However, the UI has completely changed, it designed to be run on a Tablet, not a Windows type pen based tablet either, an iPad / Android type tablet. Firstly you cant close a program, you just hit the tablet button (wait I don't have one on the desktop) to return to the menu of applications. I eventually worked out that the Windows key will get you there, but the entire UI of running applications, multi tasking, switching between applications has changed.
Conceptually the ability to run the same operating system on a Desktop / Tablet is great, I can get my normal programs, files etc., from any device. But in reality at the moment the operating system has moved too far to the tablet arena at the expense of Desktop usability. I'm assuming or hoping that between now and the release the two models will improve and the ability to switch between the two will be more natural.
On another note, this operating system really needs a multi touch screen or device, I'm not at all keen to touch my laptop screen even if it was multi touch (which it isn't) so really new laptops & desktops are going to need a largish multi touch trackpad, like the ones in the Mac Books and the Magic Trackpad for apple desktops.
Its safe to assume that Microsoft's hardware partners are thinking through this and this type of hardware will present its self well ahead of the release of Windows 8. The down side, is your current laptop really doesn't support Windows 8. And your current desktop will need a bit of extra hardware to take advantage. What this translates to is more expense and a hardware investment.
If Microsoft do manage to meld the desktop / laptop version of Windows 8 to a more desktop centric operating system before release, perhaps the multi touch devices wont be needed, time will tell.
If you currently wish to hack the UI to revert back to desktop mode you can do this by changing a registry setting see here for the full details
http://dale.fraser.id.au/2011/09/disable-windows-8-metro-interface.html
If you currently wish to hack the UI to revert back to desktop mode you can do this by changing a registry setting see here for the full details
http://dale.fraser.id.au/2011/09/disable-windows-8-metro-interface.html
Hi Dale, are you referring to the "Metro" interface, or the "classic" interface in Windows 8? I've yet to use it myself, but from what I've read the Metro interface is geared towards tablet/touch interfaces but the Classic mode is more akin to Windows 7.
ReplyDeleteI think Windows 8 kicks off in the Metro interface by default, but you should have the ability to switch (and make it default) to the "classic" interface which, from what you are saying, might be more inline with what you are looking for in an operating system.
Dave
Yes,
ReplyDeleteThats what we will end up with im sure, but currently this can only be done with registry hacks.
There is no setting available to switch to desktop mode, im sure its coming.
Windows 8's interface does take the desktop experience to a pseudo-tablet feel.
ReplyDelete