Windows 8

[dcw]

Has anyone else had a try-out with the latest Windows 8 Consumer Preview? I installed it on a spare PC, and had a bit of a play with it.

It installed easily enough and loaded drivers, etc - no problem. However, I just can't believe how ugly Metro is! Clunky rectangles on a plain background. I've never seen it on a smartphone, though I always thought it looked ugly in photos that I saw, but rather assumed it must look better in practice. On a 22" screen it looks aweful IMO, and presumably would look worse still on bigger screens.

Metro apps open in full screen, which on a desktop PC with a large screen is ridiculous.

It isn't that difficult to switch back to a Windows 7 style desktop, but they've removed the start button, so I still haven't figured out how to browse a full list of programs short of using Explorer to navigate to each exe file. They seem to be pushing users towards Metro presumably in the hope of selling apps through their store.

I imagine Metro-aware apps should make the Metro screen a little more attractive, but I hate it (at least so far). I think this has more to do with Microsoft enviously eyeing Apple's "walled garden" than with providing a next gen O/S.

I can't see how Microsoft expect to compete with Apple on tablets & smartphones with Metro, let alone introducing it to the PC desktop.

[raymondjpg]

I can't see how Microsoft expect to compete with Apple on tablets & smartphones with Metro, let alone introducing it to the PC desktop.

From what I have read Windows 8 as a productivity desktop o/s is a dead duck already, but you can hardly blame MS for trying to emulate Apple's money-making mac. If only they would put some extra effort into getting Windows 7 working how I like it...

Next stop linux.

[Barry Ashby]

I can't see how Microsoft expect to compete with Apple on tablets & smartphones with Metro, let alone introducing it to the PC desktop.

From what I have read Windows 8 as a productivity desktop o/s is a dead duck already, but you can hardly blame MS for trying to emulate Apple's money-making mac. If only they would put some extra effort into getting Windows 7 working how I like it...

Next stop linux.

I've started having problems with Windows 7, just like with Windows 10. Linux is the only way.

[Paul_oz53]

I've started having problems with Windows 7, just like with Windows 10. Linux is the only way.

What problems?

I use 64 bit Windows 7 PCs with 8 HDDs full of media with no problems on the 17.5 firmware. I can watch T4 files on the PC and vice versa without problems.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I've started having problems with Windows 7, just like with Windows 10. Linux is the only way.

What problems?

I use 64 bit Windows 7 PCs with 8 HDDs full of media with no problems on the 17.5 firmware. I can watch T4 files on the PC and vice versa without problems.

Easy there tiger - I think "Barry Ashby" is about to rip open a bulging tin of spam...
It's a 5 year old thread.

[Paul_oz53]

Easy there tiger - I think "Barry Ashby" is about to rip open a bulging tin of spam...
It's a 5 year old thread.

Well spotted Grumpy. I've reported my fair share of spammers recently but this one didn't occur to me. Probably because I did have some recent Win 7 problems which I put down to a dodgy software install. Had to revert to a saved image. But that's exactly the (anti)social trick of the modern day spammer.