Windows 8 Enterprise N....

Coke Robot

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Well, I did it, I'm running the Enterprise N version of 8 on my puter and for all those that are wondering about details...

Whoa. :shock: I've yet to be able to active it, I doubt I'll be able to, but Start Screen patterns are a glorious ridiculous! I've seen a few screenshots of them, wow! Screams Zune Characters to me. But the default pattern for some reason reminds me of sperm and egg.... I don't know why. There are a few tweaks to the Store, as well as Xbox branding on Music and Video, which aren't by default installed. There's a Bing app that's pretty neat. Pinning Desktop items looks different as the icon is now larger and the text is now ALL the same size regardless of app type. Honestly, how the Start Screen appears to function and designed, it kind of seems like it will allow for a full screen image without a little colored ribbon. Everything seems to function the same as the Release Preview, but I notice that the CPU usage is different. Before, my lowest CPU speed was at 800 MHz, it now goes to 780 MHz and literally everything in between that I never though my processor could go at.

Now, for everyone that's wondering, the Desktop. Aero has been scrapped altogether, I can't even find a single reference to the word "Aero" anywhere. The Taskbar though is transparent, and I actually really like it. It's just transparent, no glassiness, just transparency. The windows though are not, they're solid colors. The window control buttons are redesigned as well, they look more like Office 2013's buttons. There is a full on new sound scheme, oooohhh... :geek: If I had to describe it, it sound like futurie harpy angelic pianoie moderness. It's VERY different than what has been in Windows since vista sound wise. I like! The iconography on the Desktop hasn't changed a bit except for the nav and up buttons.

But I have a sneaking suspicion that the N version is technically the RTM build, but not the actual final build. Like, maybe a few builds away from being the actual one if you get my meaning. I say this because of a watermark on the Desktop. Also, the lack of metro styled (or Windows 8 styled) iconography like Office 2013 does. There is also some strangeness with the sounds, as there is a logon sound that is different but should be titled sign on preferably, and a logoff sound that is the old sound in 7 and vista. And there is an unlock sound too.

Overall, it's still very fast. IE 10 seems to be more beastly and I've read a few other people say that it out does chrome. But I haven't yet to test it fully.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
So no major changes from Consumer Preview?, also, any more apps in the store right now or no?

thanks :sarc:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro ($39.99 upgrade)
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    PC/Desktop
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    Home Built
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    Intel I5 3570K overclocked to 4.2ghz
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    Asus P8Z77-V LX
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    Cosrair DDR3-1600 (4 x 4gb)
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    Nvidia GeForce GT 610 2GB
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    None
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    AOC 27" LCD
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    1920x0180
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    Seagate HDD 500gb (windows)
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    CoolMax 700watt
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    Cosiar R400 Carbide series
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    Cool Master H212
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    Dell
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    PowerUp 3 button mouse
    Internet Speed
    12mb down, 1mb up
    Other Info
    qty. (5) 120mm fans, four are monitored by motherboard.
    Logitech T650 Touchpad for touch screen gestures
Pictures please of the Desktop area's Windows Explorer windows and the new taskbar?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I can post pics soon. I'll have to say that some of the lock screen pics look like some 7 year old went crazy with gradients in photoshop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 RTM (Retinas taking damage...)
    CPU
    i5 2500
    Motherboard
    msi p67a-g43
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3 1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    2x Nvidia 9800 GTX+
Genuine OEM licensees are given activation keys. Other than that I don't think it is possible to activate this copy.
" Pinning Desktop items looks different as the icon is now larger and the text is now ALL the same size regardless of app type"
Not sure about that one. I don't see a great deal of difference from earlier releases?

Pinto.jpg

The transparency can still be adjusted, as before, through the personalise - Windows colour option, but with everything wound out, still remains transparent.
I am 100% with phailyoors penultimate remark. This is a final, or close to, Beta test release. A final release, even to OEM, would not show a build in the watermark!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
Screenshot (1).png
This here is a barely finished put together Start Screen, what really caught my attention was that there is a little watermark saying to activate on the Start Screen and Desktop. I'll throw up some Desktop screenshots a bit later as I am in the Release Preview. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm going to be damn happy that soon it will the LAST time I need to reconfigure and set up libraries and such again. :geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I present a plethora of screenshots....

Screenshot (9).png
Control Panel
Screenshot (8).png
Different patterns for the Start Screen, they appear to be fantastically crazy
Screenshot (7).png
Lock Screens
Screenshot (5).png
The Desktop
Screenshot (2).png
Computer that looks whiter
Screenshot (11).png
How the Charms charm the Desktop
Screenshot (3).png
Desktop Peek is enabled by default in this build and this is how it looks
Screenshot (13).png
You can see the makings of Xbox Music with the new live tile preview of what you're listening to. You also can see the classical games of Solitaire and the beloved Minesweeper as games you can download.

And yes, this has been a tour.

But I still feel that this isn't a completed final RTM build. Xbox Music is OBVIOUSLY NOWHERE near being completed, as it does not play music oddly enough. It also doesn't appear to be what Microsoft has shown what it will be. There are some weird oddities that wouldn't EVER be in an official RTM build.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Interesting wallpaper.

The rest of it looks positively disgusting to me.

I expect there will be hacks coming to avoid those large clocks and fairy wands blighting the screen.

There will probably be our friends at deviant art putting themes together to try and make win8 appear less visually repellant.

That would just be scratching the surface though.

The holy grail is getting rid of or at least completely hiding the metro stuff.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hi there
Still LOATHE the "Kiddy" Menu.

It's a PC for ''''sake. It' NOT an overblown smartphone or a teenagers XBOX.

I'll still use it as a Conventional desktop.

I'll try Enterprise as I can either download from a torrent -- it's all out in the wild now on any self respecting Torrent site - or wait for a proper copy from TechNet but I still say what use are all these full screen apps on a HUGE 50 inch monitor -- the quality starts degrading too at those large screen sizes.

A classic desktop with a zillion and one windows working on up to 4 monitors is how I usually use a computer so the whole Metro stuff (or whatever it's called these days) can just quietly go back to an appropriate mobile device such as a smartphone where it probably belongs.

The screenshots don't bring anything new to the table from what I can see that we didn't know already.

The Pinkish colour screenshots (PC Settings) looks positively VILE to me too. I think I'd chuck the laptop at the first moving object I saw if I had to look at that screen for more than about 7 secs A CENTURY. !!

The control panel shots look somewhat similar to the customize your server in Windows 2012 server but not in those HIDEOUS colours though thank goodness.

I can see the "De-Uglification" project going into BIG TIME for Windows 8 if the above screens are really indicative of how it looks and feels.

Getting rid / hiding metro is SIMPLE with the free app Classic shell.

See my posts nrs 18 and 20 in the following w7 thread where I've made W8 almost 99% look and behave like W7 and you can boot straight into desktop (although metro will appear for a tiny fraction of time before it disappears to the desktop -- OK by me).

Is 'Metro' now a banned word at Microsoft? - Page 2 - Windows 7 Forums

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

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    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
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    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
Not really Jimbo.

You are looking at it as a simple clicker/jabber.

They have been ripping stuff out of desktop in the client builds. For those of us who want to control our own pc's - it is apalling.

I might need to consider if I am going to buy it at all now.

I was going to - but it is so awful - not sure I should encourage MS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I have Windows 8 enterprise N installed and I really don't like the gui.:mad: I am going to look into installing the classic shell maybe that will help. Goes to google. :eek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    CPU
    Core i3
    Memory
    8GB
    Hard Drives
    120 GB Intel 520 SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
Oh Dear Oh Dear
Having seen the various comments on the web which seem to have polarized into "love" or "hate" with nothing in between
I decided not to wait and installed the RTM.
For: It instals quickly and even tells you where to move your mouse to find the charm bar (but omits to point out that you have to move the mouse 5ft to the right if your desktop spans 3 screens, or bottom left for start etc). I like the retro approach of cycling through a rainbow of colours, it takes me back to the 1970s Commodore vic boot).
I hate the standard color options but found that in personalize you can choose more and set the color of the windows borders as well. My 19 month old grand daughter however will love the pastels. At least they haven't made IIS an option you can still add that feature.
End of the "fors".
The sidebar has been totally removed, I use custom gadgets (my own) to control routers/servers and keep an eye on temps etc.
If I cant find a way to add it back in like in 2012 server then its a total NONO.
I am aware that media center has been removed from the "N" version but it is a requirement for me I have live tv running in a window. I assume classic shell is still OK but have not installed it as yet.
Metro has not improved it has got worse but I noticed I got a little hand icon when the mouse was at the top of the screen even in desktop view; dragging it down shrunk the desktop but on release it went back to to full size. They have got it totally mixed up now.
I will persevere for a while but it looks like I will also be saving my $40 upgrade money.
MS have probably come to the conclusion that "professional" desktop users and corporates will not upgrade in any large numbers and are really dumbing it down to suit the facebook masses.
 

My Computer

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    xp , 7Pro, 8RP, Android phone, Tablet
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    Custom
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    q6600@3Ghz, amd 965 etc etc
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    gigabyte
    Memory
    8gb per
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    gts450 ,560gt etc
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    3xsamsung 24in
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    3, 1920x1200
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    lian li
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    60Mb
    Other Info
    Basically the house has 4 desktops 3 in the study + the wifes,
    3 laptops 1 netbook 2 android tablets 2 android smart phones
    and ipad and iphone
The sidebar has been totally removed, I use custom gadgets (my own) to control routers/servers and keep an eye on temps etc.
If I cant find a way to add it back in like in 2012 server then its a total NONO.

I will post a guide on how to enable gadgets. See my other post. in customization.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 RTM (Retinas taking damage...)
    CPU
    i5 2500
    Motherboard
    msi p67a-g43
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3 1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    2x Nvidia 9800 GTX+
Metro has not improved it has got worse but I noticed I got a little hand icon when the mouse was at the top of the screen even in desktop view; dragging it down shrunk the desktop but on release it went back to to full size. They have got it totally mixed up now.

If you drag it ALL the way to the bottom it closes the Application.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Custom Build
    CPU
    Intel i7-4770K
    Motherboard
    Asus Z87 Sabertooth
    Memory
    16 Gig DDR3-2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GT740
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    Onboard
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    Benq 27" - Benq 22" - Dell 23"
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    1680x1050
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    Samsung 840 pro 128g SSD
    1xWestern Digital Caviar Green 1TB
    2xWestern Digital Caviar Green 2TB
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    Seasonic 760 watt platinum
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    HAF-X
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    Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler
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    Logitech illuminated keyboard
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    Logitech Performance MX
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    Cable
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    Firefox
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    Avast Internet Security
For: It instals quickly and even tells you where to move your mouse to find the charm bar (but omits to point out that you have to move the mouse 5ft to the right if your desktop spans 3 screens, or bottom left for start etc).

Aren't you able to bring up the Charms bar if you simply move the mouse cursor to the corners on any screen?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Not really Jimbo.

You are looking at it as a simple clicker/jabber.

They have been ripping stuff out of desktop in the client builds. For those of us who want to control our own pc's - it is apalling.

I might need to consider if I am going to buy it at all now.

I was going to - but it is so awful - not sure I should encourage MS.

How are you not able to not control it? I don't see how it's set up to do that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
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