Windows 8 hits RTM status

Since Windows 7, Microsoft has found themselves in the uncomfortable position between a downmarket competitor (Android) with which they can't be price-competitive, and a high-end, aspirational consumer brand (Apple) with non price-sensitive customers.<p>Among all this, the teams who worked on this product (including several close friends) really busted ass to get it right. I think this will be the best version of Windows ever, and might be the first operating system that gets a touch/keyboard+mouse hybrid UI right.

I've tried both public releases and I have to say that I really don't care for Windows 8. The user interface is so schizophrenic that it's not funny.<p>Sometimes I wonder if MS would have been better served offering two version: one with the new metro UI and one without.

Exciting times.<p>My predictions: Developers download it on August 15th and we'll see many reviews like we've seen about the RP. Some will hate it, some will love it. The fact that it's going to be much less buggy than RP will help a lot.<p>Then on October 26th, all of the new touch devices will launch. At that point, we'll actually see why they focused on a touch interface, and things will make more sense. Some reviewers should install this on a touchscreen device and give it a proper review before that date though, it'd be nice to get some insight.

i really dont understand why metro apps run full screen on desktop pc. i have a 30" 2560x1600 monitor and metro apps seem ridiculous. i have 4 million pixels but i cannot see three metro apps together. what a silly idea.

I am actually excited with the potential of W8/Surface, a tablet can do real work is a win for me. I like the vision of the original TabletPC, but they failed to execute it. Seems they are getting it right this time based on playing with preview.

I think the hate is a bit reactionary and the popular argument to take because well it's the Internet and seemingly hates change.<p>The Metro layer is the most useful Start Menu yet and the Explorer / Desktop ui is there as usual, faster than ever. It certainly is a presentation change when you first load it up but I predict that most people will get the hang of it pretty quickly. I did. I don't feel much of a disconnect honestly. It's just a bit different but not in a bad way overall.<p>It's a OS ready for new / touch devices yet to come and will probably run apps from 1990 if you really need it. Windows 7 was the perfection of Windows 95 and this feels like the progress that comes after that.

This is going to be a marmite OS for sure.<p>Microsoft has weathered that storm with Windows 95, though, so they should really tart up the marketing with licensed songs and sitcom actresses. Just really hammer home that this is what the future of the PC is going to be, and hey, Penny from <i>The Big Bang Theory</i> is a PC and loves her some Windows 8. Then once we've all gotten into the groove with Surfaces and touch screen media centers from HP, the criticisms will quiet down some.

The way I see it, the success of Windows 8 is pinned on the success of the tablets and phones. If they're really great products, at the right price, people will want more of the same on their desktop. I don't see this as a straight desktop refresh.

I don't want to put it badly, but I feel like microsoft is really fumbling this by putting 2 months between the software going into circulation and the hardware it's been designed for launching. I'm about in the market for a new laptop or possibly a surface pro, but I have the feeling this is going to leave a bad taste in people's mouthes as Win8 on nontouch hardware isn't anything special, at least what I've seen with the DP.

I've been using Windows 8 for months, and while I've initially had the same reaction about that bloody schizophrenic UI, it's not hard to configure everything to look and feel almost exactly like Windows 7.<p>What actual users will say about the new WinRT/WinDesktop model is beyond me. I imagine that the Windows Store will quickly fill with plenty of useful apps, so that the pain of living exclusively in WinRT will lessen somewhat.

I was shocked for a second, I thought it said "Windows 8 hits RTFM status"!

What about Visual Studio? RTM as well?