Does this mean we get a second shot at Win8? The first one didn't go over too well. lol

Shoot at the inter-ocular region. Double tap.

Nah, someone  at MS just forgot to fill in correct publish date for that article.

In my opinion, I wish Microsoft didn't release early previews.  People make too many assumptions based on what they initially see and fail to realize changes will most likely be made.

With that being said, I'm excited to try the next release.

Yeah, I was all over the Consumer Preview when it was first released, but it sucked too hard for me to use.

But do seem to incorporate user feedback, at least in some cases (like when they improved the awful gray-gray visuals of the new Visual Studio).

How about feedback re: Start Button and the non-Metro desktop? Think they're listening? I don't. 

It sure doesn't look it. 

I don't remember seeing this posted but if it has I'm sorry for doing it again and will remove it if asked.

May want to check this out as it will affect any hopes we had for a start button and menu.

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-working-to-kill-windows-8-start-button-hacks

Downloading the ISO 64bit now from here:

http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/windows-8-release-preview-now-ready-you-194527

If Neil B fixes some sort of Skinstudio for it... We´ll live with it

[quote who="DaveBax" reply="8" id="3164988"]I don't remember seeing this posted but if it has I'm sorry for doing it again and will remove it if asked.
May want to check this out as it will affect any hopes we had for a start button and menu.
http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-working-to-kill-windows-8-start-button-hacks[/quote]

Removing 'legacy' code that hacks can revive isn't the same as someone adding a 'shell' which replaces the function.

The latter is not affected by legacy code removal...

EG, with Litestep one could delete 'explorer.exe' and PROVIDED a launcher was set to tell windows to use 'litestep.exe' there was no drama at all.

If not, you'd load shell-less and you'd need to launch taskman.exe [not part of the shell] to find and start the litestep.exe process.

....but running 'naked' [without a shell] was always.....entertaining....

Aero-Lite is still an msstyle, see here: http://winfuture.de/news,61990.html

so it can be skinned, at least without WindowBlinds.

well, you'll would have to create all shortcuts for the menu on your own, as there is probably no longer a start menu folder structure. no big deal, if you aren't using hundreds of apps.

i wonder if it would just be enough to set explorer.exe as shell (i guess it no longer is) to directly log in to the desktop.

the thought of using explorer.exe as an alternative shell is a little ironic

has anybody tried this yet?

SharpE's setshell.exe utility works with 64bit Windows, so maybe someone with Windows 8 on a virtual machine could download the non-installer version, extract the folder and try to eliminate Metro: http://sourceforge.net/projects/sharpe/files/SharpE%200.8/

moshi...the prospect ofd using an alternate shell was/is extreme....as all that'll be required is a third-party interface ...not a 'hack' but a shell 'extension' application....