NEWS: The early returns on Windows 8 (Updated 10/23/12)

Posted by: kurtsh | October 23, 2012

NEWS: The early returns on Windows 8 (Updated 10/23/12)

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:
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
THE VERGE: Windows 8 review
(Author: Tom Warren, Senior Editor for The Verge)
“If you’ve been waiting for Microsoft to provide better software for a tablet and catch up with the iPad, then this time has certainly arrived… Picking up a tablet PC with Windows 8 makes an iPad feel immediately out of date.”
http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/23/3537710/windows-8-review
PCWORLD: “5 ways Windows 8 beats iOS”
(Author: Jon Phillips, Editor of PC World)
”And the iPad has worked for me—despite the fact that it’s never helped me do any real work. But now there’s a legitimate alternative to the iPad in my life… Windows 8 tablets are the real deal, people, and their unique charms tie directly back to the new OS.”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2012280/5-ways-windows-8-beats-ios.html
ABCNEWS: “Windows 8 Requires Microsoft’s Instruction, But Also a Willingness to Accept Change”
(Author: Joanna Stern, ABC News Technology Editor)
“I can also attest that the operating system does become second nature after you spend time with it, and the change isn’t just change for the sake of change. There are worthwhile and useful changes that make things faster to use and push the ways we interact with touchscreens.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/microsoft-windows-requires-combination-instruction-willingness-accept-change/story?id=17531671#.UIWG6Gk-uiF
ZDNET: “Don’t hate Windows 8!”
(Author: Matt Baxter-Reynolds, SDC & Contributing Author to ZDNet)
“Windows 8 takes a lot of getting used to, but it’s the best OS made by Microsoft, and could be the best OS ever made by anyone… If you’re new to Windows 8, don’t give it the hate. Sit back, relax, and in a few weeks I’m sure you’ll be loving the whole Windows 8 groove. And definitely, definitely don’t downgrade if you buy a new machine with Windows 8 pre-installed. You’ll be missing out on a fantastic operating system.”
http://www.zdnet.com/dont-hate-windows-8-7000006297/
ZDNET: “In spite of all the hate, I like Windows 8”
(Author: Ken Hess, ZDNet Contributor & Systems Administrator)
”I don’t know exactly why it is but people seem to resist change, even when it’s good. It must be a human nature thing. I fell prey to it as well. I hated Windows 8 at first. But, I was converted after trying it. I’m one of the people who went from, "Windows 8 sucks" to "Windows 8 is cool."”
http://www.zdnet.com/in-spite-of-all-the-hate-i-like-windows-8-7000006553/
THE ECONOMIST: “Difference Engine: Time to move on”
(Author: N.V., Contributing Author for The Economist’s Babbage Column)
”What impresses most, though, is the radical rethinking of the user interface—with its matrix of “live tiles” that let the user plunge straight into programs already running, and also to see at a glance updates to such things as news feeds, e-mail and text messages as they roll in. By comparison, the plodding, step-by-step mousing around pioneered by Apple and earlier versions of Windows, and persisting to this day in many flavours of Linux and even the latest Macintosh OS X itself, appears staid and so last century.”
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/11/operating-systems?fsrc=scn/tw/te/tr/timetomoveon
WASHINGTON POST: “Windows 8 is 84 percent less frustrating than Windows 7, report says”
(Author: John Koetsier, Reporter for VentureBeat.com)
“Windows 8 crashes 55 percent less and is 84 percent less frustrating than Windows 7, according to a new report… In addition, with the touch-friendliness of Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 8 is penetrating the tablet market much more effectively than Windows 7… Interestingly, desktop use is also slightly higher, with almost 51 percent of Windows 8 installs being on a desktop PC, versus 48.5 percent of Windows 7 installs being on a laptop.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/europe-and-asia-adopting-windows-8-at-double-us-rate-plus-more-juicy-windows-8-data/2012/11/08/55ed5ba6-296c-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html