Windows 8 Preview Available For Download

Question

Anyone gonna take the plunge?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

Answer 1

OK, there are a couple things I've found that I like better about Windows 8.
For one the new Task Manager is FAR superior to the old.  I even like it better than Process Explorer.  For me, this is a very useful new addition.
Besides startup times, things in general seem to be faster in Windows 8.  Programs start faster.  The whole UI seems snappier.  Mind you this is purely a subjective analysis based on years of doing the same exact things under Windows 7.  No actual speed tests have been run.
The slightly redesigned Windows Explorer has some nice new features, like the Ribbon (which by default is hidden unless you manually call it up).
Whenever a new program is installed and you open a file it can handle, such as installing a new media player and opening up a video, Windows will give you a pop up telling you you have a new program to open that file with, and it gives you the option to switch to the new program, any other program that can handle that file, or keep using the current program to open that file.  This only happens once.
There are some very nice reboot options that you could normally only access (or try to, if you're quick enough) during the actual reboot.  Now you can tell Windows to boot to the BIOS even before you shut down.  No more rebooting 3 times in a row because you keep missing the opportunity to hit Delete at the right time.
From the desktop or the Start screen, hitting Windows+Q will call up a full list installed apps, kind of like your own personal app store.  This is actually much easier to deal with than the old Start Menu access to programs.
When transferring files, you get a speed graph that shows you the ongoing performance of the transfer speeds.
And that window stays expanded, even across new copies or moves, until you close it with the Fewer Details button.  One thing I found annoying about Windows 7 is that each new file transfer started with the window collapsed and I had to manually hit More Details every singe time.  Now it just stays open, the way I prefer it.