It's out today.
I can get it cheap, but I just don't feel like going through the hassle.
I'm going to buy a couple upgrade licenses while they're cheap. Slick interface but not happy about having to pay extra for Media Center and other stuff.
Only at work. But I don't think there's much corporate interest in this Iteration.
For the first time since Windows 3.1, I will adopt a "wait and see approach" :)
I don't need it at the office, I don't plan on using a Windows Phone anytime soon and it offers nothing new for gaming. So, no, not right away.
Hell no. For one thing, I'm without a backup hard drive to mirror so I don't lose everything on my computer. For another, I just don't like Windows 8.
It looks like if you buy or upgrade to Win8 Pro you can get the Media Center add-on for free until January.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/feature-packs
What the hell, I think I'll upgrade my HTPC to Win8 tonight.
Hell no. I ain't retarded.
Quote from: derspiess on October 25, 2012, 06:18:41 PM
I'm going to buy a couple upgrade licenses while they're cheap.
This.
Since all new computers ship with install partition and loads of bloatware these days, the first thing I do is repartition and install a fresh copy of windows that I
found on the net. I'm getting the widows 8 license just to get a legit bloat free copy in case I want to make the move later on.
Okay, I got a wild hair and bought/downloaded a copy of Win8 Pro to install on my home theater PC. I might do a clean install at some point, but I wanted to see how the upgrade install went.
I was pleasantly surprised. It asks if you want to keep your settings and files, files only, or a clean install. If you choose to keep settings/files, it will prompt you to uninstall any non-compatible applications (the only one I had was Windows Defender or whatever it's called now). Once you do that, it's a completely unattended install until it boots for the first time.
If you sign in with your Windows Live ID, it will go ahead and sync your hotmail, Xbox, and Xbox Music (Zune) accounts. The integration of Xbox Music into the Start menu interface is a really nice touch if you have an Xbox Music subscription. And going by the look and feel of the Metro interface, the line of distinction between Xbox and Windows (and I guess Windows Phone) is fading.
The new interface make me wish I had a Windows 8 tablet, though I ain't shelling out the five bills for a Surface anytime soon. And if you don't like the new Start interface, a Windows 7 style desktop is a click away. One odd thing is that I'm finding that I use keyboard shortcuts more now with Win8 than with any previous version of Windows.
On Saturday my brother & I went out to get our $38 physical copies of Win8 Pro. I was originally just going to let this sit on the shelf until I felt a need to upgrade my main PC, but I went ahead and did that Saturday given how easy it was Friday with the HTPC.
I may try hooking the Kinect up to see how useful (or not) it is. I imagine it would be as nice for video chat as it is on Xbox, at least.
Oh, also I activated my two free Media Center licenses for both machines. It took about a day for them to send the activation codes, but it's 'free' stuff so I guess I shouldn't complain.
Media Center looks and works exactly like it did with Win7, which is fine from a reliability standpoint but it would be nice to get a Metro-style refresh for the interface.
I wouldn't upgrade my labs, staff PCs, or really home computer for months. I might upgrade my HTPC for the hell of it since I don't care of it gets nuked. Will try to get a test machine here at work going first.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on October 30, 2012, 09:22:24 AM
I wouldn't upgrade my labs, staff PCs, or really home computer for months. I might upgrade my HTPC for the hell of it since I don't care of it gets nuked. Will try to get a test machine here at work going first.
That was my plan. And since I had a fresh image backup of my main PC, I went ahead and took the plunge on that as well. I did the upgrade install on it and the only thing I had to do was re-install my ATI drivers and select my printer as the default printer.
One concern of mine is that it seems this release was really intended for mobile devices and PCs with touch screens.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on October 30, 2012, 12:05:48 PM
One concern of mine is that it seems this release was really intended for mobile devices and PCs with touch screens.
Absolutely.
I thought about throwing Win 8 onto my Mac Pro, but the reviews have been so universally bad, and all I use my Windows partition for is to play Windows-only games, so I really can't see the use...
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on October 30, 2012, 12:05:48 PM
One concern of mine is that it seems this release was really intended for mobile devices and PCs with touch screens.
The new Start interface clearly is. But you can easily jump back to a more classic Win7-type desktop with one click or keystroke. So you don't really lose anything by upgrading-- just make sure you get your free Media Center add-on if that's something you use.
FWIW I think the Start interface works really well with an HTPC-type setup.
Quote from: Barrister on October 30, 2012, 12:37:16 PM
Absolutely.
I thought about throwing Win 8 onto my Mac Pro,
Yeah, right :lol:
Quotebut the reviews have been so universally bad, and all I use my Windows partition for is to play Windows-only games, so I really can't see the use...
Only because you live in an Apple universe.
Anyway, the touchpad on your Macbook Pro should navigate the Start screen every bit as well as a touchscreen. Same thing for most other modern laptops.
Quote from: derspiess on October 30, 2012, 03:36:01 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 30, 2012, 12:37:16 PM
Absolutely.
I thought about throwing Win 8 onto my Mac Pro,
Yeah, right :lol:
Quotebut the reviews have been so universally bad, and all I use my Windows partition for is to play Windows-only games, so I really can't see the use...
Only because you live in an Apple universe.
Anyway, the touchpad on your Macbook Pro should navigate the Start screen every bit as well as a touchscreen. Same thing for most other modern laptops.
:huh:
Uh, yeah. Considering the fact I already have separate XP and Win 7 partitions, why wouldn't I throw on a copy of Win 8? I like playing around with OSes. :)
I have a Mac Pro, not a MacBook Pro. Well I guess I (or rather my wife) do have a MacBook Pro, but I'm not giong to put Windows on it's more limited HDD.
I'm still using Vista.
Quote from: Barrister on October 30, 2012, 05:33:48 PM
:huh:
Uh, yeah. Considering the fact I already have separate XP and Win 7 partitions, why wouldn't I throw on a copy of Win 8? I like playing around with OSes. :)
For you there's probably little gained by installing Win8. Win7 serves your needs for the time being. I would suggest buying a license while it's cheap though.
QuoteI have a Mac Pro, not a MacBook Pro. Well I guess I (or rather my wife) do have a MacBook Pro, but I'm not giong to put Windows on it's more limited HDD.
Ah.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 30, 2012, 07:49:26 PM
Quote from: Josephus on October 30, 2012, 06:47:58 PM
I'm still using Vista.
:lmfao:
In many places, the USAF still uses Vista. :(
We'll probably get stuck with Windows 8 too.
My work PC runs on Windows XP.
Quote from: Monoriu on October 31, 2012, 10:55:37 PM
My work PC runs on Windows XP.
Not surprising, it's the easier OS to copy.
Hmm, there's no uninstaller with the update assistant!? That bodes well for the future... :rolleyes:
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 30, 2012, 09:08:59 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 30, 2012, 07:49:26 PM
Quote from: Josephus on October 30, 2012, 06:47:58 PM
I'm still using Vista.
:lmfao:
In many places, the USAF still uses Vista. :(
We'll probably get stuck with Windows 8 too.
Yeah, takes a certain amount of managerial talent to keep picking the alternate crap MS OS releases.
It'll probably be mostly skipped here, at least for another 3 years.
Quote from: Tonitrus on October 30, 2012, 09:08:59 PM
In many places, the USAF still uses Vista. :(
We'll probably get stuck with Windows 8 too.
I doubt it will be that soon.
Watch here: http://usgcb.nist.gov/
And here: http://nvd.nist.gov/fdcc/index.cfm
For practical purposes, they've just barely got the standards for Win7 in place.
Also, wifey has been "on-call" since release date. I think half the company is. She's logged some bugs already, but came home today excited that one of her bugs went straight to the top. It was one that prevented MSFT from collecting ad revenue. That shit is already fixed. :P
Full screen Metro App on 24 inches aren't required. Also why isn't metro UI on both of my dual screens?
I played around with a Lenovo Yoga over the weekend. I am tempted.
Conceptually, Windows 8 is a great idea: it eliminates the distinction between tablet OS and notebook OS at the precise moment those categories are breaking down. I like the tablet form factor and have and use an iPad regularly. But the unfortunate reality is that the iPad is limited for business/work purposes because you can't run the Office suite and because of its general lack of power and basic features like USB connectivity. Windows 8 (not RT) solves those problems and you can run all legacy and future Windows software and apps on one device. Don't think I will pull the trigger on the Yoga which is a little unwieldy in its present incarnation, but I do think my next purchase will be a Windows 8 ultrabook-tablet hybrid of some kind.
Quote from: derspiess on October 30, 2012, 03:33:06 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on October 30, 2012, 12:05:48 PM
One concern of mine is that it seems this release was really intended for mobile devices and PCs with touch screens.
The new Start interface clearly is. But you can easily jump back to a more classic Win7-type desktop with one click or keystroke. So you don't really lose anything by upgrading-- just make sure you get your free Media Center add-on if that's something you use.
FWIW I think the Start interface works really well with an HTPC-type setup.
I'm looking to buy a new computer soon and they mainly come with Win 8 now. Been looking at Dell as those have been my last few computers and I've had good luck with them. The Alienware computers till come with Win 7, though not sure I want/need one of those. Maybe, and considering it.
You said a Win 7 desktop is a click away. Does that come with Win 8 or is that an aftermarket addon like the ones that give the old style Start button? Does anyone have any experience as to how compatible Win 8 is with existing and slightly older games?
Win 8 and Win 7 desktop are the same thing. Win 8 only lacks a start menu, instead it has a Metro UI.
Not totally related, but has anyone used Office 2013 yet? I got a company email offering a copy for $10 under the MS Home Use Program. I'll probably do it in any case, but I can't remember what was so great about 2013 that 2010 did not have.
Quote from: KRonn on January 23, 2013, 02:24:17 PM
Does anyone have any experience as to how compatible Win 8 is with existing and slightly older games?
I haven't come across any Win8 compatibility issues with games & applications that worked with Win7.
Quote from: derspiess on January 23, 2013, 03:17:49 PM
Not totally related, but has anyone used Office 2013 yet? I got a company email offering a copy for $10 under the MS Home Use Program. I'll probably do it in any case, but I can't remember what was so great about 2013 that 2010 did not have.
Wiki seems to have a good summary.
Quote from: garbon on January 23, 2013, 05:21:46 PM
Quote from: derspiess on January 23, 2013, 03:17:49 PM
Not totally related, but has anyone used Office 2013 yet? I got a company email offering a copy for $10 under the MS Home Use Program. I'll probably do it in any case, but I can't remember what was so great about 2013 that 2010 did not have.
Wiki seems to have a good summary.
As did PC Magazine. But I was hoping to get an everyday user's perspective.
I recommend Stardock's Start8 addon, to add the Windows 7 start menu back to the Windows 8 desktop. Makes the whole thing much more useable, imo.
Thanks for the Win 8 feedback guys!
I'll sit this one out, as I'm on the missing every alternate release of windows; so far I've avoided ME, Vista, is 8 the next in that 'series' ?
I'm thinking of going with Windows 7 too. Dell has multi-media and Alienware systems that still ship with Win 7. I'm even thinking of an Alienware machine. That may be more than I need, overclocked chips, etc. More chances for problems?
So, I'm seriously thinking of going with Windows 7 on my new computer, figuring I want something closer to what I have as it's doubtful that I'll need Win 8 for Apps and such. Does anyone think I'm better off with Win 8? I was considering Alienware but I think that's probably more gaming computer than I need. So I'll probably go with a Dell multimedia desktop. How does that all sound? I'm looking to buy soon while Win 7 is still available, as I assume after not too long it will be harder to get on a new computer. Besides, my current computer is five years old, running on Vista which has been ok as an operating system.
Get Win 7. You'll be amazed over Vista.
I was using the public preview of Win8, so I went ahead and upgraded after the preview license expired. I spend all my time on the Win7-style desktop and ignore the tablet-esque new home screen stuff. *shrug*
Start8 was recommended before in this thread but it's paid software. Classic Shell is awesome Open source alternative.
Quote from: Grey Fox on February 01, 2013, 10:14:08 PM
Start8 was recommended before in this thread but it's paid software. Classic Shell is awesome Open source alternative.
A whole $5. :bleeding:
I upgrade the laptop to Windows 8 before giving it to my girlfriend. She likes the Windows 8 interface better, even though I installed Start8.
Once you get used to it, it's a nice way to access the most commonly used programs on your computer. However, for a power user like me, I really, really need the classic shell to access the rest of the softwares.
Quote from: Grey Fox on January 31, 2013, 03:07:41 PM
Get Win 7. You'll be amazed over Vista.
I've had my new computer for about a month now. I did go with Win 7 which I do like a lot. Dell XPS 8500, AMD 2GB Video card 7870 I think is the model#, not a top line card but solid mid range, and much faster than my 5 year old technology card.
SSD 256 GB hard drive (C:drive) that the operating system is on. Man, is that nice! So fast running Internet and the operating system programs. System boots up in 30 seconds, shuts down in 10 seconds. Cost me about $200 for the SSD but well worth it.
2TB hard drive in addition to the SSD.
:yes: