Windows 8 Pro - Preview!

AceInfinity

AceInfinity

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So I downloaded Windows 8 Pro to a VHD today, I must say. Despite my attitude towards no start menu & tileview, it's pretty good... Performance on this thing is amazing, and you know what? We even got some cooler defaults for Windows sounds! They are awesome :thumbsup2:

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That is the one design feature that drives me nuts in Windows 8. Why is there no Start Menu button? Wouldn't that be easier/more intuitive to those who have used Windows for so long. I wouldn't even care if the button took me back to the apps interface that it starts on that used to be called Metro. It would just be nice to have the button instead of having to move the mouse to the bottom left corner and wait for the Start screen to show up which is intermittent whether it even will sometimes. I sometimes have to move the cursor down there two or three times before I get the stupid thing to show up. That alone frustrates me enough not to ever buy Windows 8. If I get it for free through my computer work, great, but otherwise, I'm not investing money in something that is going to irk me.

Sorry for the rant. Just annoyed by Windows 8 and having to use the Windows key so often to be able to use any of the features that are naturally available in 95, 98, XP, Vista, 7, and the Server products. There really should have been more thought put into helping users transition to the new interface.


Windows Key + I will bring up the Settings panel with power options, which is how I maneuver in Windows 8.
 
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I think that's going to confuse a lot of people. My school for example is investing in some touchscreen workstations for IT classrooms. The school is then planning to move to Windows 8 later in the year. I think that's going to confuse a lot of people. They're only just getting around to completly migrating to windows 7, that's another thing they're doing this summer.
 
Britton30 said:
Where do you click to reboot or shut down? :confused2:
Click to expand...

That's in the "Modern" tileview location :)

zigzag3143 said:
Ace

Did you get aero working in it yet? grin
Click to expand...

Haven't tried that, as soon as I got it I was fooling around with mainly VS 2012 development stuff, but I noticed these notifications in the top right and the cool new default Windows sounds that I liked.

I don't mind the no Aero, it's just that missing start orb that bugs me. For why they can't at LEAST provide an option to use it or not, I don't know. Can't make everybody happy for some reason lol.

writhziden said:
That is the one design feature that drives me nuts in Windows 8. Why is there no Start Menu button? Wouldn't that be easier/more intuitive to those who have used Windows for so long. I wouldn't even care if the button took me back to the apps interface that it starts on that used to be called Metro. It would just be nice to have the button instead of having to move the mouse to the bottom left corner and wait for the Start screen to show up which is intermittent whether it even will sometimes. I sometimes have to move the cursor down there two or three times before I get the stupid thing to show up. That alone frustrates me enough not to ever buy Windows 8. If I get it for free through my computer work, great, but otherwise, I'm not investing money in something that is going to irk me.

Sorry for the rant. Just annoyed by Windows 8 and having to use the Windows key so often to be able to use any of the features that are naturally available in 95, 98, XP, Vista, 7, and the Server products. There really should have been more thought put into helping users transition to the new interface.


Windows Key + I will bring up the Settings panel with power options, which is how I maneuver in Windows 8.
Click to expand...

Exactly, I don't know why they couldn't have kept it, maybe put an option or another button someplace else to go to the apps view? Slow adaption...

The funniest thing is... Nobody is using Windows 8 the way Microsoft intended it to be lol: Simple and easy.

No... Everybody now tries their best to find the keyboard shortcuts to do everything, because anything else is too frustrating. I even do this.

That bottom left hover area also bugs me, sometimes I missclick it even. And it takes a delay time for it to even come up which over time becomes an annoyance for me. Instead of just moving to that nicely visible start orb, and clicking it whenever you want.

Tekno Venus said:
I think that's going to confuse a lot of people. My school for example is investing in some touchscreen workstations for IT classrooms. The school is then planning to move to Windows 8 later in the year. I think that's going to confuse a lot of people. They're only just getting around to completly migrating to windows 7, that's another thing they're doing this summer.
Click to expand...

Definitely, say hello to reduced productivity for a while too as a result. :)
 
In it's defense, the new Charms menu is where stuff lives now, for everything, and for every windows 8 app. I find myself really never shutting down or rebooting (only going to sleep via shutting the lid or tapping the button on the desktop tower, or letting it sleep on it's own). Also, rebooting doesn't actually reboot unless you've just installed updates anyway, as the system is simply hibernated after you log off, it doesn't actually reboot (which is one of the ways it can boot so fast... it never actually rebooted!). Logging off is simple (from your user name in the start menu), whereas functions you really aren't expected to do often (shutdown, reboot) are somewhat hidden, although when you think about where they are there's no other Charm they can live under logically. Sleeping is easy with a mobile device (tablet, laptop), and if your desktop has a button it's easy. Again, I'm not saying it's the BEST choice for everyone, but for almost everyone, shutting down or rebooting shouldn't really be a normal thing anymore, and sleep happens on it's own by default if you close a laptop lid, or press a power button on a tablet or desktop.

And as was said previously, Win+I will bring you to settings directly. I am fascinated by how Windows 8 is going to basically force people to learn shortcuts with the keyboard, it seems. I for one prefer it, but there are a lot of them (almost every letter + the Windows key does something). It remains to be seen what help documentation will ship with both OEM and retail copies, and I think perhaps we're forgetting that this is NOT actually Generally Available (GA) yet, and things like documentation for OEM and retail sales still aren't available yet. Not to mention, looking at the help available from F1, it's pretty detailed about things like this (even if some of it still hasn't been updated from the RP - funny to see, but I assume that's because it's online by default) so perhaps we'll have to use it again. This version of Windows will require relearning (some) of what we've known for 17 years about how the Windows UI works, so not doing our due diligence with help (and with whatever documentation comes with Win8 when it's GA) is a bit premature. By the way, how to shutdown the PC was available from the F1 help ;).
 
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Win 8 Can be a navigation nightmare at first, so I thought I would share just a few Windows 8 Navigation shortcuts which may help some of you.

Key combination

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- Space Bar Switch input language and keyboard layout.
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-O Lock device orientation.
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-, Temporarily peek at the desktop.
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-V Cycle through toasts.
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-Shift-V Cycle through toasts in reverse order.
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-Enter Launch Narrator.
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-PgUp Move the Start Screen or a Metro-style application to the monitor on the left.
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-PgDown Move the Start Screen or a Metro-style application to the monitor on the right.
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-Shift-. Move the gutter to the left (snap an application).
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-. Move the gutter to the right (snap an application).
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-C Open the Charms bar.
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-I Open the Settings charm.
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-K Open the Connect charm.
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-H Open the Share charm.
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-Q Open the Search pane.
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-W Open the Settings Search app.
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-F Open the File Search app.
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-Tab Cycle through apps.
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-Shift-Tab Cycle through apps in reverse order.
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-Ctrl-Tab Cycle through apps and snap them as they cycle.
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-Z Open the App Bar.
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-/ Initiate input method editor (IME) reconversion.
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-J Swap foreground between the snapped and filled apps.

Other handy Shortcuts tips:

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- W (Open up Settings Search)
In the search box type >> se - (no need to press enter key)

This opens up 216 various options for configuration (use scroll bars at bottom of screen to see them all)

Also - as above but type in w (no need to press enter key)

Don't forget 'God Mode' Works in Win 8 too :

Create a new folder and set it's name to:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

If you are really stuck for shutdown or restart (quickest way Win Key & c for charms menu) then try placing a bat file on your desktop - Ensure you right click and run as admin!

Restart
Code: 
@Echo on
shutdown -f -r -t 3


Shutdown
Code: 
@Echo on
shutdown -f -s -t 3

Enjoy!
 
In addition to the excellent list from CookieMan,

MORE WIN 8 SHORTCUT KEYS

ALT + Tab : Cycle thru apps
WIN + P : Access the Second Screen bar
WIN + X : Windows Tools Menu
WIN + . : Cycle thru move gutter right,left, no gutter
WIN + PrtScn : Take a screenshot of the screen and automatically save in the Pictures ScreenShot folder
Win + E : Windows Explorer
WIN + R : Run dialog box
WIN + U : Open Ease of Access Center
WIN + Pause : System page
WIN + 1..1O : Launch a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the
number
WIN + Shift + 1..10 : Launch a new instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the
position indicated by the number
WIN + Ctrl + 1_10 : Access the last active instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the
position indicated by the number
WIN + Alt + 1_10 : Access the Jump List of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
WIN + B : Select the first item in the Notification Area and then use the arrow keys to cycle
through the items Press Enter to open the selected item
WIN + Ctrl + B : Access the program that is displaying a message in the Notification Area
WIN + T : Cycle through the items on the Taskbar
WIN + M : Minimize all windows
WIN + Shift + M : Restore all minimized windows
WIN + D : Show/Hide Desktop (minimize/restore all windows)
WIN + L : Lock computer
WIN + Up Arrow : Maximize current window
WIN + Down Arrow : Minimize/restore current window
WIN + Home : Minimize all but the current window
WIN + Left Arrow : Tile window on the left side of the screen
WIN + Right Arrow : Tile window on the right side of the screen
WIN + Shift + Up Arrow : Extend current window from the top to the bottom of the screen
WIN + Shift + Left/Right Arrow : Move the current window from one monitor to the next
WIN + F1 : Windows Help and Support
WIN + S : Make a snip if Office 2013 Notebook is running (don't know if this also works in Office 2010
 
Cookieman said:
If you are really stuck for shutdown or restart (quickest way Win Key & c for charms menu) then try placing a bat file on your desktop - Ensure you right click and run as admin!

Restart
Code: 
@Echo on
shutdown -f -r -t 3


Shutdown
Code: 
@Echo on
shutdown -f -s -t 3

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Why write a batch file, when you can just use the commands and switches in a shortcut??? That's what I did, then I changed the icon and pinned it on my taskbar... Also selected the "Run as Administrator" option so I can't accidentally shut down...

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Shortcuts :
I've been reading, researching, and more and have come up with more lists of shortcuts, shortcuts that I'd no seen, better explanations, and so forth.
Before Monday, I hope to put together a list that hopefully will be complete.

Win 8 Pro RTM:
Am adjusting to the different ways, etc. Right now still have a dual-boot with Win 7 which I'll probably remove in a month.

Am becoming a fan of Win 8 which is something that I had thought I would never say as I was completely turned off by the pre-release version.

As Win 8 starts to come on new computers by default and also as present win 7 users take advantage of the low upgrade cost, then I expect to see, among standalone users, a big swing to Win 8.
 
If you call an exe with command line options in a shortcut, it's actually the same as writing a one line command batch file. It's just a link to that executable with command line switches as GZ is trying to explain :) I actually have shortcuts to batch files to clean my %Temp% folder out and such. (Well mostly because I can have a cool shortcut ICO/Icon file with it haha.)

But you could to the same with shutdown, creating a shortcut and assigning maybe a power button ICO/Icon to that shortcut file. Much better than a batch file for simple executable calling.

For ShutDown though I like that menu that comes up with WinKey + I, so I don't even bother, I just use that keyboard shortcut instead of a batch file or shortcut link.
 
I still think it is a good idea to check the "Run as administrator" box in the shortcut properties... It adds and extra step, preventing accidental shutdowns.

All you want is to be going for that dang IE icon and accidentally hit the shutdown... There is no stopping it after that...
 
karlsnooks said:
Appropriate for this discusssion, John Savill published an article on tiles for shutdown and reset.

Here is the link:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows8/add-tiles-144031?
Click to expand...

That's basically an extension to what the Shortcut can do, you could have a Shortcut file on your desktop, or avoid using the shortcut 'directly' and place it in the Startup location so that you can access/call it from the TileView instead, as that article demonstrates :)

I personally think it would be nice, pinned on the Taskbar if anything. Opening and scrolling through that tileview with the wheel, or scrollbar at the bottom is time consuming for such a minute task.
 

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