Windows 8 RP Update

Hi everyone,

I have been using Windows 8 RP for a while now. As mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to use it to make sure my bias wasn't just because the new Windows does things differently. Before we proceed any further I want to remind people of the specs of the test PC I am using.

CPU : AMD 64X2 4400+ 2.30Ghz
RAM : 2 GB
GPU : AMD Radeon HD 4550
60GB PATA Hard Drive

So how does it feel with some time in to it? Well in all fairness my opinion has not changed much since my first review. I love the apps that are on it with my current favorites being Global Soccer and Nature Space Holographic Audio (kind of a meditation helper if you will.)

The apps are designed very well and it does appear a lot of effort has went in to refining the display properties when you start an app.

The thing that annoys me is that when you open an app, it takes up the whole screen and the only way to switch to another one is to either close it or back out of it to go to another one. I am so used to having multiple windows opened that it is taking a while to go back to a single instance use. I know some people like the idea of just having one app vieweing at a time but for me I like having multiple apps open. You can still back out and open another app and then if you want Alt+Tab into them if you want. Seeing that I thought about adding a second display to see what would happen. Since this is an old card using only a Engineering Sample Driver, some options might not be enabled but I had the choice of Extending my Display, Cloning, Display only on 1 so I am right now running on Extend. Below is what it looks like when I have the apps open. Display on the left is the main display and on the right is the secondary display.

Please note that both displays have different resolutions hence the black space underneath the seconday display. If you open anything in the secondary screen, the metro apps go away even if the application opens in the secondary display as opposed to the primary display. Same story if an app is open and you want to open anything on the second display it will take you out of the app. You can either Alt+Tab to open it or go back into apps and than re open the app. Of course these issues might not exist with a modern GPU or when Windows 8 is finally released but it does exist for now and you might run into them if you have old hardware. Opening songs from the Music app I discovered that yet again there is no volume control in the app itself pointing to the fact that it is meant more for tablets where you have dedicated buttons for volume control.

(No Volume Control)

(Nothing here either)

IE is fast which is very impressive and there is no significant slow down as Windows opens or you open different programs so it is not too taxing on your hardware.

Google has said that it will build a Chrome to use the power of Metro Apps and display like IE does and I will be downloading it to see how it performs.

To Shut Down the system, you can either go from Ctrl+Alt+Delete or you can go hit Start, go in to the apps screen, at the top right you will see your name click that, hit sign out and then click shut down when it takes you to the main screen. To me it again points to tablets where you have a dedicated power button on the device itself.

Now all of these things might be taken care of once Windows 8 releases but I can for now only go by what I see in the RP. The point is Windows 8 looks gorgeous but operates rather clumsily. My earlier opinion of it feeling like a cross between a desktop OS and a tablet/smartphone OS still stays strong.

Windows 8 is debuting soon but as things stand, I will not be updating to it once it hits the market.

That's it for now folks. I will be posting something new rather soon as well so be ready for more.

Till then,
Kiyoshi Out.
Psst... Hey... Spread the word! +1, Subscribe,Tweet ^_^ Thank you for reading. 

Windows 8 Release Preview

Hi all!

So I finally installed the Retail Preview of Windows 8. The test computer is my old PC that I still have lying around. I wanted to try installing on a basic computer so that I can find out exactly what it's hardware requirements are and how fast it runs on it.

The computer specs are:
AMD Athlon 64 x2 4400+ 2.60 Ghz
2GB DDR2
40GB PATA Hard Drive
AMD Radeon HD 4550

So after burning the iso on the DVD, the boot took 2 minutes. Initial setup took another 4 minutes. Install took 21 minutes, Device Setup and System Setup took another 4 minutes. Personalizing options took another 2 minutes for a total boot to start up time of 33 minutes.

Personalize had some interesting options including color choices. The choices were several (though most were just too bright for my tastes. I settles for blue. It also asked for my email address and all to setup Sync and to log in via my email address as well if I so chose. The Store has some interesting apps already including one called Tune In. It gives you the options to choose from internet radio stations. The weird thing though was that you could not control the volume from inside the app. I had to go to the desktop to change the volume. The interesting feature though was that you could lock it to the side of your desktop.

(Excuse the background. Not my choice :-p)

The other thing I noted was that when you can hit backspace to exit the apps but they don't close. On bringing up the Task Manager, it showed the apps still running so you have to Alt+F4 to actually close it.

Internet Exlporer is very fast.

The weird thing though is that if you have already launched IE from the apps and then go to your desktop and launch IE from there, it will launch a separate IE and not actually bring up the original IE you launched from the metro apps.

The weather app looks very cool as well

I installed Disciples II, an old game that came out on the XP. It had compatibility issues with Win 8 and did not launch. I will install other games and report back my progress and any bugs I run in to. On trying to install Microsoft Security Essentials, it informed me that it was not needed as the Windows Defender that came with the OS works instead of MSE (though I would recommend if you want a good, fast anti virus that uses very little resources, you should get MSE.) I downloaded Google Chrome and Apache Open Office and am pleased to say they all work fine. When I changed the background, it also changed the task bar colors. It has an automatic setting which changes colors according to the background.

This is what my final screen look like for now

Windows 8 look and feels like its more meant for Tablets and Phones. The metro apps look like they will fit nicely on a touch screen but feel a bit pointless when it comes to a desktop. Windows 8 is based off of Windows 7 so it is as fast and stable as 7. I will fully admit the possibility that my reservations may be more because I am not used to the new setup and to remove that bias I will be using Windows 8 extensively to make sure that it is not just because of it being so different. For now though I don't really understand the point of launching Windows 8 so soon after 7. 7 was a major update over the Vista blunder and I feel Microsoft should have stuck with it for a bit longer. The launch of Windows 8 feels a bit forced and as such may more be a signal of Microsoft's decision to compete against Apple in the Tablet/Smart Phone market.

For now though, I will be sticking with Windows 7 and will not be upgrading when Windows 8 hits the market. I do not have the money nor the inclination right now to upgrade. I will keep reporting on Windows 8 as the week progresses and I test more things out.

Kiyoshi out ^_^

Windows 8 Release Preview Plan

Just a small update. Windows 8 Release Preview has hit the streets and I will download it today. I am thinking of installing it on a empty hard drive I have and using it. Will post my review and comments on it hopefully by the weekend. So look forward to it! ^_^ Today was a busy day and I did not have time to post anything so apologies on that. But it's Friday tomorrow and that means... The weekend is coming! The weekend is coming!

Till then,
Kiyoshi out! ^_^