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You Will Get DirectX 11.2 Only With Windows 8.1

Posted by timothy on from the that's-awfully-imperative-sounding dept.

SmartAboutThings writes "Microsoft has just announced the next version of DirectX, 11.2, on its website. But the real 'problem' is that it is going to be exclusive to Windows 8.1 and next generation consoles — Xbox One and Play Station 4. This is not news, as DirectX 11.1 was exclusive to Windows 7 & 8. But is this going to help Microsoft convince people to ugprade or will make them angry?"

84 of 403 comments (clear)

  1. Mehh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Increment updates do not justify an upgrade...especially to a downgrade such as win8

    1. Re: Mehh by lennier1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The start menu is still broken by default, but now it comes with a useless button. Definitely an upgrade!

    2. Re: Mehh by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

      The start button functionality has been streamlined to meet customer demands. Windows 8.1 will inspire a new generation to greatness.

    3. Re: Mehh by BrokenHalo · · Score: 2

      Its 8.1 not 8 that's the upgrade you plank

      .and therefore the most numerically advanced version yet.

      But as for "is [DirectX 11.2] going to help Microsoft convince people to ugprade or will make them angry?", I can tell you right now that I am just frothing at the mouth in apoplexy because it won't run on my Linux box, and hasn't since 1993. It's about time Microsoft got their shit together.

    4. Re: Mehh by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 5, Funny

      is [DirectX 11.2] going to help Microsoft convince people to ugprade or will make them angry?

      That's my secret... I'm always angry.

    5. Re: Mehh by SuricouRaven · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Is that why so many people don't like it?"

      People don't like change. Change means updating software and retraining users. For people to accept change, they must see some form of benefit to themselves to justify the difficulties. Windows 8 looks a lot like change for the sake of change - or, for the more cynical, change for the sake of furthering Microsoft's long term business ambitions in the mobile and service areas. Either way, it's a change in interface without apparent benefit.

      We've been through this before with Office and the Ribbon - and to this day, even though almost everyone is now used to the ribbon, it's really hard to find something it makes easier than the old drop-down menu system did.

    6. Re: Mehh by PRMan · · Score: 2

      Actually, although the ribbon was frustrating at first, the ability to apply 3-4 styles at once WYSIWYG is a great benefit. But even with the obvious improvements, the ribbon was tough to swallow for most people.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    7. Re: Mehh by peragrin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Sorry I have to modify this slightly.

      For Most people to accept change, they must see some form of benefit to themselves to justify the difficulties. However there will always be those who refuse to accept the change and fight it just because they really can't accept change.

      We did an ERP software shift at work. the move itself hasn't been bad. while it isn't perfect, there is a single problem I can't seem to get beyond with one user. She refuses to look at a single column, when the entering information. It clearly shows a major error in Units of Measure. All she has to do is change the Unit of Measure and everything will line back up. But nope. she can't get into that habit. I have to go back in and fix it afterwards. This same person has allergies. She refuses to adjust her allergy meds even though they clearly don't work anymore.

      Some people will never accept change.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    8. Re: Mehh by wmac1 · · Score: 2

      Windows 8 is a move toward making Windows usable on Touch displays (specially the mobile computers), not a change for the sake of change.

      The success of the approach is another matter.

    9. Re: Mehh by nabsltd · · Score: 3

      Actually, although the ribbon was frustrating at first, the ability to apply 3-4 styles at once WYSIWYG is a great benefit.

      This isn't a function of the ribbon, but rather new interaction between the control and the document.

      There is no reason the same functionality could not be used with conventional toolbars or floating style windows.

    10. Re: Mehh by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 4, Informative

      There are cross platform solutions such as OpenGL and OpenAL. If games developers focused on them, then I don't care about the state of DirectX. The fact we see games being released on Steam that can do cross platform, shows there are alternatives to MS API lock-in.

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    11. Re: Mehh by edibobb · · Score: 2

      Windows 8 has such limited keyboard support, can we expect Windows 9 to stop supporting keyboards altogether?

    12. Re: Mehh by ozmanjusri · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You will soon though.

      Or maybe not you, but most people who just want to get on with using their computers instead of tinkering with them.

      Android invades the desktop

      Summary: Computer makers are suddenly obsessed with putting a smartphone operating system on PCs. Here’s why it may not be such a crazy idea.
      John Morris

      Microsoft has spent a lot of time and effort trying to get Windows onto smartphones and tablets--so far without a whole lot to show for it. Now several PC companies are trying the opposite approach, taking the Android operating system and porting it to PCs.

      http://www.zdnet.com/android-invades-the-desktop-7000017286/

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  2. Sheeple follow their games by erroneus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Direct X is for games. And people who want to play their games will give up all sorts of important things in order to play them.

    Recently, the always-online and amazingly intrusive Microsoft eye have caused Microsoft to back off on some things and that's encouraging, but the behavior is obvious and Microsoft wouldn't try it if they didn't think they could get away with it.

    "Oh, I hate Windows 8...I'll never use that... oh? What's that? The next release of my favorite game? Only on Windows 8? I hate Windows 8... oh well... Windows 8 'just so I can play my game.'"

    1. Re:Sheeple follow their games by gl4ss · · Score: 2

      game companies follow their sheeple.

      what kind of an insane madman would do a high budget game and only publish it on windows 8.1 and not 7 at all?

      notice that there is a bunch of games, low budget - some even practically paid by ms - that are windows 8 exclusive. because they're metro. because companies took ms's marketing budget money they were just giving away in exchange of companies developing metro store products(and because for getting that money you had to be exclusive to metro store.. well, nobody with a big budget and big seller game took that money).

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    2. Re:Sheeple follow their games by erroneus · · Score: 2

      I'll bet you're forgetting that Microsoft (and other platform makers) pay game makers for "exclusive" titles which draw more players to their platform.

    3. Re:Sheeple follow their games by Mike+Frett · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But the good news is that more developers see DirectX as a single-platform solution and are pushing more resources to OpenGL development. Hence a recent quote from the Natural Selection 2 team:

      "The drawback of D3D11 is that it is not universal. It only works on machines running the requisite operating system, and on hardware capable of understanding the instructions it sends. According to to the Valve Hardware Survey, the penetration of D3D11 capable machines is increasing. But crucially, machines incapable of any D3D rendering are also a growing market: Linux distributions and Mac OSX.".

      And from Leadwerks, the tool to build AAA Linux games on Linux. Their Kickstarter is set to complete and the Steam Greenlight was one of the quickest in history:

      "It's interesting that as popular technology is becoming more locked-down, from the Windows 8 closed app store to the increasing DRM requirements of the new consoles, people are responding by showing a new interest in open systems like Linux and Valve's upcoming SteamBox. I'm a hardcore PC gamer, and it's disappointing to me how Microsoft has treated games on Windows like an unwanted child for so long."

      Times are changing, the Windows crowd can kick and scream all they want. And with all the NSA information about Microsoft being their #1 fan, it takes complete ignorance or just sheer insanity on the part of people to use anything from Microsoft. I used Windows for 15 years until last year, but my eyes opened and there isn't a way in hell I would have a product from Microsoft in my Home. I'm sorry if it hurts to hear this, but it is what it is.

      Game developer Simon Roth said this recently on twitter that got props from other Devs: "Never waste time learning any of Microsoft's proprietary API's."
      A lot of Indie devs feel the same way, and like it or not, Indie is the future of Gaming. Ouya, MadCatz, Google -- you can see it changing before your eyes.

    4. Re:Sheeple follow their games by gl4ss · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'll bet you're forgetting that Microsoft (and other platform makers) pay game makers for "exclusive" titles which draw more players to their platform.

      pfft. he is not forgetting that. the scenario already didn't happen. the exact same scenario with vista and dx10.

      ms has paid exclusive title money for some stuff on their appstore as well. nobody gives a shit.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    5. Re: Sheeple follow their games by nojayuk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The professional video and TV editing biz got shafted by Apple during the great Final Cut Pro disaster a couple of years back and a lot of them have shifted to Avid and other non-proprietary OS-hardware-locked video solutions. They should have seen it coming after Xserve and Xsan got the bullet though.

    6. Re:Sheeple follow their games by Joce640k · · Score: 2

      game companies follow their sheeple.

      what kind of an insane madman would do a high budget game and only publish it on windows 8.1 and not 7 at all?

      Nobody.

      But ... Microsoft might pay them to put some "Windows 8 only" features in their games (prominently greyed out in Windows 7).

      --
      No sig today...
    7. Re:Sheeple follow their games by Seumas · · Score: 2

      So you're "sheeple" (what a really unoriginal and meaningless way to refer to people) if you play either of the consoles. Be a man and play PC (yes, my preferred gaming system, of course). But if you play games on the PC with Windows, you're still sheeple...

      I guess the only way to be a 1337 d00d is to play all those amazing to notch big-budget games that are put out on the linux platform (yes, there are a bunch of linux games and many decent ones, but seriously this is not sufficient if you're an avid gamer).

      Unfortunately, you have to bite the bullet if you're much of a gamer. There is no platform that doesn't come without some gross feeling of ickiness.

    8. Re: Sheeple follow their games by nojayuk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You can run really good third-party video editing software on Apple kit under OS/X, although the top-of-the-line hardware has been needing a refresh for a couple of years now -- nobody's going to be editing or rendering serious video on laptops or iPads. Final Cut Pro X only runs on Apple hardware since it's an Apple-only product. A lot of pro shops used it as it fit really neatly into their workflow with the ability to outsource audio, colour, output to tape, XML support, project control as well as FCP Server, SAN support etc. When Apple released Final Cut Pro X a couple of years back they got rid of all that pro stuff and added a Facebook button, turning it into a Moviemaker-type package instead. Before that happened FCP had a big following in TV stations, technical schools taught it to trainee editors, lots of third-party support packages to do workflow things and it all ran on the moneymaker Apple hardware under OS/X. Nowadays not so much.

      J. J.'s shop uses Avid and could switch over to Dell or HP or anybody else's hardware if he wanted to, no OS and hardware lockin and minimal disruption to workflow. Last I heard FCP X had about 2% of the pro market in the US, a big drop from before and another "creative" market Apple has let slip through their fingers.

    9. Re:Sheeple follow their games by tepples · · Score: 4, Informative

      Windows 8 comes with app store functionality bundled.

      Applications available through this store must use only the Windows Runtime API (section 3.1). This API lacks DirectInput (source), which means Windows Store games on desktop computers can't use inexpensive or specialized game controllers. They're limited to a keyboard (for Player 1 only), a mouse (for Player 1 only), and an Xbox 360 Controller (which must be licensed by Microsoft). Games must be fully playable with a touch screen alone (section 3.5), which rules out several genres that rely on giving the player physical buttons to perform actions, and it can't have more than five seconds of loading even when run on the cheapest Atom-powered computer with a spinning disk hard drive (section 3.8). Nor may it allow users to create scripts and share them with one another (section 3.9), ruling out user-created game mods that aren't just mesh/texture swaps and the entire Programming Game genre. Nor do games with retro-style low-definition pixel-art graphics like Mega Man 9 appear to be supported, as their screenshots are smaller than 1366x768 (section 6.8).

    10. Re:Sheeple follow their games by PRMan · · Score: 2

      Is THAT why my gamepads are never supported? I was wondering how developers that brilliant could be that stupid. I should have kept the old saying in mind: If it's screwed up, it must have been a lawyer or marketer behind it.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    11. Re:Sheeple follow their games by spire3661 · · Score: 2

      Oh please. TO even LOOK at the PSN store, you have to be updated to the lastest firmware. To be online at all on the consoles requires CONSTANT and unskippable updates. Every time you put in a game that isnt updated to the latest on Xbox360, it kicks you off Live until you either update it or choose to stay offline.

      --
      Good-bye
  3. Where does it say the PS4 is getting it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Where does it say the PS4 is getting it? I saw no mention of that.

  4. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by Pentium100 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    DX 10 being limited to Vista and newer kept it from being used for a long time, I guess the same will happen to DX11.1 and 11.2. Game companies won't make games that don't run on an OS the majority of the players use (Windows 7).

  5. Playstation 4? by p.g.king · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "...is going to be exclusive to Windows 8.1 and next generation consoles — Xbox One and Play Station 4." When did Microsoft start developing for Playstation 4?

    1. Re:Playstation 4? by citizenr · · Score: 4, Informative

      Idiot summary. Its OpenGL 4.3/OpenGL 4.4

      --
      Who logs in to gdm? Not I, said the duck.
  6. DirectX on the Playstation? by am+2k · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What? Where did that come from?

    1. Re:DirectX on the Playstation? by shione · · Score: 5, Informative

      Ok I did some digging and found this:

      At the Game Developer's Conference (GDC 2013), Sony said, "PS4 Shader Language is very similar to HLSL, allows features BEYOND Direct X 11 and OpenGL 4.0"

      Then some moron interpreted that as meaning Sony would use directx and extend its features but all it meant is Sony saying their shader language would be better than direct 11 and opengl 4.0.

  7. Will make them angry? by rsmith-mac · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Undoubtedly it will make the some people angry.

    But for anyone that does Windows graphics development and knows something about the underlying system, it's not a big deal. We've known that adding some of these features to Direct3D would require making some changes to the underlying display driver stack (WDDM), which is why D3D 11.2 requires WDDM 1.3 drivers, and WDDM 1.3 requires Windows 8.1. Unless of course you want Microsoft backporting a new version of the display driver stack and breaking your old OSes...

    TL;DR: D3D 11.2 requiring Win8.1 can't be helped

    1. Re:Will make them angry? by deains · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Pretty much this. If you need to make big, structural changes to an OS, backporting it is gonna cause all sorts of problems. Can you imagine if they produduced a service pack upgrade for XP, or an older version of Windows and broke compatibility with tons of classic games? There'd be uproar. And that's not even considering the corporate sector. Basically, breaking existing functionality is generally a bad move, and MS isn't quite that stupid yet.

    2. Re:Will make them angry? by Skapare · · Score: 2

      They could have put it in Windows 7.1.

      --
      now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
  8. So it's going to be downvoted. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So what does DirectX 11.1 and .2 do that's so important that people will abandon Windows 7?

    1. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by geekmux · · Score: 2

      So what does DirectX 11.1 and .2 do that's so important that people will abandon Windows 7?

      Right now, I'd say DirectX 11.1 and .2 are about the only selling points for Windows 8.x, so, I guess you would have to speak to the crowd who would upgrade for only that reason...

      ...all three of them.

    2. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by lxs · · Score: 2

      Brain?

    3. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by aaronb1138 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The sames things were said about Vista and 7.

      Frankly, I was less than 2 months into 7 that I looked back and realized I had been stupid to skip Vista purely on "it's new and different" grounds and similarly to wait until 2011 to go to 7. Both were huge improvements on XP. Vista got a bad rap because shithead low end hardware (and a few cases software) makers wouldn't fix their drivers in a timely manner. Since 7 could mostly use Vista drivers when it came out, it was perceived as better despite really just being a cleanup and consolidation of good choices in Vista. Windows 8.1 will be the same thing.

      I would be using Windows 8 on more hardware, but Intel decided to f*ck everyone on Atom / GMA based touch devices who bought hardware released even the same year as Windows 8 if it didn't include their Windows 8 hardware tax. Basically, the problem is consistently not Microsoft, but the hardware OEMs who produce crap or poor support. Microsoft's own internal studies are showing somewhere in the neighborhood of 80% of BSODs on XP/Vista/7 were not due to the OS, but directly due to graphics drivers. With Vista and 7 they created a framework for being able to control and reboot the GPU drivers and BSODs have massively dropped. Frankly, more Microsoft KB articles and help fields should point the fingers at software and hardware manufacturers when applicable. They've always been way too nice and softballed the error sources.

    4. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by dbIII · · Score: 2

      wouldn't fix their drivers in a timely manner

      Since the ENTIRE POINT of an operating system is to let the applications you want to run get to the hardware you have an OS without the right drivers is a waste of time, especially if those same applications can run on a different OS which does have the right drivers.

    5. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by St.Creed · · Score: 2

      Which wasn't a point for most of the people who were buying a new laptop or similar system. USB printers still worked fine, same with mouse, keyboards etc. It was a very minor subset of people who had a problem with Vista.

      And when I recently switched from Vista to Windows7, it was very hard to spot the difference.

      --
      Therefore, by the (faulty) logic you're using, you're just a cow with a keyboard - osu-neko (2604)
    6. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by Charliemopps · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You're confusing the UI with the underlying OS. MSFT continues to improve the OS itself, but at the same time they, for some crazy reason, feel it necessary to radically modify the UI every time they have a new release. Not only is this annoying to their dwindling home users, it adds training expenses and delays to it's corporate adoption. On top of that the Metro UI is basically the antithesis of productivity.

    7. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      No, the difference from Vista + SP2 + bunch of hotfixes to 7 is hard to spot.
      Try the original RTM Vista. Say hello to horribly slow explorer file copy, indexer and background defrag kicking in at the most inappropriate times, paranoid default UAC settings, ...

    8. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by gsgriffin · · Score: 5, Interesting

      While as a Windows OS users for' 20 years I don't LOVE 8, I do see where they are trying to head. No Windows 8 is not perfect, but it is the first OS that is trying to bridge the tablet/laptop gap. I'm currently typing on my Surface and love a lot, hate a little. My hope is that over the iterations, I will love more and hate less.

      The real game changer for me is that the keyboard is close to the screen and touching the screen for many things is a lot easier than keyboard shortcuts or using a mouse/touchpad. When I move to a laptop, I find myself touching the screen to try to do basic functions. I do wish all laptops came with a touch screen now and am understanding the direction of Win 8. For all of the failures and frustrations with 8, try to consider the direction they are heading and the potential awesomeness of small, portable, touch screen devices with real keyboards that allow for productivity and interactivity beyond the typical laptop and with most of what we like about tablets. My daughter's Lenovo Yoga is also perfect in this regards. My son's powerful Asus Win 8 laptop is a little frustrating...no touch screen.

      My point comes down to this, anyone reviewing Window 8 should do so with a touch screen. Never install in a desktop. If you are doing a gaming computer, wait for MS to find a better balance between desktop use of their OS and the portable design, which metro is intended for.

      --
      jsut athnoer menagiensls ltitle psrhae for you to dcoede. Why do we wtsae our tmie dnoig tihs?
    9. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by ultrasawblade · · Score: 2, Funny

      > Tiled Resources

      So basically 3D text mode?

      I'll take my -1 Troll with cream and sugar, please.

    10. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by yoshi_mon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My point comes down to this, anyone reviewing Window 8 should do so with a touch screen.

      No. No I will not and it is because Win8 is being sold as a desktop OS. I don't have, want, or need a touchscreen for my desktop OS so you are 100% wrong in asking that we change our work flow, that has been polished over many years with a keyboard and then mouse interface, to what amounts to a mobile UI.

      Further this move is yet another force play by MS to push their mobile UI on to us desktop users. Which they are doing for a number of self interested reasons that offer desktop users nothing in return.

      Yes I have heard that Win8 boots faster. Seriously? That is the only tangible thing that I've seen other than some questionable performance gains from whatever other code updates have been done beyond the UI. And I hate to break it to MS, and its shills and fanboys, but I've had an SSD for years now and boot times are not an issue.

      It is clear that with the 8.1 update, something MS has not done since Windows 3 (wow!) that they are trying to "fix" their self created problem. However they only went part way because were they to actually fix the whole problem they would be undoing their whole plan that benefits them alone.

      --

      Really, I know what I'm doing...Ohhhh, look at the shiny buttons!
    11. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 2

      Microsoft's own internal studies are showing somewhere in the neighborhood of 80% of BSODs on XP/Vista/7 were not due to the OS, but directly due to graphics drivers.

      And yet, many of those drivers are certified by Microsoft, so I have no doubt that the vendor is at fault, but then why did Microsoft certify the driver?

      In reality, though, as a consumer, I really don't care whose fault it is. If my computer is not working, it's not working and the manufacturer and Microsoft can point fingers at each other all day long. Maybe that's why more and more people are paying the Apple tax instead of the Microsoft tax.

    12. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by JDG1980 · · Score: 2

      While as a Windows OS users for' 20 years I don't LOVE 8, I do see where they are trying to head. No Windows 8 is not perfect, but it is the first OS that is trying to bridge the tablet/laptop gap.

      The problem is that for desktop users, and even for most laptop users who don't have touchscreens and basically use their systems as a lightweight desktop, "trying to bridge the tablet/laptop gap" is completely meaningless, and only gets in the way of things and breaks our workflow.

      If Microsoft wants to add these things as an option, fine. I don't even care if they want to make them default. But don't break the things we rely on. Just add a setting to make things look and work the way it did in Windows 7 on the desktop while keeping the underlying kernel improvements.

    13. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      The Metro interface was basically a way to train people to use the same interface as WP8 so they could sell more phones. It's sort-of working, with WP8 now at 3% of the smartphone market, but they've achieved that by Nokia losing money on each phone.

    14. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by bluescrn · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But it's NOT ABOUT THE UI with windows 8. The UI issues are merely a mix of incompetence and misdirection.

      Windows 8/WinRT is all about moving people from the desktop to Metro. From general-purpose computing to 'App Store computing'

      Microsoft are following Apple, pushing as many people as possible into a world where all code must be signed, approved, censored, and taxed at 30%+ by the platform holder. And to do that, they will gradually limit the usefulness of the desktop.

    15. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by spire3661 · · Score: 2

      It takes almost a full work day to apply security updates on Vista from disc to final release.

      --
      Good-bye
    16. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by Draconix · · Score: 4, Informative

      Funny thing, actually, on Win 8 booting faster: it's largely because they quietly turned "Shut Down" into "Hibernate". When you select "Shut Down" in Win 8, you're really hibernating it. The only way to properly shut it down is via the command line. I learned this the hard way as a PC repair tech; I couldn't mount a Windows 8 volume using ntfs-3g, even though I'd "properly" shut it down Win 8. I did some digging and learned the truth, and shut it down via the command line, and was able to mount the drive using ntfs-3g.

      --
      By reading this you acknowledge that you have read it.
    17. Re:So it's going to be downvoted. by osu-neko · · Score: 2

      My point comes down to this, anyone reviewing Window 8 should do so with a touch screen. Never install in a desktop.

      Bingo. Windows 8 does not belong on a desktop computer. Couldn't agree more. But, you already highlighted the problem...

      ...it is the first OS that is trying to bridge the tablet/laptop gap.

      ...which is utterly idiotic.

      ...wait for MS to find a better balance between desktop use of their OS and the portable design...

      I want my desktop OS to be the best desktop OS it can be, and I want my tablet OS to be the best tablet OS it can be. I don't want to settle for an ill-conceived UI which will necessarily sacrifice optimal performance in both areas by trying to find some middle ground between the two, rather than two UIs that do their respective jobs well.

      I don't expect the controls to be identical between a Honda and a Cesna... what madness possesses some people to strive for a foolish consistency?

      --
      "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
    18. Re: So it's going to be downvoted. by DigiShaman · · Score: 3, Informative

      powercfg.exe /hibernate off

      That command (elevated prompt) still works in Windows 8. Now your shutdown button works as such.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  9. Whatever by Sevalecan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, it's true that I don't play a lot of games these days. I spend a lot more time pursuing my goals in life, so I don't have hours and hours to just sit down and immerse myself in all sorts of high end games. I tend to stick to a few that I like and play them from time to time, and DX 11.2 isn't required by any of them, or even the new title(s) that I'm interested in which are still WIP.

    Other than that, I spend the vast majority of my time on Linux with KDE 4. Even moreso with Minecraft working on multiple platforms due to Java. The only new title I'm currently interested in is Planetary Annihilation, which if I recall correctly, will support a Linux port. So I guess my care-o-meter about this announcement is somewhere around zero.

    I will say this, though. The user interface style that was developed, with a task bar and normal start-menu (not this metro start screen crap) was developed and refined over a period of 20+ years or so now. It's available across many operating systems and kernels. It's there because it works rather well. If you ask me, this touch-centric crap that Microsoft is pushing isn't much good beyond tablets and phones, where your primary mode of interface is your finger on a screen.

    So, tablets and phones came along and a new interface style was designed that worked better with almost-exclusively touch-screen interface devices... Then Microsoft decided that *everything* should use this interface. I'm not interested in relearning how to use my Desktop's or Laptop's interfaces. Screw Windows 8. If I found a part of my computer's user interface to be highly inefficient, requiring a redesign to solve the problem, I'd be very aware of it. I hate wasting time. But the stuff before Metro in most cases doesn't give me that impression. Metro does.

    So there's my possibly subjective rant. But hey, the article asked.

  10. Re:Angry by JustOK · · Score: 3, Insightful

    My new high-end HP running Win 7-64 with 32GB RAM takes 5 minutes to boot...

    Don't blame Windows for that.

    --
    rewriting history since 2109
  11. Re:Angry by Golden_Rider · · Score: 4, Funny

    My new high-end HP running Win 7-64 with 32GB RAM takes 5 minutes to boot..

    I know that HP sometimes make it hard to find the power button on their PC, but that is a bit ridiculous.

  12. Re: Angry by ThreeKelvin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If you're running control software similar to what I'm running, it's the cause. My computer went from incredible fast to really slow when I installed my plc and hmi development tools.

  13. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The only thing easier to find on the Internet than Windows 7 drivers is porn.

  14. It will mostly convince me to drop Windows as my m by bfwebster · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think MS is seriously underestimating the reluctance of its base to move off Win7 to Win8 (or even 8.1).

    --
    Bruce F. Webster (brucefwebster.com)
  15. Is there anyone running Windows 8... by Secret+Agent+Man · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...that doesn't want to upgrade to 8.1? It's a free upgrade and, as far as I'm aware, doesn't make any changes for the worse. The only thing I can think of is "local searches are sent to Bing," but since that's easily disabled, I can't think of a reason not to upgrade if you're already running on 8.

  16. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by wadeal · · Score: 2

    From the Microsoft Volume Licensing Brief - Downgrade Rights PDF available here:

    Rights to OEM versions of system software are granted in the OEM License Terms. The OEM License Terms for Windows 8 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems grant downgrade rights. See the full text of the OEM License Terms for the specific downgrade rights

    So please tell me why you need to purchase anything? If you buy a PC with Windows 8 then install Windows 7 and call Microsoft Activation and advise you have downgraded to Windows 7 as allowed as part of the OEM licensing agreement and would like their assistance in activating.

  17. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by wadeal · · Score: 2

    And also what are you talking about can't buy a PC with anything but Windows 8? I just bought 15 laptops from Dell 2 days ago and all will arrive with Windows 7. Nothing special at all, not even discussed with my account manager their. Last 3 orders since Windows 8 have all been the same.

    Just because you walk into whatever department store and only see Windows 8 doesn't mean that the only reality.

  18. Re:Angry by murdocj · · Score: 2

    Because that's not normal. I've been running Windows machines for years and never had one take remotely that long to boot. It's not the O/S.

  19. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by Joce640k · · Score: 2

    call Microsoft Activation and advise you have downgraded to Windows 7 as allowed as part of the OEM licensing agreement and would like their assistance in activating.

    Have you read the OEM licensing agreement?

    You can only 'downgrade' if you purchase Windows 8 Pro, which is, a) Not always an option on consumer machines, b) Much more expensive.

    Ref: http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/downgrade_rights.aspx

    --
    No sig today...
  20. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by tk77 · · Score: 2

    They could make games with all those features if they used OpenGL. But it seems most of them love being fully dependent on Microsoft so much that they just don't consider switching to open apis.

    The last thing game developers want is to make it easier to create native variants of their games for OSX and Linux.. That would be silly.

  21. microsoft will never learn by Cyko_01 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    last time they pulled that stunt with DX10 and vista, game developers began switching to openGL instead of using DX10. what makes them think game devs will use the latest DX that no players are using this time around? Any serious gamer knows enough about computers to not use windows 8

    1. Re:microsoft will never learn by jones_supa · · Score: 2

      Nope.

  22. Re:Angry by dbIII · · Score: 4, Informative

    Give up and look at his posting history. He's a troll that delights in deliberately appearing to be stupid.

  23. Re:Angry by Bert64 · · Score: 2

    But... windows is meant to be easy to use, only linux users have to jump through hoops to optimize the boot process and and....

    --
    http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
  24. Re:Will make them use standards. by WilyCoder · · Score: 3, Insightful

    DirectX is an API, not a standard. It doesnt even have a spec doc like OpenGL does.

  25. Just a minor update for Windows Store apps by execom · · Score: 2

    I think people has misconception of how works Direct3D 11. Nowadays, it just Direct3D 11 with 'feature level' : 9.1 (targeting Direct3D 9), 9.2, etc to 11.1 and 11.2). Thinks a bit like OpenGL 4.1, 4.2 etc..., just some 'extensions'

    The thing is that you can write Direct3D 11 apps running on a Direct3D 9.0 hardware (minus the new features like geometry shader). A bit achievement from Direct3D 10 where only Direct3D 10 only worked for Geforce 8 or better (and AMD Radeon HD). Now it could works with very old hardware and still working on latest hardware/

    Forward to Direct3D 11.1 from Windows 8: It added a couple of features that nobody really uses (3D stereoscopy) and now they added Direct3D 11.2 with tiled extensions (sounds for PowerVR or Adreno chipset for Windows RT tablets). On OpenGLES, it is called GL_QCOM_tiled_rendering. MS wanted to have that on DirectX, so they add to create a new profile '11.2'

    The programmers were able to write Direct3D 11 games for 'Windows Store' and 'Windows Desktop' (for Vista or superior, using the 2010 SDK) as because and new 11.1 and 11.2 minor changes will be able available for 'Windows Store' because it also targets tablets and especially GPU that supports tiled rendering (PowerVR).:

    So now, it is sure that DirectX new features are now exclusive for Windows Store apps, and there will be no more update of DirectX for apps targeting Windows Desktop (the SDK was not updated since 2010 for desktop).

    DirectX for Windows Desktop (games for Steam etc..) is dead for 3 years already. It is now just an API for Windows Store apps . Also making a requirement to Direct3D 11.1 or 11.2 only games is stupid for a developer, since he probably want to support at least 9.1 profile

    --
    I need a Sino-Logic 16. Sogo-7 data-gloves, a GPL stealth module...
  26. Re:Luckily by TyFoN · · Score: 2

    I only need one or two good games.
    99% of the new AAA games for windows are only rehashes of older ones with DRM/DLC/always on.

    Good games like kerbal space program, transport tycoon deluxe, EVE Online runs fine in Linux :)

    Yes, I know a lot of people like bad rehashed "AAA" fps games, but most of them play on console anyway no?

  27. I'm wondering if it's something his company by NotSoHeavyD3 · · Score: 2

    put on his machine. I say this because my work machine takes around 5 minutes to boot into Windows 7 and when it runs it constantly hammers the hard drive. Unfortunately they have us install slow ass anti-virus(IE not Avast), log into the domain and some help desk program.(Which is especially worthless since if something needs fixing on my machine I end up fixing it anyway.) I wonder if Linux works better simply because there's less garbage on it.

    --
    Did you know 80 to 90% of the moderators on slashdot wouldn't recognize a troll even if one dragged them under a bridge.
  28. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

    Linux is a vanishingly tiny market for games. OSX is a bit bigger. Consoles are a lot bigger. What games developers want are games engines that can be easily portable between Windows and at least one major console.

    The XBox (all of them), as name implies, uses DirectX APIs. If you write your game to use DirectX then it becomes almost easy to port it from Windows to XBox or vice versa. Graphics, audio, controls - all of it can remain basically the same. That's a big appeal to developers, and a strong reason to use DirectX.

    The PS3 uses not-OpenGL. It's a PS3-specific API, but it's based on OpenGL, so porting is a little trickier but still practical.

  29. Re:Angry by JDG1980 · · Score: 2

    But... windows is meant to be easy to use, only linux users have to jump through hoops to optimize the boot process and and....

    If you're installing Windows from scratch, you probably don't have to do anything to optimize the boot process. Sure, there are a couple tweaks you can use to minimize memory usage by shutting off unneeded processes, but none of that is actually necessary.

    On OEM systems, you do sometimes have to get rid of a bunch of pre-installed crap to get things to boot in a reasonable amount of time, especially since most of these systems don't have SSDs. But this isn't really a fault of Windows per se – if Linux were the standard, OEMs would load it down with a bunch of crap, too (since they get paid by the crapware vendors to do this). There are programs designed specifically to remove all of this junk from a new OEM system without having to manually wade through it all. You certainly don't have to go to the command line to do it.

  30. Windows XP and integrated graphics by tepples · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's amazing how much DX9 stuff we still see.

    I imagine that companies that ship DirectX 9-compatible game engines are trying not to exclude some PC owners from their market. These potential customers own PCs with Windows XP, PCs with older video cards that don't support all the new features of DirectX 10 let alone 11, and PCs with no video card at all whose integrated graphics can't easily make use of new DirectX features.

  31. Again? by saleenS281 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This question has been asked on slashdot with literally every release of Windows that I can remember back to at least 95. Yes, people will complain, no it won't hurt Microsoft's sales. No, people won't stop buying their product because getting a major new feature requires you to upgrade the whole OS. I eagerly await this exact same thread two years from now.

  32. Re:Will make them use standards. by jones_supa · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This. Why does every app have to ship their own DirectX runtime libraries? Can't they be included with Windows?

    How is the issue handled with OpenGL?

  33. So you're typing on your Surface... by Myria · · Score: 2

    ...but are you using your browser from within Metro? I bet most people don't.

    --
    "Screw Sun, cross-platform will never work. Let's move on and steal the Java language." - Visual J++ Product Manager
  34. Windows 8.1 takes measures to block RT jailbreak by Myria · · Score: 2

    With Windows RT 8.1, Microsoft actually took measures to lock out the jailbreak that allowed running unsigned--and Desktop-based--code on Windows RT. I think that this more than anything shows what you're talking about: Microsoft severely cares that you're using their device designed to showcase Metro to run desktop applications.

    By the way, we already have good progress on jailbreaking RT 8.1.

    --
    "Screw Sun, cross-platform will never work. Let's move on and steal the Java language." - Visual J++ Product Manager
  35. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by spire3661 · · Score: 2

    Vanishingly tiny? what does that even mean? Linux gaming is growing by leaps and bounds right now. I can go buy OTS hardware, pop Linux on it and be playing AAA games on it in hours.

    --
    Good-bye
  36. Is Windows 8 destroying PC gaming on purpose? by tepples · · Score: 2

    My point comes down to this, anyone reviewing Window 8 should do so with a touch screen. Never install in a desktop. If you are doing a gaming computer, wait for MS to find a better balance between desktop use of their OS and the portable design, which metro is intended for.

    In other words, Windows 8 was intended to get PC gamers to buy a touch laptop and an Xbox One instead of a desktop PC.

  37. Re:So it's going to be irrelevant by osu-neko · · Score: 2

    What games developers want are games engines that can be easily portable between Windows and at least one major console.

    ...and what PC gamers want is a great PC game, not a crappy console port. It's somehow comforting to know that DirectX is only an advantage for people developing games I have no interest in playing.

    --
    "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
  38. Re:Angry by dbIII · · Score: 2

    Thank you for an example of your trolling.