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Microsoft Previews Windows 8 for Tablets and PCs

Introducing Windows 9! Here are some of the amazing new features:

- Requires a nuclear power plant.
- Power plant intended to provide support for our new feature: Portable Stove Express! No longer must you choose between working on your tablet and cooking dinner! True freedom!
- Metro UI is now overlaid onto the desktop in a very artistic way that reminds me of some sort of MS Escher painting...
- Introducing fat binaries! (kidding)
- Your existing windows 95 programs still run!
- Your existing windows 8 programs don't.

All for the low price of $900! Get it while it's hot! (lol)
 
NAG said:
Oh yeah, I agree that the Start menu needs to be fixed at the very least. I don't see Microsoft doing anything other than that, though. Metro is going to be a gimmick that fixes a small part of Windows. It can be so much more than that.
Click to expand...

The only way to do this is to go all-in. If Microsoft decide to do this half-heartedly then they will fail. I agree with you on that. But one should not dismiss MS out of hand. They have loads of resources, loads of smart people, and they may surprise us. All I'm saying is that the approach has merit but it all comes down to the execution.
 
DESNOS said:
Introducing Windows 9! Here are some of the amazing new features:

- Requires a nuclear power plant.
- Power plant intended to provide support for our new feature: Portable Stove Express! No longer must you choose between working on your tablet and cooking dinner! True freedom!
- Metro UI is now overlaid onto the desktop in a very artistic way that reminds me of some sort of MS Escher painting...
- Introducing fat binaries! (kidding)
- Your existing windows 95 programs still run!
- Your existing windows 8 programs don't.

All for the low price of $900! Get it while it's hot! (lol)
Click to expand...

Want to add anything of value to this thread?
 
coldmack said:
No, this became MacRumors + Windows the moment Apple soiled itself by going with the old school tech know as x86 architecture.
Click to expand...

How many apps can you run? I really feel sorry that you've decided to still with a much older generation hardware.
 
macsmurf said:
The only way to do this is to go all-in. If Microsoft decides to do this half-heartedly then they will fail. I agree with you on that. But one should not dismiss MS out of hand. They have loads of resources, loads of smart people, and they may surprise us. All I'm saying is that the approach has merit but it all comes down to the execution.
Click to expand...

Oh, I'm not dismissing Microsoft (I mean, I own an Xbox and a Kinect and I tried to give the Kin a fair opinion even though it was chained to a dumb phone that required a smart phone data plan). I think Windows 8 probably won't work on tablets because of their Windows-everywhere-but-phones tactic. But it will definitely sell well to people with Windows 7 on their computers. The problem here is that Metro could be amazing but they're instead shoehorning it into Windows Aero.
 
...

- Your existing windows 95 programs still run!


I don't know, fellas, but that is some funny ***** right there.
 
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Here's something that Microsoft weren't able to demonstrate due to time constraints:

Integrated load balancing – if you have multiple active network connections, Windows 8 will intelligently balance the network traffic between them for performance

Stereo 3D video and gaming – would suggest native support for stereoscopic display output too

Easy discover apps that support a language – would suggest Windows Store will allow browsing by language

Filter apps that are accessible – similar to above, for applications that are accessible

Start background – there will be the ability to change the Start background (not possible in developer preview)

Create Live ID in Windows OOBE – users without Live IDs will be able to create one at the Windows setup

Phone as Smartcard – the ability to use Windows Phone as an authenticator for login?

Communication over SMS on my PC – the ability to send and receive SMSes?

Native support for WIMAX and LTE
 
Absolutely gorgeous display. Industry leading Hardware. Industry leading OS. True Definition of Game Changer. Nothing even remotely comes close. Sign me up x 10.
 
codewrangler said:
What a horrible interface. It really makes me want to throw up....really....:eek:
Click to expand...

Yes it is, was not impressed at all.:eek:

----------
KPOM said:
I disagree. This looks very promising. There are still plenty of opportunities for Microsoft to screw this up (and they have a "tick-tock" history of screw-up followed by fix-up), but the Metro UI might work very well with tablets. The Samsung Slate looks pretty good (MacBook Air-class hardware in a tablet design). The rapid boot times are welcome.

Windows 8 is far more radical a redesign than OS X Lion was. Apple clearly sees separate OSes for the foreseeable future, while Microsoft is doubling down on its decade-old bet that the desktop OS should also be the tablet OS. For the first time, however, Microsoft appears to be designing the OS for use on tablets rather than making the feature an afterthought. Plus, it runs on ARM processors, so it opens up the possibility for a desktop OS running on mobile equipment.
Click to expand...

I need things that work, been radical but also been unproductive does not make something good.:rolleyes: I think I will stick to oh this so old OS X and IOS, but please people do buy something else, we need some one to rag on as we enjoy stuff that just works. ;)
 
Clearly since this is a Mac forum a lot of people will be biased. But with all honestly being both a Mac and Windows user I'd have to say that the windows build keynote was amazing.

I'm very impressed with what I saw today, I haven't been this excited for quite a while, I'm more keen on getting my hands on Windows 8 then I ever was for Lion.. Just an amazing amount of new features & changes.

Not here to get into an argument about Microsoft copying or anything along those lines, all I can say is that If it lives up to what I've seen I may just switch over to Windows.. Thats how much I loved it..

Microsoft has brought drastic change, a lot more change then Lion brought, and thats what I really liked about it..

Anyway just my thoughts! Watch the keynote, it was enjoyable, usually Microsoft keynotes are boring, but this was awesome..
 
ct2k7 said:
How many apps can you run? I really feel sorry that you've decided to still with a much older generation hardware.
Click to expand...
Don't feel bad fanboy, because I am still using all my favorite apps perfectly fine. Then again I don't do much other than use iWorks, Photoshop, and iMovie HD(not the one with the newer interface) and they all work perfectly fine.
 
coldmack said:
Don't feel bad fanboy, because I am still using all my favorite apps perfectly fine. Then again I don't do much other than use iWorks, Photoshop, and iMovie HD(not the one with the newer interface) and they all work perfectly fine.
Click to expand...

Fanboy? Since when does a Microsoft fanboy own Apple shares?

If it works fine, then I am happy for you.

I need the power of x86, I cannot use my development tools on non x86 units.
 
Looks interesting, compared to what Apple has available today.

However apple isn't standing still, and by the time windows 8 tablet devices are released, we'll be on iPad 3 or iPad 4.

This will be a 2013 threat to the iPad.

Mattsasa said:
I really hate having to use windows, but I think this interface is a step in the right direction.

I also believe windows 8 will kill android tablets,

and damage ipad sales.

this will also probably lead to windows phone 8, which will probably also eventually overtake android.

I am really curious to see how the average consumer reacts to this, some will love it, some will be scared to death.



they really pushed touch on laptops and desktops, but no one will want to hold there arm in that position.. even if it feels nice

----------



k cool... price?
Click to expand...
 
jca666us said:
Looks interesting, compared to what Apple has available today.

However apple isn't standing still, and by the time windows 8 tablet devices are released, we'll be on iPad 3 or iPad 4.

This will be a 2013 threat to the iPad.
Click to expand...

There are already tablets our there capable of running Windows 8.
 
I think apple and Microsoft are moving their operating systems in the same direction.

Apple has a more minimalist and tasteful approach, while Microsoft throws everything but the kitchen sink.

Windows 8 running on x86 is going to be an entirely different matter than windows 8 running on arm. We'll see how well Microsoft optimizes their code.

macsmurf said:
iOS and OS X share a lot of code. iOS Mail and OS X Mail share, in all probability, a lot of code. MBA is small and light, and yet it is a fully functional laptop. Developing two distinct GUIs is exactly what Apple does. We agree that it is a lot of work. It is also very difficult to do successfully but it can obviously be done, unless you think iOS/OS X is a failure.

There is no inherent reason that desktop apps should require more power than touch-based apps. There is no inherent reason that OS X cannot run on an iPad. The only reason is that Apple don't allow it.

I'm not saying this is a slam dunk but the approach has merit. It is certainly a very challenging approach and it remains to be seen if MS can pull it off but I for one won't blame them for being ambitious.

At work I attach a 24" screen, a power source, a keyboard, and a mouse to my macbook and use it as a desktop computer. As a standalone laptop I could probably do 80% of what I do with an iPad. Add the necessary software and a thunderbolt port to an iPad and I would have the perfect device.
Click to expand...
 
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/home/

Download the Windows Developer Preview now

The Windows Developer Preview is a pre-beta version of Windows 8 for developers. These downloads include prerelease software that may change without notice. The software is provided as is, and you bear the risk of using it. It may not be stable, operate correctly or work the way the final version of the software will. It should not be used in a production environment. The features and functionality in the prerelease software may not appear in the final version. Some product features and functionality may require advanced or additional hardware, or installation of other software.

Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit (x64)
DOWNLOAD (4.8 GB)
Sha 1 hash - 6FE9352FB59F6D0789AF35D1001BD4E4E81E42AF
All of the following come on a disk image file (.iso). See below for installation instructions.
64-bit Windows Developer Preview
Windows SDK for Metro style apps
Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview
Microsoft Expression Blend 5 Developer Preview
28 Metro style apps including the BUILD Conference app

Windows Developer Preview English, 64-bit (x64)
DOWNLOAD (3.6 GB)
Sha 1 hash – 79DBF235FD49F5C1C8F8C04E24BDE6E1D04DA1E9
Includes a disk image file (.iso) to install the Windows Developer Preview and Metro style apps on a 64-bit PC.

Windows Developer Preview English, 32-bit (x86)
DOWNLOAD (2.8 GB)
Sha 1 hash - 4E0698BBABE01ED27582C9FC16AD21C4422913CC
Includes a disk image file (.iso) to install the Windows Developer Preview and Metro style apps on a 32-bit PC.

System Requirements

Windows Developer Preview works great on the same hardware that powers Windows Vista and Windows 7:
1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Taking advantage of touch input requires a screen that supports multi-touch

Notes about installing the Windows Developer Preview

You can't uninstall the Windows Developer Preview. To reinstall your previous operating system, you must have restore or installation media.
 
ct2k7 said:
There are already tablets our there capable of running Windows 8.
Click to expand...

Running a beta os on a tablet with a fan, blowing heat out of the side is not comparable to an iPad.

Windows 8 has greater capabilities than iOS - but will the user experience be as good?
 
jca666us said:
Running a beta os on a tablet with a fan, blowing heat out of the side is not comparable to an iPad.

Windows 8 has greater capabilities than iOS - but will the user experience be as good?
Click to expand...

Let's see in 50 mins, when I install it on my tablet :)
 
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