Windows 8 Consumer Preview Coming Full Circle

[Chiefster]

Coming Full Circle

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Recently I have had opportunity to install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on a couple of laptops and the following are my initial observations. Superficially at first glance it’s clear that there is an initial learning curve from that of Windows 7, however, after just a few minutes of use its simplicity and familiarity becomes clear. On the surface Windows 8 actually puts me in mind of Windows in its early years. Think back to 1990 when Windows 3.0 first came on the scene; it was revolutionary in its concept of a perceived graphical user interface (GUI). It took us from computers that executed programs in GW Basic or Windows DOS prompt with line commands to a “GUI” that really was nothing more than a fancy kernel that improved upon a crude, simple concept developed by graphic engineers at the Xerox Corporation, enhanced the graphics, added color and Windows was born. It introduced the user interface which employed the use of a cursor controlled by a peripheral known today as the mouse. After booting up your PC all you had to do to execute your programs is point and click. This is Windows in a nutshell and hasn’t changed a great deal with the exception of ever improving graphics, color and security. Since then the concept has undergone a number of revisions from Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7 and now in 2012 enter Windows 8 where like Windows 3.0 what loads into memory is not the desktop but the initial start menu that covers the entire monitor screen among the items located within the start menu is your desktop. You simply point and click.

[Chiefster]

Well of course you are! You had a sharp pencil while taking notes!

It was an Eversharp.

[Guru]

I "upgraded" to 8 a few weeks back and immediately went back to 7. Hated it. My laptop is only 3 months old and 8 just dragged it down. I had nothing but problems with it.

I will wait for 9.

Oh, and Metro was HORRIBLE.

[N TX Dave]

I upgraded to 8 last night and it is okay but I have my desktop up all the time so it looks just like 7 and I found a start shell to run so I could find all my programs easily. It did not seem to slow my 4 year old computer down but it has been fast since I built it, in fact this has been the longest a computer has ever lasted me and I run all the newest games on it.

If you want 8 you better get it before Feb 1, 2013 because it is going up from $39.95 to $199.95 then.

[Chiefster]

I "upgraded" to 8 a few weeks back and immediately went back to 7. Hated it. My laptop is only 3 months old and 8 just dragged it down. I had nothing but problems with it.

I will wait for 9.

Oh, and Metro was HORRIBLE.

Yeah, that's weird man, it has not at slowed my PC at all. Sometimes after an upgrade it's necessary to run a defrag.

I upgraded to 8 last night and it is okay but I have my desktop up all the time so it looks just like 7 and I found a start shell to run so I could find all my programs easily. It did not seem to slow my 4 year old computer down but it has been fast since I built it, in fact this has been the longest a computer has ever lasted me and I run all the newest games on it.

If you want 8 you better get it before Feb 1, 2013 because it is going up from $39.95 to $199.95 then.

Yeah, my desktop looks exactly like 7 also. I like the new start menu apps though.

[Chiefster]

I, too, installed a start menu shell and I like it because it gives me a sense of familiarity, but the new tiled start menu can also be used. Point your mouse in one of the right hand corners which brings up the option to use the new start menu.

[N TX Dave]

I, too, installed a start menu shell and I like it because it gives me a sense of familiarity, but the new tiled start menu can also be used. Point your mouse in one of the right hand corners which brings up the option to use the new start menu.

Yes but some of my programs are not on my start screen like iTunes, Firefox, avast, magic DVD and many others that I could not find a way to get to hence the start shell.

[Chiefster]

Yes but some of my programs are not on my start screen like iTunes, Firefox, avast, magic DVD and many others that I could not find a way to get to hence the start shell.

Yup, you could get to your other programs using the new start menu but you have to run a search, the start shell is much easier.

[Coach]

How does everyone like Windows 8 so far?

[Chiefster]

How does everyone like Windows 8 so far?

I love W8 actually, and the more I use it and learn what the features do the more I like it.

[Guru]

still hate it.