If any of you have a spare machine that isn't too shitty (aka it can run Windows Vista/7), I encourage you to try it out and see the future of Windows.
GUARD!AN –noun
1. guarding; protecting: a guardian deity.
2. a violent, tropical, cyclonic storm of the western North Atlantic, having wind
speeds of or in excess of 72 mph (32 m/sec).
3. (in Gnosticism) one of a class of powers or beings conceived as emanating
from the Supreme Being and performing various functions in the operations of
the universe.
4. a terrifying dream in which the dreamer experiences feelings of helplessness,
extreme anxiety, sorrow, etc.
5. The sensation and muscular spasm caused by an electric current passing
through the body or a body part.
I can't really say I'm too impressed with the centrepiece of Windows 8, the metro UI, and the stuff that currently accompanies it. The thing that played on my mind the most whilst I was using it was that Windows 8 makes me feel like I'm more locked down than ever before. My options and desktop seem to be hidden away and the entire UI seems designed to throw Microsoft services in my face from the moment I start up my computer. That kind of gaudy advertising, coupled with what feels like a blatant attempt to make a quick grab at a greater market share, wouldn't rub me the wrong way if Windows 8 was made free but that will never happen (nor will it be cheaper).
I suppose the other reason Windows 8 disappoints me is that it makes me realise that I see the OS on my PC a lot differently to the way Microsoft now seems to picture it. They seem to think I want something more restricted and streamlined for their content delivery services. Whereas I've never wanted that. When I start up my computer, I want what I'd call a 'blank slate with functionality'. Something that looks nice, has great customisability, lets me easily set up devices and networks and then allows me to decide on the rest. Instead, Windows 8 makes me feel like my PC has lost functionality by suddenly morphing into a tablet... and that's definitely not a good thing.
Kerafym wrote:I'm pretty sure the target market for Windows 8 is supposed to be mobile devices, but don't quote me on that.
Just googled. It was designed with mobile in mind, but can work with "touch, pen, mouse and keyboard" inputs.
Yeah, I saw some teaser for it a year or two ago where Balmer was talking a lot about phones and other mobile devices. It made me pretty nervous at the time, heh.
I watched some things on it on the youtube and it looked pretty intriguing but I'm unsure the practicality of it for my personal needs. I think a lot of hardcore gamers are going to stick to windows 7 for quite a while, but I'm sure plenty of people who yews their computers for other things will migrate to windows 8.
