Official: Windows 8 Release Preview Now Out

[ViRGE]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/release-preview

Do keep in mind that the new desktop UI isn't included with this version. That will be in the release version (this is looking less like an RC and more like a very late Beta).

 

[happysmiles]

after using RP for a bit, it's definitely an improvement but there's so many little annoying things that I'm glad they still have 4 months to work on it.

Music app is nice, same with video and photo they just seem a bit...bare
Microsoft keep aiming for average users, we are POWER users!!! I'm just hoping spotify/Winamp release a good metro app.

Desktop looks nicer imo. no need to enable classic mode anymore (I know more changes are coming)


Essentially I'm just pinning programs to the taskbar in desktop if I want the win7 experience. I right-clicked on the bottom left hand corner and it gave me all these options which I thought was a nice touch! too bad I discovered it by accident!! I don't like however how right click feels a bit useless in metro mode, to me right click is where windows comes alive. There are still too many left clicks for my liking in Metro mode. I'd definitely like a big fat X to close a program and tab button feels hmm...it's like they haven't translated win 7 shortcuts properly over to metro.

It feels like Microsoft has the right idea but they keep missing the mark.

Also, I bought my netbook last year and I can't change the brightness since I have intel gma 3150.

shame they couldn't add proper support for such a thing. AMD notebook changes brightness just fine.

simply put if my next pc comes with win8, I'm just going to live in desktop unless the kinks in Metro get worked out.

 

[dagamer34]

1) I wish there was a mode to prevent new Desktop apps from pinning crud to the Start screen automatically.
2) I consider the OS and it's associated apps separate from each other. The apps are in a rough state, but the OS itself is almost finalized. Changing icons/themes doesn't require as much testing as mucking around the core of the OS. I don't expect any delays.
3) There are lots of apps where I was like, "Holy shit, Android tablets just got screwed". The level of polish on some of the apps is amazing. Check out the Tom's Hardware and AllRecipes apps on the store to see what I mean.

Overall, every OS will live and die by it's app selection. Simple as that.

 

[gmaster456]

Downloading now.

 

[gmaster456]

Well there you have it

"..... it’s time to start evaluating Windows 8 as it is, now, in the Release Preview, and not looking forward to some future where whatever forces will come together and deliver some more complete vision. There’s no more complete vision coming. This is it. This is Windows 8, this is the OS that Microsoft and its hardware partners will sell come the fall, and this is the platform that Microsoft has bet its future on … now. With the Developer Preview in late 2011, we had to wait for the apps. With the Consumer Preview, we had to wait for more mature apps. And now with the Release Preview … there’s no waiting. This is it."

So if you don't like Windows 8, you're essentially stuck with Windows 7.

 

[Dominato3r]

The download dies after ~5mins for me.

 

[lxskllr]

Installing it now. It didn't click before, but you know what I like? The hourglass throbber; It's like a rollercoaster. It goes faster on the downslope, and slows down coming up the other side. Little amusements :^D

 

[postmortemIA]

about to overwrite my linux installation with this

 

[lxskllr]

about to overwrite my linux installation with this :d

:^o

!#@$

 

[JackMDS]

Here is a page with few "Cliffs" of what is in the Release.

http://www.winsupersite.com/

 

[dagamer34]

I wonder what gamers will do if Windows 8 gives a 5-10% boost to FPS over Windows 7. Probably not going to happen, but an interesting thought experiment. Is there hatred of Metro so high that they will still refuse to upgrade?

Oh, and everyone should check out the Tom's Hardware app on the Windows Marketplace. Can you imagine of AnandTech had an app like that? *drools*

 

[zerocool84]

Definitely interesting. This is my first time using 8 and at first after going into Internet Explorer, it took me a while just to figure out how in the hell to get out of it. Everything is hidden in spots of the edges of the screen. Nothing telling you to go there or anything. Definitely feels like it's made for mobile and not for desktop. Not liking this at all.

 

[lxskllr]

Definitely interesting. This is my first time using 8 and at first after going into Internet Explorer, it took me a while just to figure out how in the hell to get out of it. Everything is hidden in spots of the edges of the screen. Nothing telling you to go there or anything. Definitely feels like it's made for mobile and not for desktop. Not liking this at all.

If you use the desktop IE(launch from the desktop shortcut) it works as expected. You were in the craptastic Metro version, and that isn't suitable for desktop use.

 

[zerocool84]

If you use the desktop IE(launch from the desktop shortcut) it works as expected. You were in the craptastic Metro version, and that isn't suitable for desktop use.

Thanks but that's what it defaults to which is retarded so anyone that jumps into W8 for the first time will be like wtf just how I was.

 

[Kristijonas]

Intalled win 8 a hour ago. Everyone were complaining about the UI so much. But I actually like it. I see Metro as an alternative to go to places rather than the traditional way. I switch between desktop and metro a lot and I like the feeling of it. The lack of start menu doesn't bother me, except I needed to make a shorcut to C disk on my desktop (only one HDD). I like the feeling of windows 8, it feels... newer and more flexible somehow. No compatibility issues with programs so far. I wanted to look for drivers with driver genius pro, but it didn't find a single outdated driver (it usually does in most PCs) so I take it as a good driver support from win8. I don't know why, but I enjoy Metro UI, even on PC. Others said it's not intuitive and they were lost in it "for half a day" without learning how to use it... I don't get it. To sum it up - I love it! Although I'd stick with it even if I'd find the UI annoying - I'm choosing win8 for it's behind the scenes improvements rather than UI.

Please share any performance tests you make or find, here! I'm very interesting to see a comparison between release preview and win7.

 

[postmortemIA]

metro is ok but lack of flexibility is not. it is difficult to open all programs. it is difficult to close an application. it is difficult to shut down computer. many things that used to be easy to navigate to now needs zillion steps. lack of start button alone will fail windows 8.
i do like improvements to aero style, making all buttons little more flat does seem nice and refreshing.

 

[Andrmgic]

It's difficult when you don't know how to do something.

When you learn, it is no more difficult than any other version of windows.

Shutdown/Restart - Win + I - Click power - Shutdown or Restart - one extra step.. not a deal breaker, imo.

win + q = show all programs, activate search for applications

Metro apps are not intended to have to be closed, but you can close them by clicking and dragging from the top of the application window down to the bottom of the screen and letting go.

You folks may as well start learning the UI.. it's not going away.

 

[Kristijonas]

You can both close applications and shutdown/reset by simply pressing alf+f4. The same as in win7.

 

[tommo123]

well i watched the video on the link in OP and unless i'm mistaken, every single device shown was a touchscreen based one. even the laptop. yeah, let me jump right in and buy a 60" touchscreen plasma TV with a 6 foot stylus to poke the screen with!

can't wait to play FPS on windows 8 by poking the on screen controls like on my phone.

 

[ultimatebob]

Honestly, it looks like they haven't made all that many changes to the Start screen and the desktop interface.

In other words, it's still the same Windows 8 interface that I learned to hate a few months ago. I'll pass on this one.

 

[postmortemIA]

You can both close applications and shutdown/reset by simply pressing alf+f4. The same as in win7.

Wonderful. I am too from time where keyboard was primary input device, and can get around as you describef. But most people are not. Most people if they can't click it, they don't know where it is. Shall my disabled dad do alt+f4 too? He can use mouse just fine, but keyboard is no-go.

 

[Munky]

So let me guess, what used to be easy to understand clickable mouse icons are now replaced by keyboard combinations? Yeah, that's progress I can believe in... real clean allright. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Revolution 11]

So let me guess, what used to be easy to understand clickable mouse icons are now replaced by keyboard combinations? Yeah, that's progress I can believe in... real clean allright. Thanks, but no thanks.

Next thing you know, we will be "progressing" to command-prompt. Clean, elegant, minimalistic as hell, and it is real fast.

(No offense to command-prompt, we all love it occasionally)

 

[GrumpyMan]

Hell, might as well go back to Dos 6.2. What made Windows successful was point, click and windows of course. Not alt+f4 or any other keyboard shortcut to get shit done.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

The fact there is this renewed reliance on keyboard shortcuts in an OS aimed at a touchscreen interface absolutely baffles me.