#211 - Windows 8 coming up

Window 8 should be released in the late fall of this year.  Microsoft has a preview version available for anyone wishing to torture themselves early.  I won't even link it, because I like my customers.  You can find it from Microsoft.com if you are so inclined.

Windows 8 Preview

So lets start this blog with a listing of the good and bad Windows operating system releases recently. 

• Windows 3.1 - The first real graphical Windows that worked
• Windows XP (actually Windows 5) -  The most used Windows for almost a decade
• Windows 7 - today's version that is decent.  No major complaints.

Lets also look at the Windows DOGS that we have suffered through:

• Windows ME (Windows 4) Absolutely the worst Windows ever . hardly anyone bought it and those that did suffered till they upgraded.
• Window Vista (Window 6) A total travesty.  I weep for any of my customers that have this slow bloated loser

Note that the good versions are odd numbered and the DOGS are even numbered.  It doesn't bode well for Windows 8.  We also see that in Windows ME & Windows Vista Microsoft attempted to change the Windows user interface - supposedly to make it easier to use.  Guess what?  Windows 8 promises a totally new user interface!  Think putting your phone on your PC and that's the vision from Microsoft.  I  think this will be a HUGE failure.  Here is a video preview of Microsoft's Windows 8.  Take a peek and see if you agree this has BAD written all over it:  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

Windows 8 will have 4 different versions.  There will be a version of Windows just for tablets.  Let's see the iPad was released in 2010, with Android tablets out also that year.  In late 2012 Microsoft has finally decided to come up with an operating system for tablets.  Talk about being late to the tablet!  The interface for all Windows 8 versions (including PCs) will move from a mouse based interface to a touch based focused interface.  Your mouse will still work, but when the interface is designed for touch you know mousing will get the short stick and will be painful to use.

The old start button/ball will get a new cutesy name:  Charms.  Actually I don't see the cutesy part.  Charms will be the way to set up your user interface and make it "easier" to run you programs (now called apps - wonder where they got that from?).  Windows 8 will make it easier to run 2 apps side by side on the screen, but I've been doing that since I got a wide screen monitor.

Also added in Windows 8 is Internet Explorer 10.  Still trying to catch up to Firefox 12 and Google Chrome, Microsoft "borrows" many of their innovations in IE 10.  You have to give it to those Microsoft engineers, why not steal rather then innovate.

One decent feature in Windows 8 is the inclusion of an antivirus in the operating system.  They can then try to put Symantec, McAffee and AVG out of business.  Which seems to be more important to Microsoft then just developing a fast efficient operating system. Doubt that happens. 

There are many many other enhancements, but the ones I listed are the most highly touted by Microsoft.  Maybe we will all have Macs before the end of the year.