MS Windows 8 Consumer Beta

[psxphill]

I changed to 1024x768 to try a few things only to discover afterward that I cannot reduce back to 800x600.

That is annoying, I have the same on my netbook with 1024x600 LCD that can do fake 1024x768. I'm currently using quickres2 to allow me to switch back to 1024x600.
 
http://oette.wordpress.com/quickres2/
 
The missing start menu is a little weird at first, if you get too lost then you can add a toolbar to the "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu" directory to the taskbar.
 
The "charms" menu is a bit annoying to pop up with a trackpad, but I've been using the keyboard shortcuts.
 
http://www.overclock.net/t/1224031/itw-windows-8-consumer-preview-keyboard-shortcuts
 
Until I found about those and the "charms", I was a bit lost as to find anything like computer management etc. Windows I is the new Ctrl Escape.
 
I'm not entirely convinced about Windows 8 yet, but I've only got it my netbook so far. I noticed one program that I launch effortlessly with years of muscle memory on Windows 7 & earlier is now quicker using the new app menu. So I think there is definately promise & we are way off release, this is not even an alpha release in terms of final functionality.

[psxphill]

My problem is that while the user interfaces are being dumbed-down to match a massive untapped user base, technically-savvy users are being shat on and told they have to dumb-down.

Windows 8 isn't dumbed down, at least on x86/x64 platforms. It's just different.
 
There are many improvements unrelated to metro, which is why they allow you to install on a machine that doesn't meet the resolution requirements of metro. Task manager & the file copy progress are much better for instance.

[psxphill]

(they tried to kill Alt+Tab. They didn't succeed, because of all the screaming, but the mere fact that they tried should point to how wrong-headed they're being about serving the needs of Windows users.

Both the consumer & developer preview have alt+tab, I don't think there was ever a chance it would disappear.
 
Windows 8 is ambitious but it is not finished yet. Screaming is unlikely to have any positive effect. Everyone at Microsoft should be running the preview by now & they are Windows users too.