Arg. It’s like Windows 95 all over again. First, the new interface. Bleh. Then, the fact that you can’t boot to DOS. Bleh. Now, Windows 8 with it’s new interface (I kinda like it!) won’t allow you to boot to the Desktop. You have to start with the new Start Screen (can’t call it Metro anymore, either) and can’t work around it.

I am sure that a workaround will be released by someone. It’s just a matter of time. I’m not too surprised. It’s not really forcing it on you, as it’s not a required update. Don’t like it? Don’t buy it. Simple. Sure, Microsoft will lose a few customers to Mac (I’m sure 2 people will go to Linux!), but the majority will be happy with Windows 8 on a new PC.

One of those tweaks is the decision to block users from setting up their Windows 8 machines to boot straight to the Desktop, circumventing the tiled Start screen, formerly known as the Metro screen. (There’s still no external word as to how Microsoft is planning to rebrand "Metro." It seems the Softies are backing away from the Metro terminology due to pressure of some kind from Metro AG, one of its European retail partners.)

That was faster than I expected. The leaked ISO’s have been cracked, allowing users that downloaded and installed the illegal copy to activate Windows. The new crack bypasses the KMS servers, which allow a 180 days before it checks against a valid server again (which the crack can again be applied).

Although the leaked ISO is out there, I do not recommend getting it for an advanced copy. Sure, it may be a legit copy. But, there may also be some infected copies out there. Nothing like a fresh OS install with built in malware and root kits. That is completely aside from the legal and moral aspects.

Activation will allow you to customize your Start Screen and other various things that require activation before allowing you access to those features.

With developers wanting to get in early on the Metro and Windows 8 release to the public, this number is set to explode between August 15th and October 26th. August 15th is when RTM hits MSDN/Technet, and the date when paid apps are allowed to be submitted to the Windows Store for Windows 8. October 26th is when Windows 8 is finally released to the public.

Currently, 450 apps are in the Windows Store, which may not sound like a lot. But, it’s a great start for an OS that just hit RTM and hasn’t even opened submissions for paid apps.

I haven’t seen an official tally from Microsoft, but Jose Fajarado, a Silverlight and XAML developer who blogs at http://advertboy.wordpress.com, said at latest count he believes there to be about 450 or so Metro-style apps in the Store. (Metro-style apps are those developed from scratch using Microsoft’s WinRT programming interfaces. Nothing but Metro-style apps will work on ARM-based Windows RT devices; both Metro-style and Win32 apps will work on Windows 8 on Intel/AMD PCs and tablets.) The image embedded in this post is from a wall of icons of apps available in the Store that Fajarado is constantly updating.

Windows 8 hit RTM yesterday, and some folks are already getting their hands on it. Darren Baker has installed it on a Samsung Slate and took a lot of screenshots, including the new Metro tutorial after the install.

Then, about 5:30PM PST, I received an email: “Come to the Microsoft Campus, get Windows 8 RTM”. I arrived there just in time, and we made our USB keys. I was warned that it would take some time, as all the other Microsoft employees would also be trying to download RTM from the MS internal servers. I made 2 keys (you have to plan for redundancy) and proceeded to install it on my Samsung Build Slate.

Also released to manufacturing today is Windows Server 2012, with general availability on September 4th. Good news, and I can finally upgrade my Server 2008R2 machine to the great Server 2012!

On behalf of the Windows Server engineering team, I can tell you it has been a thrill and honor for us to deliver this product.  Most importantly, we thank the many thousands of you who have provided your input and guidance throughout the process of designing and building it.  So far the hands-on feedback on the product from you, industry analysts and press has been phenomenally positive.  I attribute that to the fact that, from the outset, we committed ourselves to building Windows Server 2012 around the needs and goals of our customers and partners.  It feels great to ship software that so squarely addresses customer objectives, both in the here and now and in the future.

Windows 8 has finally hit RTM (Release to Manufacturing). Hopefully within the next few weeks we’ll see it on Technet and MSDN and we can get some proper reviews from the final version of the new OS. General availability is coming October 26th and will be released on new PC’s and devices.

Today marks an important milestone in the Windows 8 project. The Windows 8 team is proud to share with you that a short while ago we started releasing Windows 8 to PC OEM and manufacturing partners. This means our next milestone will be the availability of exciting new models of PCs loaded with Windows 8 and online availability of Windows 8 on October 26, 2012.

The big news story yesterday with the Surface pricing was incorrect. Yes, the store put the prices on there, but they were set artificially high. No MSRP pricing has yet been announced by Microsoft, and the company claims that they would lower the cost when the final price was revealed and give those that preorder a refund of the difference.

Our customers are very interested in pre-ordering these products, so we have set a high preliminary pricing for the lineup so that they may be able to pre-order them.

Just to clarify, we have not recieved any pricing from Microsoft regarding MRSP or purchasing net cost, and any people who have booked the Surface at this high price will of course have their order adjusted before any product is shipped. So we’re not going to overcharge anyone for being an early adopter.

If these rumors and screenshot are accurate, Microsoft Surface will be a failure in the market place. $1000 for the entry level Windows RT version?! I am guessing (hoping) that these numbers are not accurate and are just pre-order prices that are inflated to gain some pre-sales in anticipation of a large demand. Similar to the way some game consoles can command 300% of their MSRP on launch due to availability and demand.

If, however, they are accurate – I’ll pass. I’m happy with an iPad. It does most of what I want, and carrying a Windows 8 powered laptop along side for REAL work isn’t that difficult. I’d like an all in one to do work and play, but not at prices above the usually criticized Apple prices. People complain that Apple is too high priced and the ‘Apple Tax’ is high, what are they going to say about this?

Again, I don’t think the prices are real MSRP, but overly inflated presale prices.

The ARM version will not have the flexibility of Pro when it comes to application compatibility so pricing is key. This version is designed to take the iPad head on, if it cannot compete on price from the get go then we have to ask, "What is the point?" WinRT will of course be on every PC sold from the end of this year but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact  that Microsoft is betting big on WinRT to finally get them into the tablet game. 

Many hate the new Start screen and Metro UI, while there are a few that actually like it. I’m in the middle. I don’t care for it much, but it isn’t anything that I can’t get used to. I am used to it after testing Windows 8 for a while. But, I still miss my Start menu. Start screen as a replacement isn’t as good for my use. That doesn’t mean that it is a failure or anything else – just in the way I use the Start menu, it isn’t as good. I can use the Start screen very well, as can my kids (11 and 13).

The quote in the article that got me is this – if using the Start menu is a three second affair, why replace it with something that makes it a 5 or 6 second affair (or more)? Sure, I can type what I’m looking for, but I have several programs that I know very little. Some are called one thing but listed as the company name first in the shortcut. Too many things to customize to make it work perfect, whereas the Start button required little to no customization and worked great out of the box.

I’ll use the Start screen, and I don’t mind it. It’s just a huge change, and many things don’t feel like they are finished. Desktop applications and the Metro UI along with the Metro UI Start screen are NOT seamless. Switching from 2 desktop applications side by side to a Metro application (which isn’t a dragable window) is a pain. Sometimes, I have multiple windows open, along with the task bar (for time and other info), and maybe a command prompt window. Maybe as a system admin, it isn’t the best solution. Perhaps there are work arounds. I just haven’t found an elegant solution with Windows 8 yet. Windows 7 has it down great… Maybe I’ll just use pure desktop applications and stay away from Metro applications (which there are some great ones, too).

The difference being Metro’s fullscreen, tiled presentation, which is admittedly a little jarring until you get used to it. Aesthetics aside (I think it’s ugly too), detractors insist Metro hinders multitasking because it blocks vision of the desktop — a sound argument until it’s confronted with reality. Again, we’re speaking about Metro strictly as a Start menu successor and I don’t know about you, but when I use the Start menu, it’s a three-second affair: I open the menu and I click a program.

When asked what the best smartphone ever is, Apple’s own Siri comes up with the answer: Windows Phone. Of course, when Apple got wind of what she was saying, they shut her up like a Mob Boss. Reminds me of Santa telling people where to go for better prices and products. But, without the concrete shoes, of course!