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Topic: Software

Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

Summary: Microsoft has begun given us the first official 'sneak peek' at it's upcoming Windows 8 operating system, and what we're being shown is a Windows operating system like none we've seen before.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Microsoft has begun given us the first official 'sneak peek' at it's upcoming Windows 8 operating system, and what we're being shown is a Windows operating system like none we've seen before.

But questions remain around one feature - support for legacy applications. Read the full post.

Here, the tiled interface is better suited to touch.

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Topics: Software, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Windows

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12 comments
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  • RE: Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

    I think it looks pretty cool, just need to wait and see how it works on my current mouse and keyboard desktop xD
    And also how Steam Games can integrate with twitter apps and all that xP
    ozl@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

    I also think it looks pretty slick. I think it will work just fine with keyboard/mouse. These tiles are really just "super icons" that display real-time info and/or program data. If you want to start a program, just click it like you would any traditional icon. Swiping your mouse to the left or right will display more tiles. What is really cool is the fact that this interface also will work very well with Kinect type interaction. No mouse/keyboard or touchscreen required. You could just kick back at your desk and point or swipe at the screen if you want. Then when it was time to do some work grab the keyboard and mouse and work away. SolidWorks, Pro-E, Photoshop, Visual Studio, whatever.
    rnWilis
    Reply Vote

  • Yea bouy

    Just what my asus all in one touch screen needs
    joedaddy715
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

    Hmm, back in the very early 90's I had a MS DOS 5 based program launcher that looked like this. It used the icons to launch the underlaying programs. Now I'm not saying that Windows 8 is DOS, just that the display and layout bring back old memories. I guess what goes around, comes around... again.
    StarManBob
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

    Basically a tiling window manager. Back to the future.
    txscott
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

    Was there any mention at all about pen support? A tablet device that I take to the boardroom for a meeting would need to definitely require both a capacitve touch screen and an active digitizer for a smooth and seamless experience. Also without having to transition to the traditional desktop environment. Can you say "Courier"...???
    ndrobins@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

    Microsoft should cut off legacy support to Win XP. That should free some space to make Win 8 faster and sleeker. The program would be more easily adapted to tablets and PC environment.
    cbrobert@...
    Reply Vote

    • Linux and OS X

      @cbrobert@...
      They should but they won't. It's time to move on. There's Linux and OS X, so why use Windows that's still stuck in the 90s
      shellcodes_coder
      Reply Vote

      • XP = Windows that's still stuck in the 90s

        @shellcodes_coder Isn't that (one of) the reasons people still cling to XP? For better compatibility with legacy applications?
        statuskwo5
        Reply Vote

  • Windows 8 = Vista

    Microsoft is cooking another Windows Vista. So they still won't drop that legacy crap, registry garbage. Seems like taskbar will remain as is, at least they could have copied dock from OS X and make it more usable.
    shellcodes_coder
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

      @shellcodes_coder Why don't they just buy Objectdock from Stardock and modify it?
      Randalllind
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Microsoft's unanswered Windows 8 challenge - Legacy applications (screenshots)

    we skipped Vista, we'll see about 8
    dcdavy
    Reply Vote
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