Windows 8
Windows 8 is the current
release of the Windows operating system,
produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and
business desktops, laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs. Development of
Windows 8 started before the release of its predecessor in 2009. Its existence
was first announced at CES 2011, and followed by the release of three
pre-release versions from September 2011 to May 2012. The operating system was
released to manufacturing on 1 August 2012, and was released for general
availability on 26 October 2012.
Windows 8 introduces significant changes to the
operating system's platform, primarily focused towards improving its user experience
on mobile devices such as tablets to rival other mobile operating systems like
Android and iOS, taking advantage of new or emerging technologies like USB 3.0,
UEFI firmware, near field
communications, cloud computing and the low-power ARM architecture, new
security features such as malware filtering, built-in antivirus capabilities, a
new installation process optimized for digital distribution, and support for
secure boot (a UEFI feature which allows operating systems to be digitally
signed to prevent malware from altering the boot process), the ability to
synchronize certain apps and settings between multiple devices, along with
other changes and performance improvements. Windows 8 also introduces a new
shell and user interface based on Microsoft's "Metro" design
language, featuring a new Start screen with a grid of dynamically updating
tiles to represent applications, a new app platform with an emphasis on
touchscreen input, and the new Windows Store to obtain and/or purchase
applications to run on the operating system.
Windows 8 was released to mixed reception—although
reception towards its performance improvements, security enhancements, and its
improved support for touchscreen devices was positive, the new user interface
of the operating system has been widely criticized for being confusing and
having a steep learning curve (especially when used with a keyboard and mouse instead
of a touchscreen). Despite these shortcomings, 40 million Windows 8 licenses
were sold during its first month of availability, mostly to OEMs.
Development history
Windows 8 development started before Windows 7 had
shipped in 2009. In late January 2011, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES),
Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would be adding support for ARM
microprocessors in addition to the x86 microprocessors from Intel, AMD and VIA
Technologies. On 1 June 2011, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8's new
user interface as well as additional features at the Taipei Computex 2011
in Taipei (Taiwan) by Mike Angiulo and at the D9 conference in
California (United States) by Julie Larson-Green and Microsoft's Windows
President Steven Sinofsky. The "Building Windows 8" blog launched on
15 August 2011, featuring details surrounding Windows 8's features and its
development process.
A screenshot of Windows 8 Developer Preview running on
a multi-monitor system, showcasing some features
Microsoft unveiled new Windows 8 features and
improvements on the first day of the BUILD conference on 13 September 2011.
Microsoft released Windows 8 Developer Preview (build 8102) the same day, which
included SDKs and developer tools (such as Visual Studio Express and Expression
Blend) for developing applications for Windows 8's new interface. According to
Microsoft, there were about 535,000 downloads of the developer preview within
the first 12 hours of its release. Originally set to expire on March 11, 2012,
in February 2012 the Developer Preview's expiry date was changed to January 15,
2013.
Milestone 1, Build 7850, was leaked on April 12, 2011.
It was the first build where the text of a window was written centered instead
of aligned to the left. It was also probably the first appearance of the
Metro-style font, and its wallpaper had the text shhh... let's not leak our
hard work. However, its detailed build number reveals that the build was
created on September 22, 2010. Its OS version read as 'Windows 7 Enterprise'.
Milestone 2, Build 7955, was leaked on April 25, 2011.
The traditional BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) was replaced by a new Black
screen, although this was scrapped later. This build introduced a new Ribbon UI
in Windows Explorer. Build 7959, with minor changes but the first 64-bit
version, was released on May 1, 2011.
On June 17, 2011, build 7989 was leaked. It introduced
a new boot screen featuring the same fish as the default Windows 7 Beta
wallpaper, which was later scrapped, and the circling dots as featured in the
final. It also had the text Welcome below them, although this was also
scrapped.
The new File Explorer interface with
"Ribbon" in Windows 8
On 29 February 2012, Microsoft released Windows 8
Consumer Preview, the beta version of Windows 8, build 8250. For the first time
since Windows 95, the Start button is no longer present on the taskbar, though
the Start screen is still triggered by clicking the bottom-left corner of the
screen and by clicking Start on the Charm bar. Windows president Steven
Sinofsky said more than 100,000 changes had been made since the developer
version went public. The day after its release, Windows 8 Consumer Preview had
been downloaded over one million times. Like the Developer Preview, the
Consumer Preview is set to expire on 15 January 2013.
Many other builds were released until the Japan's
Developers Day conference, when Steven Sinofsky announced that Windows 8
Release Preview (build 8400) would be released during the first week of June.
On 28 May 2012, Windows 8 Release Preview (Standard Simplified Chinese x64
edition, not China-specific version, build 8400) was leaked online on various
Chinese and BitTorrent websites. On 31 May 2012, Windows 8 Release Preview was
released to the public by Microsoft.
Major items in the Release Preview included the
addition of Sports, Travel, and News apps, along with an integrated version of
Flash Player in Internet Explorer. Like the Developer Preview and the Consumer
Preview, the release preview is set to expire on January 15, 2013.
On 1 August 2012, Windows 8 (build 9200) was released
to manufacturing with the build number 6.2.9200.16384 . Microsoft planned to
hold a launch event on 25 October 2012 and release Windows 8 for general
availability on the next day. However, only a day after its release to
manufacturing, a copy of the final version of Windows 8 Enterprise N (produced
for European markets) leaked to the web, and several days later there were Pro
and Enterprise leaks both IA-32 and x64. On August 15, 2012, Windows 8 was made
available to download for MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Windows 8 was made
available to Software Assurance customers on 16 August 2012. Windows 8 was made
available for students with a DreamSpark Premium subscription on 22 August
2012, earlier than advertised.
Relatively few changes were made from the Release
Preview to the final version; these included updated versions of its pre-loaded
apps, the renaming of Windows Explorer to File Explorer, the replacement of the
Aero Glass theme from Windows Vista and 7 with a new flat and solid-colored
theme, and the addition of new background options for the Start screen, lock
screen, and desktop. Prior its to general availability on 26 October 2012,
updates were released for some of Windows 8's bundled apps, and a "General
Availability Cumulative Update" (which included fixes to improve
performance, compatibility, and battery life) was released on Tuesday, 9
October 2012. Microsoft indicated that due to improvements to its testing
infrastructure, general improvements of this nature will be released more
frequently through Windows Update instead of being relegated to OEMs and
service packs only.
Microsoft began an advertising campaign centered
around Windows 8 and its Surface tablet in October 2012, starting with its
first television advertisement premiering on 14 October 2012. Microsoft's
advertising budget for the operating system is US$1.5–1.8 billion, making
Windows 8 the industry's biggest product launch in history.
New and changed
features
New features and functionality in Windows 8 include a
faster startup through UEFI integration and the new "Hybrid Boot"
mode (which hibernates the Windows kernel on shutdown to speed up the
subsequent boot), a new lock screen with a clock and notifications, and the
ability for enterprise users to create live USB versions of Windows (known as
Windows To Go). Windows 8 also adds native support for USB 3.0 devices, which
allow for faster data transfers and improved power management with compatible
devices, along with support for near field communication to facilitate sharing
and communication between devices.
Windows Explorer, which has been renamed File
Explorer, now includes a ribbon in place of the command bar. File operation
dialog boxes have been updated to provide more detailed statistics, the ability
to pause file transfers, and improvements in the ability to manage conflicts
when copying files. A new "File History" function allows incremental
revisions of files to be backed up to and restored from a secondary storage device,
while Storage Spaces allows users to combine different sized hard disks into
virtual drives and specify mirroring, parity, or no redundancy on a
folder-by-folder basis.
Task Manager has also been redesigned, including a new
processes tab with the option to display fewer or more details of running
applications and background processes, a heat map using different colors
indicating the level of resource usage, network and disk counters, grouping by
process type (e.g. applications, background processes and Windows processes),
friendly names for processes and a new option which allows users to search the
web to find information about obscure processes. Additionally, the Blue Screen
of Death has been updated with a simpler and modern design with less technical
information displayed.
Safety and security
Additional security features in Windows 8 include two
new authentication methods tailored towards touchscreens (PINs and picture
passwords), the addition of antivirus capabilities to Windows Defender
(bringing it in parity with Microsoft's Security Essentials software)
SmartScreen filtering integrated into the desktop, and support for the
"Secure Boot" functionality on UEFI systems to protect against
malware infecting the boot process. Parental controls are offered through the
integrated Family Safety software, which allows parents to monitor and control
their children's activities on a device with activity reports and safety
controls. Windows 8 also provides integrated system recovery through the new
"Refresh" and "Reset" functions. Windows 8's first security
patches would be released on 13 November 2012; it would contain three critical
(most severe as per Microsoft) fixes.
Online services and
functionality
Windows 8 provides heavier integration with online services
from Microsoft and others. A user can now log in to Windows with a Microsoft
account, formally known as a Windows Live ID, which can be used to access
services and synchronize applications and settings between devices. Windows 8
also ships with a client app for Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage service,
which also allows apps to save files directly to SkyDrive. A SkyDrive client
for the desktop and File Explorer is not included in Windows 8, and must be
downloaded separately. Bundled multimedia apps are provided under the Xbox
brand, including Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and the Xbox SmartGlass companion for
use with an Xbox 360 console. Games can integrate into an Xbox Live hub app,
which also allows users to view their profile and gamerscore. Other bundled
apps provide the ability to link to services such as Flickr and Facebook.
Internet Explorer 10 is included as both a desktop
program and a touch-optimized app, and includes increased support for HTML5,
CSS3, and hardware acceleration. The Internet Explorer app does not support
plugins or ActiveX components, but includes a version of Adobe Flash Player
that is optimized for touch and low power usage, but works only on sites
included on a whitelist. The desktop version does not contain these limitations.
Windows 8 also incorporates improved support for
mobile broadband; the operating system can now detect the insertion of a SIM
card and automatically configure connection settings (including APNs and
carrier branding), track and reduce bandwidth use on metered networks. Windows
8 also adds an integrated airplane mode setting to globally disable all
wireless connectivity as well. Carriers can also offer account management
systems through Windows Store apps, which can be automatically installed as a
part of the connection process and offer usage statistics on their respective
tile.
Windows Store and
Apps
A music app for Windows 8, shown snapped like a
sidebar to the Windows Desktop
Windows 8 introduces a new style of application, Windows
Store apps; according to Microsoft developer Jensen Harris, these apps are
to be optimized for touchscreen environments and have smaller scope in relation
to desktop applications. Apps can run either in a full-screen mode, or be
docked directly to the side of a screen. They can provide notifications and a
"live tile" on the Start screen for dynamic content. Apps can use
"contracts"; a collection of hooks to provide common functionality
that can integrate with other apps, such as search and sharing. Apps can also
provide integration with other services; for example, the People app can
connect to a variety of different social networks and services (such as
Facebook), while the Photos app can aggregate photos from services such as
Facebook and Flickr.
Windows Store apps run within a new set of APIs known
as the Windows Runtime, which supports programming languages such as C, C++,
VB.NET, C#, along with HTML5 and JavaScript. Depending on the language used,
apps written for Windows Runtime can be cross-compatible with both Intel and
ARM versions of Windows. To ensure stability and security, apps run within a
sandboxed environment, and require permissions to access certain functionality,
such as accessing the Internet or a camera.
Retail versions of Windows 8 will only be able to
install these apps through the Windows Store—a namesake distribution platform
which offers both apps and certified desktop applications. Only the Enterprise
version will allow system administrators to deploy apps from outside the
Windows Store.
Windows Store apps were originally known as
"Metro-style apps" during the development of Windows 8, referring to
the Metro design language. The term was reportedly phased out in August 2012; a
Microsoft spokesperson denied rumors that the change was related to a potential
trademark issue, and stated that "Metro" was only a codename that
would be phased out prior to Windows 8's release. Following these reports, the
terms "Modern UI-style apps", "Windows 8-style apps" and
"Windows Store apps" began to be used by various Microsoft documents
and material to refer to the new apps. In an interview on September 12, 2012,
Soma Somasegar (vice president of Microsoft's development software division)
officially confirmed that "Windows Store apps" would be the official
term for the apps.
Web browsers
Special exceptions are given to web browsers
classified as being "New experience enabled" (formerly
"Metro-style enabled"), which can provide a special version to run
within the "Metro" shell. Unlike other apps, they can be coded using
Win32 code instead of Windows Runtime (allowing the reuse of code from their
desktop versions), permanently run in the background, use multiple background
processes, and are distributed with desktop web browsers rather than through
the Windows Store. Despite these looser restrictions, they can still take
advantage of features typically reserved for Windows Store apps, such as the
use of contracts to link to other apps. However, only the user's default web
browser can be used in this setting.
The developers of both Chrome and Firefox both
committed to developing versions of their browsers to run in the app
environment; while Chrome's app simply backports the existing desktop
interface, Firefox's (which is currently available in development versions)
uses a touch-optimized interface inspired by the mobile version of Firefox.
Interface and desktop
Windows 8 introduces significant changes to the
operating system's user interface, many of which are centered towards improving
its experience on tablet computers and other touchscreen devices. The new user
interface is based on Microsoft's Metro design language, and features a new
tile-based Start screen similar to that of Windows Phone, which has replaced
the previous Start menu entirely. The Start screen displays a customizable
array of tiles linking to various apps and desktop programs, some of which can
display constantly updated information and content through "live
tiles". As a form of multi-tasking, apps can be snapped to the side of a screen.
A vertical toolbar known as the charms bar (accessed
by swiping from the right edge of a touchscreen, or pointing the cursor at
hotspots in the right corners of a screen) provides access to system and
app-related functions, such as search, sharing, device management, settings,
and a Start button. The traditional desktop environment for running desktop
applications is accessed via a tile on the new Start screen. The Start button
on the taskbar has been removed in favor of the Start button on the charms bar
and a hotspot in the lower-left corner of the screen. Swiping from the left
edge of a touchscreen or clicking in the top-left corner of the screen allows
one to switch between apps and the Desktop. Pointing the cursor in the top-left
corner of the screen and moving down reveals a thumbnail list of active apps.
Aside from the removal of the Start button, the desktop on Windows 8 is similar
to that of Windows 7, except that the Aero Glass theme has been replaced by a
flatter, solid-colored design inspired by the Metro interface.[
Secure boot
Windows 8 supports a feature of the UEFI specification
known as "Secure boot", which uses a public-key infrastructure to
verify the integrity of the operating system and prevent unauthorized programs
such as bootkits from infecting the device.
Despite the security benefits of the feature,
Microsoft faced criticism (particularly from free software supporters) for
mandating that devices receiving its optional certification for Windows 8 have
secure boot enabled by default using a key provided by Microsoft. Concerns were
raised that secure boot could prevent or hinder the use of alternate operating
systems such as Linux. In response to the criticism, Microsoft developer Tony
Mangefeste stated that "At the end of the day, the customer is in control
of their PC. Microsoft’s philosophy is to provide customers with the best
experience first, and allow them to make decisions themselves."
Microsoft's certification requirements eventually
revealed that that UEFI firmware on x86 systems must allow users to
re-configure or turn off secure boot, but that this must not be possible on
ARM-based systems (Windows RT). Microsoft faced further criticism for its
decision to restrict Windows RT devices by using this functionality, despite it
being consistent with other consumer electronics with similar protection
measures. No mandate is made regarding the installation of third-party
certificates that would enable running alternative software.
Removed features
Aside from the removal of the Start menu, several
notable features have been removed in Windows 8. Support for playing DVDs has
been removed from Windows Media Player due to the cost of licensing the
necessary decoders (especially for devices which do not include optical disc
drives at all) and the prevalence of streaming services such as Netflix. For
the same reasons, Windows Media Center will no longer be included by default on
Windows 8 as well, but the software (which also includes support for DVD
playback) can be added back through the paid "Pro Pack" (for the base
version of Windows 8, which also upgrades the system to Windows 8 Pro) or
"Media Center Pack" (for Windows 8 Pro) add-ons. Windows 8 will still
support third-party DVD playback software.
File History, the new backup feature of Windows 8
described above, replaces Backup and Restore, the former backup app, and
Previous Versions, a component of Windows Explorer that saves previous versions
of changed files. Backup and Restore is deprecated but will continue to work on
preset schedule on computers that upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8.:76
Previous Versions no longer protects local files, although it is still
available to access previous versions of shared files stored on a Windows
Server computer.:74 Shadow Copy, the subsystem component based on
which these worked, however, is still available for other software to use.:74
Hardware requirements
PCs
Minimum hardware
requirements for Windows 8
|
||
Architecture
|
IA-32
(32-bit)
|
x64
(64-bit)
|
Processor
|
1 GHz (with
PAE, NX and SSE2 support)
|
|
Memory (RAM)
|
1 GB
|
2 GB
|
Graphics Card
|
DirectX 9 graphics
device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
|
|
Storage
|
16 GB
|
20 GB
|
The minimum system requirements for Windows 8 are
slightly higher than those of Windows 7. Notably, Windows 8 now requires that a
system's CPU support certain hardware features, specifically the PAE, NX bit,
and SSE2. Windows Store apps require a screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher
to run, while a screen resolution of 1366x768 or higher is required in order to
use the snapping functionality for apps.
To receive logo certification, Microsoft requires that
an x86 system resume from standby in 2 seconds or less.
Tablets and
convertibles
Microsoft released minimum hardware requirements for
new tablet and convertible devices designed for Windows 8, and defined a
convertible form factor as a standalone device that combines the PC, display
and rechargeable power source with a mechanically attached keyboard and
pointing device in a single chassis. A convertible can be transformed into a
tablet where the attached input devices are hidden or removed leaving the
display as the only input mechanism.
Hardware
certification requirements for Windows tablets
|
|
Graphics Card
|
DirectX 10 graphics device with WDDM 1.2 or higher
driver
|
Storage
|
10GB free space, after the out-of-box experience
completes
|
Standard buttons
|
'Power', 'Rotation lock', 'Windows Key',
'Volume-up', 'Volume-down'
|
Screen
|
Touch
screen supporting a minimum of 5-point digitizers and
resolution of at least 1366x768. The physical dimensions of the display panel
must match the aspect ratio of the native resolution. The native resolution
of the panel can be greater than 1366 (horizontally) and 768 (vertically).
Minimum native color depth is 32-bits.
|
Camera
|
Minimum 720p
|
Ambient light
sensor
|
1–30k lux capable with dynamic range of 5–60K
|
Accelerometer
|
3 axes with data rates at or above 50 Hz
|
USB 2.0
|
At least one controller and exposed port.
|
Connect
|
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 + LE (low energy)
|
Other
|
Speaker, microphone, magnetometer and gyroscope.
If a mobile broadband device is integrated into a
tablet or convertible system, then an assisted GPS radio is required. Devices
supporting near field communication need to have visual marks to help users
locate and use the proximity technology. The new button combination for Ctrl
+ Alt + Del is Windows Key + Power.
|
Software
compatibility
BSOD in Windows 8
Windows 8 for IA-32 and x64 processors runs most
software compatible with previous versions of Windows, with the same
restrictions as Windows 7: 64-bit Windows 8 runs 64-bit and 32-bit software
while 32-bit Windows 8 will be able to run 32-bit and 16-bit software (although
some 16-bit software may require compatibility settings to be applied, or not
work at all).
Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 for systems with
ARM processors, only supports applications included with the system (such as a
special version of Office 2013), supplied through Windows Update, or Windows
Store apps, to ensure that the system only runs applications that are optimized
for the architecture. Windows RT does not support running IA-32 or x64
applications. Windows Store apps can either be cross-compatible between Windows
8 and Windows RT, or compiled to support a specific architecture.
Editions and pricing
Windows 8 is available in four editions; one is simply
named Windows 8 and is intended for mainstream consumers. Windows 8 Pro
contains additional features aimed towards power users and professional
environments. Windows 8 Enterprise contains additional features aimed towards
business environments, and is only available through volume licensing. Windows
Media Center is not included by default in any edition of Windows 8, but will
still be available for purchase as an add-on for Windows 8 Pro, or as part of a
"Pro Pack" upgrade for Windows 8 which also includes the Pro upgrade.
Windows RT will only be made available as pre-loaded software on new ARM-based
devices built specifically for the OS.
Users of previous versions of Windows can purchase an
upgrade to Windows 8 Pro online (using a download that can be optionally burned
to a DVD), or through boxed copies at retail on DVD. Microsoft is offering
these upgrades at a discounted price of $39.99 USD online, or $69.99 for retail
box DVD, from its launch until 31 January 2013; afterwards the upgrade price
will be $199. Additionally, the "Full" and "OEM" SKUs of
Windows (which can be installed on a computer with no existing operating
system) have been replaced by a single "System Builder" SKU, intended
to be used by original equipment manufacturers and hobbyists building their own
systems.
Microsoft also began to offer an upgrade program for
those purchasing new PCs pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium,
Professional, or Ultimate between 2 June 2012, and 31 January 2013—in which
users will be able to digitally purchase a Windows 8 Pro upgrade for $14.99
USD. The Windows Media Center add-on will be offered for free through this
offer. Several PC manufacturers have offered rebates and refunds on Windows 8
upgrades obtained through the program on select models, such as Hewlett-Packard
(in the U.S. and Canada on select models), and Acer (in Europe on selected
Ultrabook models)
In November 2012, a complaint was filed with the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, alleging that Microsoft was
deliberately misleading consumers by not including prominent labels on Windows
8's retail packaging indicating that it is only an upgrade version that cannot
be installed without an existing version of Windows present (unlike previous
versions, which did contain such markings, and were sold at retail in both
upgrade and full versions).
Logo
On 19 February 2012, Microsoft officially unveiled a
new Windows logo to be adopted on Windows 8. Designed by Pentagram partner
Paula Scher, the logo was changed to resemble a set of four window panes.
Additionally, the entire logo is now rendered in a single solid color.
Reception
Reviews
Reviews of the various editions of Windows 8 have been
mixed. The Verge felt that Windows 8's emphasis on touch computing was a
significant aspect of the platform, and that Windows 8 devices (especially
those that combine the traits of both laptops and tablets) would "[make
the] iPad feel immediately out of date", due to the capabilities of the
operating system's hybrid model and increased focus on cloud services. Some of
the included apps in Windows 8 were considered to be basic and lacking in
certain functionality, but the Xbox apps were praised for their promotion of a
multi-platform entertainment experience. Other improvements and features (such
as File History, Storage Spaces, and the updated Task Manager) were also
regarded as positive changes. Additionally, Peter Bright of Ars Technica felt
that while its user interface changes may overshadow them, Windows 8's improved
performance, updated file manager, new storage functionality, expanded security
features, and updated Task Manager were still notably positive improvements for
the operating system. Bright also felt that Windows 8's duality towards tablets
and traditional PCs was an "extremely ambitious" aspect of the
platform as well, but still criticized Microsoft for emulating Apple's model of
a closed distribution platform when implementing the Windows Store.
The interface of Windows 8 has been the subject of
mixed reaction. Peter Bright of Ars Technica felt that the "Edge UI"
system of hot corners and edge swiping "wasn't very obvious" due to
the lack of instructions provided by the operating system on the functions accessed
through the user interface, even by the video tutorial added on the RTM release
(which only instructed users to point at corners of the screen or swipe from
its sides). Despite this so-called "stumbling block", Bright felt
that Windows 8's interface worked well in some places, but began to feel
incoherent when switching between the "Metro" and desktop
environments, sometimes through inconsistent means. Tom Warren of The Verge
felt that the new interface was "as stunning as it is surprising",
contributing to an "incredibly personal" experience once it is
customised by the user. However, at the same time, Warren felt that the
interface had a steep learning curve, and was awkward to use with a keyboard
and mouse. However, it was noted that while forcing all users to use the new
touch-oriented interface was a risky move for Microsoft as a whole, it was
necessary in order to push development of apps for the Windows Store.
Several notable video game developers criticized
Microsoft for adopting a similar "walled garden" app distribution
model to other mobile platforms with the introduction of the Windows
Store—since they felt it conflicted with the traditional view of the PC as an
open platform, due to the store's closed nature and certification requirements
for compatibility and regulation of content. Markus "Notch" Persson
specifically refused to accept help from a Microsoft developer to certify his
popular game Minecraft for Windows 8 compatibility, replying with a
request for the company to "stop trying to ruin the PC as an open
platform." Gabe Newell (co-founder of Valve Corporation, who developed the
competing software distribution platform Steam) described Windows 8 as being a
"catastrophe for everyone in the PC space" due to the closed nature
of the Windows Store. Rob Pardo from Activision Blizzard agreed with Gabe
Newell by saying: "nice interview with Gabe Newell - "I think Windows
8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space* - not awesome for Blizzard
either". Industry Veteran Casey Muratori had similar concerns.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes from ZDNet wrote: "The
biggest problem with Windows 8 is that it wasn't born out of a need or demand.
Its design failures, particularly with ‘Metro UI’ will likely be its
downfall."
Philip Greenspun called Windows 8 a "Christmas
gift for someone you hate."
WINDOWS 8 ADVANTAGES
AND DISADVANTAGES
Windows 8 consumer preview and pro has been available
in the market and every one using it, this are my opinion about the windows 8
consumer preview and pro which I have been tested by using that operating
system
Advantages
1. The
operating system works in even 1.4GHz processor (for example Intel atom
processor) .
2. They
have many free apps in the stores.
3. It
can be used in tablet and I pad.
4. Well
built user interface.
5. Boot
faster than any os in the world so far.
6. You
can upgrade to pro for just Rs.699(indian rupee).
7. many
new games(angry bird star wars).
Disadvantages
1. The
main disadvantage is lies in the working, the system is reboot several times
(especially for 30 min)only for developer and consumer preview not for pro.
2. No
antivirus for the windows 8(consumer and developer preview) only windows
firewall and internet security(but available for win 8 pro).
3. Apps
works only in the full monitor by occupying the full face of the monitor.
4. No
side apps can be run will we are using the apps.
5. And
my recommendation is to run the windows 8 consumer preview in another (dual
boot), because it has many problem in it and if the windows 8 release stick to
it, until you should be struck in windows 7 or windows xp.
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