The Metro UI is a step in the future, as it is very suited for touch screens, be it on a tablet or a pc. It does need a bit more tinkering with and more settings menus, to be able to get it better customized but it does look nice and usable. In it's current stage it's not yet ready to replace the classic desktop, but with a proper setting panel added, or a more thorough control panel for the metro ui, it would work out fine. In it's current stage though it's perfect for a tablet. And the desktop is still usable btw, as it is an integral part of the os still. As for linux, I disagree. It's way too easy to correct an issue in Linux and there is no need to re-install the os. Just need to know some commands to use in a text-mode. Linux doesn't get bugged down in time with usage, and also the file system is much better conceived with journalizing and easy recovery. If it had more support from developers, in terms of drivers, and games it would be as good if not better than windows. As a hint, if you tinker with the settings in linux, and you get an error or something, delete the .config files in the home directory and reboot. The system will recreate the standard .config files and revert all settings to default.
It's a bit early to judge the quality of the OS, as it's still in development. It takes time & feedback (the purpose of the Consumer Preview) to work the bugs out of it.This is not a preview, it is a beta, and a bad one. The fact you even say "in heavy development" shows it is a beta.
Microsoft has built in so many "call home" utilities that it does not need user feedback, but that does not mean it is not a beta. Maybe they need to acknowledge the fact and get on with it....
Joe S wrote-
When I saw that idiotic fish as a logo I suspected a mess, it should have been a dead fish I hate the Metro crap too I want the Classic Desktop! The little app I used on Developer Preview to get it doesn't work now. I guess they are determined to ram it down the user's throat anyway. It should go over well with business users. I got it loaded on a virtual hard drive then a thunder storm came thru so I haven't had to much time with it.
Joe
And nether will I. If the final release of Windows 8 is going to be like this I am staying with Windows 7.DrWho wrote-
I finally got to a classic desktop, but then I found no start button, no programs menu, no, no, no!
The script to disable Metro UI did not work. Classic shell installed but does nothing.
Many things that DID work just fine on Win-8/DP, now do not work at all.
I found the native way to shutdown very cumbersome and leaving a lot to ones imagination. It takes several keystrokes to just get to the shutoff icon.
My own shutdown routine, as an icon on the desktop, from XP, does work and the whole computer is down and dark in less than 8 sec's.
I finally installed the "City Lights" theme for the desktop and that looks nice, but to quickly get to a program, without a Programs Menu, I wound up going into Windows Explorer, finding the .exe file for the program and sending it to the desktop as a shortcut. That's very cumbersome and way beyond the ability of the average user.
So, until some advanced programmer, (hacker) finds a way to turn off the Metro UI, like we did in Win-8/DP, the new Win-8 is kind of a wash.
In it's present form, I'll never run it as my main OS. XP lives on!
Cheers Mates!
Drew wrote-
There is no issue not having the old Start Menu... there just isn't! I even grabbed a 3rd party one, after about 2 days, just curious... after a few minutes it was uninstalled due to being a distracting, unnecessary nuisance. It is so slick, quick, easy & pleasing, almost fun to fly around finding, getting to & doing things. It's actually very intuitive & User Friendly. And very little moussing.
There is no need or craving for Touch & it, certainly, is not required.
Kids will love it & I hear reports older folks are taking to it well, also. I'm 59 & it took little time, no horrid effort or caused great stress. In fact, it's made me smile & laugh, more than a few times. As in, "Oh, that's so cool" grin, chuckle.
That's why a lot of people including me cannot use it. But it was not just the Metro theme on Consumer Preview,there were bugs in Windows Explorer.Because the ribbon froze my mouse up. Andrea Borman.