Windows 8 on a Tablet

This is the other side of the medal. Are we looking at a chameleon ?

Microsoft has a big job ahead to make this dual personality work. My limited testing shows that the Metro interface is not natural to use with a mouse and keyboard, and the desktop mode doesn’t work well with touch. It’s like a one size fits all shirt that is far too big in the shoulders and far too tight around the waist. One size rarely fits all.

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More ...Windows 8: First steps with the dual personality on tablets | ZDNet

I hope MS will improve the Metro UI, enable mouse gestures, the transition to desktop, etc.
This is an alpha version, there are bound to be improvements.

The author of the article seemed surprised that it switched between the two UIs, again it's an alpha version.
I have read that there will be an option to not load the desktop UI, which would mean functionality in Metro will be capable of handling all the functions currently done by the desktop in later versions.

As they will likely also have an option for 'classic' desktop with a Win7 style start menu for those that don't want to learn the new Metro UI.

I look at Metro as being a Icon organization app, like Fences, which will allow you to keep your desktop clean and uncluttered.
When using Fences I just double click the desktop and I can see all my icons, double click again and they are gone.
In Metro you just hit the start button. Easy, with more features, continually updated info from apps, etc.

When the transition is more fluid it will be very easy to get use to.

I posted this because I thought it was interesting to hear how Win8 "feels" on a tablet. We only view it from the PC side and as far as I know none of us has tried it yet on a tablet - at least nobody has posted anything about it.

If one wants to operate Win8 on a tablet, it may be good to have a stylus so that one can hit the classic windows icons more precisely.

Speak for yourself! I have been using win8 on a tablet. Its fantastic. Ms really did a good job.

newbie said:

Speak for yourself! I have been using win8 on a tablet. Its fantastic. Ms really did a good job.

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Well good. You are the first one I know that posted using Win8 on a tablet. Maybe you can give a more detailed experience report.

I believe John put it on a tablet early on, don't remember seeing his opinion of it anywhere.

Would be nice to see some reviews/opinions of it on a tablet.

Dave you are right- Let me start a thread for that.

I'm getting a tablet soon, I've been using Win8 on a laptop and I like it... I'll try it on a tablet soon.

I'm hoping at some point to put it on my HP TouchPad, I do realize it may not ever be possible. :sad:
Some groups are working on a Android port.

Alright guys. So I have an acer Iconia w500. The cpu is anemic but one of the AMD fusion one so its good a good GPU for the power. The SSD is nothing fancy. Even so win8 is running pretty fast. Had to get into bios to select usb as startup. Downloaded 32 bit version and put it on USB key using microsoft tool. Installation took less than half an hour. Used windows 7 drivers for things not autorecognised. Did not install device control software. Not going to use portrait mode.

Cold boot: <15 secs! Not kidding. If you have one of those fancy SSD I figure you could boot in 10sec. Internet explorer is extremely responsive to touch just like safari on itouch (I dont have an ipad). Not many apps to write about but things generally work fine. Smooth scrolling and stuff. I am not sure whether its due to the fusion APU or whether win8 requires less memory/cpu than win7. I had win7 on the same tablet and I will NOT be going back. That should tell you something!

Not planning to install office on mytablet. If you have any specific questions fire away.

Thanks for the report. Sounds good. The current 8 is indeed a lot smaller than 7 - between 600MB and 900MB as per Resource Monitor. But that is early days. I remember the 7 Beta was also a lot smaller compared to what we are seing now. Once they plunk all their stuff in, we will be well beyond 1GB. But then you can always slipstream it.

I hope they dont bloat it. if they do they will lose the tablet market. They are so late as it is.