Microsoft Reimagines Windows, Presents Windows 8 Developer Preview

[Crow]

[CoderGuy]

Looks interesting, will be interesting to see how HTML5 works within the OS

[Thraxy]

The Windows 7 Phone flopped, so in response, Microsoft throws the phone interface on it's flagship operating system line... great work Microsoft. I think I'll pass on that one.

[sgreger1]

So far I have heard only bad things about Windows 8. Once again, all of the old code is still running the thing but they just upgraded the UI to make it more shiny.

They even replaced the blue screen of desk with a sad face that says "something has gone wrong that caused your computer to crash and now has to restart."

They are trying to hard to copy apple in making everything easy.

[Crow]

They are trying to hard to copy apple in making everything easy.

I had no idea that Apple created the concept of "making everything easy".

They even replaced the blue screen of desk with a sad face that says "something has gone wrong that caused your computer to crash and now has to restart."

Point being?

[Crow]

There was a short point I omitted earlier, it was this:

Yes, Windows 8 has some legacy (old) code in the operating system to ensure compatibility, but to say that the OS is nothing more than a graphical improvement is silly. For instance, there was no ARM support in previous versions of Windows. Also, using hardware-acceleration for the entire operating system and the new ecosystem is a new feature (amongst many other features yet to be announced).

-----

I'll end with this: I didn't start the thread to start any kind of "PC vs. Mac" debate, and I'm not here to demean or devalue. I have no issues with Apple or any of its products or consumers. If you prefer Mac over Windows, that's cool. I'm just here to share.

[lxskllr]

I have it downloaded. I'll throw it in a vm at some point, but I'm just not very excited about Windows. I'll keep an eye on it for support purposes, but Linux is where my interest really lies.

[sgreger1]

I had no idea that Apple created the concept of "making everything easy".



Point being?

Perhaps I should elaborate, I didn't mean to make it seem like Apple invented "making things easy". I mean that Windows has always been the go-to platform for techies and those who desire to have more control instead of a boxed off "simpler" version of things.

Macs are generally seen as easier to operate and casual users are attracted to them because they make simplicity their focus. PC's give you the whole exerience that is less "cordoned off" if you will.

I'm saying that PC seems to be migrating more towards the "lets make it shiny and super simple" concept that Mac championed, which sucks because I hate when one competitor emulates the other in hopes of higher profits. It eliminates the choice. Soon you will be buying all of your PC games off the Microsoft app store


On an unrelated note, Windows 8 seems to have been built with touchscreens in mind.

[lxskllr]

On an unrelated note, Windows 8 seems to have been built with touchscreens in mind.

It's pissing me off. Cell phones/tablets are the new hotness, and everybody's jumping on board. Ubuntu, Gnome, and now Windows. There's a reason the classic desktop has been around forever. It works, and it works really well. Just as the classic desktop doesn't work on a phone, a phone interface doesn't work a desktop. There is no mixing. You can have one or the other; not both.

[Crow]

Perhaps I should elaborate, I didn't mean to make it seem like Apple invented "making things easy". I mean that Windows has always been the go-to platform for techies and those who desire to have more control instead of a boxed off "simpler" version of things.

I'm saying that PC seems to be migrating more towards the "lets make it shiny and super simple" concept that Mac championed, which sucks because I hate when one competitor emulates the other in hopes of higher profits. It eliminates the choice. Soon you will be buying all of your PC games off the Microsoft app store

On an unrelated note, Windows 8 seems to have been built with touchscreens in mind.

The concept is to have a unified platform that works with all sorts of devices (touch screens included).

Also, the idea is to appeal to a wide spectrum of computer users. For the 'techies', you can still run the operating system in Desktop mode and have full control of the operating system. For the 'novice' or 'casual user', the new Metro interface for Windows will make your computer simple and easy to use.

That's what Windows 8 is striving for... Offering the best of both worlds

I'll keep an eye on it for support purposes, but Linux is where my interest really lies.

Linux is a nice little operating system (but it's not for the faint of heart )... Just curious, what distribution are you running?

[Premium Parrots]

The concept is to have a unified platform that works with all sorts of devices (touch screens included).

Also, the idea is to appeal to a wide spectrum of computer users. For the 'techies', you can still run the operating system in Desktop mode and have full control of the operating system. For the 'novice' or 'casual user', the new Metro interface for Windows will make your computer simple and easy to use.

That's what Windows 8 is striving for... Offering the best of both worlds

Exactly, I think thats the whole point of windows 8. At least thats what I got from the video. I think. Makes sense anyway.

I'm for anything thats easier. I like to customize but I'll always opt for easier whenever its offered. Remember, I'm a tad older than alot of you guays. The only video game I can play is pong, damit. And my cell phone is older than the one Moses used to talk to God. The new phones scare me.

Everything will be touchscreen someday.

So, yea easier.

I'll shut up now cuz I don't know shit. But I always read the techie posts so I can learn. Thanks

[lxskllr]

Linux is a nice little operating system (but it's not for the faint of heart )... Just curious, what distribution are you running?

Currently Ubuntu 10.04 on all machines(excepting my Vista box), and a test install of Debian sid on a flash drive. My netbook is as far as it'll go. I'll kep Ubuntu 10.04 on it until it dies, supported or not. Next year when I would be otherwise upgrading to Ubuntu 12.04, I'll be moving to Debian sid. I had a great run with Ubuntu, but they've moved too far away from what I like in an O/S. It used to be Debian the way I wanted it, out of the box. Now, I'm changing a bunch of stuff, and if I have to do that, I might as well go to the source, and run Debian. As a bonus, I'll have a full rolling release, so I'll never have to make another full install, or a white knuckle distribution upgrade :^D :^)

[Ainkor]

In my opinion, it's probably the balsy-est move I've seen in computing in quite a while. I've messed around with the dev preview a bit on a netbook I have and it runs very well. I'm not sure if I like the new interface model on a non-touch screen platform though. Once it lands for ARM devices, it's on though.

What is the most interesting thing about it is going to be what response the linux community and Apple will have to this. I do wish the iPad had a bit more to it. I'd love to see a more "desktopy" iOS for the iPad.

In reality though, if the ARM version of Windows 8 and Office work very close to what they do on a netbook, that will be my next mobile computing platform.

[sgreger1]

Thought this was funny:

[lxskllr]

LoL sgreger! :^D