Various beta versions of Windows 8 have been with us for what seems like an eternity. Microsoft has just pushed out a final, release-to-manufacturing preview, recently confirming a full product launch for 26 October.
Now that early-adopting enterprises and their employees are starting to think about phasing in Microsoft's latest generational OS refresh, it's time for ITPP to get under the hood. Specifically, we want to see how the new release functions in a tablet environment and reach some conclusions about its viability as a work solution.
We tested out Windows 8 on a Samsung Series 7 slate ? not a cutting edge piece of kit, but a still-acceptable device ? and, tellingly, one that has been marked down by some reviewers for the failings of Windows 7 in a touchscreen setting. So what sort of marks will Windows 8 be looking at come October?
New Features
The standout new feature has to be the Metro-style UI. Designed with the fast evolving world of multi-touch in mind, it's a bold move on Microsoft's part and one that's positioning the company for the next 15 or even 25 years, rather than the next five. In the short term, this strategy involves a gamble, because most onlookers ? especially those familiar with enterprise situations ? would contend that there's not much wrong with Windows 7.
In a desktop sense, this is true, but the fact that it doesn't run well on touchscreen devices is an obvious handicap. This feature alone makes Windows 8, with its dedicated touch UI, an improvement on the previous iteration. And of course reversion to the more traditional desktop mode is always an option for the faint-hearted.
This makes Windows 8 an OS with a lot of potential. What ain't broke hasn't been fixed, but something new to help power the convergence of desktop and mobile worlds - devices dedicated to work and play - has been created. Even if the Release Preview version is quite clunky at times, the building blocks to the future are now in place.
This charming bar
The Charm Bar is one of the areas that falls into the clunky category. Forgetting the fact that the name is better suited to a crass drinking den in downtown Dublin, it's a nice idea on paper, not least because it gets rid of a lot of the clutter associated with the Start menu.
More importantly, the foregrounding of Device management and the creation of a Share feature highlights how core functionality is often the same at work as it is at home. This is one reason why many believe we are heading to a one-device world: the streaming of content, for instance, is crucial whether it's the latest Disney flick for your child or an infographic on mobile adoption in Africa for your boss.?Similarly, creative and media sectors are likely to find streamlined access to social networks as useful in the office as on a night out, whether to get feedback on a new logo design or, in ITPP's case, share a breaking news story with the world.
But there's a problem with the Charm Bar in its current form. A swipe from the right-edge brings up the bar as expected, but once you have selected an area you can't get back to the previous menu screen in an intuitive fashion. Rather than a back swipe taking you to an earlier screen, it does nothing. You have to swipe out of the Charm Bar altogether, which is annoying if you make an early mis-tap ? going to Devices when you want to go to Share, for instance ? but could be a more serious productivity issue if you are a few clicks deep.
What I want from Wi-Fi
People familiar with tablet devices won't have much difficulty getting to the connectivity screen on Windows 8. As you would expect, it's just a swipe and a click deep via the Charm Bar. So my issue with accessing Wi-Fi isn't so much a criticism as a personal preference.
Basically, I'd like the process to be even quicker. In fact,?having a dedicated Wi-Fi tile on the Start page would simply be more convenient, especially if you're on the road and having to frequently switch to different Wi-Fi hotspots.
Alternatively, the?box that appears in the bottom left corner of the screen - after?swiping up the Charm Bar - could have been made touch-reactive. Since it displays the?wireless signal strength, battery power, and the time and date, it's an intuitive point from which to not only quickly select one of the Wi-Fi networks in my?vicinity, but also to go straight?to my calendar or power settings.
It's not that connecting via Settings is a major hassle, but it would mirror the ease of access present in desktop mode, where a double-click brings up available connections. Desktop mode is, of course, what most Windows users are familiar with. App developers may want to take note as this is an area where they could provide a slicker solution, if Microsoft fails to do so itself in the final product.
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Source: http://feeds.thinq.co.uk/~r/thinq/rss/~3/vaH_Z-5nIm4/
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