Windows 8 Latest News

[Midas]

Not a fan of the Ribbon interface.

That makes two of us... I absolutely abhor such wasteful use of screen real estate -- might be less noticeable on large/multi-monitor setups, but then I don't run them, I'm mostly on a 1280x800 desktop. I know it can be hidden, but then you get no toolbar, it's an all or nothing situation. Why couldn't it be made optional, like before? Is giving you an option between nothing, toolbar, ribbon that difficult?

Serves to show that such 'solutions' shouldn't be foisted on users against their will...

[SYSTEM]

Bad news...

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/win ... ses-143238

Related to this second point is information I’ve received that Microsoft has been furiously ripping out legacy code in Windows 8 that would have enabled third parties to bring back the Start button, Start Menu, and other software bits that could have made this new OS look and work like its predecessor. In fact, I’ve seen that several well-known UI hacks that worked fine with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview are no longer functional in the coming Release Preview. And those with hopes that Microsoft would allow businesses, at least, to boot directly to the desktop should prepare for disappointment. That feature not only isn’t happening, it’s being removed from Windows Server 12 (Windows 8’s stable mate) as well.

(I wonder who needs Metro on a server?)

[SYSTEM]

Windows 8 Release Preview is now available.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

There is also a new blog post about multi-monitor support improvements.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012 ... itors.aspx

[SYSTEM]

Windows 8 has gone gold.

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bl ... stone.aspx

[Hydaral]

Oh come on, I just got around to installing Win7 on my machine.

What's really surprising about this, is that you can upgrade from WinXP or above to Win 8 for only $40! That is the way to cut down on piracy.

You can do a clean install with the "upgrade" too.

[SYSTEM]

Microsoft has blocked the ability to boot straight to Desktop with a custom shortcut.

http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-said-to- ... 000002219/

Given that only a very tiny minority of users would attempt tricks like that anyway, I wonder if it is really that important to force us to use the "Modern UI"?

----

I think I'll get my copy of Windows 8 RTM next week with DreamSpark Premium. I'll attempt to achieve boot to Desktop by configuring USBDLM to start PStart on startup. (Since PStart is a Desktop application, starting it should automatically switch Windows to the Desktop mode.)

EDIT: I'll have to wait a bit longer.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/uk_faculty_conn ... tones.aspx

In terms of general availability to students via dreamspark.com and ELMS DreamSpark Premium. This will be made available around 25th of August and no later than end of month.

EDIT: I have decided to wait even longer. According to a newer post on that blog, Windows 8 Enterprise will be available to us next week. I'm also waiting for Finnish language pack.

[webfork]

Ghacks has been behind a odd things going on with Win8:

• Can't play DVDs: http://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/11/no-dvd ... ernatives/
  
  I get the removal of a DVD player to avoid license fees for netbooks or devices without an optical drive, but in the default install? This doesn't affect many users here, but keep in mind many users just don't install software unless they are absolutely required to, either due to discomfort with computers or security elements.
• Very weird naming conventions: http://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/11/micros ... rminology/
  
  This in particular cracked me up:
  
  http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-content/upload ... 00x363.png
  
  ... the "and it's entirely authentic" in all caps bit killed me. You cannot say "authentic" in an advertisement. It's like a band where everyone wears the tee shirt of that band while they are playing on stage.

[Andrew Lee]

I fear Windows 8 is going to become the next Vista.

Microsoft has this annoying habit of interleaving good releases with bad

- Win98 => WinMe
- WinXP = > Vista
- Win7 => Win8?

I tried out the preview release and HATED it! Shafting the Metro start screen down users's throats is an incredibly stupid move that will almost certainly backfire on them...

[webfork]

I tried out the preview release and HATED it! Shafting the Metro start screen down users's throats is an incredibly stupid move that will almost certainly backfire on them...

I've read a few articles that indicated the push toward mobile is likely to be a stumbling, clumsy move, but it's too important not to push that direction. But it does put Win8 in the position of being considered essentially disposable.

[SYSTEM]

http://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/24/window ... microsoft/

[webfork]

http://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/24/window ... microsoft/

I'm pleased there's a way to turn that off, as this would violate a lot of security policies. I hope there's a way to wholesale block the reporting site so that you can just setup a hardware firewall to easily and always deny access to that "service".

[webfork]

The "Gawker Network" (which owns both Kotaku and Gizmodo) is drumming up web activity by claiming both sides of an issue:

• Win8 sucks with games http://kotaku.com/5936535/windows-8-is- ... for-gamers
• No it isn't http://gizmodo.com/5937590/youre-being- ... for-gaming

Whatever it really is, I know that gaming is a critical component of the premium and high-end users. If you want to play the latest games with the absolute best graphics, you're doing it on a PC. As this group could shift to Mac (all of which ship now with reasonably good graphics cards) or Linux (Valve is pushing this right now).

[Midas]

... or Linux (Valve is pushing this right now).

Keeping my fingers crossed...

BTW, Mr. Lee sumarized nicely my feelings about 8:

I fear Windows 8 is going to become the next Vista. Microsoft has this annoying habit of interleaving good releases with bad...

[SYSTEM]

Windows 8 has been released.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Pre ... 8GAPR.aspx

(Sent from my Kubuntu.)

[SYSTEM]

I installed Classic Shell. I'm fed up with the lack of Start button.