I just got done installing and configuring the new Windows 8 Developer Preview on my iMac using VirtualBox. It runs great after a little tweaking, and soon enough, I’m entering my Windows Live Account info to sign into my computer, which is my first Point of Greatness:
- Integration with Windows Live
This will be really awesome, especially if someone can get a Windows 8 phone and PC both. Think iCloud or Google Android/Music/Documents, and you’ll have a good idea of what Microsoft is going for, except on an OS level. Being able to sign in with your Windows Live account pulls your Live Profile, if you have one, and you SkyDrive down and shows them to you on your Start Grid, which is probably the next Point of Greatness:
- Start Grid GUI interface with huge icons maximizing functionality
I think this is going to be cool if you have the option of displaying the content you want on the grids. For example, the sum of all my email accounts, and my Facebook feed. Maybe even my Twitter feed, but probably not, it is a little spammy. I’d have some other RSS feeds being displayed. To me, this seems like an OS that will show you useful information always and continue to do so in a cyclical manner. They can do this because of how Minimalistic the OS is, giving the user only the necessary information they want without a lot of fluff, or even applications for that matter. The only application is creating a new square that shows a new kind of data, your choice.
Another cool feature is an application called Socialite. I put my Facebook account into it and it started aggregating my friend feed within the new Windows 8 look, showing me Friends, Profile, Pictures and other items of interest. I wonder how several sites all being converged would look.
It hasn’t been all roses for me; I’ve had it crash multiple times already, but the OS has the cutest blue screen you’ve ever seen. It’s almost enough to make you not so mad. I keep getting to a point where I don’t have a back button, so I have to shut off the virtual machine and power it back on to get back to the home screen. I don’t think this
is the best way to do that. I had to change the chipset for the system a couple of times to get it stable. I couldn’t run the VirtualBox Additions, even though I tried to run them in compatibility mode for XP SP3. Maybe I’ll try again using Windows 7 64-bit compatibility, if that is an option.
is the best way to do that. I had to change the chipset for the system a couple of times to get it stable. I couldn’t run the VirtualBox Additions, even though I tried to run them in compatibility mode for XP SP3. Maybe I’ll try again using Windows 7 64-bit compatibility, if that is an option.I just figured out how to go back and I’m amazed. This is truly an innovative OS using existing technology. Guess how you go back: The Start Button. The button no one knows about is now your iPhone home button. I love it. If you are in the desktop mode (I know, it’s old fashioned), then you can get back to the tile grid by hitting the Windows button on the bottom left or on your keyboard, which is a nice way to bring the user into the system. I am loving this thing.
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