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Windows 8 set for release, reviewed by Paul Allen

Microsoft is all set to release the latest version of Windows, named as Windows 8 on October 26th. The final version of Windows 8 is already available to OEM partners and Technet/MSDN subscribers of the company. A free public preview version of Windows 8 is currently available to download, experience and test for free. Much of the pre-release buzz on Windows 8 is that it has received mix reviews due to concerns with the new interface. Here is what the retired co-founder, Paul Allen recently had to say about Windows 8.

The retired Co-Founder of Microsoft Paul Allen has dwelt in detail about the Windows 8 and its story. He explained in detail the Windows 8 features and how it will represent a milestone in its evolutionary process. The Windows 8 has been essentially designed to increase the support to tablet devices and give a unified platform for users across all Microsoft products.

Allen particularly pointed out to the bimodal interface providing simultaneous support to both Desktop and Tablet with the same OS as the most important feature of Windows 8. He also said that the gesture functionality of the OS as a significant upgrade from the Windows 7.

However some of the features piqued Allen. Most notable include problems with scrolling in desktop view in the Tablet, lack of clock on the start screen , on screen keyboard which does not appear automatically, lack of ability to build hierarchies on the start screen, problems with the multi monitor functions.

In spite of the bimodal interface, Allen hinted at the possibility of confusion especially when same application are opened and run concurrently. Any file can be opened in either of the two models available. For opening a PDF file attachment in Outlook from the Desktop, Windows opens it with Microsoft Reader which is an app which is designed for use on a tablet instead of opening it with the normal Acrobat Reader. This has been the most common complaint with the Windows 8 which is more inclined towards the Tablet instead of Desktop.

Finally Allen states that: “Touch seems a natural progression in the evolution of operating systems, and I’m confident that Windows 8 offers the best of legacy Windows features with an eye towards a very promising future.”