Windows 8 Developer Preview: Come and get it
65 comments
The new Windows 8 Start Screen
(Credit: Microsoft)
Those of you interested in taking the current flavor of Windows 8 for a spin can now download and install the Developer Preview edition.
Being demoed at Microsoft's Build conference this week, the Developer Preview is a prebeta version showing off the operating system at its current stage. Though technically designed for developers, no registration is required, so anyone can download and install it.
Related stories:
• Windows 8 debuts at Microsoft Build (live blog)
• An early, first look at Windows 8 (hands-on)
• Take an early tour of Windows 8 (photos)
• Windows 8 to offer both Metro and desktop interface
The Windows 8 Preview is being offered in three different packages--a 64-bit version with various developer tools, a 64-bit version of just the operating system, and a 32-bit version of the OS.
All three come as ISO files--image files of the contents of a CD or DVD. Since each of the packages is several gigabytes in size, you'll need a DVD if you want to burn the files to a disc.
In Windows 7, you can burn the ISO file to a DVD by double-clicking it to open the Windows Disc Image Burner. For older operating systems, you can use a tool such as ISO Recorder to burn the file. Alternatively, you can use such utilities as Virtual CloneDrive or Daemon Tools to "mount" the ISO file as a drive, eliminating the need to burn it onto a disc.
Since this is a prebeta version, you'll want to install the OS on a spare PC or in a virtual environment so that it doesn't interfere with your production or work machine.
Those of you who want to know what you're getting into before you attempt to install the Developer Preview can check out a hands-on early look at Windows 8 from CNET's Seth Rosenblatt.
What's next after the Developer Preview?
Speaking at the Build conference yesterday, Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows division, confirmed earlier reports that Windows 8 will next segue into one beta version, followed by one Release Candidate. Assuming all goes well, we can then expect the final RTM (release to manufacturing) edition sometime after that.
Sinofsky didn't reveal a specific timeframe for the beta or Release Candidate. However, the company has been expected to launch the beta at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in January, according to WinRumors.
Comments
(Log in or register)Showing 1 of 2 pages (65 Comments)
- No thanks, not interested. Am happy with the world's most advanced OS--OS X Lion. BTW Microsoft, where's expose, virtual desktop (space), App Armor etc? Learn something from OS X and Ubuntu...I small another Vista disaster cause businesses see no reason to upgrade so do consumers...
- Like thisReply to this comment4 people like this comment
-
- oh look - OS X just learned how to do cut & paste, or resize a window by dragging any edge. Now go back and make a website for your cat.
- Like this39 people like this comment
- I almost forgot - "World's most advanced OS, still with 5% market share"
- Like this19 people like this comment
- Hey, c'mon now. It's not his fault that he missed the video of Samsung Win 8 gold straight out of the box.
http://www.slashgear.com/windows-8-developer-preview-available-for-download-tonight-13179393/ - Like this2 people like this comment
- Lion? really? Even Apple fans are a bit disappointed with Lion or are having issues with it so I wouldn't quite call it the most advanced...
I'm starting to think you don't even own a Mac and just like to hate on Microsoft... - Like this8 people like this comment
- I like Lion and all, but kudos to Microsoft for making windows 8 more tablet like than Lion did with OSX.
I didn't really look into windows 8 much yet, but my initial opinion with window 8 is why does it have the normal desktop mode? They should pick tablet or desktop view, not both (the tablet tiles would be better of the two)
This was oen issue I have with Lion. I rarely use Launchpad because it's weird if I'm using desktop mode 99% of the time. - Like this2 people like this comment
- Just because Windows users aren't foolish enough to buy under-powered hardware at double the price of a better system doesn't make us stupid. It just means we know the true value of a computer is in the internal parts, not the external metal finish. We also know the value of being able to upgrade a piece at a time when it becomes outdated rather than having to purchase an entirely new machine. So before you say things like "I small another Vista disaster (blah blah more bad spelling and grammar blah blah blah), please take the time to step back, take a look at what you're actually spending your money on, and then go to a corner and cry. [CNET editors' note: Personal attack deleted.]
- Like this4 people like this comment
- i love the way mac fan boys quote stuff from apples website...worlds most advanced os i dont think so try bsd (i know mac os x has roots in bsd but bsd is more cutting edge than os x ) or linux (ubuntu sucks try something like arch or gentoo)
- Like this4 people like this comment
- @Shellcodes_coder
No reason to upgrade? OS-X Lion advanced?? AppArmo???? Did you just put a bunch of random **** together hoping it would make sense? I'm a huge Linux fan, but I would hate to live in a world w/o MS Windows. Every Linux server I setup the very 1st damn thing I do is disable AppArmor if it is installed, it is the most un-compatible security software I have ever seen. "Oh sorry your DNS isn't working today Mr.BigCompany,but AppArmor doesn't want it to right now, maybe later".
Windows 8 features:
Metro Interface
Faster Boot Times
Less Memory Usage
In Place Refresh
ARM Proc support
Hyper-V included out of the box
Taskbar spans multiple monitors
Universal spell check
Windows Store
Live Integration
and a new nifty task manager
Enjoy your cool Mac doc guy.. Was there any changes on Lion? I haven't seen a difference in the MAC OS since System release 5.0. The only good things about MACs is the fact that they are so damn easy to exploit, but being a "shellcoder" I guess you already know that. - Like this7 people like this comment
- Hey now, it's a 6% world wide market share, and 13% in the United States. If you count iPads as computers (Microsoft doesn't) Apple is the largest computer vendor in the world. The notion that Apple is insignificant is so last decade. Welcome to 2011.
- Like this
- I am not a MAC OS fan, but I have to agree, Windows 8 is a terrible layout. The adoption rate will make vista look successful.
- Like this1 person likes this comment
- See more comment replies
- Let the complaints about Microsoft's shiny new OS begin -
And wonder why they are releasing a pre-beta OS to the masses without registrations to try and keep track of it all. - Like thisReply to this comment3 people like this comment
-
- you and Shellcodes_coder are a great couple. Kudos to you guys!
- Like this14 people like this comment
- you call that shiny? it's damn ugly. While it will never be no where to OS X, it's even uglier than Windows 7. I was expecting them to make a copy of OS X dock cause that's what they always do--copy from Apple but as with Vista they are going to the toilet to design their OS UI
- Like this3 people like this comment
- Did I say anything bad about it? No.
A plausible question - Why no registrations? Yes. It might help them keep track of the incrimental improvements they make as eager-beaver early adopters download the pre-beta OS - not to mention alert them to the next version.
So - Paranoid much?
Or is it just okay for the likes of cary1 up there and others to troll on Apple threads? - Like this2 people like this comment
- I've installed the Windows 8 developer preview and I absolutely hate it. The Metro GUI is different but not better. The biggest problem is the Start Menu is gone - clicking the Start Button takes you to the Metro start Screen. You click a tile to get back to the desktop. The Metro screens are really built for smaller devices like tablets and phones, on a big display it's a huge waste of space. And switching between metro screens is seizure inducing, I would hate to do it all day long. The Metro control panel is woefully inadequate, as are many of the Metro screens. I'm just not feeling the magic. If this is anything close to what the beta will be, Microsoft is not going to like the reception.
Finally, I was really hoping for a more serious Mac OS X competitor. Apple has added tons of cool desktop features in the last few years like Expose, Spotlight (search that actually works), Automator, Spaces, Time Machine, Mission Control, and Launch Pad. This is pretty much just Windows 7 with an annoying Playskool start screen.
Microsoft, when exactly will Windows receive a significant new capability? - Like this3 people like this comment
- @EricJM001- I did install it on Parallels Desktop, and it is terrible experience! ( I know people "It's still Developers Preview") But Microsoft put out there their "rough draft OS", so they should expect lots of flaming and complaining.
I just hope they listen and fix them quick!!!
- I hated the Metro UI... that is design soooo much for tablets. I really don't think they had PC Desktop and laptops in mind when they design and made this, seriously. I didn't find any benefit at all using a mouse and keyboard. Actually more frustrating scrolling side to side, looking at tiles and tiles.... it's really exhausting to the eyes and brain.
I can compare it to Lion's AppLauncher (iOS style UI) I know they are different, one is ICONS and the other are TILES.
But still, on a desktop environment this is not productive or useful (that comment refers to both OSs', but at least in Lion is not your main UI).
- I hated, that there was NO start Button!!! WHat?! Are you kidding me??!! While I use the desktop mode UI, it was frustrating not being able to browse for apps from the menu. Always kicks you back to the Metro Tiles! (I really hate those tiles in a desktop) Maybe there is a setting in keeping desktop mode permanent, but that is the other problem.
- All the sudden Microsoft hates icons and pictures, everything is in text! The control panel, the main titles are big huge letters, and sub titles are faded smaller text.... and that's pretty much it. So if you want to find something you must read the whole thing. To sum it up, think Zune player menus with no icons in a 1920x1080 display... not cool at all!
I know, sounds lazy... but books are for reading, and PC are made for work... and in a work environment,
"time is money". I didn't waste time reading thru all the titles...
Ever all, I just came to the conclusion that this preview is straight for Tablets or smart phones (then yes, it is a hot UI... and cool) But for a desktop, sorry it is thumbs down. It helps me see, why Apple opp to have the launcher as a directory menu, not the entire desktop experience. Just not useful in a desktop! - Like this4 people like this comment
- @shellcodes_coder:
"I was expecting them to make a copy of OS X dock cause that's what they always do-"
Ah, you mean the way Apple copied it from Microsoft? Or has your memory turned selective when facts come along to make things awkward for you? Interesting indeed.
Considering Apple copied much of their desktop UI from Microsoft, I suppose that means Apple's products are from the toilet as well, hmm?
Tell you what, next time you get hungry, don't bother going to the store. Just use the foot you keep putting in your mouth instead and save time. :) - Like this1 person likes this comment
- Tried to install on my laptop running Win 7........error at 30%. Suppose I'll have to do a clean install :(
- Like thisReply to this comment
-
- maybe that is why they say on their dowload site that it only works on clean install? typically when a software vendor says something will not work, it doesnt work in addition to the other things that were supposed to work :)
- Like this5 people like this comment
- Umm, this is a Pre-Beta. It should not be installed for daily use (on a production machine).
- Like this2 people like this comment
- oops dude that might be virus cause viruses only affect Windows
- Like this
- Try running it on virtualbox. That worked for me.
- Like this
- @shellcodes@coder
You may want to read this.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/25/apple-mac-defender-malware_n_866637.html - Like this
- @shellcodes_coder:
Hey, I was wondering as a fellow Mac user if there are any apps to block comments from trolls like you from appearing on my screen, or would help to avoid having your posts embarass Mac users as a whole.
Can you help me out? I'm on a Macbook Pro with Snow Leopard. Show me the app in the Apple Apps Store that blocks *you*. I'll gladly pay $20 or more for it. - Like this
- I've been using it since last night. It's very new and slick. But you want to spend five minutes to read and learn the basics naviation method around the start screen if you want to be efficient. Encountered some obvious bugs here and there but no big crash so far. Boot time on my i3 laptop is very fast. Overall I like it a lot so far. If they can get a half decent battery life on tablets, I can see W8 eventually taking over the market.
- Like thisReply to this comment4 people like this comment
-
- i like to hear this.. with xbox across all platforms.. and metro interface to help tie it all together is nothing but great news.. crapple can go back into the hole they climbed out from.. if this damn iso would burn faster i would start my install :)
- Like this1 person likes this comment
- purefiregt: I agree with your comments, except for the anti-apple ones. I'm a happy Windows user, but this current tablet market was galvinized by Apple. Microsoft -- and others, including HP/Compaq -- tried to sell tablets and failed. This is despite what I thought at the time were pretty decent ideas. Without apple, people would not be using tablets. Period.
Most recently, see the 2006 effort by Microsoft: Origami. Did not take off.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/umpc/default.mspx - Like this
- Why would I want to read instructions or watch tutorials? I want to be able to jump right into a product and start complaining about how much it sucks without actually having used it.
I'm a Mac user and this is how we were trained to behave. It's our right.
Okay, okay, so SOME of us have a clue and actually read instructions, but then I was never a 'normal' Mac user either. Apple doesn't like it when you go to the Genius bar and have to spend more time telling them why the procedure they just recommended would result in total loss of the data and void the Apple warranty than to get the answer I actually needed. - Like this
- so far only 2 Apple fanboys! whaaaat? I was expecting an army bashing MS since thats the only thing they LOVE to do, seems like they have no life!
- Like thisReply to this comment9 people like this comment
-
- But what they lack in numbers they make up for in ignorance :)
- Like this2 people like this comment
- Yet the sheer number of Microsoft Windows users who live in ignorance is astonishing, isn't it?
Then again, ignorance is bliss.
Enjoy it. - Like this3 people like this comment
- Still to easily to Corrupt this Dll MFC42u.dll
- Like thisReply to this comment
- Though I hate Microsoft, until now Microsoft products have always been prominent on my computers.
But
I hate tiles. They look horrible to me. I want whatever picture/wallpaper that I have picked for my screen, to dominate my screen. What I do not want are a bunch of sickly green and baby poop yellow squares covering up my beautiful wallpaper. Also, with the old icons I can have many dozen (many, many dozen) on the screen and still not obscure the wallpaper. How many tiles are on the screen (or how few tiles can be on the screen) before the wallpaper is pointless?
What I want in a new screen, more varied control and easer manipulation or modification of icon images and a screen that from time to time does not keep moving around the icons on me. Also, like with my Droid, I would like to have some active icons. But never tiles that quickly eat up all the available space.
I will never purchase a phone that comes with tiles and if my next computer comes with tiles, I will pay extra to install an OS without tiles. - Like thisReply to this comment1 person likes this comment
-
- they will only realize and fix it after it goes to sell and will be a big flop just like Vista and Me was. The new UI really sucks
- Like this2 people like this comment
- @jdlies
feel free to use DOS. no icons, no images, no tiles. I'm pretty sure it will work for you. :P - Like this5 people like this comment
- I agree. I hate the new tiles. I downloaded one app to see where it puts the icon. Way over to the right. Awesome the new start menu is now dominated by tiles that I won't ever use. This may work great for touch screens, but for a mouse, it is annoying as hell. Trying to find out how to get to the control panel using UI.. Before (win 7 vs win 8)
Windows 7 - Click Start Button - Click Control Panel (2 clicks)
Windows 8 - Mouse over start menu - Settings - Nope this is not it... Not sure what this is
Windows 8 - Click Start Button - Click Control Panel (2 clicks) But what is all this crap? Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page - More Settings.. Ahh There we go. (3 clicks + a long scroll).. Awesome.
Not sure who's great idea it was to have tiles, but I can't easily see how to organize them either. I can drag them around, great. I clicked un-pin, but now I have to go to explorer and try and find it.. Ugg.. Enough ranting.. Going to stick w/ windows 7.. - Like this1 person likes this comment
- You don't have to use the tiles in any way if you don't want to. That part is geared more towards tablets and touch screens.
- Like this
- @williedillon How do I disable Tile view? I don't want to use it to launch apps.
- Like this
- Wow! It is amazing how different we can be in our preferences. I got used to the tiles on my Windows Phone 7 and quite like them. But I would never try to use them on a vertical, touchscreen monitor. That would make your arms hurt.
- Like this
- I wonder if the touch interface is built with graphics tablets in mind, and not just finger touch.
- Like thisReply to this comment
- For all apple fan-boys and MS bashers last time i heard OS had 5 % market share and really expensive hardware as compared to windows.I dont get it if u hate MS so much then stop reading such articles and go to apple forum or something duh.....
I think i will wait till beta is out and then test it on VM....windows 8 looks great - Like thisReply to this comment
-
- 5% of which market share? Expensive hardware?
What publication did you dig that nugget of data out of, a 1998 issue of Popular Mechanics that was in your outhouse?
Please, do some research before you parrot silly statements over and over again. - Like this
- 5% of which market share? Expensive hardware?
- It would really be nice if the download would actually finish so I could see whether Win8 was interesting.
Tried the d/l 5 times last night, and it kept dying at around 25% every time... guess I'll wait for the dust to settle and try again later. - Like thisReply to this comment
- If Microsoft would pay me, I'd be glad to download and test Win8 for them.
But if you want to donate your free time to MS, go for it. - Like thisReply to this comment
-
- Funny thing. In the Apple world many non-developers/noobs/geeks pay for ADC membership to get hands on latest betas :D
- Like this1 person likes this comment
- It's not about users donating free time -- it's about developers getting a look at the OS so they can build for it. This is not a beta test.
- Like this1 person likes this comment
- @cary1 market share doesn't matter at all linux and bsd are more advanced than both windows and os x.. those have a much smaller market share than either one of those
- Like thisReply to this comment1 person likes this comment
-
- OS X = BSD + match
- Like this
- agree with u
- Like this
- For Windows 8 Developer Preview & Windows Server Developer Preview on VirtualBox follow below Guides,
http://www.mytricks.in/2011/09/guide-installing-windows-server.html
http://www.mytricks.in/2011/09/guide-install-windows-8-developer.html - Like thisReply to this comment
- I'm excited about W8 and want to install it using Parallels on my MBP that's running Lion (please hold the sarcastic remarks - I don't like Lion much either.) Could someone please be honest and tell me if this will run with a VM? Thanks.
- Like thisReply to this comment1 person likes this comment
-
- I installed it with parallels 6, with 64gb of space and 2 gb of ram. it works fine.
- Like this
- If M$ can make their Windows 8 phone work the way I would like it to work with my new Ford Escape - I'll buy it.
I have an android (HTC) and there are times that it messes up making a call when I use the Voice Synch feature and it does not work with my folders holding my music. If M$ can make it a better experience using the Synch feature they made for Ford cars - I'm sold. - Like thisReply to this comment
- Windows 8 Metro crayon UI is bad, just a waste of electrons.
- Like thisReply to this comment2 people like this comment
- As a Mac user this is a refreshing change for MS. Finally an interface that does not look like a "me too" version of something Apple has released. The metro UI and Tiles actually beckons to be tried and looks (gasp) fun!
I am not sure why it takes MS so long to realize this potential when they have so many bright people working there. Any way i digress, the whole ide of moving to the metro UI means they may be able to gain some traction with Win Mo 7 based on consistent user interface.
However to me there are some growing pains with this potential growth. I agree with those that feel a One OS fits all approach is perhaps a mistake. I am not certain that switching between Metro and desktop modes will be productive or not. In many ways it may simply seem like a skin or disguise for what was Windows all along. So the question is are we all doomed to be trapped by legacy?
I think to be fair MS has too much at stake to simply make a cold turkey move. Had Win Mo 7 taken off at launch perhaps they would have based the tablet OS on that?
However I still feel that despite the feather in the MS cap Steve jobs may be right and PC's may definitely continue to grow into the "trucks" of the computing world.
Ask yourself what defines what "most users" need in a PC? Interestingly enough the joke of a big iPod touch holds true to what minimum hardware will fit the needs of most basic consumer users. Not in the literal sense but in todays world do the users who simply need a "car" and not a "truck" need a does everything whether you need it or not OS as powerful as Windows 8?
So the question is how scalable is Win 8 and would it have been smarter to focus on a more "made for mobile" os? To me herein lies the rub. Will windows 8's interface work intuitively and as well in tablet mode with full apps? And do tablet customers need full apps?
In my experience dealing with consumers people who drive cars buy cars. Some few will buy truck because they can do what a car does but its not usually the case nor is it the same experience.
Most here want trucks and get lots of use out of them. If a Full no limits PC experience warts and all is what you love then look no further.
I applaud MS once again for what looks like a long awaited leap into their future. At the very least Win 8 seems flexible enough to fill any gaps and move in any direction the market may go.
My only criticism is the apparent identity crisis within Win 8 and MS. Apple may certainly not be all things to all people but Apple knows who they are..no question. Does Microsoft? - Like thisReply to this comment1 person likes this comment
- Installed 8 on Exo PC tablet. Boot speed it amazing! I like the metro interface, I also like the classic desktop when you need it. Seems like a great strategy.
- Like thisReply to this comment1 person likes this comment
- I like it
- Like thisReply to this comment
- Flicking through the slideshow I noticed that you can have the new interface on one monitor and the old taskbar/desktop on another. That sounds fantastic, you can get all your email/calendar/feeds updates on one screen and do work on the other.
I just can't believe there are still people complaining about how horrible the new UI is when the old one still exists and can be switched to if desired. Read the article people! - Like thisReply to this comment
- ADD A COMMENT
-
- The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. Click here to review our Terms of Use
- Recently Viewed Products
- My Lists
- My software updates
- log in | join CNET
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-20105965-75/windows-8-developer-preview-come-and-get-it/#ixzz1Y0wwDvJR
