Windows 8.1 Preview downloadable from Windows Store

Mike Smit said:
I do draw the line at a cellphone but only because the app store is still so small. Only thing that puts me off.
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My PC, laptop and tab are going to 8.1 preview tomorrow when I'm back home.

As for the WP store lacking apps, it's no longer nearly as bad as it was even a couple of months ago.

There's over 160 000 apps currently out: http://www.wpcentral.com/160000-apps-microsoft-windows-phone-store-numbers

While not the 500 000+ that iOS and Android sports but the apps seem to be of better quality mostly, WhatsApp being the exception here which is apparently getting fixed in the next update due out within the next couple of weeks.

I'm not missing anything from Android, then I'm also not big into the whole app thing. My phone is my communication tool(Calls,SMS,Email,WhatsApp,News,FB,Twitter etc.), if I want to do work I have a tab and PC's for that.
 
Chunkyfeather said:
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

Been using this for a year now. Nice to see MS trying to catchup.

In fact Start8 offers the traditional Windows 7 start menu and has offered the "new start menu" that windows 8.1 is bringing :-)
Click to expand...

Pokki is better imo. Not only is the interface aesthetically pleasing and functional, but it doubles as a central notifications portal at the same time. Very cool...
 
Bleh, you guys are babies.

I love Windows 8 and this is from a die-hard XP fan who didn't want to move to Windows 7 (eventually did of course).

I love the Windows 8 'start menu', Metro or whatever it's called now, as it accomplishes exactly what the start menu originally did, faster even.

If I wanted notepad or paint, it was the schlep of going through menus to get to it. Now you press the Windows key and type 'notepad' or 'paint and it instantly appears. The start up time is fast, I've yet to have a driver issue, all my games so far play without issue (although I'll admit older games probably won't but that's not unique to Win8).

I really think people make a huge fuss unnecessarily.

I will agree though the default Metro apps suck.
 
FYI: Once you go win 8.1 preview.. you can't go to final. <-- apparently. So i think best to wait for final release.

hrm.. need to set up a new machine for working on, thinking win 8.. but then its easy to vm my current one. Just thought it might be cool looking to use team viewer to remote in and use it on iPad. <<-- i've got this plan to stop using personal notebook and instead opt for a hosted vm as i don't use personal notebook much. So will use iPad as interface to vm's i run with a keyboard :P
 
When people use the windows 7 start menu do they actually click, click, look, click, click?

Normal people push "windows key", type "paint", push "enter"
I doubt I use the mouse one a month, to access or navigate the start menu
 
So I have been playing around with Windows 8.1 Pro Preview. I must say I like, I like!

All my drivers work this time round, including my touch pad driver (which would allow me to use some cool touch pad gestures) with no blue screen of death. I like the improved Search, the apps view. I just like how my lock screen now can play a slideshow, and the start menu can have my desktop background as its background!

I don't think the start button was necessary, I thought it would come with the old start menu.

The only problem I have with 8.1 is that Avast! Free Antivirus doesn't work for some reason - it gives me that compatibility issues message. I looked at Windows Defender and it seems it offers Virus and Spyware protection so I should be fine till the final 8.1 is released.

I feel like a hypocrite for hating on Windows 8.....definitely not going back to Windows 7.
 
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A colleague of mine is running Windows 8.1 on his Sony netbook, and for the first time ever, I actually got excited about where Microsoft is heading with Windows.

I cannot wait to get an ultrabook and put Windows 8.1 on it. :)
 
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