Windows 8 Consumer Preview download now available

Running it off of VirtualBox, x64 bit, 20GB Storage, 2048 MB Base Memory. OS itself is great, of course its still Beta status and theres a few kinks to work out.
FOR ME-Messenger often does not work correctly, App Store also works few and far between.
Great Idea behind the OS, both a Desktop and an (App based like Xbox 360 Dash) innovative start menu.
I cant wait for the day when there are thousands of apps for this OS.
Definitely buying, in my opinion its better than 7 hands down.


Only downside, I have yet to find a way to close apps easily aside from Alt+F4 and Ctrl+W

Top close a metro app left click and hold the top middle of the app/screen and drag it to the bottom as if u are dragging an icon into a folder/trash bin.

Compatibility Center for Windows 8 Consumer Preview
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/en-US/CompatCenter/Home#

Having no luck downloading the preview (32bit). The download just won't proceed. Is Microsoft overloaded?

Well after playing with Windows 8 for a bit. I will agree with what several others have said. It looks like it would be good for a tablet or phone format. It would take a while to get use to the new look/feel as a daily driver. I do very little social networking aside from e-mail. That?s the feel I get from it, they are gearing it more towards the social networking crowd. The desktop looks about the same other than missing the start button. Once on the desktop most things looked about the same as Win 7. There would be a learning curve to be comfortable with where everything is located again. Aside from that I don?t think it would prevent me from giving the Full release a try one day, provided when it is released, Windows 8 will break Microsoft?s every other OS being poopy curse.

Already installed in our enterprise environment (i'm a network admin), and working as a charm.

Ok, some stuff is still unpolished, Metro isn't very useful for enterprise laptops, but improved copy dialog, task manager are some of the things I was really waiting for!

I can't see us getting Windows 8.

We bought a Touchscreen monitor for Windows 7 but find it too annoying to use as it involves reaching out over your desk! WE don't own a touch/smart phone or a tablet and never will.

We don't like the Metro flat look at all, we prefer out icons and everything to have a nice colourful 3D look.

We have no use for Social Networking of any kind. None! That's right we don't use Facebook, Twitter, et al.

We use Firefox/Thunderbird not IE/Outlook. We mainly use out PC for running web browsing, Word typing, DrawPlus Vector drawing, PhotoPlus & PSP pho work, 3D Studio Max, AutoCAD, Songbird and other powerful programs. Also for playing FPS games and Simulation games. We have no use for gimmicky Apps, like weather apps, etc. We use our PC for several hours a day and we push it hard.

We are happy with our level of security, we use Avira, Comodo Firewall and no cloud services at all.

It seems to us that Windows 8 has nothing new for us, and if anything is less suitable to our needs!

After reading this, I think I'll pass on this one:
March 01, 2012
Windows 8 Consumer Preview: 'Windows Frankenstein'

http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsof...ein-187749?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_2012-03-01

Good grief! They too away the Start button!!

Not more "upgrades" please as at this rate I'll be going over to Linux. Frequently when an OS is "upgraded" new printer drivers are required. The less ethical printer manufacturers then refuse to supply new drivers unless the printer is still current and on sale. (for example I have a laser printer - a good one - which is now dead in the water for a lack of modern drivers) In most spheres of commerce these "Spanish Practices" would be regarded as theft, but because computers are involved this somehow seems to make it OK. I have read about the parties that are held when the plug is pulled on older versions of software and basically these party-goers are celebrating the fact that they are now going to be able to screw yet more money out of the hapless punter. It sucks.

I think I invented a new game to play with these comments.

I call it: "Spot The Mac Fanboys"

Win8 Preview Comments

Well... That was without a doubt the most under-whelming experience I can remember. And time out of my life I will never get back.
Really? That's it? What a pain in the ****.
I'll be sticking to Win7, thank you very much.
How the bloody hell is this an improvement?
If you are a power user Win8 is hardly a step forward in terms of a GUI.
WTF??

...just saying... don't waste your time, unless you have some to waste.

Win 8 Works like a Charm waiting for the full release

Yes, It is truly, truly awful!!!!!

I installed W8 on Asus Slate Tablet and it works great. The only items it did not accept from what I had installed were two print drivers that needed to be upgraded and a utility that needed upgrade.
It took a few days to get used to the interface, but when I started to do some work it really provided a great way to work within a multiple application scenario - easy to pop into and out of tools.

What the new interface does is to provided ready access to things you use the most and to give you information about activities going on within those tools at a glance (e.g. emails scrolling). You can work within the more W7 type interface if you wish in Desktop and you will do that often. The applications are the same and I find things to be just as fast or more than ever. Also, the new explorer really gives you a nice full screen presentation and has a tile interface too, but you can still use the old style if you wish. It is a whole lot more than W7 and is great on a tablet with the W8 tile interface. Virtual Keyboard is greatly improved. Anyone that says this is bad is simply an anti-MIcrosoft bigot and Apple robot. I have an iPAD. There are tons of things wrong with it.

like I need yet another OS to get in the way of me just doing my thing..................

im working with Windows 8 consumer preview since it's release
and i must say i love it. Im a technial support mangager,
wich means can work pretty fast with windows7, i mean realy fast but
with windows8 . . . its like lightning . . . (im not a fan boy btw)

ok at the beginning the missing start menu was quiet annoying but after
all i do with start is pressing the windows button, type what i want and press Enter.(windows7)
with windows 8 IT IS STILL THE SAME. how many ppl among the power users use their mouse to find the program in the start menu they want to use ?

what i wanna say is, test it for few days and i can say u this . . .
windows8 is awsome.

Hello,wake up people it's all about the apps. Apps track every move you make. It won't suprise me if they don't set up stands on the side of the road and give Windows 8 away. Microsoft would be paid by the trackers.
No thanks!

I really don't miss the start menu, as I feel that was the most unintuitive aspect of windows that needed the most change. It has become an unorganized mess. How many people were running programs through the start menu and their respective program folders?? I usually run programs from either the task bar links or by using windows button and windows search. Most I know run it through desktop shortcuts, and some even using the Mac style rocketdock program. After an hour of it, I feel I have most of it down, just finding it a little hard to mouse over to top right corner to see app preview windows.