13 replies to this topic

[zeroradius]

Microsoft has announced windows 8 (Read here: Microsoft officially unveils Windows 8 - Yahoo! News ) . I'm torn on weather I like it or not. As a web programmer I'm psyched to be able to use what i know to write desktop apps. As a user I do not like the start screen, no wallpaper makes me rather agitated. I do like the flow of it and towards the end of the video I did see the task bar which is one thing that put me off at first. The UI looks tacky in my opinion all of the apps icons look like windows gadgets and look as if a unicorn threw up all over them. The article says its for touch devices as well as desktops, I'm hoping that they interpreted "mouse and keyboard" wrong, maybe they are talking about the ones you can get for tablet PC's rather than for desk tops. If this is as the article suggest, for all windows devices then I am rather disappointed.

Whats your first impression?

[Alexander]

I liked it when they tried to make a Mac like interface, now they seem to be trying to pull a Unity.

I've yet to have a touch screen computer or own a Windows phone, so I've no comment really on it as long as there is an option to run my plain toolbar and desktop setup.

[gregwarner]

I see this as a step forward for tablet computers, but, like Alexander mentioned, until touch screens become as ubiquitous as the keyboard and mouse, I can't imagine how this will give me any additional functionality on my desktop--the computer I use most.

It's good that they finally have some finger-friendly interfaces for tablets, though. Microsoft has always been playing second fiddle to Apple and Google when it comes to this.

I am interested to know the technical differences. Is this a whole new kernel? Or is it Windows NT 6.2?

[WingedPanther]

Is it just me, or are they trying to break standard functionality that everyone is used to?

[Alexander]

We've gone from mainly console to flashy touchy interface in a third of a life time, I am sure we'll go back when the "new" tag of touch touch screens goes away.

I do not see touch screen computers as the future like Microsoft might (why buy one when my touchscreen phone can do all that?)

[bbqroast]

MMM...
Vista threw my look at MS upside down, I've almost managed to spin it back over but Windows 8 looks like their missing something:
How did they all become stinking rich? They made a functional computer now it looks like they are trying to do the opposite.

They did include the desktop and stuff which is nice.

[zeroradius]

I thought they got it right with win7. This first view of win8 looks rather unusable from a work standpoint. Then again we did not get much of a preview, they may surprise us (not going to hold my breath though).

Edit: Another article ( Previewing ?Windows 8?: Article by Julie Larson-Green, corporate vice president, Windows Experience.) it dose not say too much extra but it does have a few things.

- It will be a new kernal (so it will be about as good as vista when it first came out)
- HTML5 and Javascript will be prominent for writing apps.
- confirmed it will be for desktops and all other MS devices

Is it me or do they seem to be trying to do the whole cloud OS but easing us into it rather then a full submersion like google chrome OS?

[Alexander]

zeroradius said:

Is it me or do they seem to be trying to do the whole cloud OS but easing us into it rather then a full submersion like google chrome OS?

I think you are hitting it right on, as long as Microsoft does the whole touch/cloud (their cloud service is in commercials a lot lately) thing they will be the first to do it on that scale (whichever scale it may be.)

I am sure there are big businesses willing to pay for Microsoft touch stuff rather than people fairly new in the game (such as Google,) and as well who not want Linux (as it is GPL)

[liamzebedee]

What about the UI control for desktop PC's was my first thought. My second thought was that onscreen keyboard, half left, half right, was a great idea. Conclusion I think they're trying to be too much like Apple and hiding all the other stuff(like shell etc.). Still I like the support for older Windows 7 Apps.

[Alexander]

liamzebedee said:

older Windows 7 Apps.

I hope we will wait awhile until we have to use that phrase.

[WingedPanther]

OK, after watching the demo video, it looks like they're doing a hybrid system, where the default is essentially a local web-app system, but you can also open your "old" desktop and run apps there. The thing that first crossed my mind was: how does this work for someone who works as a developer the way I do?

I will regularly have a word document, text editor, revision control app, IDE, FireFox, and several folders open. I take advantage of Windows 7's autosize (usually on the left or right half of the screen) a lot. I admit that I found the autosize surprisingly useful, but I wonder how that would translate into the "webby" Windows 8.

[zeroradius]

WingedPanther said:

I take advantage of Windows 7's autosize (usually on the left or right half of the screen) a lot. I admit that I found the autosize surprisingly useful, but I wonder how that would translate into the "webby" Windows 8.

same here.

Alexander said:

I hope we will wait awhile until we have to use that phrase.

Me too but it's being speculated that we will have it by the end of 2012. I wish it did not use a new kernal. It's going to force us into the OS if we want to run the latest and greatest games, software, and GAMES :crying: