Windows 8 Release Preview is out

[Sysman]

You have to wonder if they've lost their way without Gates. It's yet to be seen how much Apple lose their way without Jobs.

I suspect that with Jobs' prolonged illness, Tim Cook was running the day to day business for quite a while (and possibly longer than has been publicised), but Jobs was probably giving high level direction. As you say, time will tell.

Windows 7 will turn out to be the new XP. It'll be the OS that'll stick around for 10 years, and why wouldn't it? It's hard to see how it could be improved on as a desktop OS.

As an OS X user for 10 years, I still prefer the overall experience of OS X to that of Windows 7, but I'm not talking about the GUI alone. OS X gave me the chance to learn Unixy command line stuff at my own pace; in contrast I always found the Windows command line interface a hostile environment.

I've done a fair bit of reading about Windows 8 recently and there are some neat improvements under the bonnet. Now if MS would just let me get at them easily..,

[Sysman]

Unless Lion is a massive improvement on Snow Leopard that's not the case. And I heard a few things about Lion that made me uneasy to upgrade.

There are quite a few experienced OS X users who have decided to stay with Snow Leopard. While some of them definitely fall into the "old codger, we don't like change" camp, there are others who have valid professional/commerical reasons for staying put.

However, to date Apple are quite happy to provide separate interfaces for desktop and tablet users. Microsoft seem to have got their head stuck in the sand here by forcing everyone into a tabletty mode. In spite of many protests MS insist that they know better. That arrogance is putting many former MS fans off.

[Scoobos]

There are quite a few experienced OS X users who have decided to stay with Snow Leopard. While some of them definitely fall into the "old codger, we don't like change" camp, there are others who have valid professional/commerical reasons for staying put.

However, to date Apple are quite happy to provide separate interfaces for desktop and tablet users. Microsoft seem to have got their head stuck in the sand here by forcing everyone into a tabletty mode. In spite of many protests MS insist that they know better. That arrogance is putting many former MS fans off.

I think we'll see the XP initial response from the general public, but then it will grow to be another favourite; I've been watching it since April 2011 and its really impressing me now.

It's a bit of a misconception that the UI is that different, its the user's choice whether to use the new UI. The UI is there for "desktop or metro mode" , so its a common OS with features to enhance it based on the platform.

I've not touched the RC1 yet, and unless something massive has changed then the following explains it pretty well.

Windows 8 How To: 1. Switch Between Metro UI and Desktop Mode - Dr. Z's Blog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

[escapeUK]

Oh good, so hopefully lots of organisations will have to do rebuilds and retests of their applications. Just as long as Microsoft don't make it too compatible with other stuff, boomed!

No, lots of organisations will be sticking with Windows 7 or XP. Just like they did before.

[AtW]

WHS

Buying lots of OEM Win 7 could be good investment

[Sysman]

Windows 8 How To: 1. Switch Between Metro UI and Desktop Mode - Dr. Z's Blog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Thanks, but I've only tried it out in VirtualBox, where hitting the corners or RHS is a real pain in the bum.

Has anyone else had a decent experience running it in a VM?

[d000hg]

However, to date Apple are quite happy to provide separate interfaces for desktop and tablet users. Microsoft seem to have got their head stuck in the sand here by forcing everyone into a tabletty mode. In spite of many protests MS insist that they know better. That arrogance is putting many former MS fans off.

MS should know better, successful companies don't ask customers what they want because customers are notoriously useless
We didn't ask for a Start button either... so MS are fine to take the bold move BUT need to be damn sure it's the right one!