So You Want to Try Out Windows 8?
Microsoft gave out 5,000 Samsung tablets pre-loaded with an early version of Windows 8 during last year's Build conference.
Most of us were not so lucky as to grab one. We have to download the test software and load it ourselves. Redmond author Brien Posey just went through an install and laid out his findings for readers.
Posey's new tablet hadn't come in so he set Win 8 up on an HP All-in-One computer with touch screen.
Posey first set the new OS up in a VM and tooled around. While he was interested in Metro, he found this new interface can't yet do everything, and sometimes he found himself starting at a Win 7 style screen. Otherwise, the thing ran pretty darn well.
Next Posey popped in a new drive and switched Win 8 on. He really wanted to try the touch screen, and after a couple fits and starts, convinced Windows 8 to find the driver on its very own!
Loading the OS on a tablet isn't as easy. You go to MSDN, download the files, drop them on a DVD disc, transfer to a thumb drive  and then load on the device. From what I've heard, this is well worth it.
Have you tried Windows 8? If so, send your impressions to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/13/2012 at 1:19 PM