. Microsoft has finally split professional with enduser.
I installed Win 8 Consumer Preview only to find out new ISN'T better. As others have said, if I want apps, I'll use my phone. My laptops and desktops are for work, better know as production. All I see in Win 8 is a harder way to do that work. It really isn't even aesthetically appealing. In other words, its ugly. Perhaps with a touch screen and an android mentality, Win 8 would be ideal. But for someone that whats to use the PC as a tool to accomplish things, something other than Win 8 would better do the job.
People have grown up, believe it or not.. (and I know this is hard to believe sometimes working in IT support..) But "retail consumers" are becoming smarter, they are less comfortable today more than EVER BEFORE.. being herded. In fact, they are starting to smell control and herding in these platforms and they are not going to go easily into your world and be content to stay there. Remember AOL ? Once consumers had grown up enough to escape the control of AOL's world they left in droves.
The same here... Stop Now! You don't have a viable business model that will substain being able to shape the future. Your shaping the future of with cross device OS platforms will almost be on a par as the "new cocoa cola" was to COKE.
People (believe it or not) have grown up, they want to use programs to do real work and have their own filing systems as well as computer customisation, which means.. a journalist will have his own particular programs installed, same with an architect, a researcher, an IT worker, a hacker, a scientist, a multmedia specialist, etc.. etc.
Have you idiots forgotten that most people use computers to make a living and refine their professions? Your designers have obviously gotten out of uni and never made it in the real world first before being given the opportunity to redesign the tools the real world actually needs and uses.
The same here... Stop Now! You don't have a viable business model that will substain being able to shape the future. Your shaping the future of with cross device OS platforms will almost be on a par as the "new cocoa cola" was to COKE.
People (believe it or not) have grown up, they want to use programs to do real work and have their own filing systems as well as computer customisation, which means.. a journalist will have his own particular programs installed, same with an architect, a researcher, an IT worker, a hacker, a scientist, a multmedia specialist, etc.. etc.
Have you idiots forgotten that most people use computers to make a living and refine their professions? Your designers have obviously gotten out of uni and never made it in the real world first before being given the opportunity to redesign the tools the real world actually needs and uses.
Looks good! We'll be able to leave out desktop etc. and move to tablet or phone with much more ease. On the downside we are now into at least two os systems for the future, Android and Windows. So which tablet will win? Price and the one that stops trying to sell you a tablet and forces you to have your phone account for app downloads! This is by far the marketing error of the century! We have gone mobile phone crazy and only Microsoft seems to be the way out of that jungle.
Well, now there are two lessons to be learned:
The Apple lesson (the most successful company today) with the iPad/IPhone interface + the MacOS interface. that gives just what the user wants: fingers in the iPad/iPhone, mouse in the MacOS.... just a success...
The Microsoft that offers the user a "finger" interface with a keyboard and mouse...???
Obs: I am a UNIX (FreeBSD/Gnome .3) user... since ... forever...
The Apple lesson (the most successful company today) with the iPad/IPhone interface + the MacOS interface. that gives just what the user wants: fingers in the iPad/iPhone, mouse in the MacOS.... just a success...
The Microsoft that offers the user a "finger" interface with a keyboard and mouse...???
Obs: I am a UNIX (FreeBSD/Gnome .3) user... since ... forever...
I'm all for Microsoft learning how to better design their products and attempt to make them more human, but I'm not convinced they quite get it. A lot of software, particularly an operating system, is mostly about function--even though design can be implemented to make it more attractive and hopefully more functional, if not understandable. That said, what's up with the solid color backgrounds of the tiles? Is there any meaning to a particular color or just random happen-chance? Personally, I'd like to see the color of a tile's field to be meaningful, such as: games=blue, utilities=red, productivity=green... whatever, but something. Since each tile's main color takes a significant portion of the screen, I would find it helpful to spot things more quickly if this in-your-face attribute meant something. Right now, the Metro screen appears little more to me than a patchwork quilt. Please give my mind reason to notice the large blotches of color. (And no, it would not be necessary to make the same colors all group together--but would be nice as an option, should someone want to [assuming the colors had meaning.])
These are improvements? I think not...and what's with all the airplane stuff?!?
One small step forward for Microsoft - One giant leap backwards for the rest of us.
This is the reason people will still be using XP in 2020. Vista taught us that it is not always a good idea to upgrade.
The one (only) thing that Microsoft has that can't be copied by the competition is Windows itself, and they're retiring it.
While I have no problem with putting Win8 in devices (as long as the touch-pad can still run "classic" Windows software), it is just plain stupid to make it the default on desktops and laptops. Those "devices" succeeded for a reason. Don???t the current leaders at Microsoft understand that?
This is the reason people will still be using XP in 2020. Vista taught us that it is not always a good idea to upgrade.
The one (only) thing that Microsoft has that can't be copied by the competition is Windows itself, and they're retiring it.
While I have no problem with putting Win8 in devices (as long as the touch-pad can still run "classic" Windows software), it is just plain stupid to make it the default on desktops and laptops. Those "devices" succeeded for a reason. Don???t the current leaders at Microsoft understand that?
Personally I like Vista and Windows 7 better than XP. From a security perspective Vista/W7 are leaps and bounds better than XP. Personally I think Vista got a bad name because Microsoft did something unusual for them. The changed their driver model (that has been causing blue screens for decades) to improve stability. This broke backwards compatibility (has to be done some time) which caused a big ruckus. By the time Window 7 came out most hardware manufacturers were producing compatible hardware and MS rounded off some of the sharp edges to the security model and bam, W7 was perceived as a hit.
Bill
Bill
When the new OS is offered as the only option in buying the latest computers, the frustration that comes at discovering the dropped backwards compatibility of one important software (and the current absence of a supported version) is outstanding.
The extra time and money needed to install an alternate OS (or old version) can make the new features seem worthless. Even if there is a new supported version of the software, most of times you need to purchase the upgrade, or buy the whole version altogether.
The extra time and money needed to install an alternate OS (or old version) can make the new features seem worthless. Even if there is a new supported version of the software, most of times you need to purchase the upgrade, or buy the whole version altogether.
I agree with you, IMHO XP was a Security nightmare, and a JOKE!
Personality I was happy Windows 7 came out, took away a lot of the security issue that XP presented.
Personality I was happy Windows 7 came out, took away a lot of the security issue that XP presented.
Oh how cool, phone-like apps on my PC. Meh.
And fir RDP, obviously you've never seen Remote Desktop Connection Manager. Check it out. Really.
And fir RDP, obviously you've never seen Remote Desktop Connection Manager. Check it out. Really.
I have read the reviews and really cannot understand the fuss one said he does not like his destop littered with squares then switch to desktop view I have also read that there is no start button then use the drop down menus to go in the exployer it is all there just needs exploring, when I first installed and tried Windows out I thought what is this all about but then delving deeper into the OS I really like it by the way I find the weather app fab type in your Post Code and see what the weather is for you with several screens etc
intergration this is just the tip of the Iceberg with Win 8 so my only complaint is there is no support for the Evaluation Copy of Winows 8 maybe if MS incorporated this in the release then people could delve more deeply into the OS
intergration this is just the tip of the Iceberg with Win 8 so my only complaint is there is no support for the Evaluation Copy of Winows 8 maybe if MS incorporated this in the release then people could delve more deeply into the OS
There is too a start button, I have one in the Consumer Preview version. YOU just have to know how to locate it. BUT it is there. *hint* type "Start Button" making sure you have "files" selected, 
The Good (actually liked it on a multi-gesture touch screen tablet)
The Bad (older pen based slate was not a very user friendly option)
The Ugly (Keep this ???thing??? off the desktop/laptop if you want to actually work)
So, for a Fist Full of Dollars, you can have 8
But, for a Few Dollars More (lots more..) you can have it on a tablet where it shines???
The Bad (older pen based slate was not a very user friendly option)
The Ugly (Keep this ???thing??? off the desktop/laptop if you want to actually work)
So, for a Fist Full of Dollars, you can have 8
But, for a Few Dollars More (lots more..) you can have it on a tablet where it shines???
I've used PC's since around 1983. This Windows 8 is by far the most irritating useless programme I've ever come across. To make matters even worse I can't find a way to get rid of it!! I advise all to stay away. When I actually do get rid of it this will be the last time it will see of my machine. I may even go back to using an Apple.
Anyone who has been using PC's since 1983 should know enough to create a Windows Image backup and to install Windows previews on a separate partition! That way, you can delete the entire partition and restore your PC back to exactly the same state it was before you installed the preview.
I am operating W8 Eval 8250 and frankly it's a pain! Now assuming even if everyone switched to touch screens on a PC (which might happen in the future) finding things is not easy. Try simply launching an app is time consuming. I found placing most used apps on the taskbar or desktop helps but then you want to run CMD, CALC or some other app, finding them is a hassle. Also, plan on plent of RAM. I suggest 8 GB as MS loves to hog memory. Otherwise if you performa search for a file on the computer, it will be painfully SLOW!!! I know this is "Eval" not a full release but they need to make MAJOR changes to make this OS useable. I will stick with Ubuntu Linux (and XP when necessary). MS is definitely not going down the right path.
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