Windows 8 beta (Consumer Preview)

[xxMATTGxx]

I posted this on a other forum:

I've been using it for a couple of hours now and will be using it as my Main OS for the rest of the week and maybe even longer If I don't come across any major problems. In regards of Metro, I haven't been annoyed by it and if you are a desktop user then you really don't spend time in the metro interface and you don't have to unless you really want to search for something. Even so, searching on it is easy and is done within seconds. I love how you can just start typing and it will start looking for you, it's great that you can separate the results between apps and files.

Metro really does not get in your way if your a desktop user. The only time that it may annoy you is for search but the search is great because you can separate the apps and the files and are able to find what you are looking for more efficiently.

Keyboard Tip:

Windows Key + X and it brings up a nice small menu of things you may want to open:



Windows Key + F = Search for files
Windows Key + Q = Search for Apps/Programs

Just makes it a tiny bit quicker

[Chippiewill]

Ultimately I suspect the way this is going to end up is if you're not a tablet don't bother with Windows 8 until you need to because for the desktop experience it doesn't really add anything yet.

[Recursion]

Ultimately I suspect the way this is going to end up is if you're not a tablet don't bother with Windows 8 until you need to because for the desktop experience it doesn't really add anything yet.

This, I'll probably hold out 'till SP1 or something this time round.

[Chippiewill]

This, I'll probably hold out 'till SP1 or something this time round.

I'll wait until launch day and get a Tablet so that I can justify having windows 8. I wonder if they'll have launch parties again?

[peteyt]

What the hell are you talking about?


Have to wait till tomorrow for the audio version of his musings

What I mean is lets say internet explorer 6 is really buggy with many security flaws which in truth it is. Abusiness that is still using it and might be handling sensitive data surely could be putting people's data at risk then? There's a reason Microsoft are trying to make people more from Internet Explorer 6, it isn't safe.

[Chippiewill]

They tend to use things like UTMs which scrub all in coming data so they can kinda be safe using IE6 (I use the word "kinda" in the loosest sense of the word), not brilliant and certainly not recommendable but possible.

Of course XP has shipped with IE7 since SP3 anyway.

[xxMATTGxx]

http://live.twit.tv/

Windows Weekly will be on soon - It's a good watch if you are interested in Microsoft news etc and I'm sure Windows 8 CP will be a big topic this week.

[Chippiewill]

http://live.twit.tv/

Windows Weekly will be on soon - It's a good watch if you are interested in Microsoft news etc and I'm sure Windows 8 CP will be a big topic this week.

Damn, I was going to post that. Watching now any-ways.

[Chippiewill]

News flash! You can use a pencil on a non-touch screen with Windows 8 to access touch functionality.

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Apparently there are a TON of new keyboard short-cuts, mouse gestures and touch gestures - I don't even know the current shortcuts yet :S

[xxMATTGxx]

News flash! You can use a pencil on a non-touch screen with Windows 8 to access touch functionality.

-

Apparently there are a TON of new keyboard short-cuts, mouse gestures and touch gestures - I don't even know the current shortcuts yet :S

Yeah there is a lot of new keyboard shout cuts, I've been learning and finding new ones and they are quite handy!

Show Hide

Windows Key → [Search Term] → Enter will allow you to launch an application very quickly. Pressing the Windows key launches the Start Screen, but immediately typing a search term for an application and pressing Enter will launch the application you desire very quickly

Windows Key + F will bring up the Metro interface to search for files. Selecting a file will open a Metro app first, but if there is no Metro app to open the file it will choose a Desktop app instead

Windows Key + W allows you to search for settings in a similar way to files. A lot of the time the selections will open the Control Panel

Esc (when on the Start Screen) or Windows Key + D immediately ditches the Start Screen for the Desktop

Windows Key + E opens Windows Explorer in case you need to browse files and either don't have it pinned to the taskbar or don't want to search for it

Windows Key + C shows the Charm Bar, which can be hard to get to display with a mouse (especially with multiple monitors)

Windows Key + I shows the information pane that usually only appears once you mouse to the Charm Bar and click Settings. This panel has handy buttons to control volume, networks and power

Windows Key + P shows multi-display options

Windows Key + H brings up sharing options for the application you are using

Windows Key + X shows a context menu filled with links to Windows related settings, such as Command Prompt, Event Viewer, Task Manager, Programs & Features, and more

Windows Key + . chucks the program you're using into either one of Windows 8's multi-tasking sidebars

Windows Key + [1-9] activates one of the programs pinned to your taskbar, with the number you enter corresponding to the location on the taskbar

Windows Key + Tab displays the new Windows 8 Metro multi-tasking sidebar