What to expect from Windows Store and Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Posted by msft777jf on February 28, 2012 11:05 am 8

Hey guys! I just wanted to remind anybody (in case they forgot) that tomorrow is the launch of the Windows Store and the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

While many of us have heard and yearn for the Windows CP, the greatest story is the Windows Store. As I reported earlier, all of the Windows CP pre-installed apps were leaked. Among some surprises are Angry Birds and Full House Poker.

So, when you download your copy of Windows 8 Consumer Preview (aka Beta), you will be able to launch the Windows Store. Developers have been working on exciting apps since BUILD, so the app possibilities are endless.

Now for the techie stuff.

We all know that the CP is a far cry from the Developer Preview. I suggest that if you can't install the CP natively, you should run in VirtualBox or other such solutions. As I think about tomorrow, and how I am going to install the Consumer Preview, I am hoping for the following changes/improvements:

•1. Get rid of those Bugs-

A clean and smooth computing experience is what I expect from the Consumer Preview- that means no delays, no bugs ( minor I understand), and no weird surprises. At this point, the OS should be up to snuff for regular use. I know Redmond is capable of this so it's not a tall order.

•2. Don't take the stuff we like- One my favorite features was the mouse-over functionality that brought up a system clock, the date, and battery info. I love that feature. I expect the Consumer Preview to not disappoint in this regard. Keep the things we love. Get rid of the chrome and grime.

•3. Personalization, colors, choices-

A lot of options for personalization are a big feature I foresee in Windows 8. As a consumer product, Microsoft cannot disappoint with what people love doing. Customizing tiles, setting up picture passwords, and choosing Start screen colors and other nifty things.

Of course there are going to some surprises. The Windows start button is gone. That leaked a long time ago. However, I want these changes to the type of changes that one could logically reason and say, "Oh, Microsoft removed that feature because...." Non-sensical removals are very irritating. For instance, if they were to remove the taskbar, well, needless to say it would be a disaster.

Name changes are perhpas the greatest change we'll see in the CP. Specifically in the Control Panel( which itself was renamed PC settings). Microsoft is targeting a consumer audience, and names like "Windows Device Manager' are not really going to cut it.

Another thing I highly expect is less runtime processes and memory ( especially on virualiation). After all, the bugs are supposed to be removed... I understand that.... but I expect Redmond to go greater than that and optimize Windows 8, fine tune it and really polish its technical guts.

Microsoft finished the code Friday last week. The deal is done. We have to wait until Wednesday( tomorrow!!!!) in order to feast our eyes on the OS and rejoice at the hundreds of apps in the Windows Store.