List of features removed in Windows 8

I've been looking to move to OSX for a few years now. The reason why I have not, is the cost. PC hardware is cheaper and I have spent a lot of money on software, to move over would be a major investment.

More I see about the Metro 'experience' and where Windows 8 is headed, the more I think about changing over. Can't see how Win8 will increase my productivity...

Now that CS6 will come out soon and I will be upgrading my computers next year, can't think of a reason to stay. Perhaps I will wait and see what the final release is like ... but it might be time to jump.

Sheesh...I just read your links.  Man it is depressing that MS is so stupid.

I think their goal is to develop separate OS's for the business and individual user and to leverage out the power user and small business user who doesn't invest in the corporate client.

It also sounds like with the dropping of media players and the like that they want the room to sell their own or cleint's paid software.

All for a better computer experience.  I predict business sales of Linux are going to boom and a lot of PC users will finally migrate to Macs.

For me personally I consider Windows 8 unusable, not to speak of corporate environments, where it will totally flop. I am looking forward to all the OEMs flooded with downgrade claims.

I don't think that's the whole story. I think Microsoft wants two major things:

1. Dominate the tablet market as they do the desktop market. Their plan seems to be to make desktop users get used to the new Windows UI on desktops and therefore demand the same thing when they buy a tablet.

2. Get 30% of *every* single 3rd party application that will ever be made without even lifting a finger, like Apple does with their App store. Since Windows is pretty much an open platform, the only way to accomplish this is to force users into a different closed platform where software vendors can only sell through Microsoft (and are forced to buy Microsoft tools to develop applications in this new platform). Enter Windows RT and Metro Apps.

It won't work, of course. They seem to have forgotten three things: first, the only reason the PC succeeded was because it was an open platform, both in terms of hardware as well as in terms of software. Second, Apple is only able to get away with what they are doing now because they were a closed platform from the very beginning *and* because Steve Jobs had *taste*, something Microsoft NEVER will (just look at how ugly that Metro UI is).

Windows 7 got very close to being a beautiful UI (as its success proves), but instead of learning from this, Microsoft got greedy and, once again, decided to go on a totally different direction.

The only consolation I have is that I am pretty sure a very large percentage of Microsoft employees disagree with the direction Steven Sinofsky is taking the company. I bet they secretly wish Windows 8 to be a HUGE flop so they can turn things around again... and Steven Sinofsky needs to learn a turtle neck and brisk manners does not a Steve Jobs make. You need to have an innovative vision *and* good taste too.

The same way some still have XP is the way I'll keep 7 until support for it no longer exists or Microstuff grows a brain. The former likely, the latter remains to be seen.

EDIT: I just now read the list. It goes on and on.....why don't they just take out the OS completely and sell that as Win8. Seems an awful lot to lose. what a shame.

microsoft growing ANYTHING other than BLOAT is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE, and based soley on the version number I am expecting windows HATE to be an absolute disaster for microsoft as I will NOT recommend it OR willingly supply it OR use it(as I did for vshita (windows 6), and will only support it AT TRIPLE price as it will take three times longer to fix the problems that happen in normal use( and also will NOT warrant the work done as the HATE will attempt to stuff things back to the way they were stuffed up before I fixed them by claiming that un-authorised changes have been made, and the system 'NEEDS' to restore thing back to before the changes.

harpo

It seems to me, given that list of omissions, that MS is intent on surrendering much of its market share to Apple and Linux, because there is no way on Earth it is going to maintain market share with this abomination of an excuse for an OS.

If I was not decided prior to reading this list, I most certainly am now.  Under no circumstances will I be purchasing Win 8 with all those features missing.  Even if MS accepts it bungled and replaced them all with a service pack, I doubt that Win 8 can be rescued, not now.

Oh well, it may be time to experiment with Apple and OSX... and these days I can pick up a Mac Mini with Snow Leopard for $629.00AU.

Newest version!

Thank you for posting, Jorge.

Well, this just clinches it. Windows 7 will be my last Microsoft produced OS unless they revise this dictatorial approach.

I think Linux (Ubuntu) will be my next OS. I'm simply not crazy about OSX, but far less so about Windows 8. Linux is customizable... I wish Winstep were applicable and SD's apps as well.

Looks like computing is going to become a lot less fun in the future... Stardock is doing it's best with Start 8 and Tiles, but the changes MS is making to the OS are not acceptable to me. Now I won't even be able to watch a dvd without paying MS something? To hell with that! 

edit:

Sorry, Sinpirium. Didn't see your comment. I agree with you... as you can see above your quote.

Microsoft can shove Windows 8 where the sun don't shine! Looks like I will be cancelling my Technet subscription too, it will be of no use to me.

With all the new changes MS has identified for Windows 8 and the list of features being dropped one has to wonder if their Corporate Financial Strategy for 2012 is to have a lose for tax purposes by their OS Division. 

It is a U.S. Presidential Election year, hmmm, they could blame it on the bad U.S. economy. 

Or maybe they're hoping to sell enough of them real fast to shore up against the next lawsuit.

The way it's going, it's unlikely they'll sell enough to shore up a teetotaler's bar bill

As we say here in Oz, the bastard who came up with this Win 8 concept "couldn't organise a root [intercourse] in a brothel"

The new windows 8 explorer:

Eheheh. That has the Metro look.

On the bright side -

Stripping out all of that functionality sure does open up the market for anyone inclined to fill the void.

It does look like they're dummy-proofing it somewhat, either intentionally or through cheapness.  That might not be such a bad thing for the general public either, really.  Sure would be nice to have a "Let me fix something" mode too though.

well.. seriously don't see the big deal regarding wmp... don't people just use vlc? (well... vlc 1.1.9 anyway... vlc 2 dies on me for whatever reason.. haven't tried newer versions of that) it's free (eh.. don't know about businesses but what do i care about them?)

heck.. i only use wmp when listening to online radios from a different country. which is rather infrequent.

I'll be using Windows 7.

But I knew that before this article.

Hey, might as well remove Explorer then. People can always use LiteStep.

It's not just WMP, it's their current complete disregard for backwards compatibility. Go check the list of stuff that has been removed in Windows 8.

Well... they've lost me as an early adopter at least.  Hoping they get blown out of the water, fire some idiots, and come up with something useful.  Go go windows me.

Shame windows 7 is actually good.  Well.. shame for them... really nice for my wallet. 

Windows 7 for me was like having my neck relax when it's been completely tight for weeks. All the previous releases and my neck was tense weeks in advance knowing that all my friends, some clients, and my mother were going to be calling all the time until things got ironed out. Windows 7 was just smooth. I could even sleep at night. Looking at 8 I feel another headache coming on. Lord knows that I'm going to tell everyone who asks to stay away from it. Already friends and their businesses have switched to Macintosh in preparedness for Windows 8. One office, since their apple stuff is cloud based, anticipates no problem with cross OS document handling. (some day I need to learn about clouds)

Yes....and that'll weed out all those Eye Dee Ten Tee error people too when they get the famous "You must reinstall windows" message.

Can't say I see any dramas with what MS is doing with 8 ....it's just another Vista cock-up that will be 'fixed' on the next OS release.

The Metro interface is clearly a 'push' by MS into the hand-held market....at the expense of their current 'sheep' er...consumer base who will either bleat forlornly, make half-hearted attempts to escape the paddock to other pastures...or just wait [like me] whilst eyeing off the sheepdog suspiciously...;)

It's such a brilliant strategy...

"Let's gut and scavenge our desktop user base so we can move in and compete with tablets--that's the future man!"

Meanwhile people who actually use computers for things like...oh, I dunno, "work" are left wondering if the WHO and CDC have been to Redmond yet to find out if this new mental disorder spreading through Microsoft is contagious.

I agree with Doc...I'm going to learn Ubuntu with Neo.