Windows 8 - A Preview of Things to Come

One thing is certain, the only constant is change!

Windows continues to change the way we look at the desktop. Yes, I know there are those who use MAC and say that MAC OS X Lion is the Windows killer. As of May 2011, fewer people use all versions of MAC OS X than Windows Vista!

That same argument was used by people who said that the PC would never take off and UNIX mainframes would spill over to computers on our desktops. While Linux has made some inroads, the majority of PC’s (besides supercomputers) still run workstation and server operating systems from Microsoft. In fact, MAC OS X has over three times the number of users that Linux enjoys.

Continuing with that progression, Microsoft has unveiled and begun to release details about their latest in the progression of operating systems to carry the Windows moniker, Windows 8.

What do we know about it and how did we get here? A bit of history…

Over the past twenty years at Hagerman & Company (and thirty years in the industry) I have watched the progression of applications that ran on DOS 2, DOS 3.3, DOS 4.0, DOS 5.X, DOS 6.X, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 3.X, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008. The once ubiquitous Novell Netware has all but vanished from the scene. OS/2 came and went as did DR Dos.

WordPerfect and Multiplan have gone the way of the dinosaur, as did the DOS based version Microsoft Flight Simulator! So have 5¼” and 3½” floppies, MFM and RLL Hard drives with IDE soon to follow. And try to find a desktop computer or laptop that has a parallel port!

There was even a divergence in the Windows product line with workstation and server versions released with different naming conventions.

One thing is certain, if you wait long enough, some things do come back even if they are in a different form.

Windows 8

Microsoft first unveiled Windows 8 on June 1, 2011 at the D9 Conference. They called Windows 8 a re-imaging of Windows. During the first presentation, the new operating system was touted as one that scales from touch-only small screens – through to large screens, with or without a keyboard and mouse. The features they spoke about were compelling.

They included:

Fast launching of apps from a tile-based Start screen, which replaces the Windows Start menu with a customizable, scalable full-screen view of apps.
Live tiles with notifications, showing up-to-date information from your apps.
Fluid, natural switching between running apps. - a switch between applications by just dragging them in from the side of the screen.
Snap and resize an app to the side of the screen, so you can really multitask using the capabilities of Windows.
Web-connected and Web-powered apps built using HTML5 and JavaScript that have access to the full power of the PC.
Fully touch-optimized browsing, with all the power of hardware-accelerated Internet Explorer 10.
Windows 8 will be able to run on a wide range of machines and feature the same system requirements, or lower, than Windows 7
Windows 8 re-imagines every level of the Windows architecture — the kernel, networking, storage, devices, user interface
Windows 8 is really fast and fluid (really!) It is built on Windows new applications development platform that is based on HTML5, JavaScript and CSS.
Two interfaces – one for tablets and touch and the other for traditional desktop, both in the same operating system.
Works equally well with a mouse and keyboard - even though the new user interface is designed and optimized for touch.
Internet Explorer 10 will be introduced with Windows 8
Instantaneous Switching between the live-tile User Interface and the traditional classic desktop.
Split-screen interface, where you see both the new and the old UI side by side.
New “always on, always connected” mode permits instant wake-up from sleep state and will keep the ARM tablets constantly connected to the web.
Will allow tablets to connect to USB sticks
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) engagement will speed up boot times – systems with SSDs could go from a cold boot to the Start screen in under 6 seconds.”
At this point, the new operating system will require a minimum of 1366 x 768 screen resolution for the best Windows 8 experience. 1024 x 768 will be the absolute minimum for the new UI fanciness and 1024 x 600 will let you run Windows 8 in the classic desktop mode.

Windows 8 not so different from Windows 7…?

With Windows 8, Microsoft is returning to the path of building on what works from the previous version of Windows and making it even better (something that was done a lot before Windows Vista!). Windows 8 will truly allow users to make use of a touch screen, tablet, keyboard and mouse, and still enjoy the same experience. But what will it look like?

The Windows Experience Team has released the first video (below) that shows Windows 8 and some of the features built into it.

What about the rumors (and some that are not)?

Every new release, right up until the RTM (release to manufacturing) of the operating system is full of rumors. Some wind up being true while others do not.

What are the rumors at this point for Windows 8?

At the top of the list is the rumor about the DVD. Rumor has it that Microsoft is going to follow Apple’s lead and phase out DVD drives in PC’s. Some credence to this rumor is that the CFO for Dolby Labs indicated there is no deal between Microsoft and Dolby for Windows 8 (there was for Windows 7).

What does this mean for the DVD?

Not certain at this point. Many applications developers have already gone to electronic distribution or large USB Thumb drives to distribute their applications, so it might be true. Who would have predicted the demise of the floppy disk, the CD-ROM fading into obscurity or the disappearance of the Parallel port? Yet, these things happened, too.

Intel and ARM processors will be the supported de facto processors for Windows 8 tablets. Built-in PDF support, finally, is rumored to be included. On a Mac this has been a standard for years now; Microsoft will follow suit.

At this point it is also rumored that Windows 8 will be pre-loaded with Piracy Check Software that will let users know if their version of the software is pirated or genuine.

Microsoft is planning to add the History Vault as a backup system in Windows 8, a feature like Mac’s Time Machine Backup System.

Microsoft is also considering syncing several kernel files directly with Microsoft Cloud servers. If added, this feature would allow for updates to the operating system without the need for a reboot. It would also include a failsafe copy of those kernel files locally, so the operating system can function if the internet connection is lost.

Additionally, it appears that with the release of Windows 8, the names will once again converge for the workstation and server versions of the product (Windows 8 Server).

When Can I Get My Hands on Windows 8?

Windows 8, which is expected to arrive in developers' hands as a technical preview in mid-September 2011 at the upcoming Build conference, and to begin public beta testing early in 2012.
As with any new, emerging software or technology, before you jump at trying a piece of beta software, keep in mind that it may not support some or all of your hardware and applications. It should be used in a test environment only and not in a production environment. Support for applications under a beta operating system is for all practical purposes simply non-existent!

As I have stated before, preparing for future releases and making an informed choice can make the difference between success and failure.

Hagerman & Company can help you make the correct choices for your environment and business. This is yet one more service that makes us ‘Your eProductivity Partner’. If you have questions or comments about this article, contact me (JohnBoline@hagerman.com).

All product names / logos, company names / logos are copyrights of their respective holders. John Boline is an MCSE, MCTS, CNE, USE, a member of the Network Professional Association and the Microsoft Partner Research Panel, . The content herein is often based on late-breaking events. Much of the material is based on information from sources that are believed to be reliable. Hagerman & Company, Inc. disclaims all warranties as to the ultimate accuracy or completeness of the information. Hagerman & Company, Inc. and its employees shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies in the information contained within this article or for any interpretations thereof. The recommendations, positions and best practice policies outlined herein represent Hagerman & Company, Inc. initial analysis and therefore are subject to change as further information which may have bearing on these positions is made available. The reader assumes sole responsibility for the selection of these materials to achieve its intended results. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Hagerman & Company, Inc. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements made in this newsletter to reflect any change in circumstances, after the date of publication. Entire contents © 2011, Hagerman & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication in any form without prior written permission is forbidden.

This page last edited on Tuesday, September 13, 2011