We go hands on with the Windows Blue leaks!
With several leaked builds for Windows Blue hitting the web in rapid succession, it seems as though Microsoft is as leaky as a sieve these days. A leak for build 9364 made its way to the internet last March, and two more leaked builds (9369 & 9374) have hit the Internet in the weeks since. Considering Windows 8 is just five months old, there are still a lot of questions as to whether Windows 8.1 or 'Windows Blue' is going to be a free Service Pack, a standalone OS release, or the first in a line of subscription OS models, but we can at least take a look at how the builds themselves run.
So, what's in this leaked build of Windows Blue, and is it worth all the buzz surrounding it? We'll take a quick hands-on look at some of the features and changes we've noticed and we'll also give you a quick a roundup of some of the buzz and reporting that's hitting the web.
First Impressions
So, here's how 8.1 looks, with a Start Screen and Desktop view that don't seem radically different from what we've got in Windows 8. But the similarities hide some very interesting tweaks to the interface designed to make things easier for users, regardless of whether you're using the traditional mouse and keyboard or a newfangled touch interface.



2) Boot Screen Choice A: Touch screen device, Choice B: Standard Device
3) Boot Into desired desktop mode and remember thereafter unless you change setting to take effect on next reboot.
4) The end
Is it really that hard to figure out MS?
We'll see.
2) Boot Screen Choice A: Touch screen device, Choice B: Standard Device
3) Boot Into desired desktop mode and remember thereafter unless you change setting to take effect on next reboot.
4) The end
Is it really that hard to figure out MS?
But it's annoying that MS is pushing touchscreens on laptops... Which would you rather have a decent IPS panel or a rather useless touchscreen...
The restricted boot crap is just "vendor lockin" by another name.
Never mind the fact that Windows 8 looks like a "worst of both worlds" compromise between a mobile OS and a desktop OS!!
doggrell3000
new york ny
you can actually have 'windows explorer menu' if you enable desktop shortcut on the taskbar.
Right-click on the taskbar. Toolbars > Desktop (tick)
Then you can re-arrange the position to the most left to replicate Start Menu.
Tapping?! Fo' real?! How do I tap it, with mouse or keyboard?
And add to it no boot from ReFS drives, no Start menu, calculator getting now some functionality that was present in earlier editions...
I don't think that one can think of worse things to say about Win8 than naming new features of Win8 Blue is. I can imagine MS engineers in their labs going around saying things like "I used to be IT expert like you, but then I took a tablet to the knee".
I wonder if the Metro File Explorer will support file paths longer than 255 characters in lenght, and if the Windows Explorer will support it as well?
I know the Windows 8 Explorer does not, so I have to use Total Commander to manipulate files in deeply nested folders. Come on, support 255+ character paths already.
This makes me wonder if you have even used 8 at all. this is the Metro app calculator. The normal calculator still includes this functionality.
The Start Menu is a bit over rated. I only used it in 7 to get to Control Panel or search for a file.
ReFS is new and while it may have advantages, still needs to be tested before it goes out into the wild and people start complaining cause it has issues.
No start button - NO I DO NOT WANT 3rd PARTY SOFTWARE FOR THAT.
FUCKED UP INTERFACE DESIGN
NO STYLE AT ALL!
TRUST ME, we could all "design" that interface in Microsoft Paint right on Windows 98.
This is a disaster, but Windows 7 will be here until 2020. Then, there will be a mass of people migrating to other operating systems. Microshit is a joke together with Steve Ballshit.
Until we don't get a SERIOUS operating system, we're surely be reluctant to Paint-made so-called "Operating Systems". I don't give a shit about the tweaks under the hood.
They say : " Windows 8 works perfectly fine."
Well, I say: "Windows 7 works perfectly fine AND it all looks A TON BETTER".
Who the hell would want to downgrade to Windows h8, then?
I deal with a lot of computers and I ALWAYS recommend 7 over h8. I do my best to prevent people from having such dumb headaches with Windows h8.
Serious people use serious operating systems, not Ballshit jokes.
Once Microshit drops supports for Windows 7, we'll have to look for other operating systems.
Maybe a touchscreen display would change the experience a bit, but the INTERFACE couldn't look any more AWFUL! AWFUL! AWFUL!
(yes, I am (actually used to be, given how many shitty products they make now) a Microsoft fan)