Discussion on:

Windows 8 early adopters beware

Appreciate the information. I think we are either going to be very late adopters, or we'll only deploy on tab-tops. Depends on whether our CIO shares our sentiments regarding Win8 on the desktop.

corporate organisations maintain the same server version as the desktop operating system. Heck, I know of places where they're using Win 2000 Advanced Server still, regardless of what's on the desktops. In light of all that, how well does the Win 8 work with the older versions of the Windows Server, and how well does the new Windows Server work with the older desktops?

Two questions that will be of concern to a lot of people.

Related to that are the concerns about how well will Win 8 run software designed for Win XP and Win 7?

This is an excellent observation. I have heard some reports of Group Policy issues from other versions of Windows Server not necessarily being applied correctly to WIndows 8. Given the scope of the changes in Windows 8, this isn't particularly surprising.

I'm going to do some research on this topic. It's definitely something that needs to be considered.

That said, I have had the chance to work with WIndows Server 2012 and if anyone is considering upgrading, just do it. WS2012 is rock solid.

Scott

if you are letting Windows 8 on your lan now it will be uncontrolled. While Win 8 is aimed squarely at the regular computer user and not at the power users it will only be a few power users and developers who will be allowed to use it at work for now.

For the most part I agree, but with the latest BYOD craze, we're going to see more and more Win8 tablets and laptops showing up at work. It's been bad enough trying to get 'Droid and Apple machines connected to the guest network and VPN installed on these things. I can't imagine trying to get some of the corporate applications to run as well.

Perhaps I am lucky where I work because most applications are web and cloud based, so if the application doesn't run, it doesn't run and I don't have to support it. I pass the buck on to GIT support and the helpless desk and let the users fend for themselves.

I see BYOD as the biggest potential way that W8 (especially W8 RT) makes its way into the enterprise.

Scott

simply because it can not log on to the domain, and one of the reasons for BYOD is to be able to access the enterprise network. I can see some organisations going for Win 8 RT specifically because they see a need for some tablets as stand alone devices they don't want to have access to the domain, but they'd be very rare cases.

Not sure why you're being voted down because you're making a valid point. The RT version of Win8 isn't really Windows. It's heavily watered down at best. Anyone trying to use Win8 RT device for BYOD will be limited to web apps and probably only a subset of those.

fog and shadows without sustenance to guide the unwary through the maze of bleeding edge horror awaiting an unsuspecting business.

HDMI compatibility is still not resolved. I tried to connect my laptop (running Windows 8) with Sony Internet TV with HDMI cable, without success.

Been setting up GPOs lately for Windows 8, there are serious issues there, for example the homepage URL is no longer where it used to be, it's now a preference, not a policy setting.

Removing the packaged apps is a PITA, you either have to edit the WIM using DISM or run a script to remove them for each logged on user, there is no GPO nor can you remove them from the default policy (as far as I can tell), that appears to be by design.

Some IE10 settings are hidden, such as content filter, that is also controlled by a preference, not a policy.

And so on. Took me ages to figure it all out.

LOL, sorry but I have to laugh at this very notion. When has the enterprise ever been early adopters? On the server side maybe but as far as the clients, NO. The vast majority of enterprises are just finishing or still in the process of Windows 7 rollouts. So will Windows 8 be seen in the enterprise. Not anytime soon. Just like any OS upgrade.

"The IE that we know and love." I HATE IE and I'm not alone. It might be secure now, but I refuse to give it another chance. I only use it when forced, and that is happening less and less these days.

In our organization, we are almost fully switched to Windows 7 x64 and Windows 2008 R2 and are very happy with the performance and compatibility in most cases. Before switching, I generally wait to ensure the hardware and software we use will be fully supported. If there was a free tool you could run on your system to do a simulated install - telling you what potential missing drivers you would need and performance you are likely to get, I think I would feel more comfortable switching. At home I run OSX, they tell right out if your system isn't going to support the new version or not - since the Windows world is so much more diversified, I think they need a tool to do an assessment of your system.

Who every came up with this "me too" tablet OS needs to be introduced to the present day bread lines. The only thing the Surface is good for is a coaster. Get the real thing, buy Apple.

Microsoft Deployment Tooklit 2012 Update 1 [which has been out for a while] states Windows 8 is supported and doesn't mention beta or release candidate in the release notes.

Most organizations are first to note that servers get upgraded before desktops and laptops.

System Center 2012 SP1 is in beta and is expected to be available early next year.

All this saying that most organization wouldn't even think of deploying Windows 8 for a long while anyways. I know of one that wiped Windows 7 off the laptops purchased and installed Windows XP. Only now they are almost finishing off their Windows 7 deployment.

I have a DYI pc. Upon installation of Win 7 I always ahve to find my mobo install disk for the Ethernet drivers. It really is rather annoying.
Win 8 comes with the needed driver for my Ethernet card, so I was mildly impressed with that.