Windows 8 Developer Preview
Sep
20
Written by:
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
As expected Microsoft released a Developer Preview of Windows 8 their new operating system (OS). This new operating system is a bold new move and the biggest change to the Windows line since Windows 95.
We have been using this new OS since it was released on a two year old Acer Timeline and it has been running very well. Windows 8 really seems to be designed for touch devices such as Slates. However, at BUILD 2011 last week Steven Sinofsky, president of Windows Division at Microsoft declared that the new Windows will run on any computer that previous versions of Windows would run on. Furthermore, he remarked that it will works great with the traditional keyboard and mouse.
As stated before, the computer we have installed the Developer version of Windows 8 on is a single core U2700 1.3Ghz Pentium with 3 GB of RAM, Integrated Intel graphics and a 320GB hard drive running at 5400RPM’s. Nothing spectacular. Just a low budget laptop.
Installation went smooth without any missing drivers. System boots have ranged anywhere from 10-15 seconds from pressing the power button. Many Apple critics have claimed that this is not a real system boot but a start from a previous saved session. Personally, I believe this to be speculation and from my experience these starts are clean with no remnants of previous sessions.
Initially, it was a bit confusing navigating around. But, within an hour I was zipping around the operating system. For the IT professional I have found some tools easier to access and some a little more difficult to access. I will write more of this in another post.
Even without a touch screen it is easy to navigate throughout the system. I’ve not used the keystrokes much but will publish them at a later date.
For a pre-beta version this is a very impressive installation and continues to surprise.