Beijing time March 1 news, at today's Mobile World Congress, Microsoft launched the Windows8 consumer preview. CNET tried the new system for the first time. Here are some brief comments: I used the Windows8 test version, which is the Windows 8 consumer preview. I spent a week, which is by far the most integrated and powerful operating system in Microsoft. The question is whether there are enough people to care?
there are many changes in the new system worthy of discussion, but can be briefly summarized in one sentence: Windows8 is easy to use. It integrates social networking and synchronization capabilities, is powerful enough to run Photoshop, supports touch, keyboard and mouse, and it's safe.
While Microsoft stressed that the repercussions from hardware manufacturers and developers of intense, but its impact is still unknown.
Windows8 predecessor can nutshell: Windows7 is the correct version of Vista. For a variety of reasons, Windows 8 is harder to sell for Microsoft itself, hardware partners, and emerging consumers.
First, Windows8 listed, it will be the most ambitious operating system. As long as you study, the workflow is simple, but at first glance it is not obvious.
Secondly, more Windows8 experience depends on your hardware, more dependent than before, because it is a tablet PC is.
last until the second half of Windows8 delivered to the consumer, before this problem will not be solved, and that is no obvious indication that users want next is Windows8 operating system. Does anyone want a non-Apple tablet? Is the tablet more like a large smartphone or a thin notebook? An operating system provides both touch and powerful functional modes. Will people be interested?
Login
Windows8 provide some good logon option. You can create a local account, but only if you use a Microsoft account, the operating system is more useful. You can sync Windows 8 settings, including IE history. In other words, when you log in on other Windows 8 devices with the same account, the data will be synchronized, including background settings, address book, other Facebook, Twitter account, mail account, instant messaging account.
screen lock screen can display the latest content
WindowsStore program supports synchronization program, it is being planned; and SkyDrive can be used to synchronize files.
In addition to synchronization, when you first log in, you can change the login, select a personal identification number, picture or log in. The image login is great, you can pick a picture as the login background. You can customize some of your own icons on the image to log in to the system, such as lines, circles, or points.
I chose their Facebook picture to log in, I was through local Windows8 picture synchronization program implementation. The process is quite simple, there is an image extraction tool in the settings, it can be connected to the Facebook account through the image program.
the production of illustration, sometimes once successful on the map, sometimes try several times. It seems that this feature is hardware related.
also easy to overlook a killer feature that facial recognition login.
Windows8 navigation: touch
two ways you can navigate Windows8, two methods are good enough to be used simultaneously.
as I can see, Windows8 is highly fumble. It wants you to touch, frankly, touch makes it easier for you to get familiar with the system. Unfortunately, for now, the Windows 8 beta does not provide quick guidance, although the process is simple, but not necessarily obvious.
separate touch keyboard
Windows8 edge of the screen and have a great relationship. You can display Windows8Charms by tapping the right screen. This includes instant identifiable search, sharing, start, device, and settings. The start button will return to the start screen, which is the screen you see the first time after logging in. Microsoft wants most of the user's behavior to occur on this screen. As long as more than one program is installed, you can tap and drag from the left to return to the most recently opened program.
strike dragged a little more, it does not display recently used programs, but display a sidebar, above listed six thumbnails of recently used programs. The start screen is displayed at the bottom left of the thumbnail section, which is another way to get back to "Home". Yes, the familiar start button is hidden, but it's not hard to find. The method of returning to the start screen from both sides is basically the same.
in Windows7 has a good interface function, that is, "split screen view", you can drag the title bar, drag to the left or right side of the screen, you can browse. There have been improvements in Windows 8. When you drag the program from the left side of the screen, if you drag it slower and stop near the left or right edge, the vertical divider will pop up. After popping up, let go of the program and it will bounce to the edge. The screen is split, one third shows the program you just dragged, and two-thirds show the previous program.
Tiles is Microsoft's name for the program icon, it arranged in sets. Press and hold the Tiles icon to select the program, change the location, and change the grouping. Users can browse program groupings or customize groupings by dragging the icon to the right and releasing it. When
when the left and right side of the screen for the whole, the upper and lower portions of the screen for the program. For example, in Internet Explorer, the address bar will be at the bottom and the Tab will be at the top when used. At the start screen, the user can see all the schedules. When using email, you can set up an account, including some non-Microsoft accounts, such as Gmail, you can also create folders, sync, and more. Works well under
vast majority of cases. However, I came across a problem, that is, the calendar, from the left side of the touch and drag, most of the time will return to the previous day, instead of going back to the previous program.
Windows8 Navigation: keyboard and mouse
Windows8 is an integrated system for the PC and the tablet, and touch the same keyboard and mouse under conditions well run. Everything in Windows 8 supports both controls. Of course, in image editing and spreadsheet navigation, the mouse and keyboard will be more precise. Microsoft claims to support touch, mouse-style precision, keyboard shortcuts, and trinity.
desktop program shortcuts mostly on the icon
Windows7 as useful in Windows8, of course, it also provides some new shortcuts. Including the Win+PrintScreen key combination, which can be screened and automatically stored in the Photos program; there is also a Windows button that switches between the start screen and the program you have used recently.
has a nice keyboard features: at the beginning of the input, you can call the program from the start screen. It's quite simple. For example, if you type "Ma" on the start screen, in a series of programs, the program with the "Ma" letter will be displayed in the middle of the screen.
the first time when you connect a mouse Windows8, there is nothing strange action. As soon as you move the mouse, the scroll bar will appear at the bottom of the start screen. You can scroll the scrollbar, navigate through the program group, or scroll the mouse to drag the button, and Windows 8 interprets the vertical motion as horizontal scrolling.
struck from the top of the program, you can see the application-specific control options. The figure shows IE10, the address bar is at the bottom, and the label thumbnail is at the top.
Move your mouse over the bottom of the left, you'll see the start screen, or move your mouse over the upper left side, the program will display the most recently accessed. If you move the mouse to the left, it will display some of the programs you have recently accessed.
program also supports a mouse. For example, in IE, a back navigation arrow is displayed on the left and a forward navigation arrow is displayed on the right. Place the mouse in the lower corner of the right side, the navigation Charms will be displayed, and then the mouse will be moved up the side edge to be used. Search icon on the right
click on the screen, you can search for programs in Windows8, or enter text directly on the startup screen (StartScreen). Right-click the program displays
side, it displays a program selection screen in the top and bottom.
function
If you seek to integrate social experience, Windows8 will meet your needs. Unlike iOS, if the program has specific information, iOS requires you to enter the program, but Windows 8 is wider and more scalable. The square icon of the start screen is the local integration of the own program.
mail program will preview the latest e-mail, the program will display the most recent calendar appointments. You can set the information yourself and display it on the lock screen. Contact
integration from multiple sources into one, became the People program. When it finds that contacts from different networks are duplicated, it will automatically integrate. Although some integrations will look weird, most of them are still not wrong. The contact address is integrated with the Bing Map and can be quickly found. The account added by a program is also suitable for related programs.
People program provides the latest traffic information
search program system-wide, including the activation of program data search function.
test version of IE9 IE10 followed the old road, the two browsers are highly standards compliant, it can be a good block malicious software.
some elements may be everyone's reach, such as TrustedBoot, it is a double-checking system, as well as SmartScreen, can prevent Phishing, malware. The system is also equipped with XBOXGame and XBOXCompanion programs, which can import XBox content into Windows 8. With the Refresh option, users can reinstall Windows 8 without having to delete the data.
performance
Windows8 there is a focus on deep I did not talk about is that it gives the "fast" feeling. The response is fast after the touch, the mouse moves agile, and the speed and response of Windows 8 are not as good as other versions of Windows.
Task Manager
Considering I used to try Windows7 Samsung tablet, and even more impressive when. The shutdown time was not very good and it took a minute. Booting is quite fast, try three cold starts, just enter the login page in 10-13 seconds. It took less than 3 seconds to enter the start screen from the login screen each time.
Microsoft has said that, considering the battery life time Windows8 design. We didn't have the exact test of Microsoft's remarks. After 6 days of trial, I only need to charge this old tablet once a day.
summary
Windows8 like Vista as if defeated, it will make people very surprised. The consumer experience is good, the function is new and old, and the appearance is fresh and different. Hardware manufacturers have already embraced it, and Microsoft also said that developers have increased their investment, and it has won attention because there is no similar system on the market.
companies may pay, as well as early supporters, of course, Windows old fans. But will ordinary consumers accept it? In the tablet market, Microsoft has been taken away by too many markets in Apple. In my CNET colleagues, from Metro jumped into the desktop screen, some people are still surprised. There may be many dissatisfaction, and very few people can't understand the "screen edge" concept. Microsoft does not provide even a 10-second guide. The problem is not big, but if it is not solved, it is enough for the user to give up Windows8.
I think in the tablet war, there are still accommodate a third player space, Google has opened the door, ready to go to war to fight for second position. However, I still think that if Windows 8 is considered a large smartphone system, it is not the same as when people think of the tablet. really not.
Windows8 trying unified desktop and tablet. In the operating system, Microsoft has suffered setbacks, and the tablet field has to compete. It does not have much choice. Windows 8's fate depends on partners, relying on hardware, payment capabilities, and allowing users to match the actual acceptance, frankly how to get close to what Apple does. In the end, Microsoft only controlled one aspect. Anterior
Windows8 is long and narrow, it may become for the sensation, but not allow room for mistakes.