Windows 8 - 10/26/2012!

[Isgrimnur]

oh, and no more donuts.

Yaaaay! [/kermit]

[CeeKay]

keynote video from today: http://www.buildwindows.com/ , plu major Nelson on bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8.  dare we say goodnight to Games for Windows Live?

[ibdoomed]

keynote video from today: http://www.buildwindows.com/ , plu major Nelson on bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8.  dare we say goodnight to Games for Windows Live?

If only it was in time for B:AC.

[Blackjack]

keynote video from today: http://www.buildwindows.com/ , plu major Nelson on bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8.  dare we say goodnight to Games for Windows Live?

I don't understand what the point of bringing XBox Live to Windows is when so few multiplatform games are cross--platform compatible. i.e., afik, I can't play Space Marine MP with the console folks here. I always thought that was "the dream" (that we could all play together regardless of platform we chose) but with a few rare exceptions, it's not happening.

I'm not trying to be a smart aleck or a "console-hater," I just don't see the benefit (of XBox Live on PC) to me, Mr. PC Gamer. Hopefully someone can enlighten me.   I'm content at this point to just see more "Steam-native" games, and companies like Relic specifically moving away from GFWL.

[TiLT]

I always thought that was "the dream" (that we could all play together regardless of platform we chose) but with a few rare exceptions, it's not happening.

Blame Microsoft and Xbox Live. If it wasn't for their absolute requirement (except for EA, who threatened to take their ball and go home) that all multiplayer games on Xbox must run on Live servers, we'd probably see a lot more support for playing multiplayer between platforms. This is why Portal 2-players on PC and PS3 can play cross-platform MP while 360 players cannot. This from a company that officially hated the PS3 early on.

The more I've learned about Microsoft's business practices with the 360, the more annoyed at them I become. If it wasn't for stuff like Windows 7 and Visual Studio, I'd probably be an all-out Microsoft hater. As it is, I just severely dislike the way they attempt to control the market and in turn hurt the consumers.

[Victoria Raverna]

keynote video from today: http://www.buildwindows.com/ , plu major Nelson on bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8.  dare we say goodnight to Games for Windows Live?

Does that mean Microsoft now want people to pay for XBOX Live Gold Membership to play newer multiplayer PC games?

[ibdoomed]

Anyone had success with the Dev preview? I've tried 3 machines (one a VMware esxi machine) and it powers all of them off after a few seconds on this screen:

[rittchard]

Anyone had success with the Dev preview? I've tried 3 machines (one a VMware esxi machine) and it powers all of them off after a few seconds

I believe that's MS's new power saving feature 

[CeeKay]

possibly public beta in February: http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2011/12/01/the-public-windows-8-beta-will-be-released-in-late-february/

[CeeKay]

consumer preview is due out February 29th:

http://betanews.com/2012/02/08/windows-8-consumer-preview-can-be-yours-february-29/

[Misguided]

So, I'm going to be building a new machine shortly. Should I buy Windows 7?

[TiLT]

So, I'm going to be building a new machine shortly. Should I buy Windows 7?

What else would you buy? Vista? XP?

Windows 7 is the only decent choice today.

[Misguided]

Got the 64-bit OEM for 90 bucks at NewEgg yesterday.

[Purge]

New logo confirmed. The colour changes with your metro color selection:

[Isgrimnur]

...whee...

[Purge]

At least it doesn't look like a flag anymore.

For the first time in ages, the name "Windows" actually makes sense.

[CeeKay]

the disappearance of the Start button. 

Though Microsoft may yet have some trick up its sleeve, there's a growing body of evidence from leaked screenshots that Windows 8's taskbar will omit one mainstay of the Windows user interface: the Start button. To get to the Start menu's replacement (the "Start screen") from the desktop, you can press the Windows key on your keyboard, hit the hardware Windows key if your tablet has one, swipe your touch-screen from the side, or, if you have a mouse, move it to the bottom-left corner or right-hand edge. What you won't be able to do is actually click or tap a permanently-visible Start button on the taskbar.

I have my Windows key disabled 

[Purge]

No worries - CTRL-ESC is the "windows" key.

[CeeKay]

No worries - CTRL-ESC is the "windows" key.

well crap, never new that.  thanks Purge!

of course I just realized this switch on the G110 apparently is what disables that key too, not that the icon on it seems to hint at it:

[Misguided]

Here I am, having just installed 7 for the first time, and 8 is due any minute...

[Purge]

I thought I warned you about that...

[Misguided]

Well I asked if I should buy 7 and no one told me to wait. I've been using XP, lol.

[CeeKay]

so, the preview is supposed to be out today, with a 3 gig or so download.  anyone taking the plunge?

[Caine]

If I had the hard drive space I would consider rigging up a dual boot option.  I'll just stick to using it at work.

[Purge]

(as soon as possible)

It apparently is expected to drop at 3PM ... Barcelona time. (8AM Central)

[Isgrimnur]

I just got my first home rig with Windows 7.  Y'all have fun.

[Purge]

.... and we have info up on the front page...

There is a download link available as well.

The official site:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview?ocid=O_WOL_W8P_OandO_Other_EN-US

[Misguided]

I just got my first home rig with Windows 7.  Y'all have fun.

You too? LOL!

[Caine]

Don't forget to hit up the app store.  Everything on there is free during the consumer preview.  I haven't spent much tinge with the store yet, but from what I saw before, there are a good number out there that are worth looking into.

[Caine]

Here is a good preview and is representative of my experience so far.
 link

[Isgrimnur]

I just got my first home rig with Windows 7.  Y'all have fun.

You too? LOL!

Yup.  My last build was over 5 years ago, and was on XP.  I was gifted a system by a more fortunate friend of a friend that had Vista on it and a password-protected Windows 7 Release Candidate that I never messed with.  It's only in the last two months that I finally took the plunge to get a brand new system and get the latest OS, all from Cyberpower.

[CeeKay]

I'm debating.  my older Windows 7 rig is currently loaned out, and there's no way I'm futzing around with my current one this close to Mass Effect 3.  so that leaves my older Vista rig that hasn't been fired up in at least 4 years.

and it's a non-SSD system.


I think I need to get the loaner back 

[rittchard]

Hmmm I may try it out on of my laptops this weekend, I dunno.  Like Ceekay said, not gonna futz with the main computer with ME3 hitting next week.  I have to say that opening screen with all the horrible colors just looks whack.  Relatively speaking makes ICS looks like genius.

[Scraper]

Does Windows 8 have a new DirectX version? I hope not, as I dont want to upgrade just for DirectX.

[CeeKay]

looks like there may be up to 9 versions of Windows 8:

    Windows 8 ARM edition
    Windows 8 Starter Edition
    Windows 8 Home Basic
    Windows 8 Home Premium
    Windows 8 Professional
    Windows 8 Professional Plus
    Windows 8 Ultimate
    Windows 8 Enterprise Eval
    Windows 8 Enterprise

[CeeKay]

put this on my netbook, unfortunately it appears it doesn't support a resolution that will work with everything.  looks like I also picked the wrong install option, so I can't restore the previous OS.  oh well, I guess I'll finally get around to trying Linux on it like I've always meant to

[Purge]

I'm getting used to the charms overlay (which is very similar to the Windows Phone 7 - just not as intuitive because I don't have a touch display).

Big warning: go into the help file, and read up on hotkeys. This helps BIG time.

Logo+. cycles through the app being split on either side, which is AWESOME for watching videos while doing other things.
Logo+Z is the context menu for an app (while in it)
Logo+C brings up all charms (basically right menu plus the clock/date stuff.

There are combinations that will directly link to actions from the charm menu (logo+h is share, +q is query (search) etc.)

This info is in the help and support - getting to know Windows 8.

The one thing they should have done is included a demo video and forced it to kick off to introduce their product.

Basically, the logo key, which used to bring up a start menu, now opens a full overlay that is customizable. The "all programs" is Logo+Q

I just discovered logo+1-9 (and possibly 0) pull up the pinned apps in the desktop. Neat!

Love the lock screen, love the PIN access.

[Razgon]

Regular users close help videos down - hell, I do that as well

Normal users wants to be able to use the OS at once without having to read up on stuff, or trying to understand how to do things. Those I know that are system administrators will be giving this one a wide pass, since there is no discernible bonus from using it vs windows 7, which is a lot easier to use and understand.

I must admit I'm baffled as to why they are rolling out an OS designed for tablets an phones, when there is practically no sale on those things?

[CeeKay]

from what little I saw before switching my netbook to Ubuntu I have to say that unless I'm forced to I won't be switching to Windows 8 unless I either a) am forced to or b) get a touchscreen monitor.  sure, there are hot-keys, but the whole setup feels awkward.  like the saying goes, 'if it ain't broke, don't break it'.


that said, Ubuntu is really nice.....

[JCC]

I'm baffled by W8 as well. I assume the vast majority of users will just run it in the normal desktop mode. I don't know why anyone would opt for touchscreen controls when they can use a mouse.