Windows 8?
Just canvassing initial thoughts on Win8, for those who have seen or experienced the Beta versions.
Personally I'm not a fan of the default tablet-style interface, but...
I also realise that 30 years ago, the desktop 'WIMP' environment we all now take for granted was also frowned upon by those who preferred to sit and type instructions into command-lines. So it could just be that I'm an old f**t stuck in my ways.
Apple have already dipped their toe in the water with a tablet-style interface in OS-X Lion. But they seem to have approached it from the opposite direction to MS: the desktop interface is still primary (for now?), and the tablet interface - Launchpad - is secondary, invoked from a dedicated app on the taskbar. MS seem to have made their tablet-interface (Metro) primary, while the desktop is an app.
Is this natural progression?
Or is it taking the unification of the tablet<->desktop experience a step too far?
Or does it not matter at all?
Over to you 
Consider it done.
It really depends on the execution. There is market for a unified experience. Windows still has 94% or thereabouts share in computer sales. If Windows 8 works, there is a potential to rapidly gain its market share, from people wanting to upgrade their OS.
I for one, am keen for this gamble to succeed.
Consider it done.
Thanks! 
I've obviously no strong objection to my thread being in this subforum, but really I was wanting to canvas people's opinions of Win8 as a PC OS, not on smartphones and tablets, which is why I didn't post in here to start with.
Sorry for the request to move the thread; the description of this sub forum does mention:
Enamoured by the Windows platform and Metro UI? Discuss Windows mobile smartphones and tablets, including the upcoming Windows 8 here.
That still reads to me like the subforum is primarily asking for people's opinion and experience of Windows and Metro primarily on mobile devices, which is the opposite of what I was wanting to canvas, and is why I didn't post it here to start with.
But I'm not going to get all an@l about it.
Apple have already dipped their toe in the water with a tablet-style interface in OS-X Lion. But they seem to have approached it from the opposite direction to MS: the desktop interface is still primary (for now?), and the tablet interface - Launchpad - is secondary, invoked from a dedicated app on the taskbar.
Launchpad is literally just a different (and generally inefficient) way of launching applications - I wouldn't call it a tablet interface. Apple have been very insistent that OS X and iOS will not converge into one OS (like MS is doing with Windows 8 ). The argument is, a laptop / desktop is a different device from a tablet, and is used very differently and the interface needs to be different for each to reflect that.
Microsoft on the other hand clearly think convergence is the way to go, and have taken a big gamble on this with Windows 8 - to be fair, it's all they could do without looking like a secondary player compared to Apple and Google.
Personally, having played around with the Consumer Preview versions of Windows 8, I agree with Apple's viewpoint as things stand at the moment - I much prefer using the proper fully fledged operating system that is Lion on my Macbook Air and it's the reason I didn't go for an iPad for my mobile device. Windows 8 just seems to be like two different OSes bolted together, with little thought as to how to actually make them integrate well. I just don't like it and wouldn't buy a Windows 8 tablet or laptop either as result. Windows 7 works much better as a laptop OS and for a tablet, I'd get an iPad.
Having said that, the devices Asus are coming up with suggest with the right hardware, Windows 8 might work. Time will tell I guess!
Now I could live with an iPad, because I wouldn't attempt to do the same things with an iPad as I do with a proper Mac/Windows PC (things which involve complex filing and housekeeping for example), so I can live with an iPad not having a WIMP-oriented interface.
But I can't make my mind up whether I genuinely need a WIMP desktop to be my primary interface on a computer, or whether it's just that I've been used to it for 20 years from Amiga->PC->Mac and so I am resistant to change (progress?). Part of me is saying that as long as there is a Finder/Explorer equivalent to allow me to do housekeeping and filing, what difference does it make? But the majority of me is not keen.
I like Ubuntu's approach with Ubuntu For Android (if it goes anywhere).
A single device running separate OSs side-by-side (rather than dual booting) allowing switching or even intergration between the two as and when needed.
I may never need to buy another PC, which is very appealing...
Having said that, the devices Asus are coming up with suggest with the right hardware, Windows 8 might work. Time will tell I guess!
Yes, it really depends on how the convergence devices take advantage of this. Windows 8 is the biggest gamble Microsoft have taken. If it succeeds, all 3 platforms (PC, tablet & mobile) will benefit simultaneously.
I've been using Windows 8 on this laptop since they released the customer preview. There are lots of knockers but for me it works well.
Many people complain that they want the start button back on the desktop, but once you suss it the Metro interface is basically a full screen start button. Start typing the name of an application and it finds it immediately, or of course you select from the tiles you've placed, which could be all of the applications that were in the original start menu if you wished.
It feels quicker than Win 7 and boots up much more quickly. I also like the look and feel of some of the preview Metro apps. Full screen and pretty, and completely useable with a mouse.
Of course the main aim is to spread to tablets. I for one will probably jump from android once they arrive (so long as the full blwn version is not overpriced).
One thing I dislike about Android and iOS when it comes to tablets is the lack of multiple on-screen applications, which may make less sense on a phone, make perfect sense on a bigger screen.
That still reads to me like the subforum is primarily asking for people's opinion and experience of Windows and Metro primarily on mobile devices
You do have a point there. Maybe the subforum should be called "PCs, smartphones & tablets" to enable a dedicated space for discussing Windows & Mac OS. 
Sounds like a good idea, BigBoss
Hi,
Couple of questions - when is Windows 8 launched to the public ?
If like me, you are using the dinasaur and irratating Vista on a Sony Vaio laptop - is there any point in upgrading to Windows 8 ?
Now that 8 is almost here, will Windows 7 price drop dramatically for me to benefit and "upgrade" to that.
Im not overly familiar with 8 yet, just seen the adverts.
Can this be moved to the new Windows section please?
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