Macworld Forums: Windows 8 coming to consumers in October - Macworld Forums

Post your comments for Windows 8 coming to consumers in October here

The first critical Windows 8 security patches will be released later that same week.

I'm still waiting to meet the guy who thinks Windows 8 is a good idea.

thechrisroberts, on 09 July 2012 - 11:44 AM, said:

It depends on what you mean. I'm not sure anyone in the enterprise thinks so but they were unlikely to upgrade anyway. Most corporate IT teams have just recently upgraded to Win 7. Almost no enterprise will look at Win 8/9 for years.

But consumers are different. Microsoft is placing a lot of emphasis on tablets and convertible touch screen laptops bought by consumers. Those smaller screen users might benefit a lot from Metro. I don't think it is an easy call whether or not Win 8 will be successful with that market. Microsoft is rightfully concerned that they are losing out to Apple and maybe Google. This is their attempt to stop the bleeding. I have no idea if it will work but it has to be better than doing nothing.

This post has been edited by jdb8167: 09 July 2012 - 01:22 PM

Re: "By thechrisroberts
Mon Jul 09 12:44:35 PDT 2012

I'm still waiting to meet the guy who thinks Windows 8 is a good idea."

Good idea or no, I'm likely to be running it someday - at least in emulation... ...so hoping for the best...

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Hmm. What does the "bits" refer to? Isn't it a 64-bit system?

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Heehee, 8 bits...

thechrisroberts, on 09 July 2012 - 11:44 AM, said:

Microsoft is definitely emulating Apple inasmuch as tying their desktop solutions "seamlessly" (I use that term loosely) with their mobile, like OS X and iOS and iCloud ties the Apple ecosystem together. Seems to work for Apple while Google doesn't have that kind of functionality. Does your Nexus use integrate into your ChromeBook? It's a consumer move. Enterprise will probably avoid it like Vista. Microsoft just seems to really want this uniformity with all their products. Is that a good idea? Even for consumers? Guess it depends on anyone's adoption of Windows phones and Surface (possibly other Windows tablets). But while Apple has melded its two operating systems, they are still separate software packages. Windows is looking to put mobile (Metro) on a desktop and put its desktop on mobile. To answer your pondering: no one I've heard believes this is a good idea. And it's sad; Microsoft needed to innovate to really stay alive in the future of computing, and they did, but in typical fashion they weren't willing to make the tough calls and say yes to this functionality and no to other that didn't jive, because "someone may want it".

In the end it's going to do something for the company. They're backing 8 so hard that it'll succeed (not likely) or it will forever change Microsoft with its failure. As someone who occasionally uses Windows via Boot Camp who was holding out for 8, I'm considering just purchasing 7 now.

jdb8167, on 09 July 2012 - 01:14 PM, said:

Well, it's not going to guarantee success in the tablet market. It is going to guarantee that Windows 7 is the last version of Windows I buy. I absolutely loath the ham-handed attempt to force Metro on me.

I also find it extremely disingenuous that Microsoft is pretty much getting a pass for actively KILLING any attempts to restore the start button to the traditional Windows desktop that's stranded within the mess that is Metro - pretty lame for the platform that's supposed they savior of "open" and the alternative for those who like choice as contrasted to Apple.

Jasonmwa, on 09 July 2012 - 06:25 PM, said:

Which has nothing to do with my desktop that has a 30 inch display and will always have a keyboard and mouse. But talk about being forced into a once size fits all!

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Exactly. All the moaning and complaining about the "iOSification" of OSX was always ridiculous - but now compared to Microsofts ham handed attempt to literally jam Metro down every Windows users throat whether it brings ANY value to the table or not, Apple's moves are downright tame.

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Well, it worked for Outlook/Exchange. They thrust Outlook Express in front of home users and pretty soon all anyone wanted in the office was Outlook - never mind there were (and still are) many far better email clients.

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Yup! I think what the Windows division isn't realizing is this is a new world out there. They no longer have the ubiquitous reach they once did, and Microsoft is no longer the winner by default.

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That's what I did. I had the Windows 8 previews on a new gaming computer I built, but the utterly ridiculous grafting of Metro onto the desktop OS which increased the number of steps to do simple things with ABSOLUTELY NO benefit in exchange for the extra work, and Microsoft's absolute REFUSAL to acknowledge that their touch inspired crap makes NO SENSE on a desktop with a mouse inspired me to take advantage of a recent sale at Newegg and get Windows 7. Sadly after putting 7 on my machine was performing slower. With a little investigation it turned out that the beta Nvidia drivers for my card were the culprit (they were much faster) so staying on Windows 7 would still work for me.

And it's too bad - there are some things I really do like in Windows 8 - but their bone headed stubbornness over Metro is just nuts. I can't think of a better time for the phrase "Jumped the Shark"...

This post has been edited by DocNo: 10 July 2012 - 03:42 AM

"Reller also noted that Windows 7 has been a bestseller for the company, with 630 million copies sold and more than half of desktops in the enterprise using the OS."

Wow that is a staggering number 2/3 of a Billion copies of Win 7 out there. I guess it is too early to use beleaguered and Microsoft in the same sentence?

Jasonmwa, on 09 July 2012 - 06:25 PM, said:

Yes and you can address a whopping 256 bytes of memory.

Instead of "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones that Microsoft used for the Windows 95 introduction perhaps they can use "Metro Song" by the Wombats [nice reference to "...little blue bomb on the A11..." which is what Win 8 may display when it BSODs ;-)] for the Win 8 intro...

"Oooh ooh ooh, ba ba oooh ooh ooh

Don't you think kind of cruel?
My two door rocking rover bean-can is the only thing that reminds me of you
I'm sorry I missed your show last night
It's just my car broke down and mirrored both our lives

Oooh ooh ooh, ba ba oooh ooh ooh

I think I miss my metro, oh
I think I miss my metro, or maybe I just miss you

Don't you think its kind of cool?
My tape-player was bust but it always played for you
Then you slapped me from the passenger seat
I think my car got really pissed off so it failed its M.O.T!

Oooh ooh ooh, ba ba oooh ooh ooh

I think I miss my metro, oh
I think I miss my metro, or maybe I just miss you

He's just my little blue bomb on the A11....

I think I miss my metro, oh
I think I miss my metro, or maybe I just miss you"