Windows 8, enough after about 2 hours

[migo]

Absolute nonsense. Program and Explorer notifications steal the focus when the Taskbar is not hidden. It is by design. Even if it is an annoyance, it is minute. Say you plug in a USB drive or camera, Explorer, will steal the focus with its prompt of what to do with the device, as it should. This is a desparate attempt, I give you that.

You couldn't be more wrong, focus stealing is the worst UI design you could ever have. That's why Firefox Greys out the install button for add ons - so you don't accidentally install something when the window unexpectedly comes up. If a window or notification, or even the taskbar steals focus where you're clicking the mouse cursor or while you're typing you can end up doing something you never intended to do, which can be annoying all the way up to disastrous.

The best notification system so far is that used by the playbook, where it does a red glow in the corner, letting you know there's something to deal with while letting you keep doing whatever you're doing.

One final note, anyone who actually has a Windows Phone knows MS still hasn't figured out how to elegantly manage Metro when there are lots of tiles or long lists. On the phone, they index them with the alphabet. I wouldn't be surprised to see this show up on the Start Page. What a mess.

If they implement folders, this will break the smooth metro flow. This should be fun to watch.

Only partially right. If you have a long list that hasn't had the letters show up yet scrolling is a pain, but once you get the letter shortcuts it's very easy to get to the program you want without having to worry about re-arranging them each time you install a new app.

Come on, the longlistselector (what you call the alphabet index) is one of the best feature of WP :)

The home screen in Windows 8 is the equivalent of the home page on Windows Phone, there are just pinned apps here.

Then you have the "all apps" list (on the app bar on Windows 8, slide to the right on WP) where you have the index. And guess what? There an equivalent of the longlistselector already on the "all apps" page of the start screen in Windows 8 CP.

This will be fine once it only behaves that way. If it automatically added desktop icons instead of start menu icons things would be a lot cleaner.

[PGHammer]

Great point. It's ridiculous to say 8 is more "stable" than rock solid 7SP1. The Metro Apps are all preview and buggy, we won't know how stable it's going to be until there are more Metro Apps, that are actually heavily used. However, it may, should, and appears to me to be more optimized and definitely has some more under the hood features.

Actually 7SP1 stability is the best excuse for burying the shutdown controls, when's the last time you "had" to shutdown windows 7? When you installed a driver update and received a restart prompt maybe?

I have a BSOD that occurs far more frequently in Windows 7 + SP1 than in the Consumer Preview (the cause of this particular BSOD is, in fact, known - it is a PSU-related issue that causes error 124 under high load).

Why does the issue (and the BSOD) occur far less often in the Consumer Preview than in 7+SP1, despite that I actually push the Consumer Preview harder than I ever did 7+SP1?

Could it be the lower RAM usage, and decreased load on the CPU?

The Metro apps are *going* to be buggy - they are in a far-less developed state than the rest of the operating system. (That is, in fact, a given.) That is exactly why my own personal focus as a user/tester of the Consumer Preview is on traditional applications and games - especially the same applications and games I ran on Windows 7+SP1. It's also where, traditionally, beta versions of Windows have issues.

Despite the radically different UI paradigm, the Consumer Preview is *far* better in the backward-compatibility department than not only the beta of Windows 7, but the RTM of Windows 7 or even 7 + SP1.

The complaints - even from the detractors - aren't about the backward compatibility (which has been typically the case with beta versions of Windows -they were even the case with the public beta of Windows 7).

[sullysnet]

Why would I want huge tiles and a touch interface on my desktop?

Cause Microsoft said so :rofl:

[Anthonyd]

Cause Microsoft said so :rofl:

No it's because live tile are showing infos, they aren't dumb icons.

Just think sometimes.

[ACTIONpack]

I only use Windows 8 for a few days but then when back to 7 because of the layout. I was not really a big fan of it because of the Metro design, no start menu and video support for my xbox 360 media center. I understand why Microsoft is doing the Metro design because it will match all platefrom from Windows Phone to ARM tablet. The problem I see Microsoft did was to start with the Windows Phone 7 design and try to match it to tablets and desktops computers. Which is the opposite of what Apple did. They look at the desktop OS and then try to design the look and feel to a phone and then a tablet. The reason they did a better job was that the desktop design in almost 30 years old and working it to a phone will make the switch or working between the 2 easier.

[Dick Montage]

1) "What Microsoft went wrong with Windows 8!" - that sentence makes no sence!

2) This REALLY warrants another "Win8 - I hate metro" thread?

[firey]

1) "What Microsoft went wrong with Windows 8!" - that sentence makes no sence!

2) This REALLY warrants another "Win8 - I hate metro" thread?

1) I agree, should be "Where"

2) Don't have to come in here and read it. There ARE people who do indeed Hate metro. For me I like coming into the different Windows H8 threads and read other peoples opinions. I got bashed for the way I felt about Windows 8, yet every H8 thread I go into people feel the exact same way as me, it's kinda nice actually.

[ACTIONpack]

No, I don't hate the Metro design. I have a Windows Phone 7 phone but the Metro design was use for small devices not big desktop screens.

[thommcg]

1) "What Microsoft went wrong with Windows 8!" - that sentence makes no sence!

[Growled Member]

I haven't tried Windows 8 and don't know if I will before it is released. I don't care for testing betas anymore. That said, for people who hate Windows 8, don't use it. Windows 7 will be good for years to come. You could also buy a MBA and run OS X or even install a version of Linux on your current computer. There are plenty of choices.

[-=Outlaw=-]

y u no spell good?

[.Neo]

1) "What Microsoft went wrong with Windows 8!" - that sentence makes no sence!

If you're going to critique someone at least do things right yourself.

[cropcircles]

No, I don't hate the Metro design. I have a Windows Phone 7 phone but the Metro design was use for small devices not big desktop screens.

I have a 27" monitor and after W8 boots up and I go full screen (VMPlayer) There does seem to be allot of open space. I would guess that is too add more program/service boxes. It would of made more sense to me to boot to the desktop first and then have the Metro option off to the side like its set up. Either way its not a big deal.

...Can you guys get off the anal spell check patty wagon. You know what he meant.

[.Neo]

Which is the opposite of what Apple did. They look at the desktop OS and then try to design the look and feel to a phone and then a tablet.

The iOS and OS X interfaces are worlds apart, even more so back in 2007, so not sure where you got that idea from. Visually OS X Tiger and iOS shared virtually no similarities.

I have a 27" monitor and after W8 boots up and I go full screen (VMPlayer) There does seem to be allot of open space.

I don't ever use OS X Lion's full-screen feature on my 27-inch iMac. It just serves no real practical purpose on a screen that big the obvious exceptions being movies, games etc. Screen estate is being wasted away like you say like crazy. Windows 8 is no exception.

[goofyinthehead]

again..wtf do you need a start button for?

[Rohdekill]

1) "What Microsoft went wrong with Windows 8!" - that sentence makes no sence!

that sentence makes no SENSE either!

[jakem1]

...would of...

would have

...Can you guys get off the anal spell check patty wagon. You know what he meant.

What's a patty wagon?

[kInG aLeXo]

What makes me really surprised is that Microsoft seems to be completely ignoring the universally-negative feedback. Hell, one of their guys even said they would include a tutorial for using it ! TUTORIAL for consumer software in the 21st century ?!!!!!

[Eric Veteran]

[Threads merged]

Please try to find a similar thread instead of creating a new one with another's topic.

[Dot Matrix]

What makes me really surprised is that Microsoft seems to be completely ignoring the universally-negative feedback. Hell, one of their guys even said they would include a tutorial for using it ! TUTORIAL for consumer software in the 21st century ?!!!!!

They're not ignoring it. But, they're not removing Metro from Windows if that's what you mean. Again, the desktop is changing, it's time we had an OS that is able to change with it.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Windows 8 is like in some cultures were they want to have a boy but had a girl instead, then just kill the girl and try again for A boy. Point being they had a girl (windows 7 ) but really wanted a boy (touch interface w8) so they are going to murder the already good thing they had going for them in favor of something else.

[HawkMan]

Try to actually use it and not just hate it and decide its bad and, looking for things to hate. Open your mind and you'll see that even on a non touch interface metro is better and faster than the old start menu.

[Anthonyd]

Windows 8 is like in some cultures were they want to have a boy but had a girl instead, then just kill the girl and try again for A boy. Point being they had a girl (windows 7 ) but really wanted a boy (touch interface w8) so they are going to murder the already good thing they had going for them in favor of something else.

You are plain wrong.

The future is about touch, everybody will use it, even on desktop. It's like when the mouse first appeared, people habit changed. Now you are complaining about a touch UI being adapted for mouse&keyboard, but you can still use the legacy desktop and the new touch interface.

[neo1911]

Windows 8 is like in some cultures were they want to have a boy but had a girl instead, then just kill the girl and try again for A boy. Point being they had a girl (windows 7 ) but really wanted a boy (touch interface w8) so they are going to murder the already good thing they had going for them in favor of something else.

WTF? That made some SENCE!

I can ignore Metro and all the unfinished apps that come with it. But who is going to fix my dual screen and finding the hot corner issue? I feel so stressed when my mouse pointer goes over to next screen!

I guess not many people use dual monitors. Heck, even Microsoft doesn't seem to test their GUI failure on this one.

Overall, it's not a tidy experience. Been using Windows CP since its release and I still cannot like it.

Some plus points of Desktop mode:

1. Nice shiny file copy UI

2. Good task manager. But I find it annoying after a while.

3. System reset option

4. Right Click Power menu in lower left corner

5. Feels ever so slight fast than Windows 8. (esp. UAC prompts appear fast with shortest blink)

Negatives of desktop mode:

1. Shutting down needs getting used to. (I hate keyboard shortcuts)

2. Random stuff is hidden deep for no reason. (Eg. System image creation wizard. It took me forever to find it)

3. Hot Corner issue (Already beaten to death by me)

4. Annoying Metro apps take file opening defaults in desktop. (It prompts me to use another program but it is still annoying)

5. After wake up from sleep, why do I have to slide a beautiful picture up with a mouse just for the sake of it? (not digging it)

Bugs/Glitches of Desktop mode:

1. Some GUI glitches (explorer has black frames) This should be fixed soon

2. Copying files from (NAS) network drive to C: (root directory, Windows or Program Files directory) fails. But I can copy same files to Documents or Desktop without any problem.

3. Firefox needs hardware acceleration disabled otherwise it has GUI glitches.

4. Office 2010 has GUI glitches

I don't want to add any pluses or minuses of that turd called Metro

[+Warwagon MVC]

You are plain wrong.

The future is about touch, everybody will use it, even on desktop. It's like when the mouse first appeared, people habit changed. Now you are complaining about a touch UI being adapted for mouse&keyboard, but you can still use the legacy desktop and the new touch interface.

No you are wrong. People will not use touch on a desktop. They will not extend their arm out and tofu the screen. Won't happen. They will apparently use a touch interface on the desktop but they won't be touching the screen, on anything other than an x86 tablet.