Eyes on Windows 8 Consumer Preview... #1

I took a look of Windows Consumer Preview...

I think Metro UI is beautiful and useful on tablets and it could integrate in the classic Windows too, but... let's see something...

Where installing Windows 8?
I put Windows 8 (32 bit version) in VirtualBox (Oracle) in a old laptop.
These are the laptop configs:

•  Intel Dual Core 1.6Ghz
•  1 GB Ram
•  hdd 2.5''

and these are the virtual machine given resources:

•  using 2 cores with 81% cpu time
•  470 MB Ram
•  ~8 GB Disk Space (virtual disk)

Yeah, very very slightly!

Let's start! Let's install it!
I don't explain here how using VirtualBox, it's easy.
Let's install Win8!

Betta, the fish for the beta versions!

Lol what? There are tabs of smileys (very lame imho)

Now you can choose to setup the system with the first choices using the Express Settings or Manual Settings.

  You can use your Microsoft ID for log in your pc, but I used a "local" name.

Login and LockScreen:  

Oh! The LockScreen appears, double click it or press and slide it.
This lockscreen is customizable: you can change the background and which notifications are shown.
In this screen there are only Lan + Battery  icons (for now, is my first login)


Metro Start:

This is the new Start menu, the launcher. It a bit cumbersome without a touch screen, but the list can be scrolled with the mouse wheel or the touchpad. What is missing? A "hand mode" to scroll the list with the mouse! 

There are many Tiles, you can see this menu like a preview of what you want to see, so programs, live tiles, apps, etc...  also the Desktop is shown with a tile.

You can move the tiles, changing their dimension, grouping, zooming. With the right click a little contextual menu pops up with a few options.

You can have a list of you programs/apps right-clicking in the background and selecting the option "All apps". 

You can search an app/program/config/file just pressing a letter (like the Start Menu on Seven)

Click Settings for all the customization options.

What is missing? A "All Programs/Apps" tile / button directly in the Metro Start.

And a "Power Off" tile too...

Uoaa! My apps don't start!

In these screens I use a lower resolution, for starting apps you need a larger resolution than 1024x768.

P.S.: I hate with all my heart the "app" word. 

Desktop time (finally):

The desktop is, at first sight, like the Seven, but it has a lot of changes (old Start Button is gone).

Active corners:

• the left/down corner shows a Metro Icon when the mouse is there, and when clicked the Metro Start appears. (Right-clicking there is a context menu, try it, with "All Apps" and more shortcut...)
• the left/up corner shows a preview of your opened apps (alt+tab too), you can drag them on the desktop to put them in fullscreen or side by side with the desktop.
• right corners shows  the Charm Bar ( Winkey+c, if you wanna a keyboard shortcut )

Ok the corners, but what is new?

Charm Bar:
This bar has some quick button for Share, Device, MetroStart, Settings...
When the bar is present you can see a big clock tile in the left of your desktop.

Ribbon interface:

Ribbon replaces old menus and toolbars in one beautiful and smart interface, minimizable or dockable.
If you don't like just minimize it!

Files copy and files transferring:
One new dialog screen for replacing files, very useful.

They said transferring files is more quick, I can't prove it now, but there are videos in youtube if you wanna see how quick it is.
I love the new transferring dialog because there are many info (speed, time, locations, etc... if you click "More details") and you can pause files.
Another thing: your screen is no more invaded by these dialogs, one dialog to rule them and control them all!

Task Manager:

Task manager comes with a simply interface, but you can click "More details" to show more.

 TaskManager now is really really smart, finally. You can see everything!

Other things:
- you can mount .ISO files and other types of volumes like virtual hard disks (in W7 too, some types)
- you can pin to TaskBar or to StartMenu
- Windows Store
- Xbox app
- ohhh, there are many things... another time...

You can see the default antivirus and the Storage Pools voice...

Under the hood:
Under the GUI there are many improvements, just think of the performances and startup speed.
The filesystem is NTFS, a bit improved, waiting for the new ReFS (maybe in RC, final or SP1).
The kernel seems improved and the compatibility too.
The detection of touch is surely better than Windows Seven.
For more specific things go to Build8 on MS website.


Shutdown:
Where is??
The shutdown/power off button is in the Settings option of the Charm Bar, hidden.
This button should be located in the Charm Bar! Oh, you Steve!

Conclusions:
This new OS seriously needs more attention, there are a lot of little things that need some fixes.
In conclusion is really fast and I think it runs non badly in poor configurations.
Waiting the RC, hoping Microsoft works for fix bugs and improve usability and features.

If you are Steve Sinofsky?
I'll change my surname in Sinofskype. No, just kidding.
Surely I'll put all these feature out of the box:

•  tabbed Explorer 
•  iso creator
•  workspaces
•  system shutdown and Control Panel button in the Charm Bar
•  default boot app (like IEMetro, Desktop, MetroStart, etc...) so when you boot your system this "app" appears

and you?

Nostalgia?
In the web there are many tricks to re-create the Start Button etc...  google it to find it.