Win7 uses the same type of multitasking as always. Win8 does something differently, but it seems to 3 levels. As long as they get the three levels correct, I see no problem. And the current Slate 7 running Win7 can get up to 6 hours of battery life with moderate to high usage. Yes, the guy said 25% brightness, but he also said it's still really bright due to the screen. That's just as good or better than most laptops. This video has quelled my fears. So, I'm pretty much happy now. Hopefully, us, the consumers, can really put in feedback to make it even better. Remember this is a consumer preview to get feedback from us. This is not final. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13970_7-57386760-78/windows-8-beta-hands-on-with-microsofts-tablet-friendly-os/
IDK! If you're actually being serious than I can let you know after I read through the feedback rules/info. I mean if enough people request it, they might add it. Who knows? Pretty sure Apple will sue though.
@DistantJ Did you read the CBS article? It explains a lot abut the interface and the battery. It also seems like you can sync everything easily if you sign in using a Microsoft account instead of an OS account. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57387678-501465/early-look-at-microsoft-windows-8-beta/
I presume the standard Windows 8 UI can multitask the same way as Windows 7, or any Windows, can. Metro-wise, based on the link, you can switch between your last 6 apps used. I hope it'll be true multitasking instead of the current WP7 multitasking though, where the app only resumes from where you left off if you switch to it through the app switcher (if you open the app from the Metro UI it restarts the app). Battery-wise I would say 5-6 hours is not enough for a tablet (but like you said, better than laptops), although it should be longer when running Windows 8? In any case, as much as it is "built for Windows 8" I'd rather wait for actual Windows 8 hardware. The Lenovo Ideapad Yoga is currently my favourite as a tablet/laptop, but a Nokia tablet would be pretty tempting too.
Windows 7 and legacy apps will run like they do now. So, yes, those will have true multitasking. Windows 8 (metro apps) will have a cross between real and suspended (WP7) multitasking. It's like a middle ground. Here's the article: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/02/07/improving-power-efficiency-for-applications.aspx With consumer help, Microsoft can perfect this...hopefully! But, yeah, you can use both Win8 and Win7 apps at the same time. Win8 apps will do their multitasking style and Win7 apps will do their multitasking style. Yes, in theory, it should be much longer. The CBS article said that they were able to get through the day on 1 charge. there have been other reports of this as well. Yeah, i'm waiting too! Samsung will be releasing another Slate when Win8 comes out. And, the Lenovo Yoga looks awesome too. The only setback for me is that it doesn't have a digitizer.
TL;DR XD I did see this sentence: Whether you switch to an app using the back stack, or Alt+Tab, or the Start screen, you can get back to a suspended app instantly. Which should be the case since it is running on a laptop/tablet after all, although I also hope they have less restrictions on background apps. Based on the MWC presentation, yeah, Win 7 and 8 run simultaneously, and the former is pretty much a Win 8 app (although that sounds weird). The Slate looks good, but hopefully the new release will have better battery life (or maybe someone on the internet can post results with the current hardware running Win 8).
SoldierKnowsBest's preview video has sold me on it a bit more. I still wish they would better merge Metro and Desktop, just a simple button to switch between a Metro app and a Desktop window, rather than two completely separate apps, this would fix most of my problems with it. I mean as a qualified graphic designer I can say the aesthetics of the thing are absolutely gorgeous, though I think the Desktop somehow looks much uglier than Win 7. My worry, the way they're treating the desktop, is that they're trying to slowly phase the traditional Windows interface out - including it as a half-assed extra in Win 8 and in Win 9 doing away with it altogether perhaps - we need the desktop to still be fully integrated and we need to be able to interact properly between the two, otherwise we get the problem where one developer makes a metro app, one makes a desktop app, you can't multitask properly between the two, you get my drift. It's going to be a difficult one for productivity. For entertainment though, fantastic.
Not exactly a one-press switch, but you can still Win+Tab/whatever to switch between Metro apps and Desktop. Presumably Alt+Tab will be for switching between Desktop windows. Not sure why you find Win 8 Desktop to be uglier than Win 7 though. AFAIK the only differences are the Ribbon UI, different Start menu and some changes to the programs (Task Manager etc.) which means it looks pretty much the same. I don't really think it's an extra, but more like they're trying to fit two interfaces together to hopefully appeal to both tablet and PC users. Whether it works or not will decide Win 9's direction I guess. As above, you can switch between a Metro app and a Desktop window fairly easily, provided your last used window is open on the Desktop. Otherwise you would still need to click from the taskbar, Alt+Tab etc.
Did you see my video on the way OSX Lion switches between full screen 'tablet mode' and windowed mode? I wish they'd just do that.
Yeah! My thinking is that I'll use Metro on the go or when it's not attached to the dock. And when it's on the dock, I'll be using Win7 or a cross between the two. I really like the web browsing on Win8. I'll probably also be using a monitor/TV. I already do this a lot with my current laptop. The new ribbon actually looks a heck of a lot easier to use IMO. As far as the start menu, meh! I actually use the start button/menu a decent amount, but I like the new one because of how it's setup. Everything is sort of smack in your face. I think ppl don't like that it takes you to a full screen, IDK. Plus, anyways, you can get back the old start button/menu with a slight change to the registry. So, I think a lot of the apprehensive Windows fans are making comments out of sheer ignorance and/or a fear of change. Everything in Windows 7 functions pretty much the same. They just made some minor - IMHO - touch friendly changes for ppl that don't want to use a mouse or keyboard in Win7. And, again, you can make it look exactly like Win7 by changing the registry. You can do windowing on Windows 7. I don't think they removed that feature. You just can't do the swipe thing that you did towards the end of your video. Edit: Actually if you have a mouse, you can click on the scroll wheel. It pretty much does the same function that you showed in your video. Sort of. Judging from my experiences and other people that I know that use Windows, we are tabbers. ------------------ More vids:
That looks amazing. I like how the features are intuitive on both laptop and tablets. As portable as tablets are, I don't think i would ever use one to replace a laptop with physical input.
I'm using Win 8 on my laptop now, and Metro integrates with the Desktop better than I expected (although obviously not at the "optimal" level). @DistantJ: Didn't watch the video TBH. :/ But about that switching thing, you can switch between both Metro and Desktop apps/windows with Alt+Tab, and Metro apps only with Win+Tab. @Goofy: Yeah I had some reservations about having full-screen apps running but they're fine for the most part. Plus there's also the docking feature which is useful for messaging and such. Wish there was a quick way to change the docked app though (or maybe I'm missing something).
Well, the one truly great thing about tablets, especially one as capable as Slate 7, is versatility. You can use it as a tablet with touch. You can use it as a tablet with the Wacom pen. I actually see myself using one a big sheet of digital paper. Who knows? You can put it in the dock, and it can be used as an 11" desktop. Or you can use the HDMI (or wifi) to connect it to a monitor/TV. Or you can use it as a laptop. They make cheap keyboard cases. I can only assume we'll see more once Win8 is officially released. http://www.amazon.com/MiniSuit-ASUS-Transformer-Keyboard-Portfolio/dp/tech-data/B00725FE20 http://www.amazon.com/Transformer-Keyboard-GREY-Protector-SecondShells/dp/B007A14D78 (these aren't for the Slate 7, but they're an idea of what to expect; hopefully) @Phazer I'm downloading now! I kept procrastinating earlier this week.
