Windows 8 Nears the Finish Line: What's Good, What's Bad

The Windows 8 Release Preview arrived ahead of schedule, and I've spent the past week pounding on it. For those of you accustomed to the earlier Consumer Preview, many of the changes hardly rate a yawn. But some show that Microsoft's not down for the count just yet.

The most distressing point? We won't see another snapshot until Microsoft crosses its self-imposed finish line. Past versions of Windows have strewn the battlefield with successive release candidates. With Windows 8, you can kick the tires with this version, but you'll have to hold your breath and see what the final quantum jump will bring. Most assuredly this Release Preview is not a release candidate.

In this look at Windows 8 Release Preview, I won't go over all the baggage that's been debated before -- no, the Start button isn't there; yes, you have to get used to those Metro tiles; no, the interface isn't easy to learn; yes, the Metro to Desktop jumps will knock the eyeballs out of your sockets; no, people with PCs who have to get "real work" done won't like it; yes, on a touch device some of it actually grows on you. Instead, I'll focus on the improvements, quirks, and shortcomings of this last look before gold code.

Read more at:
Windows 8 Nears the Finish Line: What's Good, What's Bad | PCWorld
 
They say that aero glass will dissapear, but let's hope we still get a choice for colors. A full white window border is not that pretty for all of us:
windows8_rtm_taskbar-11371232.jpg
Picture is also from the source: pc world: Windows 8 Nears the Finish Line: What's Good, What's Bad | PCWorld
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
If that article is correct - transparency will be retained for the taskbar.

That makes it more likely a 3rd party app. can resuscitate it elsewhere.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
That makes it more likely a 3rd party app. can resuscitate it elsewhere.

Can't stand using third party apps for things like this, even on my phone where the OS resources are much smaller. For example, I need a 3rd party app to turn off the start-up sound. I'm not a programmer but I'm willing to bet it takes more to create that start-up sound than to turn it off. Regardless, I have to fill up my app drawer with a icon that turns off my start-up sound. Not a fan of a gazillion icons, this is just dumb. And this is how MS wants 8 to be?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Black Label 7x64
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1055t
    Motherboard
    GA-890FXA-UD5
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD 6790
    Sound Card
    X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty Pro
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AJ15
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Barracuda 7200 SATA 280GB
    WD Caviar Green SATA 500GB
    PSU
    OCZ ModXStream 700W
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps/25 Mbps
According to that article rumors are saying that they are trying to remove the start button completely and make it hard for third parties to bring it back. Hopefully, that is actually a rumor. If not I hope they have a good replacement.
 

My Computer

They say that aero glass will dissapear, but let's hope we still get a choice for colors. A full white window border is not that pretty for all of us:
View attachment 6718
Picture is also from the source: pc world: Windows 8 Nears the Finish Line: What's Good, What's Bad | PCWorld

I want to see them get rid of the actual window control buttons in deference for simple icons. An X for the close, a simple rectangle or a square, and a simple dash to minimize or maybe, even a full screen icon. The buttons look awful.

I'm disappointed with the nav bar, it takes too much space and parts are superfluous, like the up button. Why?! Some things like search and the breadcrumb bar could be consolidated, shifted to the right of the tabs on the Ribbon. The File menu with its few useful things can be consolidated into Home and View tabs, leaving space for a large back button and a small forward button, like in IE 9/10, so everything matches.
 

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
If that article is correct - transparency will be retained for the taskbar.

Ugh. That's the one place where I don't want transparency. If I have a white window (like Notepad, or Explorer) and stick it under the taskbar, the white text on the taskbar buttons becomes unreadable.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Those screenshots look absolutely ghastly.

Flat, plain, dull, boring.

Hope there'll be a 3rd-party app to put Aero back.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
Yes aero will be a loss.

Pointless removing it - you can just turn it off if you think it helps battery life.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I want to see them get rid of the actual window control buttons in deference for simple icons. An X for the close, a simple rectangle or a square, and a simple dash to minimize or maybe, even a full screen icon. The buttons look awful.

What?

I'm disappointed with the nav bar, it takes too much space and parts are superfluous, like the up button. Why?! Some things like search and the breadcrumb bar could be consolidated, shifted to the right of the tabs on the Ribbon.

The Breadcrumb Bar would be useless if it was smaller.
Some people like to know where they are, when they are traversing the directory structure.
The Up button is always in the same place.

BTW, does anyone know if MS has fixed the Windows Explorer Navigation pane scrolling bug (err ... sorry feature)?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    n/a
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD6450
    Sound Card
    Realtek?
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S23B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 1.5 TB (SATA), Western Digital 2 TB (SATA), Western Digital 3 TB (SATA)
    Case
    Tower
    Mouse
    Wired Optical
    Other Info
    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
    Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-11-13
    Ubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-01-14
    RAM & Graphics Card Upgraded - 2013-01-13
    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
I want to see them get rid of the actual window control buttons in deference for simple icons. An X for the close, a simple rectangle or a square, and a simple dash to minimize or maybe, even a full screen icon. The buttons look awful.

What?

I'm disappointed with the nav bar, it takes too much space and parts are superfluous, like the up button. Why?! Some things like search and the breadcrumb bar could be consolidated, shifted to the right of the tabs on the Ribbon.

The Breadcrumb Bar would be useless if it was smaller.
Some people like to know where they are, when they are traversing the directory structure.
The Up button is always in the same place.

BTW, does anyone know if MS has fixed the Windows Explorer Navigation pane scrolling bug (err ... sorry feature)?

That's also why I would prefer to customize the Ribbon to how I use it, like in Internet Explorer, I can unlock the toolbars and shift them around. Why not do that with the Ribbon's bars?

If it would help, I'll see if I can draw what I'm talking about.
 

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

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    n/a
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD6450
    Sound Card
    Realtek?
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S23B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 1.5 TB (SATA), Western Digital 2 TB (SATA), Western Digital 3 TB (SATA)
    Case
    Tower
    Mouse
    Wired Optical
    Other Info
    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
    Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-11-13
    Ubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-01-14
    RAM & Graphics Card Upgraded - 2013-01-13
    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
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