Peter Boughton would most certainly approve. A little too colourful, maybe, but you're definitely heading in the right direction. Link it to a CF back end and you win!
Other thoughts; If I do go down the rabbit hole and fully adopt the Windows 8/RT/Mobile side of thing, I'll need to disentangle myself from Apple and iTunes.
*Sighs*
I must be getting old, sometimes I just can't be bothered with it all.
I have my grubby hands on a 32GB Surface as I type and I am pretty happy with it (its not mine, it come in for the devs and I get first play). The keyboard is pretty good, I can type a far wack on it with little mistyping and it feels great to use, the mouse and keyboard are on the small side but that just needs to getting used to.
Its a bit heavier than I expected and it does not feel right to hold it in portrait mode, which makes it hard for decent book reading. Its pretty nippy but some of the TIFKAM apps do seem a bit sluggish to start up and connect to the net.
One big problem is the lack of fully functioning citrix receiver, this was one of the main reasons to get one in for the devs was to test our product against it. I guess until MS and Citrix pull their fingers out I get to have more fun with the thing.
Finally I am using 8 on a touch screen, its actually works well. So much better than on the desktop and its pretty intuitive.
I don't think my wife is going to to as impressed with it as she was by the dancing advert mind, it just too.. computery for non geeks.
Many people installed thinking Windows 8 would be better but every one is sticking back to Windows 7 because windows 8 has lot of disadvantages and limitations. Is Windows 8 is going to be flopped? Then why the Microsoft is releasing this version of Windows 8. Are they planning to make money by just changing the themes of Windows 7 and naming it as Windows 8. Is it necessary to upgrade to Windows 8?
Nah our products are web based (Drupal) and SQL but we use a Citrix back end (or any application provider, vmware, X2 appv etc.)to demo what our product can do (www.centrixsoftware.com)
The problem with the RT version as far as I can see is that is only uses Citrix front end shop and not access gateway, it does not create an ICA extension type in the reg or even install a set directory structure. Its pretty much a stand alone application that connects to a Citrix front end server.
What we needed it to do was open a ICA file in the receiver just like it does on desktop, ipad, iphone, android device, zx spectrum.... but alas RT does not do that simple thing.
After playing with it a bit more I am getting over the OHHH factor pretty quickly. Its too heavy for long use, Windows 8 works well but the Arm device is under powered, mine sweeper takes nearly 20 seconds to load and a further 5 seconds to start a game, MINESWEEPER FFS!
I am quiet happy to give my son the Ipad to play with, they only real damage he can do is physical, if I gave him the Surface I can see it being wiped or broken pretty quickly as he presses every damn thing in sight. Its a windows OS that needs to be understood unlike an apple device which is press pretty buttons until something comes up. I prefer the windows way but then I have been working with it for years. A noob or ever a baby isn't going to pick it up, my baby can unlock the ipad, find the picture game he loves and then open and play it, something I very much doubt he could to as easily on the Surface.
Hopefully they will release a version that works in a few weeks, its not a show stopper as the Serface is so new but it would have been great to work straight out the box.
I have been using it instead of my laptop today and I still can't make up my mind if I like it or not. I tell you one thing though, controlling a server over RDP by touch is a awesome and scary thing to do, one slip and Whoops :D
Has anyone found any useful apps for the Start screen? Apart from Solitaire and Minesweeper (because a Windows computer without those just doesn't feel right, for some reason), I spend all of my time on the desktop. Firefox, BBC iPlayer, iTunes, Steam, Keypass, Dropbox... None of them use the Metro wotsit at all.
I think it's going to take some time but there are going to Metro/Livetile wotsit thingies after a while for the most common big profile companies. After all, it's fantastic product placement as the stand out lovely and clearly.
Well, I'm all upgraded and installed with Windows 8. All in all there are some interesting peculiarities but I quite like it. Seems faster than Win 7 but I've just double my ram and processor speed so that might have something to do with it.
It's definitely a step in the direction of a closed O/S which we all hate but the masses are going to love. I think it's the closest I've ever seen to a Windows O/S that just works. Once everyone starts knocking out app variants of their programs it's going to become a really slick environment to use with no need for the average person to stray into old school PC territory. However, it's all still there which I like.
It's got that always online feel to it too which is a sign of the times I suppose but it's another thing that I like.
bastard by name
