Australian Media Center Community: Can Windows 8 Really Do It All?

The early view makes me wonder if MS haven't played a great game of catch up, possibly even leap-frog with "i" devices, but failed to recognise that desktops and touch screen portable devices may well require differnt interfaces. Obviously more details required before really knowing.

I agree that this looks at first glance like it has leapfrogged "i" devices, it's a really cool interface style.

But it also looks to me like they have recognised that different devices work best with different interfaces and instead of creating different versions of an OS or different devices with different interfaces (which would be the modus operandi for Steve Jobs) they make a classic Microsoft move and create one OS with all the interface styles included, you just choose the one that you like.

If this is really what Windows 8 will be able to do and look like, sign me up.

They better make provision for a separate keyboard otherwise using W8 for word processing/spreadsheet etc will be useless. Great for a HTPC.

wheelie007, on 03 June 2011 - 06:15 AM, said:

Do you really think they'd make an OS that 98% of the corporate world use without keyboard/mouse support?

The screen is merely the touchscreen/pad version of the UI. While it's a lot more integrated than the tablet UI layers was, it's still effectively that. There's still the classic UI view available for desktop PCs.

I like it - I guess it comes down to how bloated it is on install, and how much it bloats over time.. :)

It looks great but how meany bug will it have

I am now really excited about windows 8 and the possibilities. Not sure why everyone is questioning if it will work with layers. Is it that different to the media center layer, just for tabs.

I could see many disable features to remove a lot of these things (or an outcry for them). I wouldn't like to see how much RAM they use, and we all know even windows dekstop gadgets eat up plenty to ruin your gaming experience.

mil0001, on 06 June 2011 - 05:07 AM, said:

I can't see why they wouldn't have this feature as they have it for windows 7

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I've always found this a little strange in a desktop environment, fair enough you want minimal useage on a tablet or phone. However, RAM is so cheap these days I say load more into it, push Mobo's out to 24GB is needed

I think it will be interesting to see how they do the multi-platform accross to windows phone, hmm and tough wood WHS!. Hopefully we might start seeing an intergrated home!

This looks rather unimpressive to me, but I think it is too early to judge to be fair. I am sure I will still check it out in beta but hope that Windows 7 doesn't become as XP version did for me the next decade as people wait for something truely better (not just cosmetic). It looks like it still has the same backend of the 'usual' windows menus etc but just has a fancy desktop app for links to everthing media and info related which seems to be easy to get lost in. That would be good for a touch screen or media center (no doubt) but for general use .. touch interfaces are overrated IMO and lack the precision of a mouse and kb; yet the design seems to be geared towards this approach as the main selling point. Some of the swiping etc, I wonder how good it would be using via a mouse in general use.

Also it appears that you cannot fit much onto the screen with this interface (ie all tiles are big, pretty - no doubt but wasting space). Things seem to be 'dumbed down' somewhat too which the techy in me recoils from but appreciate why they do this for the general consumer. I hope you can customise fully the size, position, backgrounds etc in the final version, be able to free move things, not just in a grid or snap to locations. Also seems that your running programs, installed programs etc are more hidden behind the scenes.

I am probabily sounding a bit pessimistic in my reply, but it is early days still I do appreciate and I am sure things will change a lot before release. I do hope there is more advancements under the hood in Win8 than just a pretty interface though to justify upgrading from an awesome Windows 7 OS which I think will be a hard one to top.

Will be watching with baited breath none the less :) .. thanks for the video and hope you add more as Win8 develops.

I hate the whole idea of "one interface for all devices". Seems everyone is following this approach, not just Windows, but it'll be a sad day when the traditional desktop is gone. I think it still has it's place and as much as we are using mobile devices more and more I really don't need a huge phone interface on my work desktop.

Cheers,

Arkay.

As a windows phone 7 user, this makes sense. I love my wp7 and it has made my life so much easier with outlook intergation, xbox live, social media etc....

The desktop is still there, it's one of the tiles, which opens up into the traditional environment. You will still be able to use W8 the same way.

Get use to it, because this is the future. Tiles are defiantly here to stay. I feel that it organises useful parts of windows into the tiled environment, instead of drolling through explore/desktop/start menu getting to your pics, vids, games, facebook and the rest. It's there ready to go on a very easy user interface.

IMHO, it's a leap forward out of the traditional desktop environment which has had its day.

I'm ready for the ridicule..

live long and prosper.

arkay, on 07 June 2011 - 07:25 PM, said:

Ballmer (i think) has recently stated W8 isn't for phones.
As Bladeronner stated mouse and kb are so precise for every use.
This will be a winner on tablets, MC's, public displays and info diplays IMO.

Ben