I have played around with Windows 8 Release Preview for a few days now. I thought I would share some thoughts on how it works plus some pros and cons.
Pros:
- Runs smoothly on vmware workstation with 1GB of ram.
- Installation was easy to use. Easier to install than Windows 7.
- Hasn’t crashed on me once! (Should tell you the reason of no “First Impressions of Windows 8 Consumer Preview” or “First Impressions of Windows 8 Developer Preview.)
- Desktop has a smoother feel.
- Most of the installed apps do not crash even though they are preview apps.
- Location is pretty good.
Cons:
- Metro (detailed later)
- App store does not have a search feature
- Doesn’t install correctly in latest Virtual Box from May 22nd 2012.
- Start button is completely gone so it is difficult for a normal user to get to Metro.
- Customization feature after install not very friendly to non IT.
So I have a few more thoughts. I said above the interface looks smoother and it is. Installation is more basic which is great but the customize feature may make some people want to chuck their newly installed Windows 8 PC out the third story window because of very numerous options over 2 -4 pages.
Yesterday I showed my sister (who just wants her computer to work so she can talk to friends) metro. She asked me what that was and why she would want it. I told her that it was called Metro and then she asked me about where the start button was. She left with an impression of why would anyone want that.
No crashing is much better than all the other previews because every other preview was so unstable I could barely use it for 5 minutes at a time or in the case of the developer preview use it at all.
Most of the installed apps are nice looking and are easy to use. The app store needs some work, though as the store does not have a search button. I had a hard time looking for apps that I would want to use. I actually had taken me 5 times to install the weather app which I understand could be a network error or just that the app store cannot find out where it is on their download servers.
Overall I will buy Windows 8 Pro edition, but I would have to give it 2.5 out of 5. I feel the change is so drastic that it will give Vista a run for its money.
Ryan Orser.