Windows 8 warning: Clicking 'preview' may wipe computer hard drive

This just made my day.

~Jeff

I know of a few people who have w8beta installed. I am going to tell them that the "new" preview is vastly improved.

Then....wait !

Another new "feature" of Windows 8 is that it gives Microsoft the ability to delete any software they don't approve of remotely. Isn't that sweet?

And then Redmond wonders why people want to stay with XP.

Hey, I just noticed what XP looks like as an emoticon...

XP XP XP XP XP

ROTFLM@O

I hope I never step into a building designed by that architect. This is completely ridiculous, the same could be said of Release Candidates, or any non-LTS version of Ubuntu.

Here's a tip, don't poke yourself in the eye with a fork, you may go blind in that eye.

The funniest part? The "computer expert" in the lab coat. "Data Doctor" and "Geek Squad" are latin for "make up things, charge a lot and fix nothing."

This is asking for a pun... w8 for it... "Windows 8 my data!"

gus3: I noticed that when XP was introduced. Maybe you were too busy making that very same face when seeing the default theme.

@caitlyn: I think that's a great feature, and I just hope they don't back down on it like they have other features in the past. If anyone doesn't like it, they can simply not use Windows 8. We need to make sure this excellent feature is well-publicized however.

You know, we've been publicizing the onerous features of the last couple of Windows releases and it didn't stop many people from going ahead anyway. When it comes to computers and operating systems people act like lemmings. They'll follow Microsoft right off the cliff. I don't see that changing until big box stores offer alternatives preloaded at attractive prices.

@caitlyn: Sure, "many" people keep going ahead and buying the latest Windows, but lots don't. Look at the Vista debacle. That really hurt the company, with so many people and companies refusing to "upgrade" to it after the word got out about all the DRM and performance problems and bugginess. And these days, MS is becoming more and more irrelevant; it's slow but it's steady. The more boneheaded stuff they do, the more they become irrelevant, slowly but surely. I just hope Ballmer isn't reading this; I don't want him to get a clue.

Sorry, I don't believe either the desktop or Microsoft are becoming irrelevant. By all estimates they still control more than 80% of the desktop, making them an effective monopoly. In the end Vista hardly hurt Microsoft at all. People skipped one version of Windows.

Not only did they skip one version, but many paid good money for a downgrade from Vista to WinXP. Microsoft probably found the difference in profits in the accounting software rounding errors.

@caitlyn: The desktop isn't becoming irrelevant, but MS is. Look how many people these days have Macs for their desktop (or laptop) machines; I see tons of people with Mac laptops. With so much stuff becoming web-based, and IE no longer the leading browser, MS just isn't necessary any more for a desktop/laptop machine. There's not that many things that you absolutely need Windows for any more.

> There's not that many things that you absolutely need Windows for any more.

Windows is still firmly entrenched as the business OS of choice. Well, to be fair, that's mostly because of Office, not Windows itself.

"that's mostly because of Office, not Windows itself."

Yep.

There's a MacOS version of Office. I'm not sure if it has compatibility problems with the Windows version, but it is there. No, this isn't much help to Linux users, but it doesn't exactly cement MS's hold on the business desktop. The things keeping companies stuck on Windows are probably lower cost (than Mac), third-party applications that only work on Windows, familiarity (with the IT department), and of course good ol' inertia.

Quoting:I'm not sure if it has compatibility problems

Do you even have to ask? Does a bear [defecate] in the woods?

Quoting:The things keeping companies stuck on Windows are probably ... third-party applications that only work on Windows, familiarity (with the IT department)

Never underestimate the power of familiarity. I am often amazed at how even students(!) stick with MS Office because they are not willing to learn.

For businesses, ultimately competition will out, and MS Windows and MS Office will fade into history. When the change happens however, is a question. But history suggests the change will be fairly sudden.

At that time a lot of MS centric devotees (programers and various IT specialists with extremely limited training) will find themselves hit hard financially. That however, is their fault. People should always plan for the future.

> There's a MacOS version of Office.

And there's Codeweavers' Crossover for Linux. Try selling either to the CEO,

> The things keeping companies stuck on Windows are probably lower cost (than Mac), third-party applications that only work on Windows,

Exactly. All of the other business apps are built around and tie into Office. And the upfront costs of Mac is roughly double. Yeah, I know the TCO would be about the same or lower, tell that to the accountants.

The only way MS could get me to upgrade my lone Windows gaming machine to Windows 8 is if they pull the same bs**t stunt they did with Windows 7 and that was to only provide DirectX 10/11 support on Win 7.

If they had made it available for Win XP I would of never upgraded.

I have no sympathy for Windows users, and what they are forced to do at the whim of Microsoft.