As you might know Microsoft has just released the Windows 8 Consumer Preview of their next operating system. Windows 8 are expecting to be finally released in the end of 2012.
For a tech guy like me it is always interesting to follow the beta process of a new Windows version to see what features we can look forward to in the next version. Before we look into the new version let’s have a look on the history of Windows Client releases in the past.
History of Microsoft Windows Client releases
- 1995 – Windows 95 is released
- 1996 – Windows NT 4.0
- 1998 – Windows 98
- 1999 – Windows ME (Millennium Edition)
- 2000 – Windows 2000
- 2001 – Windows XP
- 2007 – Windows Vista
- 2009 – Windows 7
- Windows 8? (Will properly be released late 2012)
Actually Microsoft also released Windows versions before 1995 but Windows 95 was the first one able to natively run 32 bit applications.
Official Demo of Windows 8 Consumer Preview
New features
The Windows Store – Microsoft have added a store like you know it from Smartphones.
Ribbon in Windows Explorer – Microsoft has added Ribbon like we know it from the Office products.
Picture password – login using mouse gestures over a picture instead of entering your password.
Improved Task Manager – The Task Manager have got a lot of new nice features.
New Remote Desktop client – The Remote Desktop Client has also been upgraded
Improved tablet support – The new user interface in Windows 8 had been developed with Tablet PC support in mind.
Things you might miss in Windows 8
Start Menu – The Start Menu are removed in Windows 8. This might take a while to get use to that for most people. The Start menu has been available since Windows 95, but maybe it is time to do things in another way.
New file system – There have been a lot of rumors about a new file system (ReFS) in Windows 8 to replace the old NTFS system. For now it looks like it will only be available in Windows server 8.
Remember that this is still a preview and Microsoft might change things in the final version. The whole idea with a Consumer preview like this is to get a lot of feedback from user to make the system better. Maybe they will remove features, maybe they will add additional features we never know.
Requirements to run the Windows 8 Consumer Preview
- 1 GHz or faster processor
- 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
- DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
- 1024 x 768 minimum screen resolution
That is all from me. Now it is your turn. I would very much like to hear what you think about Microsoft’s upcoming Windows version. Do you think it will be a success?
Microsoft removed the Start Menu and the Start Button completely. If I wanted to do all my office work on a tablet, I would have gone and bought myself a new iPad (which I still might do, if I’m forced to choose between a Windows tablet and an iPad). Why can’t we just leave the tablet market to Apple and the PC market to Microsoft? Don’t get me wrong, I like Windows 8 in general, but what happened to freedom of speech and choices. In Windows XP we had the choice to switch back to the Classic Start Menu and in Windows 7 we have XP Mode.
It looks like in Windows 8, the only choices we have are to tablet or not to tablet. Rizonesoft started a petition to ask Microsoft to at least give us a choice between the interfaces and bring the Start Menu back.
Hello
I am sure that there are a lot of people out there that hate that the start menu has been removed. I think maybe Microsoft use the Consumer Preview to figure out how people will react to this matter. In the Developer preview in October there actually was a start menu and I can see that the folder structure still is intact under need. I agree with you that they should make it possible for people to choose to bring back the start menu if they want too. Actually there is always a hack out there that can make it happen: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/restore-the-start-menu-and-disable-metro-ui-in-windows-8/18767
microsoft still can’t figure it out. they are loosing momentum after a great run.
i see google slowly replacing their relevancy.
I have been running the Developers preview since release and at first I did not like the metro interface at all, The start menu has not been removed but redesigned, you have to get used to hitting the keyboard when you want to find anything, to me this acts like the search box but only bigger, I think if you do not have a touch screen device then you’ll need to brush up on the windows keyboard short-cuts and invest in a mouse that has swipe function. Once you have re-arranged the start-screen, loaded your favourite programs and removed the ones you do not use then things start to make sense! As soon as you start to dig into the system you’ll be directed to the desktop anyhow!
Microsoft have made a brave jump by making a universal interface that will tie Phones, Tablets and PC’s uniformly.
Hi Ian
In the Developer preview there was a redesigned Start Menu, but in the Consumer Preview, released earlier this week, the Start button and Start Menu has been completely removed. I do think that the Metro interface might be a great when people just get used to it, but it will take some time.
i really love the picture password feature. and i am implementing this similar like feature in my final year college project too. your post is really informative and detailed.
Hi Sunil.
I am not sure what to think about this picture password. What is someone is looking behind you when you login? It is kind of fun, but don’t know how useful it really is.
Informative post. I am using windows 7. Windows store feature is looking interesting. babies are very cute in picture password feature:)
It will be success or not, it depends on time.
Hi Saha
I tested the Picture password feature yesterday and it works find, but how do you make sure that someone does not see your password when you login? 🙂
I don’t know how usefull it will be to be honest.
I just want to be able to play Xbox games on my computer, everything else will probably be a tad bit different, the display looks different, not like its that big of a deal, these days we’re so acceptable to change thanks to “facebook.”
I installed Windows 8 on my virtual machine last week and I can’t express how amazed I am. I am Mac fan but if Microsoft will polish all the final details I think I will be installing Win8 on my MacBook as it looks amazing and feels like something entirely new
Hi Steven
MS really have made a lot of changes in the UI this time. I think it will be working great on a tablet PC, but I am not sure how well traditional desktop users will like it.
Windows 8 will be able to work on a wide range of devices such as touch-tablets, desktops etc. It would give an instant access to your applications, important information and everything else. Microsoft is working very hard to give people useful and easy to use technologies. I really appreciate their work.
Hi Sara
It looks like Microsoft has started to take the tablet market very serious this time. I am looking forward to see the final version later this year.
When no one is around me:P
I find your post very informative Thomas, I;m using windows7 here. Sad to say that we had a bad experience here in upgrading our Window Client. I will look forward to see the upcoming updates regarding windows8. Thanks for sharing this one.
Hi Farrel
I have never been a big fan of upgrading Windows. I always do a fresh install or wait until it is time for a new PC to do the shift. I will for sure make more posts about Windows 8 whenever there are important news from Microsoft regarding Windows 8.
i think ,windows 8 will become most popular amongst all
I guess only time will tell.
This is very impressive and personalized. We will become artistic and we can do what we want.This will be a sure trend and very excited to try.
Microsoft have made a brave jump by making a universal interface that will tie Phones, Tablets and PC’s uniformly. do others agree with me?
I am looking forward to see how all the devices and apps will work together, but I do believe it is a smart strategy from Microsoft to make this strong integration between devices.
I also heard that the cloud computing is also implemented in Windows 8 for the best security purposes.
That is correct. They have made strong built-in intregration with SkyDrive in Windows 8.
Everyone is looking forward to the tablet version of it as it might give both iOS and Android a run for their money in that segment. For Windows 7 users, they should wait some time to upgrade to Windows 8, until and unless it becomes necessary to shift.
Hi Bishwajeet
It is for sure going to be interesting to see how well Microsoft will be doing in the tablet market with Windows 8. For the normal desktop user I am in a bit of a doubt how well Windows 8 will be received.
My friend tried it and put up pics and yes, it looks awesome and he is having a fun time trying it. The look is no doubt very cool and innovative and looks suave too! But does the newer features resonate with non-techies like me?
Hi Hajra 🙂
Microsoft has really made some serious changes in this upcoming version of Windows. It looks like they really want to make it more user-friendly when it comes to tablet PC’s. However I am not sure how normal desktop users will react to the changes e.g. there will no longer be any Start Button and Start Menu…!
LOL! How are we supposed to start and shut the whole thing! That was a joke, don’t bother answering! 😉
But yes, it looks nice and I am waiting to try it out myself; just haven’t got around to it!
I think MS was wise enough to lose the Start menu. I simply hated it. It was just so much extra navigation.I loved the taskbar pinning option but since I haven’t tested Windows 8 yet,I’m not sure what to expect there.
Hi Adeline
I love the taskbar pinning too. They are always accessible when you need them. I do think that it is time to make some changes to the way we start programs. However I am not sure that I like the complete removal of the start menu, but maybe it is only a matter of time.
Just make Window 8 lighter than Window 7. 😀
Very informative blog, I subscribed your blog for more important updates from you. Thanks for the wonderful post.
pls can you tell from when windos 8 will be available.. right now only beta version is available
There is not yet any official date for the release of Windows 8 from Microsoft, but must experts predict in the last quarter of 2012.
Windows 8 is Microsoft’s truest expression of tablet envy to date.
Windows 8 is the foundation of Microsoft’s “Literacy Optional” computing platform.
Either way, you probably shouldn’t bet big bucks on any rapid adoptions of Windows 8 in for corporate or enterprise computing. They haven’t finished getting from XP to 7, yet.
I am a bit concerned how enterprise companies will welcome Windows 8 too. It seems like they have put most work into the tablet marked and maybe not being focused that much on traditional desktop features. However it still is a beta version and maybe the can make some changes for the final version to address this matter.
I think they developed windows 8 by mainly targeting tablet PC’s. They must concentrate on PC users also. I hope all cons will be fixed in the final stable release. I am pretty sure that windows 8 will definitely become a great success. Thanks for your post.
Hi John.
I agree with you. Windows 8 are very much targeting the issues Microsoft has had on the tablet market. I just hope that they don’t forget that most of their business users are using desktop or laptops.
I eagerly wait to see the final version of the Windows 8, as it looks a lot better than Windows 7, although the Metro interface doesn’t seem appropriate for desktops or notebooks.
In my opinion, this looks…I just don’t know. I want to say that Windows 8 looks terrible. It looks futuristic. I need a start menu though damnit. They are just trying to follow suit with apple and google. I may be too conservative, but I still prefer and use XP.
i have read somewhere that someone said that windows 8 was not that good as what has been said about it, do you think it is good enough to change over.
Hi Andrew
People have different expectations to Windows 8, but I think that it is too early to say when the system is not in its final version yet.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing this wonderful article. It helped me gain a lot of info.
I;m using windows7 here. Sad to say that we had a bad experience here in upgrading our Window Client. I will look forward to see the upcoming updates regarding windows8. Thanks for sharing this one.
i really love the picture password feature. and i am implementing this similar like feature in my final year college project too.
Windows 8 should be more stylish than windows 7 and should have more advance option ..!! then it will rock and beat the windows 7 users
I Think Window 8 Should Be More Lighter Than Window 7, More Advance Features Should Be Introduced.. So It Break Through Of Window 7 Customers..!
Windows 8 Is looking stylish than windows 7 and when it will released it should be more flexible than windows 7 to rock the Microsoft and beat the user of windows 7 and xp as well
Hi Buddy,
I think,It will be an user pleasant OS. Freshers will love to work on this Windows OS. Its quickness is magnificent in addition to its interface is incomparable and astonishing.
I hope that Windows 8 takes the same approach that Windows Phone did on the mobile side of things. Basically, I want it to be light weight and fast (even lower end hardware) and I think the metro UI would be a nice addition to make it one unified experience between computers, tablets, phones, and the Xbox.
Hi David
So far I think it is lighter and more optimized for smaller devices. I rebooted the Consumer Preview in just 14 sec on an SSD drive. That is a good start I think. I also think that the integration between computers, tablet and Windows phone will be very good.
Windows 8 seem to be focused on compatibility. Having them in most systems, allowing a lot of devices to be connected. I am sure Microsoft knows what she is doing, it is such an amazing company.
Oh i’m excited for the release of Windows 8.. I can’t wait to see it. It’s kinda awkward about the start menu being removed but surely it will have some amazing features we haven’t seen and the removing of some features we’ll surely get used to it.
guru
Windows8 seems to be very exciting.A lot of expectations from it.I hope it will be able to make it place in the market.
We will have to wait and see how it will work out for Microsoft. Windows 8 are set to go RTM in August.
I have been running the developers preview since release and at the start I did not like the metro interface at all, The start menu has not been removed but redesigned, you have to get used to hitting the keyboard as you need to find anything, to me this acts like the search box but only bigger, i think if you dont have a touch screen device then you’ll need to brush up on the windows keyboard short-cuts and invest in a mouse that has swipe function. Once you have re-arranged the start-screen, loaded your favourite programs and removed the ones you do not use then things start to make sense! As soon when you start to dig into the systems you’ll be directed to the desktop anyhow!
Excellent Worth Reading , Security is excellent With Built in Antivirus in Win 8
Hi Thomas,
I expect the Windows 10 upgrade will be downloadable and will come with its own product key: this is how the current trial version of Windows 10 works.
Hi
Actually Windows 10 upgrade your existing key automatically when you run the upgrade process. You will not be asked for any product key doing the upgrade.
I have used windows 8 . Won’t say better than windows 7 but windows 10 is amazing ! 😀
Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Apu
Window 10 is really great as far as i am using it. But as comparison from others i really like to use window 7, it is favorite of mine among all.