The final version of Windows 8 for desktops and laptops is out and available for installation…well, sort of. If you are a TechNet ($199 a year) or MSDN (don’t ask) subscriber, you can get it today. Ordinary folks like you and me have to wait until October to get it…with one exception. You can download a free a 90 day trial version today.
I think you know where I stand on this…I am not upgrading. I’ve tried it and did not like it, even though I wanted to. Windows 7 still works incredibly well for me. But you make up your own mind. I have included two reviews here…one pretty good and one very bad. I say pretty good on the one review as it was the most positive one I could find…and I looked! Most reviews are not favorable. I hope you appreciate my attempt to be fair to the product…even though I think it sucks! Wait…I take that back…I should more properly say it is not for me at this time. You make up your own mind.
I really do appreciate what Microsoft is trying to do to stay competitive in the computer world. It is bold, daring and innovative and I hope they succeed. But, I think success will eventually come in Windows 9 or 10. Remember, Windows 8 is Version 1 of a whole new operating system concept. Companies rarely get it right the first time. And, in listening to some Microsoft insiders, I don’t think we will have to wait three years for the next version. I bet we see Windows 9 in a year. Microsoft has plans to greatly reduce production times. Meanwhile, I will sit back happily with Windows 7 and wait for all this to unfold.
There are some other stories here besides Windows 8, so I hope you find this issue informative. –JRC
Windows 8 Review: Incredibly Innovative, Incredibly Important, Not Quite Incredible
The ambition behind it admirable. And the execution? Not half bad. But not quite there yet, either.
Windows 8 review: Yes, it's that bad
A desktop OS for tablets and a tablet OS for desktops, Windows 8 is guaranteed to disappoint nearly everyone.
Surprise! What you can expect from Windows 8 RTM
Microsoft has officially made the final release of Windows 8 available to subscribers of its MSDN and TechNet services. You'll find a handful of small surprises, one very large change from Windows 7, and a momentous name change.
Take Windows 8 for a test drive
The 90-day "Windows 8 evaluation for developers" test version of the new OS is available for download now. But read the fine print, and don't expect tech support.
Microsoft's Windows 8: Will it breathe new life into older PCs?
I've heard from several readers that they believe Windows 8 includes enough under-the-hood improvements in security, reliability and performance to convince them it's worth putting on older, non-touch enabled hardware.
It's Google's Web, we just search in it
Late last week Google announced it would penalize sites accused of copyright violations by dropping them in search results. The primary beneficiaries of this move: music companies, Microsoft, and the porn industry. The primary victims? Torrent search engines and content sites not owned by Google.
Exploring Windows’ Administrative Tools: Part 2
Windows’ Performance Monitor is the key to understanding the details of your PC’s operation. This tool (built into XP, Vista, and Win7) lets you see, in real time and in collected data logs, how your PC reacts as different programs run — or fail to run!
Barnes & Noble cuts prices on Nook tablets
While the move better positions Barnes & Noble's tablets to compete with Google's Nexus 7, sells for $199 for the 8GB model and $249 for the 16GB version, the price cuts also come in the face of increased speculation that Amazon will soon release new Kindles.
Pulse…A New Way to Look at News
Pulse takes your favorite news websites and transforms them into a colorful and interactive mosaic. Sign up to personalize your experience. Special apps available for iPad and Android. I really like this new site.
Lost Photos Review (Free)
Like rummaging through a box of old photo albums, using Lost Photos shows you all of the forgotten picture attachments lying dormant in your e-mail account. What's more, it downloads them onto your machine, and offers tools for sharing them directly with your social-network services.
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