Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Many in the media have weighed in on Windows 8 already in just the past week since release to TechNet/MSDN & the Volume Licensing Service Center.

Here’s a few of the reviews:

• ZDNET: Windows 8 vs. Windows 7: Benchmarked
  (Author: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNet Hardware 2.0)
  ”Benchmark testing suggests that Windows 8 is Microsoft’s fastest Windows to date.”
  http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-vs-windows-7-benchmarked-7000002671/
• CNET: Windows 8 Release to Manufacturing review
  (Author: Seth Rosenblatt, CNet Senior Editor)
  “We’re giving Windows 8 a strong recommendation in no small part because of its value.”
  http://reviews.cnet.com/operating-systems/windows-8-release-to/4505-3671_7-35321713.html
• THE VERGE: This is my next: Windows 8
  (Author: David Pierce, The Verge Reviews Editor)
  ”My MacBook Air and my iPad are basically my fifth and sixth limbs… Come October 26th, though, I’m ditching them both…I’m buying a Windows 8 device as my only computer, and I can’t wait.”
  http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/16/3246185/this-is-my-next-windows-8
• ZDNET: Installing Windows 8 on your old PC could turn it into Greased Lightning
  (Author: Jason Perlow, ZDNet Senior Technology Editor)
  ”Clearly, they’ve made the upgrade attractively inexpensive, which is a far cry from Vista, which was actually prohibitive in my opinion because not only was the software not cheap, but a great deal of legacy hardware compatibility got left behind and most PCs just weren’t powerful enough to run them. That’s just not the case with Windows 8. Four year-old machines are running on it swimmingly.”
  http://www.zdnet.com/installing-windows-8-on-your-old-pc-could-turn-it-into-greased-lightning-7000002903/
• ZDNET:  Windows 8 Enterprise: RTM Preview
  (Author: Simon Bisson, Technology Journalist)
  “Windows 8 is like Windows 7 — just faster and more power-efficient (our test laptops have gained an extra hour of battery life on average after updating with Windows 8). In nearly a year of testing Windows 8 we’ve only found a couple of applications that didn’t work with the OS — and those that didn’t had dependencies on specific hardware APIs that have been deprecated.”
  http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-enterprise-rtm-preview-7000002989/
• TECHRADAR: Windows 8 Review
  (Author: Mary Branscombe, Technology Writer)
  “Keep an open mind, spend some time getting used to the charm bar and the Start screen. Once you do, we defy you not to be impressed by Windows 8.”
  http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/operating-systems/windows-8-1093002/review
• BETANEWS:  Windows 8 is a compelling story
  (Author: Robert Johnson, User Interface Developer)
  “Windows 8 simplifies computing in such a way that Apple CEO Tim Cook’s comments reveals Apple could possibly miss the transition to a simplified experience economy in the same way that Microsoft missed the transition to the experience economy back in the early 90’s. The unification of the desktop and Modern UI is a good thing. Microsoft getting into hardware is a good thing regardless of OEM concerns (I’m looking at you Acer).”
  http://betanews.com/2012/09/10/windows-8-is-a-compelling-story/
  See also:
  • BETANEWS:  Windows 8 simplifies computing
    “Microsoft user experience team for Windows should be commended instead of chided for making an OS where content creators like myself can easily create in the desktop and consume in the modern UI.”
    http://betanews.com/2012/09/11/windows-8-simplifies-computing/
  • BETANEWS:  Windows 8 is a graphic shift in computing habits
    ”While some people may hate the Modern UI, it is actually very forward thinking of Microsoft, for a change. For the first time in a long time, the software giant is actually ahead of the curve when it comes to design.”
    http://betanews.com/2012/09/14/windows-8-is-a-graphic-shift-in-computing-habits/
• ESQUIRE:  The Idiots Are Coming – And we couldn’t be more grateful. How Windows finally got competitive — and maybe even changed the way we’ll use the Internet
  (Author: Peter Martin, Journalist for Esquire Magazine)
  ”It’s how the Internet was meant to be experienced. Perfectly uncluttered. Simple. Just like Windows 8.”
  http://www.esquire.com/features/man-at-his-best/windows-8-review-1012?hootPostID=a46f714a86d23c144799917ec65c5000
• TGDAILY:  In defense of Microsoft Windows 8
  (Author: Rob Enderle, Analyst & Journalist for TGDaily & the Enderle Group)
  ”There are three things to remember that will make your Windows 8 experience far better… Honestly, those three things took away 95% of my learning frustration with Windows 8.”
  http://www.tgdaily.com/opinion-features/66829-in-defense-of-microsoft-windows-8
• INFORMATION WEEK: Windows 8 Beats The Mac, Appsolutely
  (Author: Paul McDougall, Editor-at-Large for Information Week)
  ”Microsoft’s new operating system looks how a modern OS should–big, bold, and centered around apps. Suddenly, it’s Apple’s turn to catch up.”
  http://www.informationweek.com/windows/microsoft-news/windows-8-beats-the-mac-appsolutely/240009093