official Windows 8 Consumer Preview Discussion

[Wakers]

Why is it hard to turn a computer off?

There's a big button on the front of the thing, that's what it's there for.

[OOOOOOOO]

I loved it. I'm a Mac user and a devout one ... I won't go switching to Windows 8, but I tell ya ... I've been playing with it on my girlfriend's Windows laptop and I think it's beautiful. Sure, it's rough around the edges, but it's really on the right track :) Good luck to them :)

[XerXis]

The "special" partition that Windows create has grown to 350Mb with Win8.... A jump from 100Mb in Win7...

The lack of better integration between Metro and Desktop is jarring. IE10 Metro and Desktop should be able to share the same Favorite, history, cookies. It makes no sense to have to do everything twice.

And I know it's a preview, but darn, all the Metro apps seems to be simple demo, quite unfinished product.

It's not looking good.

they actually do, what confuses people is the fact that ie metro is 64 bit and the ie desktop version is the 32 bit version. That's why they don't share anything I think

[badb0y]

How to launch Immersive Internet Explorer? i mean when i launch it from Taskbar or from metro its the same thing..... is this okay? or is there any other way around to launch immersive?

thanks

[Another Canuck]

How to launch Immersive Internet Explorer? i mean when i launch it from Taskbar or from metro its the same thing..... is this okay? or is there any other way around to launch immersive?

thanks

IE10 needs to be your default browser for the Metro version to launch.

[Anthonyd]

they actually do, what confuses people is the fact that ie metro is 64 bit and the ie desktop version is the 32 bit version. That's why they don't share anything I think

Metro apps are managed, hence it's both 32bits & 64bits, it depends if you have installed the x64 or x86 version.

The desktop is either 32bit OR (not and!) 64bits, and again it depend on which CP you have installed.

[strelok1911]

While installing for the first time?

For how long?

Mine was, the fish, up for about 3-4 minutes before it proceeded

It just stays on the bootscreen. The circle thing is still spinning, but no hdd/usb activity.

[Shaun N.]

Ok, Thats me done. Windows 7 back on this evening.

[~Johnny]

Obviously Microsoft's devs can't really deal with it either because Visual Studio isn't an Immersive app.

And why would it be done it Metro? Are you under the impression that everything now has to be done in Metro? Microsoft have stated that there are times where the desktop is still the obvious and better choice for programs (especially in regards to productivity apps). Desktop apps and Metro apps are both better suited to different things.

The desktop is there for a reason. To be USED. They'll continue supporting and developing applications for the desktop, as well as developing different applications for Metro. Metro is not going out there to replace the entire desktop environment.

[Detection]

And why would it be done it Metro? Are you under the impression that everything now has to be done in Metro? Microsoft have stated that there are times where the desktop is still the obvious and better choice for programs (especially in regards to productivity apps). Desktop apps and Metro apps are both better suited to different things.

The desktop is there for a reason. To be USED. They'll continue supporting and developing applications for the desktop, as well as developing different applications for Metro. Metro is not going out there to replace the entire desktop environment.

Reading something today about resetting Windows 8 using its new reset feature

One of the reset options was to keep files and apps, 'but will not keep legacy explorer apps' or words to that effect, and 'non metro apps will be used for power users mainly anyway'

Not a direct quote, might have been something Paul Thurrott said on twit.tv - but words that implied the desktop and non metro apps will be power user / legacy

[Stoffel]

Should my favorites from IE have moved with me when I installed the CP?

I thought that when using your Live ID that things like favorites and other settings would be saved in the cloud?

Or do you have to set up something special for this?

Also wasn't SkyDrive supposed to be more integrated in explorer? Or is that still coming?

[KevinN206]

The "special" partition that Windows create has grown to 350Mb with Win8.... A jump from 100Mb in Win7...

The lack of better integration between Metro and Desktop is jarring. IE10 Metro and Desktop should be able to share the same Favorite, history, cookies. It makes no sense to have to do everything twice.

And I know it's a preview, but darn, all the Metro apps seems to be simple demo, quite unfinished product.

It's not looking good.

I think Metro apps can't interact with desktop programs because desktop programs are not programmed using WinRT. All of the Metro apps are sandboxed and can only communicate with each other via "contract" API.

[Active.]

They'll continue supporting and developing applications for the desktop, as well as developing different applications for Metro.

Doesn't that mean though that they've basically given up on the goal of providing a consistent user experience (assuming that ever existed)? That's the thing I don't get about the 'no compromise' claim. There's a compromise alright...

[Glen]

I like what Im seeing so far. One issue Im having is it doesn't seem to see my intergrated NVidia video on my HP laptop. So I guess its using a default one. The display looks fine but I cant update drivers so I cant use it through HDMI on my 36 inch tv I use as a monitor. Microsoft Basic Display Adapter is what I see in Device Manager under Display Settings.

I had the same issue on my Asus laptop. Just go to the NVidia web site and get the appropriate GeForce drivers for your integrated card. I have the 9M series, and they had already certified that the Vista/Win7 drivers would work with Windows 8, and they installed fine.

[~Johnny]

Doesn't that mean though that they've basically given up on the goal of providing a consistent user experience (assuming that ever existed)? That's the thing I don't get about the 'no compromise' claim. There's a compromise alright...

No compromise means they're not stuck in a half way house of franken apps - for example, applying Metro techniques to desktop applications. The desktop apps remain the desktop apps, with all their full power and design. Metro apps introduce simpler, more animated Metro apps, consumption focused experiences. They haven't tried to shove desktop applications into Metro, and they haven't tried to shove Metro apps in the desktop. That's what they mean by no compromise.

[Wyn6]

Should my favorites from IE have moved with me when I installed the CP?

I thought that when using your Live ID that things like favorites and other settings would be saved in the cloud?

Or do you have to set up something special for this?

Also wasn't SkyDrive supposed to be more integrated in explorer? Or is that still coming?

On the favorites, I'm not sure if Win 8 brings them along from 7 or not. I do know before 8 you could use Mesh to sync them but mesh isn't part of 8. I exported mine to a file before I installed and then just imported from that file. The Live ID thing only works for 8. It syncs your settings, apps and such across the cloud.

As far as skydrive desktop, that's still coming.

[Stoffel]

On the favorites, I'm not sure if Win 8 brings them along from 7 or not. I do know before 8 you could use Mesh to sync them but mesh isn't part of 8. I exported mine to a file before I installed and then just imported from that file. The Live ID thing only works for 8. It syncs your settings, apps and such across the cloud.

As far as skydrive desktop, that's still coming.

Should have mentioned that I came from Win8 DP

That's why I was hoping that some of my settings would have moved with me

[Active.]

They haven't tried to shove desktop applications into Metro, and they haven't tried to shove Metro apps in the desktop. That's what they mean by no compromise.

They must realize though that the mere fact that, depending on the specific application, you are forced to switch between very different UIs on the same system, amounts to a compromise in user experience. I just think it's a bit disingenuous of them to claim that there is no compromise involved. It's not like it wouldn't be possible to create "simpler, more animated apps, consumption focused experiences" as Desktop apps, which would be more ideally suited to mouse&keyboard input. The reason apps like Mail and Calendar are metrofied and full screen only in Windows 8 (yeah, I know about Metro Snap) is because that makes them usable on a tablet, not because it results in a great experience on the Desktop.

[ArialBlue]

OK, why the hell does one of my computers show Seattle Weather (I don't know how to change this to something useful!!) and the other shows the weather of the city I am actually in?

Any ideas?

EDIT: Uninstalled it because I couldn't find a way to remove Seattle

[King Lizzle]

You wouldn't switch to Metro to use it, you would check it in the preview pane to the left. You still have to open it if you're in desktop mode. Unless, you have it snapped, or you have multiple windows open at once on the desktop. Most people tend to work in one app at a time. They may have two up simultaneously while running many. You can't physically work more than one app simultaneously anyway. For example, I can't do something in Excel while composing an email or writing this reply at the same time. I have to do one, switch to the other, do that, switch back and so on.

If I wanna check Twitter either thru the web or via an app, I have to go somewhere else and click somewhere else. Or... I can have an app snapped to the side be that in Win 7 desktop OR in Win 8 Start Screen.

About apps to be written. Traditional desktop apps can be written in WinRT and work on x86/x64, and ARM with the same functionality. This enables Metro is the design language and philosophy. A dev can opt in to use that design language if they choose. Or, they can opt out and use their own design. Targeting WinRT does not in anyway handicap an app. Using the Metro design language, likewise, does not handicap an app.

I would further explain this but... I don't wanna. ;) Seriously, I hope that clears some stuff up. Probably not. But, one can hope.

I've just tried to play with this to put it to the test. What feels weird is that the left preview menu seems to duplicate taskbar functionality for Metro apps with the desktop being treated as one. If desktop apps also appeared in that menu it wouldn't be a terrible way to navigate between applications. But as it stands if I was in a Metro app I'd have to go to the left preview menu, then select the "desktop app" and then once back in the desktop head down to the taskbar to get those apps up. Again there's an extra step involved. It'd feel logical for all Metro and desktop apps to be in the preview menu or for them all to be on the taskbar in the traditional minimise/maximise format. Either one of those would make switching between desktop and Metro apps seameless and perhaps it wouldn't feel as alien or jarring. To be honest if it was like that I probably wouldn't be as opposed to trying a few Metro apps for certain basic functions like a Facebook or Twitter app.

I don't fully understand all the WinRT and Metro design language stuff but if the jist is that having a separate Metro app doesn't require too much extra work and that devs don't have to choose between either interface then that must be a good thing.

[Calum Veteran]

Ok, Thats me done. Windows 7 back on this evening.

It's been three days. . . . Three :/

[~Johnny]

The reason apps like Mail and Calendar are metrofied and full screen only in Windows 8 (yeah, I know about Metro Snap) is because that makes them usable on a tablet, not because it results in a great experience on the Desktop.

Apps like Mail & Calendar aren't included in Windows 7 - but they do have their desktop equivalents out there already that provide a great desktop experience (and in fact, more feature filled experience right now), namely the Windows Live Essentials suite - which covers a large basis of included Metro apps on the desktop side (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, partly Videos), and Zune & WMP cover the Metro music player.

The great experience on the desktop is already there for you to try out if you want it. There's nothing inherently new in the Metro apps that you can't really get on the desktop already. But saying that, I've also quite enjoyed using most of them as Metro apps too, though I wouldn't use them in their current state for lack of features. People makes a decent Facebook client, and I haven't got much complaints about photos. It's nice to view photos where the only thing there is your actual photo :p

[King Lizzle]

Quick Warning...

Don't even try to install Windows 8 Consumer Preview if you have an additional Sata III controller card, I did, I have the Asus U3S6 card (not a very rare one), it does Sata III and USB 3, Windows 8 install hangs at the progress wheel. This is a common problem on the Microsoft forums. I tried installing by just plugging my Sata III drive onto my onboard Sata II ports. This completed, then I installed the Windows drivers for the controller card, in the belief that I would then be able to plug the drive back into the card and boot with full Sata III speed. Wrong! The exact same hang happens.

So be warned! :)

I've had many failed attempts at upgrading a Win7 install to Win8. My OS drive is a Sata 3 SSD so maybe that's why it also says installation failed.

The "special" partition that Windows create has grown to 350Mb with Win8.... A jump from 100Mb in Win7...

I can only think that it is something to do with the PC Reset and PC Refresh functionality. PC Reset will be a useful alternative to a clean install, but PC Refresh is going to be very limited in its usefulness as it doesn't retain installed desktop apps, only those Metro ones.

[Active.]

The great experience on the desktop is already there for you to try out if you want it. But saying that, I've also quite enjoyed using most of them as Metro apps too

To be honest, in concept I love the original Metro design approach, and think they are theoretically on the right track there, to simplify apps to their essence, reduce distractions and provide a beautiful view onto your data. What I would like to see is Microsoft apply that approach to their Desktop apps. Providing only the Metro full screen experience on the Desktop instead, to me, is an obvious compromise, one they clearly made to gain a foothold in the tablet market. Opening a PDF or an image and being thrown into a full-screen Metro view is seriously weird. I'm not even sure you can open two PDFs or images next to each other. And, yes I know, you can use the (old) photo viewer application or install the Adobe Reader, but shouldn't the goal for Microsoft be to provide a great out of the box experience here?!

[techguy77]

Is it me or does this default green color looks like the one Windows 95 came with? :)