Windows 8 Metro Interface Disabler

[Kuron]

It didn't take long for a Windows 8 tool to appear. This is a handy Windows 8 tweaker for those using the developer preview. This allows you to easily disable and enable the Metro UI. This was just released today and it is free.

http://www.superutils.com/products/win- ... -switcher/

It might be useful for some folks.

[IdeasVacuum]

....an irony.

[MachineCode]

I honestly can't believe this is the default desktop for Windows 8! And Microsoft seriously believe this is the "future" of Windows and looks better than MacOS? Holy cow, they've lost the plot! I can honestly say that I've never seriously considered ditching Windows for MacOS or Linux before, but man, this could be the catalyst!

[Kuron]

but man, this could be the catalyst!

It was for me.

[naw]

:-\ - I wouldn't touch it with yours...
(as Brian Blessed would say)

[Zach]

I am just shooting in the dark but I will express a few opinions/points.


That looks like it is likely the Metro UI, which is for tablets not desktops. Am I wrong?

This is a developer preview. I very much doubt anything is set in stone.

That being said, I have teetered on Linux for a long, long time. Once in a while I try out a distro but I just can't do anything without my windows apps..

I've got Scribus to replace Adobe Indesign (although the lack of PDF profiles/options is annoying).. Hoping The Gimp works out to be a Photoshop replacement now that they are finally adopting a single window interface option.. Emulators / Dosbox are relatively easy to get on Linux, not a bad thing..

Not too impressed with OpenOffice/KOffice etc though.. Have not found an alternative to Visio that I like, and can actually use in a sensible manner..

PB can be done on Linux which is a nice plus, but I'd still have to keep Windows around for Games, and developing Windows apps/games..
Not sure how good my sound card and/or GPU support will be in Linux either.. Not very impressed with open source Media management apps either (I really like J. River Media Center more than anything I've tried.. foobar, a couple other popular ones, etc)


As the years tick by, it does whittle down the issues that keep my from switching to Linux fully.. But maybe before I die it will actually happen

[MachineCode]

That looks like it is likely the Metro UI, which is for tablets not desktops. Am I wrong?

Yes, you are wrong. What you're looking at above is the new Windows desktop for PCs.
According to Microsoft, it's a "natural evolution" for Windows for desktop PCs. OMG.
Read more -> http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-20115 ... tart-menu/

[Kuron]

That looks like it is likely the Metro UI, which is for tablets not desktops. Am I wrong?

As it stands now, the Metro UI is the default on tablets or desktops. You can choose to disable the Metro UI. Since it is the default, this is what your average home user will be using as they do not change or tweak systems.

This is a developer preview. I very much doubt anything is set in stone.

Unlike the public betas and RCs, the developer preview is provided so developers can get their products working with Windows 8 so they will problem-free when Windows 8 is released. Other than bug-fixes and performance enhancements, very little ever changes from a developer preview. Other than some superfluous missing features, Microsoft has implied "this is it".

Of course the "this is it" sucks Rosie O'Donnell sized ass. We have lost the default desktop that has been here (in various forms) since Windows 95. They have ditched the desktop for a borderless version of the program manager last seen in Windows 3.11. The only difference is now the icons are bigger and can have active content which can only be programmed for using languages originally intended for web design.

but I'd still have to keep Windows around for Games, and developing Windows apps/games..

I know several people who make a living developing software for Windows who develop solely on Linux and use Wine to run all of their development software.

[Zach]

I've never been terribly impressed with wine.. Although I would love to use Cedega for games, but I think that costs money and still may not work with everything.


For developing Apps, I would probably opt either for a multi-boot, or Virtualized OS

[Kuron]

I've never been terribly impressed with wine.. Although I would love to use Cedega for games, but I think that costs money and still may not work with everything.

So, you don't like Wine, but would love to use a commercial fork of Wine? Um, okay.

[Zach]

And why do you think that is?

I don't have a problem paying for useful for software - if it works and has active constant development behind it. Did you catch the irony of your question, which you posted on a closed-source, commercial application's Forum?

This is another failing of the FOSS movement. On the surface the glossy idea of, "people will love it and want to help contribute and maintain it" but that begs the question... Aside from some statistical outliers, WHERE do all the really talented coders go?

Where they can make a living. So yes, in this case, based on CEDEGA's track record I am going to go with a product that has a commercial entity backing it, and actively developing it.
Maybe things have changes over the past few years, but CEDEGA is lightyears ahead of WINE when it comes to supporting major gaming titles and other applications.

WINE has always lagged behind, like most FOSS software, because while the people working on those projects may be dedicated, they don't have all the time and money in the world to spend developing them.

My own site is a perfect example.. If I could actually make money off it, and have a small staff, I would do it for a living, for as long as I could.

I honestly don't get the whole anti-commerical software theory.. Everything about Linux/FOSS seems to fly in the face of their own agendas when it comes to free software, that is useful to 90%+ of the people who will use it, and can compete against commercial software. Linux as a platform has only had marked success in the Enterprise Server market, because it was purposed for a specific task and did it well.

But the end-user home market is a completely different arena, and year after year, I see rabid FOSS/Linux fanatics still don't get it. It's always the same MS/Windows bashing, "Linux FOSS us superior" comments (I'm generalizing a bit, but lets face it that is a large part of the public elitist face Linux has a difficult time keeping under control). If the solutions were so superior, why isn't everyone using Linux/FOSS and why aren't Microsoft / commercial application sales dropping like bricks?

Because the public has yet to believe the superiority argument, and refuses to validate it. Based on their own experiences.


Linux is a good thing, FOSS is a GOOD thing. There is no disputing the merit of the ideas. But the practicalities of implementation are all too apparent to people like me, who are far more discerning of the tools they choose to use, based on the end-user experience.


I'm sorry if that is not the answer you were expecting, but it is in my opinion, the cold hard truth. If WINE did more than CEDEGA and did it better; of course I would use it.

[Kuron]

You are arguing the free software nonsense on your own. I just find it odd for somebody to express a dislike for Wine in one sentence then follow it up with a sentence expressing they like what is a commercial fork of Wine. Very hard for Constant Reader to follow the reasoning of statements like that, unless you explain it.

and why aren't Microsoft / commercial application sales dropping like bricks?

They are, that is why MS is now the #3 tech company instead of the #1 tech company. The puzzling issue is how did IBM get to be number 2?

[Zach]

I thought I had made it pretty clear in my original statement that I felt CEDEGA offered better support in the number and type of working software, versus WINE..

However that being the case, I am still second guessing the idea of moving to Linux completely, in part because I'm actively perusing the web to find out if CEDEGA has been abandoned or not.. What I have read so far is not good news..

Transgaming doesn't even appear to mention CEDEGA on their site anymore, now its all about Cider - same deal but for Mac instead of Linux. I know CEDEGA caused great controversy and I wonder if they finally got sick of the badgering and (IMHO) undue hating/criticism about being commercial, and simply decided to abandon Linux as a result.


edit: There is however CrossOver, by Codeweavers... and a couple other things I've never heard of, I will have to look into them (PlayonLinux?)

[Kuron]

I didn't have good luck with CEDEGA, when I tried it, but that was many years ago.

I am still second guessing the idea of moving to Linux completely,

I literally have no choice in the matter.

[Zach]

Well, this is interesting..

http://gametreelinux.com/

I'm currently looking at options for putting Kubuntu onto my 8GB flash drive (there is a guide for configuration GRUB and all that) or possibly installing to a partition and not wiping out the MBR on the Windows drive.. Apparently you can do some kung-fu that will recompile a boot image file, and then you can add Linux to the Windows Boot loader by linking to the .BIN file in Boot.INI

Interesting stuff..