Gauging Interest (Windows 8 Related)

I am thinking of putting a survival guide together in the coming days before Windows 8 releases to the public in October. As you may know, some of us have received advanced final copies (I got mine on the 15th).

Whether we like it or not, soon Windows 8 will be the only thing shipping on new computers.

The guide would cover features, usage, and more efficient methods for navigating the new OS as it is very much a complete departure from the paradigms of previous Windows.


I'd like to see how many would be interested before spending the time on it.

 

I'm sure some would use/appreciate it, I know I'll have to mess with it weather I like it or not, but this might be the 1st Win OS that I will not put on my personal PC to get used to. I even ran Millennium when it came out way back when (I think Vista lasted less than a month on mine). I'd like to play with it on a cell or tablet, but not on my PC.

 

I just want to help those who will get stuck with it. I am not a real fan either.

 

I'd love to see it. Even though I've loaded Win 8 on one of my PCs, a "cheat sheet" would come in handy. I would also like to be able to give the web link to my (ahem...) "special" clients who will likely freeze with a deer-in-the-headlights reaction when they see the new "Metro" screen.

 

Is there a multi level handicap in Win 8 (I never installed my copy) like there was in Win 7?

 

Define multi-level handicap?

 

I'd love to have something to help with Win 8. Even if I only go as far as downloading one of the previews, released earlier to tinker with.

** Gotta keep up with the new technology, to an extent you know.

 

There are different user levels in Home>Premium>Ultimate, right? Some affecting networking as I recall.

Does Win 8 have the same levels?

 

Edit oops, misunderstood.

There are three levels and an ARM only version.

Windows 8
Windows 8 Pro
Windows 8 Enterprise
Windows RT


Windows 8 is akin to Home Premium, Pro is akin to Pro, and Enterprise is akin to Ultimate. Windows RT is meant for ARM tablets only.

Only Pro or higher can join domains. I know nothing of RT, other than it will come with Office.

My guide will revolve around 8/Pro.

 

** Off topic a bit**
I'd like to download something in the line of the released previews to toy with it, what should I get?

Is there a specific one geared towards Pro, or home, etc? Or is that more of a general over view type of thing with like the developer's preview?

 

Not sure...I always assumed the previews were Pro versions.

There is also a 90 day Enterprise trial.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/jj554510.aspx

 

Its a start:

http://adrynalyne.blogspot.com/2012/09/windows-8-survival-guide-v-10.html

 

Thanks, I'll check that out. Along with your blog when I get some spare time.

 

Good job, very interesting

FYI, I had a look using my Netbook and had to continuously sideways scroll to read the text.

 

I forget that not everyone is on 1920x1080.

I've lowered it to fit in a 102x4x768 resolution. Anything below that and...well...I recommend an upgrade at that point or a bit of scrolling. Even my phone is 1280x720 :-D

 

Perfect
I thank you and I'm sure other Netbook, Tablet and Phone users thank you too

I'm waiting for Win8

 

Nice 'walk-through' of Windows 8, Adryn . I will peruse it in more detail tomorrow, as it's 11:00 p.m., local time, and I'm beat!

 

I would be interested in a survival guide. Yesterday I installed Virtualbox and the Windows 8 Public Preview Release. I found the OS to be confusing. I'm glad I bought the Win 7 box in August.

 

Take a look at it so far and tell me what you want to see.

 

As I look through your guide, Windows 8 reminds me much of my current cell.

My phone is a Windows phone and it has those re-arrangeable tiles & is connected with my Windows Live account and I must say that I absolutely LOVE my phone, I think it is probably the coolest phone that I have ever owned. I like the tiles, they are very useful to me as I have the ones that I use most frequently pinned to the "front", so to speak. I actually really love how easily it syncs with my Skydrive and how I can create documents online that I can view on my phone and vice versa (and that's just one tiny thing that I love about this phone).

I had planned on trying to stick with 7 for as long as possible but if 8 is going to be anything like my phone but in a large desktop/laptop version, then I think I'm going to be all about it because I really, really love this phone (have I mentioned that? :-D).

Although I must admit, from the pictures I'm not a fan of the sidebar thing. It looks like there is too much going on there.

 

That really is the problem with the OS. Too much going on. There are 12323546657 different ways to perform the same task. I dunno about everyone else, but I deplore redundancy. I wouldn't personally buy Windows 8. However, I got it through MSDN and felt I would take the time to make it easier for those who either upgrade or buy a new computer with it.

I could see where windows phone users would be fans. However they are so far in the minority...well we will leave it at that :-D

 

Hey, I resemble that remark

I didn't actually go out looking for a Windows phone. I went out looking for something specific and I looked at many, many phones over a long period of time and none of them met all the things I wanted in a phone. I kind of found this phone by accident and it had everything I wanted. Once I started playing with it and everything that it could do, I knew there was no turning back for me, I'm stuck to this phone like glue. :-D

 

I can respect that.

I can't leave Android. I absolutely must have an open OS on my phone and tablet.

 

My sister was SOOO disappointed in me for not getting an Android. I thought for a minute she was going to disown me. :-D So I can understand where you're coming from, she is always showing me really cool things, free apps and the like that she finds on for her phone, which I agree are really cool but most of the time they are rather useless to me.


(Although, I do worry about her sometimes, she is so super obsessed with Google/Android that one day after she was ranting about how much she loved them, I said Google is going to take over the world, jokingly of course, and dead seriously she was like " OH, THEY WILL!! http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy290/lotzasmilies/muwaha.gif and I will be on their side http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy290/lotzasmilies/evilwiddle.gif and I was like http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy290/lotzasmilies/scared.gif.. true story )

 

Google is pulling a Microsoft and overrunning Apple and iOS. Android is literally repeating how Windows overran Mac OS. They won't uh, rule the world, but they will eventually become as big as Microsoft, imo. Eventually.

 

Oh, she thinks they will. :-D I've had an android phone, so I know them pretty well and my phone was very nice and I don't doubt for a minute that they will become as big as or, perhaps, even eclipse MS one day.

 

Thank you! That is an excellent guide, your instructions are thorough and concise. I will need to have your guide open in front of me as I play with the VM. I find the OS disconcerting.

 

Let me know if there is anything more I can add. I have been using it long enough that I might be taking something for granted. I am adding as I see it, but the guide is a work in progress.

I understand the disconcerting feeling. I expect that to be a very common reaction to this OS for a long time coming, especially when it is forced on users via new computers. That is whole reason I am making the guide. Not to voice my opinion on but to simply help others who get stuck with it.

 

Updated.

http://adrynalyne.blogspot.com/2012/09/windows-8-survival-guide-v-10.html

version 1.8 adds tips (and reghacks if needed) for disabling the lock screen.

 

I have to say Thanks:major Looks like some great stuff

The wife just got a new laptop with Win 8, time to learn a new OS

 

Wow. This is almost half a year old...

 

Ya but the win 8 laptop is only 6hrs old