Let's talk about Windows 8! | NotebookReview

layjohn Notebook Consultant

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So everyone is noticing that many of the MSI laptops are on pre-order. This is due to the fact that they are waiting on the release of Windows 8.
On most resellers' website, you'll notice most of the MSI will come standard with Windows 8. For exception of a few (ie. GT60-0NC) Not sure why
not ALL of them are going Windows 8 though... overstocked?

For this reason I made this thread to specifically talk about the upcoming Windows 8, both in general, and in MSI laptop specifically.

There are hundreds of reviews on Windows 8 already, with an easy search on G o o g l e should bring you hundreds of results. You'll notice there are distinctively
stands on the reviews. Either people LOVING it, or they HATE it.

For me, while reading the reviews, and gathering different data from all kind of sources, I would say that I am a hater... However....(yes.. there's a catch) I will continue this
catch in the end of my post.

It is a bold move that Microsoft is taking, instead of adding on top of the existing Windows line, they completely throw out the old one and redesigned the whole thing.
The main goal of Microsoft is to have a common platform all across all of its devices (tablet, cellphone, and PC). Now, I know there are a lots of talk about our society is
moving toward cellphone and tablet orientated, I completely agree, in fact having a common platform for them is a great idea! BUT that should only be limited to cellphones and
tablets, since they are actually SIMILAR. PC should always stay separate.

One major change will be the removal of the Start Menu from the desktop. I promise, this will make millions of people rage, when they move their mouse to the bottom left, and click,
then either your pined downed program starts, or the new "Start Screen" shows up.

Now to finish off with the "catch". While reading hundreds of reviews, I find myself hating on the new Windows 8 more and more! But yesterday (10/21/2012) I made a trip to
my local Bestbuy just to walk around ( I get bored...), and I notice that some of their display laptops have samples of Windows 8 installed! I was both excited and scared to test
them out. Of course I went with it, and at first I was greeted with the "Start Menu" just as promised...Hate it... After finding my way to exit that menu, I was greeted by the old
desktop that I'm familiar with, with the exception of the missing "Start" on the bottom left. It is very irritating that something is missing at the bottom left of the screen....

I only had about 1 hours with the new Windows 8, and just a few thing I notice.

1. Any "apps" or "Metro Apps" opened from the start menu will not show up as individual windows on desktop mode, which mean if you don't close them, they'll still be running in
the back ground. I had to open up task manager to exit them, or go back to the actual app and close them....
2. "Start Menu" is VERY messy, hard to navigate with your touch pad, might be easier with a actual mouse. Very touchscreen orientated.
3. The "Lock Screen" looks pretty nice, instead of a plain screen, you get programmable ( I think..) back ground, with some extra stuff, such as the time/date, weather, etc.

The good thing(s)
4. I love the new Task Manger. It is very clean, and easy to read. I can read a lot of information that I needed all in one screen, where as before, I needed to switch between few screens to
find the information I needed.

Conclusion:

I only had an hour with it, so I didn't get to play with it enough... I take back my stand on how much i HATE it before trying it out, I'm more like 60% not liking it, and 40% liking it right now.
Which is better from 120% hating it.... I was so close to buying the GX60 and install my own copy of Windows 7....Now I will have to do some more thinking.

I would like your guys opinion and thoughts. This is a open discussion thread.