Can Windows 8 Pre-Beta Be Used as Main OS?

Anyone is able now to install the pre Windows 8 beta version (Developer Preview). Because the temptation to try the new operating system is so big for IT enthusiasts, we thought that it would be a good idea to review some of the main advantages which could be gained from the new OS.

How efficient is Windows 8 when it comes to run as the main operating system on a machine? And how good will it be in the desktop final version, especially when we think that its development targeted the tablet’s (touchscreens) market?

Windows 8 Developer Preview

We will start from a clear fact: Windows 8 is in course of development. With other words, this means that installing it on your own system is like running out with a car from a wheel service knowing that thoese employees have not tightened studs very well.

Therefore, I recommend you installing Windows 8 Developer Preview, but also I strongly recommend you installing it in a virtual machine, so you don’t regret your actions in the future.

Installing Windows 8

If you will not use a virtual machine, the Windows 8 installation can be done in two ways: a clean installation process, after which you will lose all your data in the partition where you decide to install the new OS, or you could chose to update your actual operating system (Windows 7, Vista or XP) to the new Windows 8. If you will chose the last option, you should know that the installation process will take longer because the system will keep the settings that you have done in the previous Windows version and also the files you have saved there.

If you want our personal opinion, we would recommend you to make a clean installation of the new Windows 8. This is the best method you could chose in order to see if your hardware is completely compatible with the new operating system which will be released by Microsoft next year.

The System on Which Windows 8 Should Run

We have tested Windows 8 on an older generation system because we wanted to see exactly what are the minimum hardware requirements for this new OS. Therefore, our computer looked like this: Intel Celeron D at 3 GHz HT cpu, 1 GB DDR2 RAM memory, Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS 512 MB graphic card).

The installation through upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 8 took no less than…four hours. There is no need to any description here, I guess. On the contrary the clean install of Windows 8 took just 40 minutes. And that included also some settings which have been done after the installation itself has ended. We consider this is a pretty good performance, having in mind that we are talking about an old system.

The system boot time has been seriously reduced, while using Windows 8.

Windows 8 Interface

Here,  a lot of Windows 8 users will have a big problem: the Metro User Interface pushes you to tap with your finger on your monitor, even if you have a normal LCD and not a touchscreen. What we meaning here is the fact that Windows 8 is defying the desktops users. The screen on which there is displayed a lot of Metro data is being browsed with the mouse scroll. It looks nice but it is not so useful. In order to access a similar menu with the ones in Windows 7 is being done by clicking on the Desktop icon.

Applications in Windows 8

From the beginning you will have some default applications in Windows 8: Piano, Paintplay, Mopod and other games and applications which we will let you discover by yourself, but you should know that we encountered some errors while running them. You will even find a refined version of Notepad.

Windows 8 Compatibility

Windows 8 is able ti run any application which has been developed since we have received Windows XP. However we had some issues when we tried to install Office 2010 Starter Edition.

Conclusion on Windows 8

In February 2012 we will receive the  Windows 8 beta Download. This will be a test version for all the users. It is recommended that you postpone the installation of Windows 8 at least until the Beta version will be available.

Until now we have found Windows 8 to be a very good operating system for tablets with touchscreen.

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