Posted on 06/28/2010 7:13:38 PM PDT by dayglored
Microsoft's successor to Windows 7 is taking shape - and that shape looks suspiciously like an iPad supplementing a diet of media with online services.
A set of Microsoft slides, apparently leaked online here and expanded here, have mapped out the company's design and feature goals for Windows 8.
Among those goals: Windows 8 works on a slate form factor in addition to the regular laptop and "all-in-one" PC,...
Among the other goals for Windows 8 are a "reset button" for use if - or more likely when - your PC begins to mysteriously slow down and performance begins to drag like a dog. Windows 8 will let you reset and retain your data...
In trying to differentiate Windows 8 from Apple, Microsoft said it plans to stress features for partners such as Windows 8's customization and the different form factors.
There are some interesting aspects to Windows 8, if the slides are genuine. Facial recognition being the biggest. This would suggest some overlap with software used in Project Natal - just don't let your cat or anything else with a face near the screen when you're trying to log on...
(Excerpt) Read more at theregister.co.uk ...
Cheers!
ROFL!
Oh, and I’m self-employed. I direct-bill all these companies myself, I don’t go through a contract agency (I set my own company up with each - a requirement if I’m going to work for someone). A gun-for-hire, so to speak, work for the highest bidder.
See comment #55.
Sounds pretty good. I was an independent contractor doing computer system design (hardware, software, and application programming) from about 1987 through about 1994, sandwiched in between industrial control and aerospace work in the 70's and 80's, and a lot of cutting-edge peripheral work in the 90's and 2000's. (Now I'm head of System Admin at an international software engineering firm; negligible engineering but I play with computers all day long.)
The independent contractor situation was a blast. I sort of envy you -- it's a crazy but rewarding life.
Why, you bucking for an internship? I can put in a word, but I’m not sure you’re qualified...
That’s essentially the same batch file I use. I have it set up to use a right-click on a folder — lists a context-sensitive folder action which runs the file. Thanks.
That it is. I started in SONAR systems design (Mk 48 and Mk 50 torpedo guidance engines, I did a lot of array optimization as well as improved beamforming algorithms), moved into research SONAR system design, then got lazy and moved into audio...;) Been doing it for 13 years now, split my time between Shanghai and Seattle.
Interesting world to be in; one week you’re talking with VPs and CxOs of multi-nationals, the next you’re consulting with an international band on what their touring rig should do. And design a few dance club systems in-between! Audio transcends all people, around the world.
Very cool life, wow. Yes, audio (music in particular) is a great integrator.
I'm also a musician, semi-pro (meaning I get paid decent money for playing and recording, but it's my avocation, not my primary profession). I'm in a local rock band that plays a few times a month, and in addition to playing guitar and singing (backup), I run the 24-channel soundboard from the stage.
Being able to blend music and electronics is heaven. even if it does sometimes feel like I'm a one-armed paperhanger with a ringing cellphone in my pants pocket!
SONAR is cool stuff. I consulted for a year for a bioacoustics researcher doing whale soundings with hydrophones; that's about the closest I've come to that area. Fascinating area.
Something I want to see from a Win slate is a move away from the computer-as-parasite model that Apple’s pushing. I love my Macs (and run four different OSes on pretty much a daily basis on my various machines—I’m no zealot.) But, I hate the closed-box model of the iPad and iPhone. A full-up filesystem-based commercial OS on popular, competitive slate would be a good thing for everyone.
Musician, eh? If you ever get to listen to a pair of Event Opals (Studio Monitor of the Decade - Sound on Sound magazine) you get to listen to my work...;) They’ve won about every award possible, in just 18 months.
In what way are those attacks on Windows' users, or even comments from trolls, driftdiver?
I'll agree, but I'll bet it doesn't happen. The general purpose computer is already relegated to engineering development and computer techs. The average person, home or office worker, just wants a stable application platform, and they couldn't care less, really, whether it's Windows, OS-X, Linux, or LCF (laminated chicken fat).
An open system is a great thing, but I would guess most potential slate customers don't understand what one is, and most of the rest don't much care.
Techies do, of course, and debate the pros/cons constantly. But we're the vast minority of users.
So we'll see. Like I said, I'd like to see it too. I'm just not holding my breath.
I agree... I like Windows7. I have it installed on my iMac. I have some complaints and concerns about the illogical placements of some aspects of Windows7, but security-wise it is solid. I'm running it without A/V. Of course, I don't allow it on the Internet much. They borrowed a lot from OSX... to the betterment of Windows.
I'll answer, Sword. The two comments in question were both negative, and both made reference to Windows problems that have been satisfactorily addressed in Windows 7. This thread is about Windows 8, which will presumably be an improvement on 7.
So they were unnecessary, in the same way that complaints about Mac OS 9.22 would be irrelevant in any discussion of OS-X.
I think they were suitably deflected, and the thread moved on.
I'd be curious to know what you think they borrowed.
Heh, yep, I'm running it on my Intel MacMini (BootCamp). Runs great. I've got Avast A/V on it, and it gets a fair amount of 'net time. I've got a Win7 VMware VM on my MacBook (under Fusion) but that's primarily for running a few Win apps that don't yet have OS-X equivs.
> I have some complaints and concerns about the illogical placements of some aspects of Windows7, but security-wise it is solid.
What would Windows be without some irrational dialogs? :)
> I'm running it without A/V. Of course, I don't allow it on the Internet much.
I tried AVG, ripped it out, too abusive of CPU; Avast is pretty good. I agree that Win7 can be run pretty safely without A/V if one is careful. However, I've run Windows for two decades... and running it in the modern internet without A/V just feels so.... so.... naked...
> They borrowed a lot from OSX... to the betterment of Windows.
Yes they did. Ah well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
My daughter, who grew up with Windows, became a confirmed Mac-head around 2007, and remained so until she had to work with Win7 for a few weeks. She found it quite usable, and has commented positively on it. I doubt she'll stop preferring the Mac, but it's good she's becoming ambidextrous again.
Try Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free, it's incredibly lightweight in terms of memory and CPU (just checked - 2.4 MB for the process, and 0.0% CPU), and seamless to install and run.
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