On 03/30/2012 09:19 AM, Christopher Tooley wrote:
> I have also set up windows 8 preview in a VirtualBox environment, and it
> works just fine (my host is not super fast though, so the vm was pretty
> slow). Very interesting and, to me, compelling, interface; I'm wondering
> how easily the average user will get used to it.

See my remarks below on the average user

>
> Christopher Tooley
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Systems, HEP/Astronomy UVic


Got W8 x64 Consumer Preview up and running.  I used the following
Virt-Manager set up:

    OS: W7 64 bit (as recommended by others on this group)
    Display: Spice
    Video: qxl (or Spice won't run)
    Processor configuration: copy host CPU configuration

The W8 setup looks almost identical to W7's.  I do like
the W7/W8 install as you can start it up, answer a few
questions and then walk away from it.  XP made you stick
around and answer a bunch of occupational questions.

My idea with W8 was to fire it up with no preconceptions
as a home customer would, seeing it for the first time.
I wanted to know what their initial experience would
be so I could prepare to assist them.

M$'s marketing department seems to have missed two
major points about this iPad/tablet style of interface.

1)  Apple, the champion of this kind of interface, does
not use it on its desktops.  This is not a desktop
interface.  W8 should have only been for a tablet.

2)  the iPad is PAINFULLY INTUITIVE.  It took me about
30 seconds to be configuring eMail accounts on the
first iPad that was stuck under my nose.  W8 is
the opposite.  It took me about five minutes to
figure out how to power W8 off!  (I refused to
look it up on the web; I wanted to simulate a
non-professionals experience.)

W8 is AWFUL!  It is so bad, it took my breathy away!
Swear words have not yet been created to describe it!

My big fear is that I am going to force myself to learn
this turkey and no one will buy it.

Oh yea, and the average Joe buying a PC with this turkey
on it from Costco is going to break down in tears trying
to figure it out.  (Hopefully he will call me before he
throws it out the window.)

I am rambling.  I hope the Forum Administrator does not
ding me for off topic.

Thanks to everyone for the tips and moral support.

-T

As it has been said before, and now ever more so, "Computers
are like air conditioners, they malfunction when you open windows."