Windows 8 Is Coming! Windows 8 Is Coming!

Reviews of various features of Windows 8 are starting to trickle in. It seems clear that it is consumer and tablet-oriented. The main interface is a touch screen – which will no doubt give rise to a whole new category of carpal-tunnel-like injuries as people try to reach out and touch the screen from the chair in front of their desktop PC.

But if tablet-oriented users will probably like it, chances are the desktop-oriented will hate it. The start menu is gone as is the start button, there is no multi-tasking, no start menu, can’t close apps easily. It is unclear how it will deal with multiple screens. The “legacy” Windows 7 interface isn’t even available yet. Without the Windows 7 interface, Windows 8 will be essentially unusable for all those people who currently have 30-50 icons on their desktop. Will Windows 8 be another Vista?

I thought one reviewer captured the essence:  “I hate Windows 8 a lot. For the average, somewhat proficient user, Windows 8 hides all the things that makes Windows 7 so useful. Windows 8 seems to be designed specifically for tablets, for which it will be a great OS. However, for those of us who want to use computers to make documents, presentations, spreadsheets and graphic editing, Windows 8 will annoy us to no end. ”

Windows 8 is likely to be available around the end of 2012/early 2013. So my plan is to replace all my trusty XP machines with Windows 7 this spring/summer (the support plan for them is expiring about then anyway), so that I can avoid Windows 8 as long as possible.

Comments

[John Federico]

I'm pretty sure Windows 8 has multitasking. As far as requiring a touch screen, I remember having a conversation with an experienced IT person back in the dark ages when the first Macs came out. He tried to explain to me that the mouse was "just a gimmick" and that no one would use one for any length of time.

I'm looking forward to seeing the end product. Just like the original Windows/Mac required a mouse, which was very new at the time, I'm curious to see what kind of paradigm shift full size touch screens bring to the table.

[Tom Rowe]

John ... I don't think you read deep enough. I reviewed at least a dozen reviews and videos. The ultimate version of 8 that will ship in a year will have the full professional Windows OS that you and other business users will need. You will be able to disable the Metro look in a business environment if you choose. Even if you have the Metro look turned on, with one click of a mouse you will have your traditional "desktop" with your 30-50 icons, should you choose to do so.

Many of the limitations you refer to simply aren't true. For example, there is multitasking -- that is one of the advantages it has against Apple iOS that doesn't have multi-tasking. Any reviewer who, at the initial release of what is in essence an alpha version of a new OS, says he hates it a lot is an idiot. When he says that for those who make documents, presentations, etc., that Windows 8 will annoy us to no end, it is clear that he has serious reading comprehension issues. Every review I read explained how the "traditional" Windows OS will be fully functional and available. How about we evaluate what they did release, and then reserve judgement for the next 12-16 months while the rest of the system gets developed and released.

I get where MS is going. They may be too late, but I see what they are doing. My kids use Zune and XBox (ok, so do I :)) both of which already use a Metro type interface to access media, games, etc. I find it intuitive and easy to use. Focusing on this type of interface as a common front to the desktop, tablet, and smartphone makes a ton of sense. Then throw in the power of the desktop for business users along with seamless access to Office, Exchange/Outlook and Sharepoint, an app store, and syncing between devices with Windows Live and you get a nice universe in which you can operate as a noob or a pro. I don't know if they can pull it off - they are way behind on the smartphone and tablets - but I know that what they are doing could make a lot of sense in this iPad/Android world we live in today.

[John Heckman]

Tom,
See new post with links to articles.
I seriously doubt that it will be "12-16 months" until Windows 8 is released. More like the end of the year. And I also doubt there will be very much change or modification to what is there now. Microsoft just isn't flexible enough (remind you of any other companies?)

[Steve Stockstill (Data Equity)]

>> For example, there is multitasking --
>> that is one of the advantages it has against
>> Apple iOS that doesn't have multi-tasking.

Wow, after calling the "reviewer" an idiot and being incapable of reading. The "reviewer of the reviewer" might want to fact check his arguments.

[LegalTrack]

Windows 8 will change the tablet landscape. Especially for mobile users that tend to use outlook based exchange email and calendaring system. Windows 8 will compete fiercely with ipad and will make the business users rethink their decisions for ipads.