Windows 8

[cityboy-stl]

I downloaded the developer preview...my God what a freaking disaster.

The Start menu is gone.
You can't toggle through your open applications
You can't even close an open application
You have these big icons for apps all over the place but you still can't find where in the hell anything is in your computer.
This new "metro" desktop is supposed to be so new and innovative. Ha! They've got everything grouped together on one page just like they used to. Reminds of this with a little fancier graphics and less functionality:

​

 

[Telstra]

lol, you have the time to play around with new windows.
Good for you.

 

[trinket]

I enjoyed reading your experiences, cityboy. And traditionally the UI undergoes a certain amount of revision and polish based on user feedback/testing/compatibility, so it could evolve considerably. Aside from that, I've been reading that this is just the default layout and it'll be toggle-able to a more traditional look and feel.

Check out, also, Winsupersite.com's comments on the new UI. The same guy that runs that site does a nice podcast and I've started listening to them a bit to hear the Windows 8 chatter/rumors. I haven't even made the leap to Windows 7 yet - still Vista for me.

 

[silverbelt]

The Metro UI in Windows 8 isn't for running traditional Windows applications, and it's designed to work really well with touch devices, hence the large icons displayed in a centralised, menuless interface. The UI has been successful so far on the WP7 platform that ushered it in, and it'll be familiar to any users of those phones that go on to upgrade to Windows 8.

You're right, the Start menu is gone… from the Metro UI. To run traditional Windows apps, you are switched to the familiar Windows 7 desktop, complete with Start menu, taskbar and your icons, so users haven't really lost anything, just gained a new, touch-friendly tile interface on top, bringing with it an App marketplace and a new application suite based on web standards.

Every OS upgrade, I hear "What have they done to my precious computer?!" and when it launches, there's this quiet muttering of "Oh, that's neat." I'm not a Windows user predominently, but I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of Windows 8. Microsoft's trying something new, while appeasing current users with strong backwards compatibility.

 

[Clyte64]

I hated the look of it from the word get go, but apparently you can change the layout so its like previous operating systems (with a start menu) like silverbelt said.

 

[cityboy-stl]

^ Not in this developer preview version. There is the desktop tile that takes you a a screen that looks like the Win 7 desktop but the "start button" does not open a start menu, it takes you back to Program Manager aka. the Metro desktop. In this preview edition at least, there is no start menu.

 

[andysayshi]

Personally I can't stand the Metro UI. It's all colourful and pretty, but seems to be a strange and random hodge-podge of buttons who's placement seem illogical and without function.

Each to their own - I have a friend who uses it on his phone and loves it.

 

[T-Rexx]

Windows 8 is probably a couple years away.

I know they've scheduled it for a late 2012 release. But, given Microsoft's track record with OS releases, I don't think we can reasonably expect this thing before 2013.

A lot can change in two years.

 

[burke67]

^ Not in this developer preview version. There is the desktop tile that takes you a a screen that looks like the Win 7 desktop but the "start button" does not open a start menu, it takes you back to Program Manager aka. the Metro desktop. In this preview edition at least, there is no start menu.

The Metro UI can be disabled via a registry hack. I googled "Disable Metro in Windows 8 Developer Preview" and made the registry change as suggested. It makes the OS usable on a desktop/laptop.

B

 

[Corny]

I don't like those new UI trends in ubuntu, mac os AND windows

 

[Clyte64]

^ Not in this developer preview version. There is the desktop tile that takes you a a screen that looks like the Win 7 desktop but the "start button" does not open a start menu, it takes you back to Program Manager aka. the Metro desktop. In this preview edition at least, there is no start menu.

Dam I thought you could.

 

[Deandbn]

You dont really think they are gonna show you what it looks like years before the time do you??
This is a figment of some ones imagination.
Dont believe a word of it!!
or
Gee youre gullible!!

 

[cityboy-stl]

^ LOL What? See for yourself: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516/

 

[GamerBear]

I'll stick to Windows 7 whenever I decide to upgrade.

 

[maxpowr9]

Like my droid, I will just end up customizing the hell out it to get it the way I want.

 

[Kioygan]

There's a lot of "you can't" in your writing :S