Windows 8 Consumer Preview Review

So I recently decided to install the Consumer Preview of Windows 8, what Microsoft thinks will be the final version. I'm going to be outlining what I've experienced so far. I'm using it right now, and I've only been using it for half an hour, so anything and everything is my first impression, and the first impression always hits the hardest.

I'm going to be honest here - Windows 8 and the merging of Metro and Aero - it's a DISASTER. And not the "Oh no, my dog got into the garbage can!" disaster, we're talking "A nuclear apocalypse just happened" disaster. This user interface is frustrating and unusable to the general public as it is.

The first thing I'll point out here is that users are used to clicking on something in plain view. The start menu on the Metro UI is largely non-existent, at least to the naked eye. Most of what you want is on the side of the screen, only visible if you position your mouse in a certain way. And you most definitely can't move your mouse to click on it - which is another thing that annoyed me. We're all so used to clicking on something directly, and to have that thing disappear less than a second after you try and click on the app in the middle of the tiny preview screen is... frankly, really irritating. Most of the stuff on the side is really sensitive to movement, as well. This is what is supposed to be used for the touch screen tablets. Unfortunately, it's also optomized for the desktop. It's a one-size-fits-all situation, and it doesn't work.

Another thing I have to say is the lack of useful apps. I realize it's only a Consumer Preview, but if this is what they think their finished product will be, I dread what others might think. Maybe it's just me, but when I started out with Windows 8 half an hour ago, it looked like this:

Pretty standard opening screen. (It's not my own desktop, so ignore the name.) Unfortunately, as I am, I'm used to the OLD desktop - and as such, find little use for all these apps.

This is what my UI looks like NOW:

I am not even kidding. I deleted all the apps I didn't need or would ever use - and that's what I came up with. Sure, people listen to music, watch the news, check the weather, but do you really need NEW apps for all that? Are average consumers willing to make the change and transfer everything over just for a fancy, dysfunctional touch screen experience? It doesn't even look that pretty. I knew it would be a disaster as soon as I tried my hand at searching for my tiles. It didn't take me long to figure out, but in this video from Lockergnome, Chris Pirillo's Dad spends the duration of the video searching for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4boTbv9_nU&feature=player_embedded


This is NOT what consumers are looking for, and it's certainly NOT what I wanted to get from Microsoft. I was excited to install this when I got home from school. What a disappointment, and if Microsoft thinks it can get away with it... they'd better open their eyes really fast. They can't afford to waste any more.

What's the first thing that jumps to your mind when you think tablet computers? Mostly iPads, right? What about a computer, or a laptop? You think of Windows. But even though the idea for personal and laptop computers is Windows, there are a lot of other options out there, more AFFORDABLE options.

As Joe Pirillo puts it so gracefully at the end of the video linked above: Are they TRYING to drive me to a Mac?

This picture sums up my thoughts quite nicely.

What are YOUR thoughts on the new Metro user interface? Would you use Windows 8? Would you use it on a tablet or a PC, or, heck, both? Why or why not? Give me your opinions and thoughts and feelings in the comments!

Oh, and I don't know about you guys... but I'm uninstalling this piece of junk as soon as I can.