Windows 8.1 Preview Now Available

[Derek12]

Meh it force me to reinstall everything so I will wait to the final release

 

[newtekie1]

So put it bang smack on the start screen

I shouldn't have to, it was automatically there on Win7, why is it not in Win8? Why do I have to search for it? Why do I have to search for anything, I never had to search for anything in win7?

Even more annoying, if I use your method of "just start typing" I have to type out almost the whole thing before Win8 realizes I don't want "Device Settings" I want "Devices and Printers". If I type "Devices" it only lists "Device Settings" and "Privacy Settings for other devices", it doesn't give me "Devices and Printers" until I type "Devices and", I can't even efficiently search for what I want.

And why does it automatically expand every folder on the start screen for every app? Why not do it like all other versions of Windows and just show a single folder for each program I have installed and when I click on the folder for the program I want then expand just that folder so I can see what is in it? Why is so much screen space totally wasted by listing 50 different uninstallers? It is like they went

Microsoft Employee 1: "Hey we gave the start area so much more space."
Microsoft Employee 2: "Lets force every single exe program on the computer to be shown. That why they only have to click once instead of twice to run the program they want."
Microsoft Employee 3: "Won't the time savings be negated by the fact that the user has to wade through hundreds of useless help and uninstaller programs that the user will likely never use
Microsoft Employee 4: "But they can just search for the program they want."
Microsoft Employee 3: "But our search algorithm sucks and doesn't give the user what they want until they type the whole thing, which wastes even more time."
Microsoft Employee 1: "But look more screen space for the Start Menu!"
Microsoft Employee 3: "Why don't we just give the user the option to go back to the old way if they wish?"
Steve Balmer: "I'm sorry Microsoft Employee 3 but we have to let you go, you just aren't a team player. Microsoft Employee 1 & 2, you're getting promotions!"

 

[johnspack]

Fast dl links right from MS: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/preview-download

 

[Arjai]

Bs!

Take a look at the forum and all the answers!

8.1 is a P>O>S!

That press release is a smoke screen, sniff the air. Smell anything? Smells a bit like the smell of a sweaty millionaire in a suit lying. I like to use my computer, not render it useless!

Apparently, Microsoft forgot about this one important rule of usability, make it work!

I must be a fool, the largest Software company in the World would surely change this Win8 thing for the better. So far, not so much better.

Maybe I over-react to this, maybe they will, eventually, get it right, maybe I am still a bit miffed with this whole WIN8...

Rant over.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Anyone figure out how to use your background of your desktop to be the background of the start screen?

 

[Arjai]

Anyone figure out how to use your background of your desktop to be the background of the start screen?

Better, right? "seamless integration, that makes the Metro more 'personable'"

(too bad one cannot see, or hear, me say that)(It is sarcasm)

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Better, right? "seamless integration, that makes the Metro more 'personable'"

(too bad one cannot see, or hear, me say that)(It is sarcasm)

I was asking a serious question. If you have no useful information, take your raging somewhere else.

 

[brandonwh64]

I have it downloading now and I am installing windows 8 in VMware to test cause I want to see what the differences are without killing my current OS

 

[BarbaricSoul]

DL'ing it now. I'll give it a chance before passing judgement. Going to install it on my laptop that I barely use.

 

[Dos101]

Anyone figure out how to use your background of your desktop to be the background of the start screen?

Go to the Start screen, bring up the charms bar. Select Settings, then Personalize. One of the background options should be your desktop wallpaper.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Go to the Start screen, bring up the charms bar. Select Settings, then Personalize. One of the background options should be your desktop wallpaper.

Yep, sure is!

 

[brandonwh64]

My download is going to 2GB and stopping. Its done this twice so maybe its cause people are spamming the server

 

[zsolt_93]

Anyone figure out how to use your background of your desktop to be the background of the start screen?

There is one more option. Right click on taskbar, get to properties, then navigation.. and it should be right under the boot to desktop checkbox.

 

[D007]

I want to say more.. but all I can think of is.
/Yawn..

 

[BarbaricSoul]

My download is going to 2GB and stopping. Its done this twice so maybe its cause people are spamming the server

I'm not having a issue. My slow ass DSL isn't the fastest, but it's been steadily DLíng since I started it. 75% done

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Definitely liking 8.1 (Blue). When I go haswell since I will have to reinstall OS anyways ill upgrade to 8. Been playing on my VM on my file server and messing around with all the new stuff. Desktop background for the background of start screen is awesome. Makes start screen more like an overlay, and then having it boot to Desktop right away like 7 is great too.

 

[tacosRcool]

I know its gonna be good so I'll wait till the official release

 

[Deadlyraver]

I'm a musician so instinctively I'm not going anywhere near Windows 8.1 or 8 until they fix their compatibility issues. The company is simply trying to merchandise their ideas by splitting them into multiple platforms until they capitalize the whole market.

Example:

Windows XP/7 - Filled with choices, both recreational and professional. You can do many things under their open ended UI and customize it towards better purposes. Especially suited for dedicated users, gamers, and code monkeys.

Windows 8/8.1 - Filled with clueless retards that have to use Bing (if they manage to find the browser) to solve ongoing confusion one obstacle after another to get a how-to on solving problem "x" to fix problem "y". However, this can be solved if you depend entirely on over-simplified services like Skydrive as long as you let Microsoft brain wash you to use ONLY their apps.

Ubuntu/Mac - They reject other people's reality and substitute their own.


In the simplest sense, they will know they flopped once the professionals start laughing.

 

[newtekie1]

If anyone is interested I can put the ISOs up in torrent for so you don't have to download them from the slow Microsoft site.

 

[eidairaman1]

no mention of Aero desktop or a Real Start Menu/Taskbar

 

[newtekie1]

no mention of Aero desktop or a Real Start Menu/Taskbar

Aero remains the same as Win8, there is no real Start Menu, just a start button back in the lower left corner that leads to the Metro Start Screen.

 

[eidairaman1]

Aero remains the same as Win8, there is no real Start Menu, just a start button back in the lower left corner that leads to the Metro Start Screen.

very pathetic, I really see Linux gaining steam in the Desktop market

 

[kenkickr]

a nice thing now is when you right-click on the "start" window icon. You actually get things that are useful!!

 

[eidairaman1]

a nice thing now is when you right-click on the "start" window icon. You actually get things that are useful!!

such as?

 

[newtekie1]

very pathetic, I really see Linux gaining steam in the Desktop market

I don't, Win8 has been out almost 8 months now and Best Buy still doesn't have a single Linux powered desktop or laptop on their showroom floor.

Most people's biggest complain isn't Aero or the Metro Start Screen, it really was the missing start button. You take that away and people just had no idea how to do things. Now that boot to desktop is an option and the start menu is back the complaints of the majority of computer users(AKA people that aren't power users/enthusiasts) are gone.