w8 desktop experience -- removeable or not - to kill metro

jimbo45

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Hi there
on W2012 server if you don't enable "Desktop Experience" in the manage your server ==> add features then you get boot straight to desktop although you have the bland desktop screen -- you can add backgrounds etc.

I'm currently not on W8 but was just wondering if there was a similar option in control panel ==> turn windows features on or off.


If the desktop experience could be disabled then Metro would vanish at a stroke --not sure if it can be done on W8 though.

Does this feature exist on W8 anyone.

I might look into the "Hackability" of W2012 server -- most of W8's code is based on this anyway.

cheers
jimbo
 

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Had a look a look expanded all options but cant find any reference to desktop experience.
Do have a look, but those users who do not approve of the metro start window have in all probability installed classic shell the latest version takes you direct to the desktop
 

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Well it /could/ mean that in the consumer version there is no UI for that option, but if the ability to completely kill Metro on the server (which of course would be necessary unless MS wanted to instantly lose ALL their server business), the core ability to do that on Windows 8 may be there but not exposed in the UI. Someone may figure out a way to do it on 8 once the you know what hits the fan big time on release...
 

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There is no desktop experience option in W8, W7, Vista, XP. There is a desktop experience in 2003 and 2008/R2/2012 which allow you to have a nicer GUI.
 

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I don't think there is a "desktop experience" option in the client versions of Windows as Microsoft expects these are "desktops", and thus the desktop experience is the normal, default option.
 

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I see no reason to kill Metro. If you hate it.....you might as well stay on Win7. lol Because quite frankly Windows 8 has nothing new on it really. Except for the mount option(which I just finally found out how to do, note to self: Don't ever install Winrar ever again)
Anyway....the mounting and the Ribbin in explorer...that is literally all they added outside of Metro. From what I see in RP. Oh and I guess I can say the Task manager also is updated. Other then all that....that is it.
It only takes 1 click to get to the desktop, sometimes I have to manually move my mouse and go to it but very rarely.
I mean in some cases I do believe that Metro is pointless. Since Windows 7 was always had the feature to PIN anything to the start window. Even before 7.
 

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Because quite frankly Windows 8 has nothing new on it really.
Nothing new ???

As "core features" I see:
  • "Windows 8 To Go" - start Windows 8 from a USB stick
  • Hybrid start (faster startup)
  • Flexible switching between WLAN and UMTS: Use always fastest connection. Upon request, no updates on UMTS (volume rates)
  • Mount ISOs
  • USB3 support installed
And many minor features:
  • New additional login option: Login by clicking on a pattern on a photo
  • Cloud Integration
  • PDF reader integrated
  • Read-aloud function improved - now available not only in English
  • Enhanced virus protection: "Defender" was expanded into a full virus scanner
  • Advanced copy function: Displays multiple copy operations simultaneously. Ability to pause and later resume a copying process, even after a shutdown or sleep mode. Better comparison of duplicate files. Graphical display of copy speed
  • Advanced device manager: In the driver properties a new tab "Events" has been added. This shows when each driver has been installed or updated with date and version
  • New task manager: With more visibility and display of auto start
  • Better multiple monitor support: Taskbar on each monitor. Each monitor can get own background image
  • Improved sensor support - if sensor is present: Temperature, pressure, light (to control the brightness of the screen), motion sensor, GPS (Geo-Location), blood pressure
  • DirectX11.1 for stereoscopic 3D graphics
  • System Restore with no data loss - but with loss of installed applications
  • Complete system restoration
  • Incremental Backup and Restore: "History Vault"
  • Support for ARM processors
 

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@Nifu:

The Windows To Go USB feature will ONLY be available in the "enterprise" version of the full Windows 8 release. This version of Windows is not sold to consumers directly. Thus, I would hesitate to list that as a "core feature" of Windows 8.
 

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I think he means nothing new that is any use to him.

It is fair enough.

A lot of stuff has been removed too.

About the only the feature that is any use to me is the usb3 support. Not exactly a biggie - it just saves a couple of drivers.

Plenty of things in it that are a damn nuisance , too.
 

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lol None of those seem useful. Which is why I said nothing new. Most of them I don't even know how to get to work let alone know wtf they are. Except for the mounting feature. And right now that doesn't seem to do much of anything. I can't think of anything right now to use that with. Unless it allows me to Play Blueray discs without having a Blueray drive. If not then it's pretty useless.
 

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lol None of those seem useful. Which is why I said nothing new. Most of them I don't even know how to get to work let alone know wtf they are. Except for the mounting feature. And right now that doesn't seem to do much of anything. I can't think of anything right now to use that with. Unless it allows me to Play Blueray discs without having a Blueray drive. If not then it's pretty useless. Cloud Integration...where? USB3...wtf is that? Hybrid start?...Where is that? Nowhere. PDF reader? Haven't seen it yet. Read-aloud function improved.....WTF is that Never heard of it. Advanced copy function, never heard of it. And have not seen it happen yet. Then again I never copy anything thats over a gig. I "download" but that's about it. I never have to copy anything. So that feature is pointless for me. The task manager I ALREADY said that....no need to bring that up again. Sensor support....wtf? No NEED for it at all. Backup and restore?==OLD. DirectX 11 was already on Windows 7, so that's OLD. Advanced device manager, could care less. I never install devices, all I do is plug and play. UMTS (volume rates) WTF is that?
start Windows 8 from a USB stick=What kind of idiot would want to do that? ARM processors Support? Why?
Login by clicking on a pattern on a photo, I don't use passwords....let alone would ever need to login with a dumb picture. That by far is the dumbest. What kind of idiot uses any type of password? Unless u don't trust who you live with, outside of that...there is no need.



For some reason my post was posted twice....Sorry its the forums fault I guess o.o
 

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Thanks for the list, NiFu :) I didn't realize there were so many until now that I see them all in one place. Very neatly and well presented also, I must add.

@Nifu:

The Windows To Go USB feature will ONLY be available in the "enterprise" version of the full Windows 8 release. This version of Windows is not sold to consumers directly. Thus, I would hesitate to list that as a "core feature" of Windows 8.

Kinda' nitpicky aren't we? I mean the person laid out a good list of additions in a very well, organized presentation. I suggest to at least say something positive also.

For some reason my post was posted twice....Sorry its the forums fault I guess o.o

I suggest to slow the F down! :shock:
 

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None of those seem useful.
OK - you are a person who don't need most of this features. But many other are happy to get this features.

USB3...wtf is that?
No need for separate USB 3.0 drivers.

Hybrid start?...Where is that? Nowhere.
Leads to faster start.

PDF reader? Haven't seen it yet.
Open a PDF file - you will see the integrated PDF reader. No need to install a separate program like "Adobe Reader"

Read-aloud function improved.....WTF is that Never heard of it.
People with low vision or blind like this feature. Windows can read web pages and emails aloud.

Advanced copy function, never heard of it. And have not seen it happen yet. I never have to copy anything.
Many people copy files; e.g. copy pictures from camera smart cards to PC, sort them in folders, etc.

Sensor support....wtf? No NEED for it at all.
Many sensors are very useful. E.g.:
motion sensor = Tablet PC recognize orientation and switch automatically between "portrait" and "landscape" view
GPS (Geo-Location) = shows location or record travel routes

DirectX 11 was already on Windows 7
But not "DirectX11.1 for stereoscopic 3D graphics"

Advanced device manager. I never install devices
Then you're in luck. Many other people need to search for appropriate drivers and test different driver versions. Then it's very helpful to have a driver history.

UMTS (volume rates) WTF is that?
UMTS = "3G Mobile Telecommunications System". Many access provider have volume based rates. So it's better to download Windows updates (and other background updates) with LAN or WLAN and not with expensive UMTS volume rates.

start Windows 8 from a USB stick=What kind of idiot would want to do that?
Many people like it: Have a complete preinstalled personalized Windows 8 on an USB stick. If you are on travel you only need your small USB stick and not a whole notebook. Plug in the USB stick in a PC of a friend and you can run you own personalized Windows 8.

ARM processors Support? Why?
Notebooks,, Netboks and Tablet PCs with ARM processor are much cheaper and energy efficient than Intel or AMD processor.

Login by clicking on a pattern on a photo, I don't use passwords.... What kind of idiot uses any type of password?
Many other people need password; e.g. employees want protect their data from the cleaning staff. If they are on travel with their notebook they want to save their data if notebook is stolen, etc.

So: You don't need any of the new features - so stay with Windows 7 and save money.
 

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Same here! I don't mind critiques on 8 from non-fans, but wow!
 

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Except for the mounting feature. And right now that doesn't seem to do much of anything. I can't think of anything right now to use that with. Unless it allows me to Play Blueray discs without having a Blueray drive. If not then it's pretty useless.
Well, I don't have an optical drive on my machine. So, to install something like MS Office, I can make an ISO of the disc from another machine, then copy the ISO across the network to my box and mount the ISO and run setup. Perhaps you later need the Windows CD to install the support tools. If you had an ISO of the Windows install disc on your hard drive, you could just mount it and load from there....rather than getting the physical disc and inserting it into your optical drive.

Cloud Integration...where?
Skydrive is there by default. Sign up to your sky drive account and you see it. Also, upcoming metro apps will save common configs and such in the cloud and these settings can follow you from machine to machine if you have have multiple Windows 8 machines.

PDF reader? Haven't seen it yet.
Install Windows 7. Download a PDF file, try to view it. You cannot. You must get a PDF reader app and install it.
Install Windows 8. Download a PDF file, try to view it. You can. It's the PDF reader.


Advanced copy function, never heard of it. And have not seen it happen yet. Then again I never copy anything thats over a gig.
Copy any file, you will get a popup with a little graphical chart. You can pause a file copy. It's all right there, you don't have to do anything.

What kind of idiot uses any type of password? Unless u don't trust who you live with, outside of that...there is no need.
Anybody who shares a computer with anybody likely has a password set. Sometimes you need to keep your children out of something. You don't really want somebody just turning on your computer and jumping right into your desktop do you?
 

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lol None of those seem useful. Which is why I said nothing new. Most of them I don't even know how to get to work let alone know wtf they are. Except for the mounting feature. And right now that doesn't seem to do much of anything. I can't think of anything right now to use that with. Unless it allows me to Play Blueray discs without having a Blueray drive. If not then it's pretty useless.

If nothing new is useful, just curious, are there other reasons to upgrade or you stick to Win7?

I wouldn't upgrade if there are no interesting new features, but I must say there are some interesting things added since Win7.
 

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    That's basically it.
I found the PDF reader it is a Metro App. I opened an attachment on Thunderbird which opened the Metro App. I then had to exit the App (doing pretend my mouse is a hand) and found my self in Metro. Had to then click on desktop to get back to where I was working. Needless to say I immediately installed a proper desktop application.

Most of the new features are good though. I would be running it as my main system and upgrade when it comes out except for the small matter of Metro. Metro ruins all that good work.
 

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