I installed Windows 8 Consumer Preview on my computer for testing (had to uninstall 'cause many programs for Win7 didn't work), and here are my observations and opinions:
- A light, fast UI
- Performance is equal to or better than that of Win7 (that goes for gaming too)
- Simple, attractive design
- Lightning-fast Boot and Shutdown (Cold Boot, boots from 7-15 secs.)

However, along with these positive points, there are also some bad stuff. For instance, the Metro apps have to be closed from the Task Manager. The Metro version of Internet Explorer, in fact, every Metro app, is just too hard to understand and to use. The UI is just too different from what Windows users are used to.

I personally don't like the fact that this OS was designed for tablets and other touchscreen devices. This makes it unfriendly to use with a mouse and keyboard. I think that Microsoft is making a mistake, because, today, an OS designed for desktop PCs would be more useful to the general public than an OS designed for touch devices. Maybe in a few years time, this might change, but I think that Microsoft is just doing this too soon.

I conclude that, although it is made for touch devices, it can be used very well with normal PCs, and it can be considered a SLIGHT overall improvement from Win7 (nothing revolutionary, though, except for Cold Boot), but no, I don't think that it would be worth spending money on.

I also conclude that Metro UI is a useless waste of time.

I agree. This is but a glorified Windows 7. I have used it for 3 days now and see nothing new except the pretty blocks. I have an Ipad and frankly to compare them would be nonsense. I shall definitely hold onto Win 7 until something better emerges.

No, you don't need to close apps from the task manager. You simply go to the top with your mouse. grab from the middle, and drag the whole screen down to the bottom of the screen where you "dump" it.

Like this, I'm sure we'll be finding little speed tricks here and there for W8.

Originally Posted by Phillips9

I agree. This is but a glorified Windows 7.

But then again Windows 3.1 was just a glorified Windows 1, and 95 just a glorified Windows 3.1 and so on and so forth.

Windows 8 (if it turns out the way it looks now) is quite a radical departure from the past several invocations of Windows. In general I think it will play well on mobile devices and even All-in-ones with a touch screen. It works OK with a mouse but really doesn't add much functionality over the older interface.
I think new users who have grown up with cell phones, like the iPhone and Android's, will feel fairly at home with Win8 as long as they are doing fairly simple stuff. Those of us who use the computer for IT and engineering will hate Win8 but then again we have hated every Windows and that is why we use Linux instead.

I find the dichotomy between the Metro apps and old style apps, like IE, Firefox, Windows Explorer etc., quite annoying. If Microsoft wants a new interface they should make everything work the same way like Apple does.

Microsoft with Windows 8 is not the only OS going the touch-screen route. Ubuntu Linux with Unity is chasing the mobile market also. An awful lot of Ubuntu users are revolting against the new look and moving to more traditional interfaces like Linux Mint and others. While the Metro style of interface may work well with a touch-screen device without a real keyboard, it is awkward with a conventional desktop computer. Again if someone main activities are surfing the Internet, reading and answering emails, or playing simple games the Metro style interface is probably fine; however, when one needs to do a days work typing, compiling, debugging, editing and testing one wants something more practical and powerful.

You can also go to the top left corner and right click when the thumbnail pops up and you will get a "close" button.

As an aside why doesn't this forum's comment box have spell checking?

After having tried Win8CP for about 24hrs, (and un-installed it since then) I have to say I was left under-whelmed, in the extreme.
UN-intuitive is the operative word here. Even after 'discovering' through trial-and-error how to navigate the terrible Metro UI, I was left with the 500-lb gorilla in the room... WHY? Why make it so un-intuitive? Why vere so far away from a usable OS for real work? Why is it so hard to come up with Rules of Operation and stick to it? Before Redmond releases this product to the public, they need to go back through the OS and apps and make rules for developers so that ALL apps and navigation work the same.

Once I grew so completely frustrated with Metro, I disabled it, opting for the so-called 'standard' UI. As a power user this UI, at least, made the Win8 experience tolerable, albeit a very minor improvement over Win7. The loss of the Start Button ins't a deal-breaker and the subtle changes in the UI were o.k.

My overall take-away impression with Win8CP was 'WTF'. What have they been doing all this time in Redmond? This OS is FAR from 'revolutionary', as most pundits breathlessly proclaim, obviously profiting as spokes-holes for M$. And even if the OS is considered 'evolutionary', one has to wonder 'WHY'? Where is the value? Where is the seamless 'intuitive' experience? Where is the platform to get real work done?

Right now, as it is, the 'experience' is frustrating and one where it appears as if many different groups have been designing and programming in near-isolation without a common set of interface rules or vision.

My hope is that M$ takes this opportunity to go back and work on the 'intuitiveness' and 'seamlessness' of this t**urd... IF they want to remain relevant in the future.

I'll wait for Windows 9. They won't be seeing my money this time around. This is a gimmick that, in my opinion, does nothing to improve the desktop experience. I have no interest in Apple products but they've got to be shaking their heads and laughing at this one.

By the way bartonlp , it does have spell checking. It's been flagging misspells for me (including your name). ; )

I agree with both of you. Frankly I am feeling that in some way Microsoft have lost the plot. Do they perhaps think they are dealing with sub-teens here or don't they care? This version is a insult to the intelligence of the majority of Microsoft users.

the biggest feature of this platform is integrate mobile, PC and tablet into one. IOS does that too.

In this Windows 8 Consumer Preview, most of them are conceptions, not a seasoned product. I believe it will be a good one.

Originally Posted by windows

the biggest feature of this platform is integrate mobile, PC and tablet into one. IOS does that too.

In this Windows 8 Consumer Preview, most of them are conceptions, not a seasoned product. I believe it will be a good one.

What could be good about making a touch screen like interface for people who mainly use a mouse and keyboard to interact with their computer?? It's a gimmick of the times. They must think that because so many people have touch screen phones and tablets that they want to use the same interface on their desktops. No, we don't. What do I need buttons on screen when I already have icons? It's just another wall on the computer that I need to get through to end up where I want to be. They are jumping into the pool before checking if there's any water in it. Phillips9 is correct in mentioning sub-teens and insulting the intelligence of users. I have to wonder who decided this was the way to go.

Yes, I like the way Windows 7 works. No I don't want a smartphone/tablet interface on my desktop computer. On my smartphone, yes. On my tablet, yes. Not my desktop. It's pointless.