yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows 8 General] ConayR:
There are performance issues with file-based configs which in general is the main reason for Windows switching from INIs to registry. Pretty much each and every component has some configuration somewhere. When you run an app, you load a bunch of DLLs, each of those read configuration data. Since registry is a single file (well, a bunch of files, less than 4 though) and is properly cached by a system, access to the configuration is super fast. And before someone starts the silly "oh, but Linux uses /etc/ and I've never seen any perf issues" - ask yourself, have you measured this perf? Have you taken into account the fact that Windows has more comprehensive security policies than Linux? Yeah, I know, it's surprising, right? But ACLs and security descriptors provide a much finer granularity of access checks than mods on ext files. For a price, but hey, I hear people like security, right? ;)

Registry is by no means great. It's improved over the years in terms of performance and clarity as to what goes where (developers using it without understanding the structure are the main reason for registry being a complete dumpster) but it bears remembering that it wasn't initially designed to store configuration of the whole universe. :)

As for Win8 sucking on desktop - the only Windows 8 experience we've seen so far is tailored for the tablets. We haven't seen the desktop Win8 yet so it's completely unsurprising that what we've got (somewhat) sucks on desktop.
[Windows 8 General] link68759:
Right, I forgot that having one cached location reduces the disk bottlenecking. Playing devil's advocate (and knowing little about how linux works), /etc/ is usually it's own partition, no? (I forget). The linux kernel may very well keep /etc/ cached and defragged (or not even use fragmented recording). At least, that's how I would design it.

As for registry maintenance, I recommend Revo Uninstaller. A lot of apps leave behind files and registry settings, even when you tell them not to. It isn't worth the $30 or so they charge for it (because there are no performance benefits) but I use it for the peace of mind, and troubleshooting non-working programs.
[Windows 8 General] slayerking:
Win8 lasted all of 30 minutes on my pc before I decided that pile of microsoft doodoo will never touch one of my HDD"s ever again.
[Windows 8 General] Strike_Eagle:
Don't even feed the troll guys....

One small opinion can't shake off the whole strong system that Microsoft has built in us about Windows Phone 7.
[Windows 8 General] masoudies:
how can i disable metro?

is this able?
[Windows 8 General] dazza9075:
When some other than a tech preview comes out, or even a beta we will tell you
[Windows 8 General] :
Just tried Windows 8 on Saturday it was crap on my 10" netbook so I tried to hackintosh it and epically failed. :(
[Windows 8 General] dazza9075:
As much as I like MS for releasing unfinished products for people to test, I'm starting to think its a bad idea, at least for those that seem incapable of understanding what it is their playing with, I've never seen such negativity over a tech demo as with this, its like writing off a proof of concept car without actually seeing it or using it. Very bizzar
[Windows 8 General] efjay:
There seems to be a real, deep-seated reluctance by a lot of people to accept anything from Microsoft as a valid alternative to ios and android devices. Almost as if those two somehow have been granted the sole rights to provide the technology that people use. Same with WP7. You would think a new take on how we use and interact with our computers would be found exciting by tech lovers. Personally I enjoy the Metro UI paradigm as its so different and fresh and am looking forward to the consumer preview on my Acer W500.
[Windows 8 General] deyani:
Maybe later we will like it, let's just wait a little. :)
[Windows 8 General] Magnesus:
No, there aren't. There was a problem with (****ty) FAT that caused Microsoft to move all ini files to one file but it's not the case now when Windows uses NTFS.
[Windows 8 General] spartacus84:
i agree.. win 8 desktop is sucks :(
[Windows 8 General] dazza9075:
and you know this how? If you have a customer preview link then please share so we can all try it
[Windows 8 General] AndrewH1993:
Guys yall are freaking over nothing, they are probably going to install a controller to switch back to the windows 7 classic start menu and then switch back to the metro, but look at it this way, this is a more patched build then windows 7 and it is not over done with the superfetch service too... Use it while its useful, viruses knows how to mess up windows 7 and down but the 8012 build is a little more immune
[Windows 8 General] AndrewH1993:
Currently there are registry switchers to let you gp back to the 7 classic for the windows developer preview, just go find them
[Windows 8 General] Horvaticus:
The beta release is radically different from the release to developer version that's out right now ;)
[Windows 8 General] mjgspr95:
I'm a fan. As a working person I like the idea of a tablet pc. I actually have a job and one device for everything is sweet. The developer preview on my Samsung slate. Work and play ... Apple can't do that.

SHOstock

Onepointsixingit
[Windows 8 General] link68759:
Wrong. The ini files could be

a) fragmented

b) not fragmented, but two or more used by one program might be in separate places on the HDD

c) fragmented and two or more are in separate places.

Registry is always defragmented and always in one place. This is a more reliable and generally favorable solution.
[Windows 8 General] gryffindor:
I concern about if it can run faster than 7, that's more important.
[Windows 8 General] dazza9075:
I'd imagine so, shall need to wait and see, I heard that it's min specs were the same as win 7 so I doubt it will be slower, I also heard that the new desktop will essentially display as a game making the lag between movement an action much faster an more fluid
[Windows 8 General] gkillerx:
I Really don't get how people think, this can be me but what I have seens since windows 98:

Windows XP, first look:

It's ugly bla bla bla not working, it crashes too much!

Now 2012:

Windows XP is still supported and a lot of people are still using it!

Windows Vista:

(lets just forget this one, haha)

Windows 7:, First view:

The new design is not done, windows XP is much better!!!!

What are we all using now (well most of use, on our laptops and home pc's?) that's right, windows 7!

Windows 8:, first DEVELOPER build view:

Metro UI sucks, it's a TOUCH interface!!

In 2013, everybody has a touch screen, I can't go without one, still what we all have seen now is how the TOUCH metro ui looks like and I love it, it's clean, simple and ready for the future! When the beta comes out, 29 feb, we will get a more laptop/pc friendly metro UI, the developer build was just to show off nothing more, nothing less...

It can be just me, but this is how I think about windows 8:

It's great microsoft tries something completly different, they can't stay in the 2000 design, it's time to move one, design something new. Now I think it's just a matther of getting used to it but this is with EVERY thing. I realy can't wait for the beta to arive and install it on my Laptop, it will feel like a new laptop again just because of the new design ;) After using Developer Build for more then 1 month for testing I am used to the metro (TOUCH) UI and can't wait for the metro PC ui.

normaly I don't say this but if there are some grammar mistakes, pardon me I'm not a native english speaker and have dyslexia. oh and i ain't a windows fanboy, linux is still my most used os now days.
[Windows 8 General] qwerty warrior:
if u hate metro soo much just disable it ....

---------- Post added at 01:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 PM ----------

Windows 95

a big change in the indistry but was horrid

windows 98

a big improvement but still...

windows ME

it was worse than vista

windows 2k

was and STILL a great OS

Windows XP, first look:

It's ugly bla bla bla not working, it crashes too much!

couple of years later with sp2 and sp3 - it got fixed and its amazing

i dare anyone to try windows xp without any service packages

WINDOWS 7

a pure miracle

XP mode integrated etc

immediately finds drivers for hardware u plug in

even hardware from xp era

what can u ask more

windows 8

if they expect metro to be a standard they are dead wrong

windows 8 will only succeed in the desktop market if it has the ability to switch off metro completely

which im sure ill happen - if not u got the regedit trick

---------- Post added at 01:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 PM ----------

yes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP9GwRoS5_g

http://winunleaked.tk/2012/02/windows-8-beta-candidate-build-8220/

they made it worse

i didnt know that was possible but they did
[Windows 8 General] dazza9075:
Lol, a shoddy video of a picture made by someone who can't count? Lol when I get to play with it for real ill let you know if it's any good or not, until then your just buying in to the whole anti ms FUD, its different yes, better? WE Don't know!! At lest try an be open minded once you get used to it you may love it, if you hate it after you've used it then fair enough but right now it's pointless saying how bad it is, it serves bo one cept to continue the spread of FUD
[Windows 8 General] link68759:
For those who hate it, stick with 7 and never use 8. That's all there is to it. Hell, my laptop may have 7 on it but my primary desktop OS is still XP (it's older, XP is slimmer and therefore runs faster).

8 with metro is coming whether you like it or not. Don't like it? Don't use it; your feedback is just wasted space.
[Windows 8 General] kainppc6700:
True. With xp's long usable lifespan and the excellent reception of Win7, I think it's safe to say that we could easily hold out until Windows 9 for it to get fixed up. As for the feedback thing, I'm gonna have to disagree with you, I mean feedback from customers is how microsoft know what sucks and what doesn't.

ThePirateBay.org?

At last... More words of wisdom.

Keep telling yourself that...

Ah you seem to be off on that one. My first "smart" platform was a Palm OS Palm m500 (no phone). I moved on to Windows Mobile 2003 (again, no phone, an iPAQ 4150), then to the famous HTC Diamond with Windows Mobile 6. I might still even be on that if it weren't for some unfortunate events (described in numerous other threads), so I'm not that "retarded kid that got the free phone that mommy and daddy pay for".

I like to get the most out of my mobile equipment, and in my brief inperson visit with WM7, I did not feel that I was in control of it.

True, the BlackBerry OS still seems to offer more choices and functionality than Wm7 though. What was that touchscreen BB device with the "clicky" screen? That thing was actually pretty school.

Calm down now, no need to grouch :-), where's your Saint Valentine's day spirit?

- 2B
[Windows 8 General] link68759:
Well yes, feedback is how microsoft knows what works and what doesn't.

However, they designed 8 and metro based on user statistics (how people use 7) in addition to feedback. MS lets the data write their OS. The majority of windows users have spoken, MS is going ahead with this, so saying 'it sucks' is a fart in the wind.

More than likely, resistance to interface changes are not because they are bad, but because people don't like having to readjust to the way things work. Doesn't matter what the change is, they'll still hate it simply because they aren't used to it.

In response to your comment on WP7, that you didn't feel you had control over it: yes, that's by design. I too love to control the heck out of my HD2, but when transitioning to WP7 you must take a different mindset as well. Windows Mobile 6 is something you play with, customize, do whatever you want with. I spent HOURS just configuring the interface, changing this, modding that... However, nearly all of my time spent using WM6 was spent playing with the system. WP7 takes a different approach, and it is very effective if you embrace it: you're not supposed to play with it. Your phone displays the information you want to see as quickly as possible, then once you have that information, you put your phone away. No messing around with the interface, no dicking around in the settings: it is a transparent gateway to what you need, not an opaque wall that you can spend hours rearranging the bricks on. But some people are so used to playing with the brick wall that it's hard to give up control... and that is where you are I believe. It doesn't suck, you just don't agree with the design philosophy (less using more doing). That's OK, not everyone is going to like it.

BBOS on the other hand fails in every aspect :D
[Windows 8 General] olivierballot:
Hello everyone,

I have been using Windows 8 Preview from the beginning on my desktop, and I am very please with it. Once you get use to it, I think it is great. I have an old PCI Wi-Fi card that I cannot use with Vista nor 7, but Windows 8 installed it without any problems.

I can't wait to use the Beta version at the end of February. Whether you like it or not is a matter of personal opinion not because it is a Microsoft product.:)
[Windows 8 General] Magnesus:
Sorry, I can't agree with you. Maybe if registry was better implemented, but the way it always was it was a disaster comparing to other OSes solutions. And if such small thing as ini file is fragmented, then the file system has some serious issues (as far as I know NTFS shouldn't have such problems).
[Windows 8 General] efjay:
Do you really think Microsoft is going to backtrack from Metro in later iterations of Windows after pushing it as their unified interface? If you are waiting for Windows to be "fixed up", as in Metro no longer present I think you may be holding on to Windows 7 for a long time. But if it works for you, that's good. Doesn't change the fact that Windows 8 is here to stay and future versions are going to be different from what we've been used to for the past 3 decades.
[Windows 8 General] link68759:
You just don't know how file systems work. Also, you don't seem to know how the registry works. Why is it a disaster? As I and others have mentioned, it has performance benefits. The only thing wrong with it is it's rather daunting and not quite user friendly. But it's not supposed to be, so that isn't a real fault.
[Windows 8 General] Strike_Eagle:
Wow... so you are telling me that i am a troll?

I hardly had ever posted in this thread since i know a troll like you have nothing to do but pissing people off.

You have had my words , you can go and say **** if you want. I still use "Windows Phone 7" , not an imagination "Windows Mobile 7" that you created yourself.
[Windows 8 General] kainppc6700:
HOWDYA LIKE ME NOW *CHUCKLE* Reply

So you're saying they designed Windows 8 based on the "feedback" of "user statistics" and found that most people who used Windows 7 preferred to do so through the obscured lens of web based tiles?

And that was one of their advertising campaigns. The problem is, there's a line between "too much control" and "too little control to be useful", and unfortunately WM7 goes way past the "too little control to be useful" marker.

If sales are poor enough, then yes I do actually.

I don't think so honestly. When people complained about how much Vista sucked and threw enough catchup packets at it, MS fixed it up and gave us Windows 7. Then again, that was shortly before Microsoft went all retarded on us, but still, they'll do what they can to keep selling.

Sure.

Well that's not the goal... it could be a side effect of another problem on your end of the cable ;). Why not just stop being grouchy though? Put a smile on and show your support for XDA DEVELOPERS. Do you think visitors want to see posts like that? Naaah, I didn't think so either; sometimes we need to stop and take a little "reality check" to see if what we're saying is really benefiting mankind in any way. Have a little "class". Say, wanna be my friend on XDA DEVELOPERS?

- 2B
[Windows 8 General] link68759:
There's more to 8 than just the tiles; I was talking about changes like the ribbon bar in explorer and new start menu that I see complained about on other sites. The microsoft blog demonstrates exactly why they made these changes, and it just makes sense.

As for metro, refer to my comment on "embracing the nature of WP7"; metro is in fact very useful, and I think they take the user feedback they get from WP7 to help formulate this area. But you don't even have to embrace it really, since 8 probably isn't going to have your issue of "too much control - too little control".

Like I said, this line only exists in your head, and in others' who agree with you.

Like I said, this means you either won't allow yourself to have an open mind, or it just isn't the right implementation for you, period. However, these arguments might be moot once WP8 comes out, which apparently is just going to use the desktop 8 kernel, not CE 7 kernel like it is now (and winmo 6 uses the CE 6 kernel fyi).
[Windows 8 General] Strike_Eagle:
Oh no i am sorry that i am supporting other member who use Windows Phone and who want to use Windows Phone.

I am not a kind of BS troll like you who have nothing to do but trolling about an unfinished product or bashing about other OS.

i never like Android, and i never come over Android subforum to post stuffs like this.

you can say i am trolling, while people here look at you....hmmm... I guess i don't have to say it out loud.
[Windows 8 General] bambu85:
This is what I've been fearing for a while - that it's going to become more profitable to push another range of devices on us (PCs, Tablets, Laptops, and Phones), and that they would want to merge the user experience across them.

Thankfully you can disable the new Metro stuff easily
[Windows 8 General] James.UBC:
Lol totally agree. tried playing some games on my think pad earlier start menu gave me hell.
[Windows 8 General] kainppc6700:
C'mon man, no need to grouch - we're just trying to help ;-).

Just in my head? I think I'm not the only person who would actually like to change wallpapers and ringtones and install programs.

And I haven't heard anything about Mobile 8 yet. My guess is that it's a lie and won't happen, but time will tell.

- 2B
[Windows 8 General] link68759:
Trolling, or insufferable fool. Either way, I'm no longer addressing you in this thread.
[Windows 8 General] 1234568:
You honestly believe you wont be able to install programs? ROFL!
[Windows 8 General] kainppc6700:
MICROSOFT FANBOY Reply

Good. I was getting tired of addressing trolls and insufferable fools as well, so this should be for the better.

Microsoft has done some dumb stuff before, you never know how bad Windows Vista 2, I mean, Windows 8 could be. Or maybe it'll be good, but with their current trend, I don't think there's much hope for it.

- 2B
[Windows 8 General] NOOBJEFF:
I agree. I know it's fun to bash up on microsoft for releasing a new OS after Win 7 has been so great, but it's not really fair to say that Win 8 is not any good when the beta hasn't even been released yet. :)
[Windows 8 General] link68759:
lol, what do you expect them to just stop making products after they've made a good one?
[Windows 8 General] kainppc6700:
WHAT HOW Reply

I think when they come out with their official "beta", I will give it a shot and give an honest review from experience. I'm not expecting much based on what I've seen so far, but only time will tell.

Better to not release a product than to repeat past mistakes though, right? :o

- 2B
[Windows 8 General] ohgood:
Tried out things, I don't think you have to worry about w8 being eveywhere...

About tablets, they still can't figure out how to sell phones, and windows tablets have been around/dead forever. Are they planning to try and chip away at ipads now too ? Talk about charging at windmills !
[Windows 8 General] sk8er_boi47:
Agree, they should not mix up smart phone concept of "tiles" with desktop os, but like digger1985 said it's too early to conclude things. lots of changes are expected ...
[Windows 8 General] achmeingott:
To be honest, MS has a history of releasing poorly designed OSs only to rush a new version that perfects the style. ME>XP, Vista>7, I'd even put WP7>WP7.5 in that category. In other words I'm looking forward to Windows 9.
[Windows 8 General] benjoid:
I'm a bit hot and cold on Metro atm, mostly ice cold.

I do not want to control my PC with Kinnect. Imagine a whole office twitching around like they are playing air one man band. And I don't want to control it by voice either.

I can imagine the Microsoft meeting for Windows 8:

Executives: How's Metro coming on?

Developers: Well...no one wanted it on our media centres, no one wanted it on our mp3 players and its not made a dent in the mobile phone market...I think they don't want it sir. We could drop it?

Executives: But we love it! We have the majority of desktop computer share and the Xbox is a captive audience. Will force it on them like we did when we downgraded Office's html renderer so we could still send clip art, and so crippling email standards, thats the future!
[Windows 8 General] telep:
I have to say that i fu....g hate metro UI, its fugly. Its fugly on phones, its fugly on tablets its fugly on whatever you put it on.
[Windows 8 General] mtmerrick:
You sir, have just made the ultimate point against windows 8. +1000 to you

EVERY piece of software that has had metro on it has been a failure, or when forced on existing customers (eg xbox) there has been huge consumer backlash -

even those who like the aesthetics mostly all agree it diminishes the functionality. No one wants it, this has been proven time and time again. Only a vocal minority likes it, and most of them are some form of internet spokesperson or newsblogger.

I do not hate the metro design aesthetic: i think the "classic desktop" with the metro theme applied looks great. But the live tiles are awful, the font size and box colors are badly done, and the UI Microsoft has built around the tiles is the worst i have every seen. Pick up a honeycomb tablet, or an iPad, and tell me, how is W8 better? Simple answer, its not. its less intuitive, the multitasking is more difficult to comprehend, it has a worse use of screen space - on any form factor, and most importantly, it goes against everything most every customer know about windows. That said, i'm still going to try out the consumer preview, so i can continue to form an educated and valid opinion about it, without trolling like most haters/fanbois do .
[Windows 8 General] Strike_Eagle:
depends.

It goods on what it was designed to be. But nothing is good if they are over-used.

Metro was a good move of Microsoft, it is good for handheld devices with touch screen with require the mobility of the devices and the OS also.

But like what i have said on the other thread. They are forgetting us - Hardcore PC User. Metro is nice , i love it on my Windows Phone, but it is not ideal to use it with mouse and keyboard.

PC User would want a fast OS, can use the Hardware Resource at the best rate and stable to run. A PC Gamer like me would like a OS which can handle everything nicely , or create a stable environment for game to run on. Not whole bunch of useless stuffs which takes several GBs of HDD and good-for-nothing.
[Windows 8 General] telep:
No it's fugly on the phones, i really don't like coloured squares, and UI is everything but intuitive for me. I don't want that UI on pc, because windows was always ugly and we don't need another shell on pc os that will bring more inconsistency in UI, because there are still parts of UI that are from windows 95.
[Windows 8 General] Strike_Eagle:
I would take that as a personal opinion.

Because it depends on the tastes of people too. Some people like you, who find metro hard to handle, just like us who just can't handle some part of Android...

And it is too soon to talk about Windows 8.