Monday, March 26, 2012

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Microsoft is finishing work of Windows 8 and should be completed by the end of this summer, setting the stage for PC and tablet sales for late October according to the MS release schedule. Microsoft has had the Consumer Preview version available to download since Febuary 28th here.
The consumer preview version is NOT a final version of the operating system, and it will expire on January 15, 2013. DO NOT INSTALL OVER YOUR CURRENT version of Windows. It's advisable to create an ISO image for a bootable CD so you may install on a separate drive or partition. Follow the directions closely on the Microsoft download site.

Windows 8 users will find the new Metro desktop getting used to. Chris Perrilo has his father test drive it, which he found the desktop a little confusing at first. For anyone who has ever used Windows Media Center, it's along the same lines. It's the first OS from Microsoft designed for ARM achitecture. It's the technology which also contains a wide set of instructions for tablets. Touch screen technology, rotating screen...etc.

So that in mind, a couple of videos for eye candy.

A very thorough video of the OS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI1IJ96jQZg&feature=related

Chris Perillos ("Lockernome") video of his dad trying out Windows 8. Gives you a good idea of what regular computer users may encounter here.