official Windows 8 Consumer Preview Discussion

[Guest]

Btw, what happens to metro if you're using a dual screen setup with two resolutions?

One is 1680x1050, the other is 1280x1024...

[zhangm Supervisor]

Btw, what happens to metro if you're using a dual screen setup with two resolutions?

One is 1680x1050, the other is 1280x1024...

I'm running at 1680x1050 + 1600x1200. No real surprises as far as behavior.

Edit: Actually, the Desktop preview shot is corrupted if you switch Metro to Screen 2 in my setup. Not sure whether it is related to the differing resolutions.

[Quillz]

I find that the "Automatic" window chrome could use some work. Namely, a lot of the color choices are simply far too bright, completely washing out the white taskbar text. I like the color shifts, but I think they should be a bit more muted.

[WizardCM]

I have one thing to say. Working like this does not bother me:

It just takes a couple moments to get used to. Once you figure out where everything is and how to get to it quickly, it's great. Fun even.

Btw, what happens to metro if you're using a dual screen setup with two resolutions?

One is 1680x1050, the other is 1280x1024...

You can look at my screenshot. I've noticed that only one screen (the main one) can be Metro. The other is simply normal.

[Calum Veteran]

Perhaps you should change profession :)

[. . .]

Why? I don't require such a dreadful method of multitasking in my profession (I'm a software developer and designer).

[King Lizzle]

I do not think we need to pin items in Desktop Taskbar now if we are using the Start Screen. What you guys think?

It depends whether you want to have to leave the desktop environment to open apps. I personally would be pinning more items to the taskbar than I currently do in Windows 7. For one clicking an icon in the taskbar is easier then jumping to the Metro screen to do it, and secondly I make use of jump lists a lot to access recent files or activities within an application. Currently I have lots of apps pinned to the Start Menu and and can use the jump lists in there, but in the Windows 8 Start Screen there is no concept of jump lists. The only way to retain jump list functionality in Windows 8 is to pin to the taskbar all those things I previously had pinned to the Start Menu in Windows 7. For me it is more efficient and productive to work that way.

[Active.]

I don't require such a dreadful method of multitasking in my profession

What exactly is so dreadful about the Desktop metaphor? I like the fact that it helps me keep all of the context to my work available and visible at once. Just like in real life, where the top of my desk starts to look very chaotic once I have been working for a while. A bit like this: ;)

[Stoffel]

What exactly is so dreadful about the Desktop metaphor? I like the fact that it helps me keep all of the context to my work available and visible at once. Just like in real life, where the top of my desk starts to look very chaotic once I have been working for a while. A bit like this: ;)

And guess what, that guy has no more that 2 windows open per screen :)

[Active.]

And guess what, that guy has no more that 2 windows open per screen :)

Yeah, I probably should have picked a better picture for supporting my point. :laugh: By the way, that's the guy that 'invented the internet' ;)

[Stoffel]

Anybody noticed CP is using less memory then the DP

On startup in DP my PC used about 29%

On startup in CP it's only 24%

IE10 still starts using a lot or memory after being open for about half a day with 8 or so tabs, but it's much better then in the DP

For me the lag in typing in IE, mainly a problem in Facebook, is also gone

[Muhammad Farrukh]

All of these ^^ and more are gone in CP.

I had similar issues in DP, but all of them are now gone

[cpl183]

as soon as i install the windows updates, all metro apps like ie, calender, mail etc. stop working. a fresh install is the only thing that gets it working again.for now i'm back to 7, maybe i'll try it in a few weeks again.

[Calum Veteran]

What exactly is so dreadful about the Desktop metaphor? I like the fact that it helps me keep all of the context to my work available and visible at once. Just like in real life, where the top of my desk starts to look very chaotic once I have been working for a while. A bit like this: ;)

I think you've just proven my point as to why it's dreadful ;) Trying to find the window one wants and then ensuring the pointer clicks on the correct title bar in order to bring the Window into focus contributes to a cumbersome method of multitasking. Merely pressing a keyboard shortcut to bring the desired window into focus is not cumbersome and, in my opinion, is a better way of working :) Trying to find the piece of paper you desire on that desk top would be a nightmare; however, if it was neatly filed away in a location you're aware of, you'll be able to access it quicker and more easily.

And guess what, that guy has no more that 2 windows open per screen :)

Hahah! I was about to point that out :p

[Active.]

I think you've just proven my point as to why it's dreadful ;)

It's called organized chaos. :rofl:

[Zac Bowden]

It would be great if Microsoft would implement a feature that allows you to use Metro apps on more than just the main monitor.

[Muhammad Farrukh]

BitComet was working perfectly fine, but strangely, just about 5 or so minutes ago, it stopped responding.

Restarted it, and it stopped responding

Restarted it again, and it stopped responding again.

:s

[TheLegendOfMart]

Why? I don't require such a dreadful method of multitasking in my profession (I'm a software developer and designer).

People more professional than you have managed fine for over 15 years, having Metro make it so you can only have 2 things on a screen at once doesnt magically make it better. If anything it makes it worse having to keep switching apps because they can only load fullscreen.

Personally I have IRC, Winamp and/or MPC-HC, Firefox, IE Tester/Adobe Browserlab , Photoshop and Notepad++ open all at the same time and I dont have any multitasking problems on 23" monitor.

[Muhammad Farrukh]

And what makes you think that these more professional people will have a problem with Metro?

If anything, it makes it easier to do things in Metro

[TheLegendOfMart]

And what makes you think that these more professional people will have a problem with Metro?

If anything, it makes it easier to do things in Metro

Because its backward, going back to only being able to run 2 apps on screen at once is ridiculous. Id have to run 3 or 4 monitors to do the same things im doing now with 1 monitor assuming all the apps went metro only.

[Active.]

Is there even any Metro app out there right now that shows what the workflow to comparing and working on documents of the same kind is supposed to be? Would someone mind posting a screenshot? And even if you just need to keep one document visible as a reference, while doing something else, how is Metro Snap in any way an improvement, when the document area is non-resizable, can't overlap with whatever else you're doing and can only be positioned at the left or right.

[Stoffel]

Because its backward, going back to only being able to run 2 apps on screen at once is ridiculous. Id have to run 3 or 4 monitors to do the same things im doing now with 1 monitor assuming all the apps went metro only.

But not everything is going Metro.

MS has stated they do not want to get rid of the Desktop.

For what you do, you can still use the desktop and have more than 2 apps open at the same time

So everything you used to do you still can now

[Muhammad Farrukh]

BitComet was working perfectly fine, but strangely, just about 5 or so minutes ago, it stopped responding.

Restarted it, and it stopped responding

Restarted it again, and it stopped responding again.

:s

Never mind.

Had to restart the PC.

Working now

Because its backward, going back to only being able to run 2 apps on screen at once is ridiculous. Id have to run 3 or 4 monitors to do the same things im doing now with 1 monitor assuming all the apps went metro only.

Tell me any one thing that you can do in 7 and can't do in 8.

The desktop is here.

Metro is just an option.

[Taliseian]

IMHO, I think the interface is a step backward for desktops. It looks like it would work great on touch screens like smartphones, but for the desktop it feels clunky to me and this is after several hours of working with it and trying to learn to use it.

If this is the new desktop, I think in offices and a lot of homes Windows 8 will be the new Windows ME...

T

[Active.]

not everything is going Metro.

MS has stated they do not want to get rid of the Desktop.

So why have Metro at all on the Desktop? This is just going to be confusing for customers and make for an inconsistent user experience. It's great that MS wants to make computing easier, but why not include Desktop apps so that they have a clean design and offer a reduced set of functions?!

[Muhammad Farrukh]

So why have Metro at all on the Desktop? This is just going to be confusing for customers and make for an inconsistent user experience. It's great that MS wants to make computing easier, but why not include Desktop apps so that they have a clean design and offer a reduced set of functions?!

*sigh*

I still don't get this confusion thing.