Guest blogger Karl Newark writes:
It seems that everyone who knows about it has decided they don’t like Windows 8 already. More often than not, people are saying that it will be the next Vista. Although I have had my doubts at times and I must admit that some features don’t appeal to me, you don’t have to be a Windows fanboy or an employee to know there are actually some really nice features coming with Windows 8 and Microsoft is making a few consumer-friendly movements as a business. Here are a few things I’m looking forward to.
Performance
Microsoft has made Windows 8 faster; we all saw it running on ridiculously old hardware back when the first test build was released, but this isn’t just a novelty. Microsoft is said to have been working very hard on performance. Microsoft has ditched Aero — that glassy effect that you see on your taskbar and around desktop windows — on the desktop. It didn’t suit Microsoft’s new Metro UI design trends, so the company scrapped it and, instead, developed a simpler, more solid-looking theme. I’m sure it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but Aero was notorious for putting a strain on some weaker graphics chipsets. Love or hate the look of the new theme; I’m sure everyone will agree that better graphics performance is always a good thing. Aero was also a throwback to Vista, which I’m sure Microsoft is trying its hardest to help us forget!
Windows 8 is also better optimized for AMD’s Bulldozer chips. Also, Windows 8 supports CMT (Cluster-based Multithreading), which gives users a 10% performance boost and significantly more FPS in games. From these points, I think it’s clear that Microsoft is definitely making moves to increase performance for all users — not just tablet users.
Microsoft Windows 8 also supports UEFI boot, which benefits the average PC user significantly. This is a technology that Apple has been using for a long time that replaces the old BIOS system (legacy BIOS) that is normally used in PCs now. It supports larger hard drives, significantly increases security, and has the ability to provide the user with a much nicer UI for boot up options. Best of all, it boosts startup time significantly. There is some controversy surrounding UEFI, however, as it gives Microsoft and OEMs the power to lock out any other operating systems, such as those that are Linux-based.
Task Manager
The Windows Task Manager is a tool that has always been used frequently by Windows power users, but it has remained majorly unchanged for quite a long time. In Windows 8, the Task Manager has been completely taken to pieces and built from the ground up, with cool, new features included in the process.
In its new version, when the Task Manager is first opened, it is extremely simplified, giving a straightforward list of all of the system’s open applications. Upon opening the advanced options, we are greeted with the more familiar Task Manager from Windows past.
Processes are now grouped and ordered in a more orderly fashion. There is a tab allowing you to change your bootup apps (there’s no more msconfig for that), and there are now a lot more details on system resources so it’s easier to see what is taxing a system. One of my favorite new features is “friendly names,” which gives processes much more understandable names. An example given by Microsoft is “Fast user switching utility service,” which, in a previous version of Windows, would show as FSSVC.exe. If a user still doesn’t know what this is, they can right click to use a direct Web search option.
Check out this video to learn more about the Windows 8 Task Manager:
Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer is the default file managing app in Windows. File managing is never fun, but we all have to do it from time to time whether we’re a graphic designer looking for font, a mechanic opening a diagnostic report for a vehicle, or just someone attaching a picture to an email for the grandparents. In such cases, if you’re on Windows, you are probably using Windows Explorer. So it is important that Microsoft gets it right.
Microsoft has updated Explorer with the ribbon style toolbar. This is best described as a normal toolbar, but with different functions available on different tabs. It is loved by some and hated by others, but what’s important is that it gives the average user easy access to the most commonly used functions. Those that are frequently used get a large icon on a main tab, while other features may get a smaller icon or be placed on another tab.
Within Windows Explorer, Microsoft has also added a lot more keyboard shortcuts — which should please any power user — as well as adding features such as “copy path,” which adds a selected file’s path to the clipboard, which is great for people on a large network with shared storage and files. Pictures now display metadata more dynamically and you can now launch a command prompt with one click from Explorer.
Xbox Integration and the Death of Zune
Just as Apple is using the success and momentum of iOS to innovate upon OS X, Microsoft is trying to focus on making people see the Xbox 360 and Windows as a more unified experience. Microsoft’s success with the Xbox 360 has been outstanding; in a short space of time the company has entered the console gaming industry and provided people with a great product and service. People are spending money willingly and are eager for more. (We have been hearing rumors about the “Xbox 720″ for years!)
However Microsoft didn’t do much to make Windows 7 feel like a member of the same product family. This changed with Windows Phone 7; Xbox integration was focused as a main selling point for these devices, and Windows 8 should have even more integration.
Both devices will use the Metro interface, which I think is a good thing as it will come as less of a shock to a lot of people when they try Windows 8 for the first time. But more specifically, Microsoft is implementing Xbox apps into Windows 8 that will let you buy games and check gamer scores and other information much like xbox.com, but this will, it is hoped, provide a more consistent and functional experience than visiting the website.
Zune is now being phased out and replaced by Xbox Music, a rebranded and reworked service to provide music to Windows users. It’s great to see Microsoft ditching the Zune brand as it was mostly just another reminder of the infamous failed iPod competitor.
Multi-monitor Support
People who use multiple monitors with Windows generally agree that this is a functionality that has been neglected for some time. This is clear by the popularity of third-party apps that let you tweak how multiple monitors work within Windows 7.
Windows 8 adds several features for those using more than one screen. For one, that age-old problem, the Task Bar, can finally be duplicated to both monitors. But that’s not all. There are now more options with wallpaper: wallpapers can span across monitors, or individual monitors can have their own wallpapers; this is cool. It’s also worth noting that a lot of the Metro features such as Charms and Hot Corners can all be customized, as well!
Windows 8 App Store
We all know how these digital app stores work as they are extremely popular and seem to be the future of software distribution. It’s a step in the right direction for Microsoft to finally bring its own digital app store to Windows 8. This should be great for users as it will minimize the risk of downloading viruses, help install and uninstall apps, and give consumers a peace of mind when paying for apps. A digital app store is also great for developers as it will help consumers discover apps.
Microsoft has had great success selling software (in the form of games) on the Xbox over the few years that it has done so. It has expanded and adapted its strategies for the better — I hope the company can carry what it has learned from this to the Windows 8 App Store.
The Future of Microsoft for the Consumer
With the announcement of the Microsoft Surface tablet and new leaked images of what could be official Microsoft peripherals for Windows 8, I think it’s clear that Microsoft is taking some control of hardware. Also, Microsoft has official Microsoft Stores all over the world; this brings me to believe that Microsoft will make a lot more of the Signature line of machines.
Microsoft Signature PCs are devices that not only fit Microsoft’s technical expectations for certain class of PC, but also contain no bloatware. At the moment, they are only available through Microsoft Stores and online, but I personally cannot order one of these online as there are no Microsoft stores in the UK. This is set to change as there is a store opening very soon in London; I believe that many people will be in this position around the world, and soon Microsoft Signature products will be very significant for anyone buying a PC.
I also believe that Microsoft Stores will help consumers learn about and understand Windows 8. Everyone will be able to try it in store on a variety of devices and ask Windows experts any questions that they might have.
Getting Along with Metro (on a Desktop OS)
Back to my point at the beginning: Everyone seems to have a problem with Windows 8, but most people haven’t even tried it. It’s important to understand that, even though all of Microsoft’s emphasis seems to be behind the Metro interface, it is also developing on the classic desktop UI. The Metro UI itself is essentially a new Start menu that can start full-screen, tablet-oriented apps, but this is optional. Desktop apps still exist and will do so for the foreseeable future.
As for the problems with replacement of the Start menu, this is not an issue for someone who uses the desktop UI at all. Keystroke launching still works as in Windows 7, but even better. When the Metro UI is first launched, all a user needs to do to start searching is type. As soon as a keystroke is detected, Windows starts to quickly search through apps and files and displays them all in a grid format; I find this a lot more efficient than searching from the Windows 7 Start menu, as Metro is much larger and clearer.
All a desktop user needs to do to launch installed software is hit the Windows key on the keyboard, enter the first few letters of the software’s name, and press enter. This is an extremely fast way to access an app and the user will only see the Metro UI for a couple of seconds.
I hope I have presented you with some information that you were not previously aware of; I think it’s important to realize that Microsoft has developed this version of Windows for everyone — not just the tablet user.
Here’s more information about Windows 8′s improved compatibility with AMD Bulldozer CPUs, and below is a video about UEFI vs. legacy BIOS.
The Windows 8 app store is the one thing that’s turned me from a huge Microsoft evangelist to one of their biggest critiques and has completely turned me off from the W8 platform. I’m a developer and a power user. I do NOT want virtually all of my freedom on my PC taken away from me. The Windows 8 Metro app store is a 100% walled garden, just like the iPhone. This is the worst possible outcome and I can’t begin to express how disappointed I am in this. I can no longer sell my apps on my own web site. I can’t sell my apps anywhere except through Microsoft. I can’t keep 100% of my revenue (Microsoft forcibly takes 30%). If Microsoft doesn’t like my software, then I’m SOL. I now have to get permission from Microsoft and have to pay Microsoft for the “privilege” of writing software.
As a user, all my freedoms for Metro apps to install what I want, when I want, how I want, and from WHERE I want have been destroyed. There’s only one option now: Microsoft’s app store.
This is completely unacceptable.
I don’t see why the app store would be an issue, traditional Windows software can still be installed just as it is now, Metro apps may work differently (I haven’t tried to install them manually) but if they are as locked down as you say, I don’t see why this would be an issue, it’s simply another option.
Metro Software is made for touch, so this is a completely new addition to Windows, this software may be acquired by a different method, but this is simply a new opportunity, it doesn’t stop anything that users or producers are doing currently.
I was very careful and direct in my wording. This closed system is for Metro apps, not desktop apps. Yes, Metro apps DO behave differently and this is the crux of my entire argument.
This is a HUGE issue. Metro is the future of Windows. That’s what they’ve told us developers. The desktop environment is being discouraged and will eventually go away. This means our only option in the future is as I said, a completely closed system.
“this software may be acquired by a different method”
No, it can’t. That’s the whole point. Metro software may ONLY be acquired through the Microsoft Windows 8 app store. This is apparently so unbelievable that people truly have a hard time accepting this as fact.
“it doesn’t stop anything that users or producers are doing currently.”
I think you’ve missed my point. I’m not talking about desktop environment software (which IS going away, as Microsoft said). I’m talking about Metro, which is what Microsoft has stated is the future of Windows, not the desktop. That’s why this is such a huge issue.
And, even IF the desktop weren’t be deprecated, it blocks us from distributing our Metro software from anywhere and anyway we want, with Microsoft’s app store being the ONLY option.
It’s said that Windows 8 Pro (or W8 Enterprise) will have a side loading option, but only if it’s connected to a domain and only if the domain admin’s set up a policy to allow for it. In other words, home users will NOT have that option and if your target market is home users, then you’re SOL for Metro apps.
With
“this software may be acquired by a different method” I was comparing Metro to traditional desktop software.
I can understand your frustrations with these changes, but they are for the consumers benefit, this can be seen from the success of other digital app markets such as the Mac App Store, Microsoft are taking a cut of software sales, but this just seems to be a growing trend in technology, sell for a low initial price (Windows 8 is very cheap) then make money up from a percentage on software sales. This is why Google are selling the Nexus 7 at cost, I believe this is called penetration pricing.
I can understand your frustrations with the new system, but its crucial to understand that this is for the benefit of the consumer overall.
I think a lot of it comes down to how Microsoft decide to run their app store, they could be very strict (like apple banning in-app purchases not through apple) or they could be a lot more open like how Google seem to run Google play. I guess only time will tell.
Every one that hates Microsoft now, come over to the Linux camp:
http://www.ubuntu.com check it out. I switched from windows 7, and im glad.
After giving Win 8 Cons Preview a try, I scrapped it and have gone back to Win 7 .. what’s the point of Metro if I find myself back at the desktop anyways? Metro seems to be in the way of productivity, doesn’t enhance it. The new “ribbon” toolbar is cluttered and confusing. I never upgraded my MS Office apps after seeing that. It is too confusing. That is what I feel is wrong with Windows 8, too many good things thrown together in a confused way. Windows 7 is an awesome stable and fast platform. Sure Win8 booted up pretty fast, but that won’t be why I choose an OS. I look for awesome design and with that the ability to navigate without feeling like I have to take extra steps to get what I wanted. It was a good try though, hope they either strip Metro or just leave the development for Tablets. When are we going to see TOUCH panels in the 21″+ arena on the market, at best buy and the like so we can use those fancy Metro buttons?
Metro is a way to give tablet and PC users a similar experience; it’s grand not to have to as it were learn Chinese and Swahili simultaneously. Win8 runs faster and with FAR fewer problems than win7. I love win8! Although I am a big screen and keyboard fan and will try to avoid any kind of portable platform, as those are the ones I keep losing or dunking in liquids…
I have looked at Windows 9 and I really can’t get excited about it, especially Metro. It will be something I never use. Also, “Charms?” Come on Balmer, what are you a little girl or a grandmother. Charms? I am a computer professional, but I don’t think I can discuss charms with a user! Give me a break!
It’s a wonderful article Karl, Simply amazing. Considering the Boot time, Microsoft has done some magic. But from my experience, I came to know a fact that Windows 8 boots up in less than 8 seconds in my 2nd gen i3 Asus laptop, less than 10 sec in my Athlon X2 7870 desktop (Both have 4 GB RAM, it’s DDR II on desktop – Both run on HDD, not SSD ).
Why I’m mentioning it here is? because My Dad has a PC running on Pentium 4, which boots up Win 7 in around 90 sec, whereas it takes nearly 200 sec to boot up windows 8. It’s a Pentium 4 HT single core processor overclocked to 3.6GHz.
Windows 8 is a great OS for latest hardware, even if it’s a pentium dual core laptop, it will be speedy, provided you have at least 4GB RAM for high resource eating apps.
And coming to Bulldozer processor, Bulldozer architecture works on modules, each module has 2 integer processing unit and a FPU. It works on CMT technology, which is a brilliant idea of reducing the power consumption and manufacturing cost by 20 % for each core. But since AMD doesn’t had sufficient time, they couldn’t tweak their bulldozer architecture. They thought of attaining more than 4.5GHz native clock frequency to reduce the lag in cache that’s why they increased the pipeline length. But they couldn’t attain what they thought off!
I won’t assure you that the CMT supported by Windows 8 will be mind blowing with AMD piledriver. It’s not going to be! Because you will see just a 15% improvement in IPC/core on AMD piledriver with Windows 8.
But “Excavator” successor of steamroller, successor of Piledriver, will deliver an exponential growth in performance compared to Bulldozer.
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The Windows Task Manager is a tool that has always been used frequently by Windows power users”
I’ve seen this assertion more than once which makes me think that it’s the company line not least because I know of no evidence whatsoever that it is true.
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Microsoft has updated Explorer with the ribbon style toolbar.”
If I wanted this, I’d get it from any of a number of file manager extensions available. What I would like is a fundamental rethink of the tree format but that’s not happening!
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making people see the Xbox 360 and Windows as a more unified experience”
If I want a game machine I buy XBox. If I want a computer I buy a PC. XBox is nothing like any of the iOS hardware.
“It’s a step in the right direction for Microsoft to finally bring its own digital app store to Windows 8.”
If you see the future of computing as trivialisation rather than serious business and scientific applications!
“As for the problems with replacement of the Start menu, this is not an issue for someone who uses the desktop UI at all.”
Seriously? You think that going back to a glorified program manager is not an issue? The taskbar and start menu are the absolute focus of my computing life as I use pretty much all my applications maximised. Not having to see the desktop again once I’ve started work is great. The ability to embed small things like a notepad right into the task bar makes this even more useful.
“I think it’s important to realize that Microsoft has developed this version of Windows for everyone — not just the tablet user.”
You have got to be joking! Did you get that motto in a Christmas cracker?
In summary, I have absolutely no interest in ‘upgrading’ to Windows 8. No problem for now as I will continue to use and program for W7 but the inevitable question looms. Will Microsoft accept our decision to eschew Windows 8 and for how long? If you think we’re a little bit cross now, just wait for Windows 7 support to be withdrawn!
“Seriously? You think that going back to a glorified program manager is not an issue? The taskbar and start menu are the absolute focus of my computing life as I use pretty much all my applications maximised. Not having to see the desktop again once I’ve started work is great. The ability to embed small things like a notepad right into the task bar makes this even more useful.”
Seriously? You think the task bar has gone? No dude, its just the start button, people tend to use the start button just for the search bar anyway (other than for logging in/out and shutting down), you can do this on Windows 8 just as quickly! you know how I took the attached screenshot? I hit the Windows key, hit sni (for snipping tool) and pressed enter! You know how I would have done it in Windows 7? The exact same way, only on Windows 8 this isn’t done via a start button.
The rest of the task bar, and other than a fancy new color option, and the ability to have it on two monitors (without using a third party app), Its pretty much unchanged, there’s nothing to stop you pinning just as you would in Windows 7.
“Seriously? You think that going back to a glorified program manager is not an issue? The taskbar and start menu are the absolute focus of my computing life as I use pretty much all my applications maximised. Not having to see the desktop again once I’ve started work is great. The ability to embed small things like a notepad right into the task bar makes this even more useful.”
Dude, Seriously? Who told you the whole taskbar has gone? Its just the start button! Most people only use the search bar to launch software now anyway, it seems to be the same as people using Spotlight on OSX more and more frequently.
You see the screenshot bellow? I took it using snipping tool, an application built into Windows, I launched it by hitting the Windows key, entering the letters “sni” and pressing enter, you know how I would have opened snipping tool on Windows 7? The exact same way, But on Windows 8, this isn’t done via a traditional Start menu, Both take exactly the same time, (a couple of seconds).
Other than the start button, everything is still there dude! You can still pin apps and start them just as you would in Windows 7, other than a new color option and the fact you can have it on more than one monitor (without the need for a third party app) it is pretty much the same.
Oh and that little show desktop button next to the clock only shows up when you hover over it now!
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I am looking forward to Windows 8 but will certainly be upgrading my RAM to something greater than 4GB!
Good article. I have now upgraded to Windows 8 and will happily stay with it. You pointed out some useful things such as being able to just type from RT (after pressing Windows) and focus in on my desired application. That is incredibly fast. I never bothered with search-run on Windows 7. But it’s actually a lot faster than using the start menu. And for a long time I’ve thought that the start menu was kind of tedious sometimes. So I don’t mind doing it differently even just for the sake of trying a different way.
In response to some other comments. The walled garden approach of the Windows Store is a good idea IMO. The iTunes/iPhone app store is a good example of a well executed app store. And even Steam is another good example. This is the future of application installation since it reduces, nay removes the concern about malware. And the MS app store will also make some guarantees about compatibility and performance. I like the idea personally, but it may not be to some peoples tastes.
And I don’t think the desktop is going to be phased out. Microsoft is all about developers and the desktop provides a customizable workspace. I’ve read that WinRT has some functionality for multiple windows that is hidden at the moment. It could be, and I’m just speculating that RT may eventually expand and consume the desktop environment and replace Win32. In such a scenario I think we will find that RT will provide all the flexibility that we expect from desktop. Otherwise we can just stick with Win32 which isn’t going to be taken away unless RT is expanded.