does anyone know when its due to come out? is it thhis year or next? thanks! worth upgrading from 7?

Not specifically.


Supposedly, this year. That's speculation though.


Yes. It starts faster, it runs faster, it's lighter on your system resources... It's better than Windows 7.

That can be debated. I personally I agree with you on what you say is better, but I say the current cons of Windows 8 overpower the current pros of Windows 8. Not that I won't like Metro in its final form, mind you.
@danielthomas Currently Windows 8 is looking like a massive failure that may or may not make Vista look good.

In YOUR opinion. In MY opinion, Windows 8 is looking more like the OS to break the Microsoft Win/Fail Cycle.

I agree, Windows 8 looks much better than 7. More "Sharp"

Wow wtf have you guys been smoking. Windows 8 makes simple tasks take longer. It is a fact that Windows 8 interface would render hundreds of hours of costly computer training for millions obsolete. Imagine the time it will take to train people to use the new interface. And why? So that we can go through extra menus and use our laptops as oversized phones? Because desktops/notebooks don't belong in the workplace?

Most important is a massive omission by Microsoft: the tools for programming on the Windows platform remain significantly less accessible and confusing then their linux counterparts.

Windows 8 adds to this fragmentation and is driving developers away. The ways to write code for Windows remain myriad and intimidating and the addition of new libraries/APIs makes the problem worse. Until Windows becomes a viable platform for developers, I see a bleak future for MS.

Windows 8 is good but i'm not sure about metro. I don't see the point of the metro start menu, it's good for tablets and all-in-one touch PC's but it's sorta irritating with a mouse.

This. I don't see any point on a desktop PC or a laptop with no touch screen. Its for touch only, let us keep the regular interface for non-touch devices.

We are only touching the surface with Windows 8. If we think back to Microsoft's strategy all along we begin to see a picture emerge.

Take Kinect for example, works very well on Xbox (if you have the space) and also works well on the PC with revision 2 allowing for the closeness of people using from a desk. Kinect is already up and running in development on big TV’s and manufacturers will be embracing this is a few years by embedding Kinect into their screens. We will also see this happen on PC screens as well. Kinect will be even sharper by then working out where you are staring and thus allow you to control the desktop not only by gestures, but by looking at different places on the screen. Imagine just looking at certain live tile icons and the screen moving with your visual cues alone. How awesome is that!!

Before then, even without touch interfaces, you will be able to in a Minority Report way control your desktop using swipes, pinches and all manner of screen gestures... On a big TV screen with Kinect embedded or on a PC screen.

The future is very bright for Microsoft and Windows 8, 9 and beyond.

T

From my experience with Windows 8 Consumer Preview, the Metro interface has gotten easier, but I still missed the start button present in the Developer Preview, however, it's corner based interaction was well-done and can be enjoyed with regular mouse and keyboard.

I miss that start button. 'Nuff said.

Agreed...

the start button has been there since windows 95 and its a quick and easy way to do stuff. escpically when its been updated in newer versions. I agree with everyone about having the metro design just for touch screen PC etc etc. I don't think i will be getting windows 8 if i have to use metro on my non-touch screen PC and laptop i think i stick with windows 7 its good enough for me

I second that. It is nice to see some progress, but pushing Metro onto PCs isn't really the best strategy... IMHO there should be a tablet/touch edition with Metro and dekstop/laptop/regular edition without it.

I nearly 100% agree with you. I don't even mind Metro on my laptop. On my desktop it sucks, but on my laptop it isn't bad. We really don't need two editions but just the ability to turn off Metro if we like and turn it on if we like. Perhaps on Desktop it should be turned off by default, but there should be the option to turn it on if someone wants to, just like how that same person should be allowed to turn off Metro on an intel-based tablet. You hear us, Microsoft, let us turn off your **** Metro interface!

I'll keep my eyes out for more Windows 8 builds, that is, once I'm done with my work relating to the Longhorn builds (currently on Build 5112, the last build that I'll be testing for quite a while).

Metro design seems more n00b friendly though, and it's nice to see something new when Vista and 7 are somewhat similar looking.

Metro takes so much time to use.... I think that windows 8 should be without Metro for desktop. But then when we look again... Its same as windows 7 without metro and we could just install sp2 for windows 7 to make it like windows 8 and add new official theme...

Windows 8 is one of the main reasons for me to replace WIndows with Archlinux. Doing great so far.