Geared up for Windows 8?

yes I got the same compatibility error saying the bios is not secure boot compatible

but what the heck I ran it anyways. I hope dell can update the bios for my xps 630i

ok now for something interesting I loaded win  8 pro over win 7 pro on new harddrive

it all installed correctly so I removed the win 7 disk from the dvd rom and tried the f12 boot

boot to the new harddrive, the drive was listed and I choose it, I got an error saying there wasn't any boot info

so strike f1 to continue so I did, but it booted the first drive with win 7 on it

feeling discouraged that the install didn't work I put the win 7 pro disk back into dvd rom

to re install win 7 pro back on to the new drive, now heres the interesting part

I rebooted the computer and it booted to the dvd, but then continued to open win 8 and its running great, and im using right now

so it seems if I have the win 7 disk in the dvd win 8 will boot up

Windows 8: The Mail, Calendar and People apps are getting better!

Starting tomorrow, you will be able to download an update for the Mail, Calendar, and People apps from the Windows Store. These apps are designed to manage communication seamlessly on Windows PCs and tablets across multiple accounts—Outlook.com, Exchange, and others. We know our customers typically have two or more email accounts for personal use and work use, they use these accounts throughout the day, and they have a large volume of email they’re continuously managing. So this update will bring improvements to your Windows experience across your whole life - your personal communication and your work. You will see big improvements to performance and additional new features to make it easier to connect with friends and colleagues, manage your inboxes, create and send email, and manage your calendar.

Once the update is available tomorrow, just tap or click on the “Updates” link that appears in the top right-hand corner of the Windows Store to install the update.If you have the Windows Store pinned to your Start screen, its live tile will alert you that you have an update available. You are required to go to the Windows Store to get the update as it won’t install automatically.

Details: http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2013/03/25/the-mail-calendar-and-people-apps-are-getting-better.aspx

After researching Windows 8, I specifically ordered Windows 7 on my Inspiron 660 I bought earlier this year.  I recently bought a Windows 8 laptop for my wife at Best Buy and Win 8 was a terrible waste of time and money (to Microsoft) to develop.  I did not see any big enhancements that made it worth while over Windows 7 and the Metro default interface undoes 15+ years of home PC users learning various versions of Windows and getting comfortable with it.  I did make desktop the default interface and that helped some, but after a week I said this is stupid  and I took the laptop back to Best Buy  for a full refund. I've now ordered a Dell laptop with Windows 7 which should arrive in a week or so.

If Microsoft wanted to introduce a new interface like metro why didn't they make desktop the default interface and let users choose to hot key over to Metro so they could learn it at their own speed (duh) while still having a familiar interface that lets them enjoy their new PC.    Microsoft needs to understand you don't have to change the entire interface to add significant enhancements to Windows.  You would have a lot more happy Windows 8 customers if Microsoft had done this with Windows 8.

Hit the windows key on the keyboard toggles desktop to start menu

Once you get used to it seems ok Crtl + I toggles the shut down side bar

I agree it is easy to put W8 in desktop mode, but other things also changed and I really think the apps store is stupid.  If I want to download non Microsoft software why does the default Windows 8 version of most non Windows software take me to the app store.

Yes, some of the software like Skype have a "desktop version" that doesn't go through the store, but its buried in their website and you have to hunt for.  Microsoft can talk until they're blue in the face justifying the app store, but by making you sign in to get to the store I believe it's a first step towards MS charging users to download non Windows software to their operating system and/or bullying non MS software vendors into only offering their software through the app store.

Agreed, I also don't like the App Store I have iPad for that lol

I have 3 systems running win 8 main reason it starts very fast

But I system I can access the App Store on another I've tried for 3 days to connect very frustrating

I hate falling behind on OS upgrades less of a learning curve

Not sure why MS is trying to be apple, but I'm going to give it chance, frustrating as it is.

I pondered a lot of getting a mac but can't bring myself to it.

I had problems getting Skype to work using the app store and finally just downloaded the desktop version which worked fine.  The big negative about Macs is the price.  For the price of a decent Mac you could get a Windows system that could probably run a good part of a Fortune 500 company's IT needs.  Just kidding, but you know what I mean.

thanks to all it's really great info on this particular post ... read them all useful information

Windows Server 8 Beta Dataserver Evaluation copy, Build 8250 is also available.  I am running it as a guest using Hyper-V on a Windows 2008 R2 server.

You don't need to run the beta version anymore ... you can get the 180-day evaluation of the final product (Server 2012):

www.microsoft.com/.../trial.aspx

New Windows 8 End User Training Brochure

Learn how to get around, navigate, manage apps, and personalize in Windows 8.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39055

The only reason I have stuck with the PC based computers for nearly 20 years is because I knew how to use Windows. If I have to learn to use a completely new type of UI, I will be doing it on an Apple.

If you're familiar with OSX, you'll have an easy time learning Windows 7, which is still being sold and will be supported for a number of years.