There is this "small detail" that Microsoft is not advertising anywhere, but you can find it dug deep in the developer documentation:
One cannot release a tiled UI application by any other means, but only through Windows Store!
I cannot even begin to stress out just how horrible this idea is! There is no side-loading, except for corporate use inside one company, and that works only on the enterprise edition of Windows 8. Do we all understand what that means? You cannot download an application from the Internet and run it on your computer. You have to get it from Microsoft's store. Even if it is a free app!
If it was just about "being downloaded from Windows store", it would not be a problem. It would be nice to have a common hub to download things from. But to get an app onto that store, it has to be certified by MS. This means bringing the "console experience" onto your desktop. Each app that you will get through the Windows Store will have to adhere to certain requirements imposed by MS. So far, we know that they've banned mature games, like Skyrim, CoD, and Serious Sam.[*] They have forbidden modding. They could very well forbid Open Source if they want. But even if these terms were not there, this is still a certification system. With all of its downsides, including uncertain release dates, rare and late patches, and everything turning out to be more expensive and sucking more.
While, theoretically, desktop applications are exempt from these requirements, it looks more and more like just a foot-in-the-door technique. A large number of developers have expressed their concern with possibility that, probably in Windows 9 or something like that, the ability to get even desktop apps in any other way than through Windows app store may very well be removed. When that happens it will be too late.
I would not invest into supporting the tiled UI apps (which MS now conveniently calls "Windows Store apps" - does that ring a bell?), until MS removes the requirement that they have to be shipped through Windows Store on desktop at least - and thereby remove the requirement of certifying them with MS. Certification is a broken concept and should be abolished.
Now, while in current state Windows 8 do look like they support plain desktop apps seamlessly, the removal of start menu and use of "charms" even on the desktop looks like a pretty blunt attempt to force users to "get used" to the tiled UI. It would be fine by me if it wasn't for the aforementioned certification issue.
So, it is a vicious circle. And not an accidental one. This one was carefully designed to be that way. I say: no thank you, I'll skip on that one.
* (Our footnote, not Alen's): He seems to have missed this story).
John wrote on Nov 19, 2012, 10:37:I certainly did. WinME was a mistake - I bought the upgrade and it crashed when I first went to install it. I ended up having lots of driver and stability issues, so I ended up going back to Win98SE. As for Vista, I was very happy with it - most games performed faster and it was a huge improvement on the desktop (well, it's what Win7 was based on). It was only really slower systems that had issues with it.
So you actually bought WinME and Vista?
Gib007 wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 11:59:So you actually bought WinME and Vista?
All I know is that I have always updated Windows to the latest version almost immediately upon availability. All the way from Windows 95 to Windows 7. With Windows 8 however - no thanks mate!
Fibrocyte wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 11:17:DukeFNukem wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 11:10:Zetler wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 10:52:
Right, we should fight Windows 8 because Steam is not a walled garden at all and represent freedom am I right folks? LOL. There's much irony in this.
No one is forcing you to download and use Steam. Windows 8 is stripping away freedom, choice, and power, in more ways than just one.
I don't understand why all the people who love Windows 8 don't just go out and buy themselves a tablet. What makes Windows 8 so much more compelling than Windows 7. "It boots faster". Okay, get a tablet. They boot even faster. "Its more secure". Ok, get a tablet. Its more secure than Windows 7. There is virtually no compelling reason for Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 8. Yet there are many reasons to avoid this catastrophe. The stripping away of choice, freedom, flexibility, and power are many of the reasons I will not even look at Windows 8 lest I begin puking.
"It boots faster." You keep saying that. Is that really the only advantage you're aware of? Hell, even in this cess pool of comments there are a few more called out.
All I'm saying in tone down your tantrum until you've educated yourself a little or you're going to end up looking as bad as ASeven.
Shataan wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 15:15:
"Why not just buy a PS3 or an XBox console if you just want to play optimized video games."
Cause I am a PC gamer for years, and tbh loathe consoles. And if you personally don`t care about gaming on PC wtf are you here commenting on a gaming site?
So as a PC gamer for years, for YOU I should just bend over and go console? Naaaah I think I`ll just be myself and buy what I feel meets my needs, and not buy what doesn`t. It has worked great for me so far. If M$ wants my dough, they can earn my dough. A good way to start is by delivering an O/S that as a PC gamer, I find attractive.
Zetler wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 10:52:
Right, we should fight Windows 8 because Steam is not a walled garden at all and represent freedom am I right folks? LOL. There's much irony in this.
deqer wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 12:49:
I think that the more people say this, then the more Microsoft hears it and therefore Microsoft will begin to push for an earlier cancellation date of support service for windows 7 thus forcing everyone to upgrade. Yup; you can't win against corps.
deqer wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 12:49:Gib007 wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 11:59:I think that the more people say this, then the more Microsoft hears it and therefore Microsoft will begin to push for an earlier cancellation date of support service for windows 7 thus forcing everyone to upgrade. Yup; you can't win against corps.
Sticking with Windows 7 64-Bit until the abomination that is Windows 8 is massively changed or Windows 9
Gib007 wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 11:59:I think that the more people say this, then the more Microsoft hears it and therefore Microsoft will begin to push for an earlier cancellation date of support service for windows 7 thus forcing everyone to upgrade. Yup; you can't win against corps.
Sticking with Windows 7 64-Bit until the abomination that is Windows 8 is massively changed or Windows 9
Fibrocyte wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 11:17:
"It boots faster." You keep saying that. Is that really the only advantage you're aware of? Hell, even in this cess pool of comments there are a few more called out.
All I'm saying in tone down your tantrum until you've educated yourself a little or you're going to end up looking as bad as ASeven.
NegaDeath wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 03:18:
Want to know whats really grinding my gears with 8? Aero glass is gone. Every other moronic decision they made is fixable with programs except that. What they have instead is bland, boring and flat. It shouldn't bother me as much as it does since its purely visual but every time I look at the screen it just looks wrong. "Leave the option in? Nah, we don't do the "options" thing anymore."
Edit: This makes me feel better
Windows 8. It’s a floor wax. No, it’s a dessert topping. Microsoft’s new whatever-the-F-it-is operating system is a confusing, Frankenstein’s monster mix of old and new that hides a great desktop upgrade under a crazy Metro front-end. It’s touch-first, as Microsoft says, but really it’s touch whether you want it or not (or have it or not), and the firm’s inability to give its own customers the choice to pick which UI they want is what really makes Windows 8 confounding to users. I actually like Windows 8 quite a bit and can’t imagine switching back. But I do understand the complaints of customers who aren’t getting what they wanted or asked for.
DukeFNukem wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 11:10:Zetler wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 10:52:
Right, we should fight Windows 8 because Steam is not a walled garden at all and represent freedom am I right folks? LOL. There's much irony in this.
No one is forcing you to download and use Steam. Windows 8 is stripping away freedom, choice, and power, in more ways than just one.
I don't understand why all the people who love Windows 8 don't just go out and buy themselves a tablet. What makes Windows 8 so much more compelling than Windows 7. "It boots faster". Okay, get a tablet. They boot even faster. "Its more secure". Ok, get a tablet. Its more secure than Windows 7. There is virtually no compelling reason for Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 8. Yet there are many reasons to avoid this catastrophe. The stripping away of choice, freedom, flexibility, and power are many of the reasons I will not even look at Windows 8 lest I begin puking.
Zetler wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 10:52:
Right, we should fight Windows 8 because Steam is not a walled garden at all and represent freedom am I right folks? LOL. There's much irony in this.
ASeven wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 10:18:Fibrocyte wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 09:28:Muscular Beaver wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 09:23:Fibrocyte wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 09:15:ASeven wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 07:53:
I suppose there were apologists, fanbois and shills who defended WinME so seeing them do the same on Win8 is hardly surprising.
1/10 ... your mention of WinME gains you that one point.
Oh, and if you were being serious then you're incredibly obtuse.
Someone asking if that was serious or not, obviously is one of the guys he mentioned... lol
LOL! Oh Beaver... you're the wittiest!
How do they say it?...
Butthurt a lot, are you not?
Fibrocyte wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 09:28:Muscular Beaver wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 09:23:Fibrocyte wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 09:15:ASeven wrote on Nov 18, 2012, 07:53:
I suppose there were apologists, fanbois and shills who defended WinME so seeing them do the same on Win8 is hardly surprising.
1/10 ... your mention of WinME gains you that one point.
Oh, and if you were being serious then you're incredibly obtuse.
Someone asking if that was serious or not, obviously is one of the guys he mentioned... lol
LOL! Oh Beaver... you're the wittiest!