CNET Editors' Take
Windows 8. It sounds so innocent.
The name of Microsoft's coming operating system, updated today to
Windows 8 Release Preview, implies just another version of an OS once
much loved and now much maligned. But Windows 8 means much more to
Microsoft: It's a bold attempt to build an Apple-proof operating system
with modern visual elements via the risky Metro design language. It's a
salvo in the war for tablet relevance. It insists that touch screens
matter, and it sets the stage for upcoming versions of Windows Mobile.
For Microsoft to succeed with Windows on all platforms, Windows 8 has to
work. The changes in today's Release Preview take a step in the right
direction, tightening up the operating system and introducing new apps
to showcase just what Windows 8 can do. But Microsoft isn't there yet.
This is more "beta two" than "release candidate."
It's true that the Windows 8 Release Preview has a lot going for it, and people are curious. Microsoft says the
Windows 8 Consumer Preview,
which debuted at Mobile World Congress in February, is "the most tested
Microsoft operating system of all time," with more than 1 million
downloads during its first 24 hours of public availability. It's tricked
out with social networking and synchronization, it's robust enough to
handle monster suites like Adobe's, it gracefully moves from touch to
keyboard and mouse, and it's got some top-notch security. What you'll
find in the Release Preview is a stable, fast operating system that's
ready to compete, but a selection of default apps that are far from
complete.
You can get the Windows 8 Release Preview from
Microsoft's site, or
CNET Download.com. Microsoft has revealed the
Windows 8 upgrade plan for Windows 7 computers purchased after June 2.
Try
running the XP repair again. The administrator
password is blank by default, so unless you actually set one, just press Enter.
