anyone one know if windows rt 8.1 will get the re-designed desktop?

[surfacedude]

looks like the rt preview has the old desktop functionality. i'm really hoping it get the upgrade to the desktop i saw during this morning's presentation.

 

[kashk5]

What features in particular are you referring to?

 

[surfacedude]

it looked like you could run the metro interface on top of the desktop, for example. there were also some changes to how apps loaded so the transition from regular metro to desktop isn't so jarring. this is the stuff ballmer was talking about when he referenced blending metro and the desktop.

 

[inteller]

I doubt it. if anything Microsoft is gunning to make the Desktop go away on RT. Once Office is completely metro there goes the primary reason to go to Desktop. There would still be a few stragglers like cmd prompt and some of the accessories, but MS is very close to banishing all legacy from RT.

 

[surfacedude]

I doubt it. if anything Microsoft is gunning to make the Desktop go away on RT. Once Office is completely metro there goes the primary reason to go to Desktop. There would still be a few stragglers like cmd prompt and some of the accessories, but MS is very close to banishing all legacy from RT.

even better, imo! i'd prefer no desktop at all. i just really don't like how metro and desktop currently work together. they really feel like two completely different and unrelated environments. really fractures the experience of using windows 8.

 

[Dos101]

it looked like you could run the metro interface on top of the desktop, for example. there were also some changes to how apps loaded so the transition from regular metro to desktop isn't so jarring. this is the stuff ballmer was talking about when he referenced blending metro and the desktop.

You mean changing the Metro background so it has the same one as the desktop? That's what Ballmer was talking about when he said they wanted to make switching between both environments less jarring.

 

[surfacedude]

You mean changing the Metro background so it has the same one as the desktop? That's what Ballmer was talking about when he said they wanted to make switching between both environments less jarring.

i'd rather change the desktop background to look like the metro background. one problem i'm having though is that even if i change the metro background to one of the desktop wallpapers, they display differently. in metro, the wallpaper is darker so you can still detect a shift when going back and forth between desktop and metro.

 

[Dos101]

i'd rather change the desktop background to look like the metro background. one problem i'm having though is that even if i change the metro background to one of the desktop wallpapers, they display differently. in metro, the wallpaper is darker so you can still detect a shift when going back and forth between desktop and metro.

Ya I don't believe there's a way to get the metro background on your desktop.

It darkens the background slightly in the metro environment so it's easier to see the tiles, it really isn't that jarring unless you're super picky about it.

 

[berty6294]

Wait, you can make the desktop background your metro background. That's how mine is right now

 

[surfacedude]

Ya I don't believe there's a way to get the metro background on your desktop.

It darkens the background slightly in the metro environment so it's easier to see the tiles, it really isn't that jarring unless you're super picky about it.

you're right that it's not that jarring, but on the other hand, it's an unnecessary artifact that does disrupt the user experience a little bit. i notice the color shift. it's a little jarring. i'd rather it not be there. i hope they fix it before the full release and i hope that make it so you can put metro backgrounds into the desktop. get rid of unnecessary constraints and sloppy, even if minor, artifacts. who wants reputation for letting this like that slide? that's how i see it.

 

[surfacedude]

Wait, you can make the desktop background your metro background. That's how mine is right now

i'm looking to go the other way: make one o the metro backgrounds my desktop wallpaper or background.

 

[berty6294]

i'm looking to go the other way: make one o the metro backgrounds my desktop wallpaper or background.

I can't find them online, but I'm considering unpinning all of my tiles and screenshotting (and a little shopping) to get it. I think that's the only way, but with a cool affect afterwards!