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Microsoft

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

By Mark W. Kaelin February 29, 2012, 4:18 AM PST

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Windows-8-logo-300x300.jpg
Windows-8-logo-300x300.jpg
First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Keep it simple

Keep it simple

ntThe Windows 8 Consumer Preview is now available to everyone and can be downloaded directly from Microsoft.

n

ntnn

n

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Start from scratch or keep personal files

Start from scratch or keep personal files

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Took about an hour (your mileage may vary)

Took about an hour (your mileage may vary)

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

First set of tiles

First set of tiles

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Second set of tiles

Second set of tiles

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Yes there is a desktop

Yes there is a desktop

ntI know there has been much discussion about the traditional Windows Desktop – here it is in all its glory. It is just a clck away right now and I’m sure at some point we will find a way to eliminate that click. So, don’t despair.

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ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

The Store

The Store

ntThere are a number of apps in the Store already with more to come before the final Windows 8 is released.

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ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Simple app install - mobile device model

Simple app install - mobile device model

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Lots of free apps

Lots of free apps

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Google mail

Google mail

ntI was able to connect to my Gmail account with just a few clicks – I was actually surprised by how simple it turned out to be.

n

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

You are here

You are here

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Right click to get options

Right click to get options

ntWe are loading Windows 8 on a tablet, so we will soon learn what contstitutes a right-click in the touch interface.

n

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

My Google calendar

My Google calendar

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Chat

Chat

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Bing is ready for Metro

Bing is ready for Metro

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

A nice weather app

A nice weather app

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Solitare is here of course

Solitare is here of course

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Music requires an agreement

Music requires an agreement

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

And an XBox Live account even though I have not XBox

And an XBox Live account even though I have not XBox

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Not quite iTunes

Not quite iTunes

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Stock market tracking basics

Stock market tracking basics

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

The video app also requires an XBox Live account

The video app also requires an XBox Live account

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Better with XBox Live

Better with XBox Live

ntAgain, XBox Live plays an important part in thw way Windows 8 and the video app work. If you have XBox Live you can play the videos that come with your account on any device running Windows 8 and tied to that account. Instant ecosystem.

n

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Time to buy an XBox 360?

Time to buy an XBox 360?

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Change your mindset

Change your mindset

ntFor me, and I suspect others, the idea of apps running, or at least stubs running, in the background is going to require a change of thinking while on the desktop. Will these apps slow down gaming? Do I have to clear them out before running Skyrim for example? I’ll be testing this.

n

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Default apps

Default apps

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Hot spots

Hot spots

ntAnother new feature us old-timers will have to adjust to is the hotspot. To get a menu of settings including the off button, you have to move your mouse over to the bottom right corner.

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ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Setting choices

Setting choices

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Turn on the administration apps

Turn on the administration apps

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Wow - there's a lot to admin

Wow - there's a lot to admin

ntThe administration set of tiles is not someting most of us are going to keep on display, but if you have to do some administration tasks it is nice to have all the apps available.

n

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

CSSShapesRegions_FigD_112213.gif
CSSShapesRegions_FigD_112213.gif
First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Under the hood

Under the hood

ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Search configuration

Search configuration

ntAnother privacy area – saved searches.

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ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

A fresh restart is possible

A fresh restart is possible

ntYour PC will be easier to reset now.

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ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

The left hotspot

The left hotspot

ntThe left hand hotspot presents easy access to certain apps. The bottom left corner will give you an chance to return to the Metro Interface.

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ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview simple and slick

Desktop search

Desktop search

ntYou can search for apps, files, or settings

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ntImages by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

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By Mark W. Kaelin
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, software, hardware, gaming, finance, accounting, and technology geekdom for more than 30 years.
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