Windows 8 Simulators and Skins

Feature 4, Simulators, Skins, UI - By admin on Monday, November 14, 2011 - 09:31

Fancy a Look at Windows 8 (Without having to use it as an OS?)

As we have previously reported, you can download the developers' preview of Windows 8 to run on your pc or laptop. Anyone can do this; you don't have to be a developer to download it.

The developer preview comes in two sizes: 32bit and 64bit and both come in a version with or without developer tools. The following page has links to these and information on how to install the OS.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516
However, as this is still a beta version and still has some technical issues to sort out, many of you could be, naturally, concerned about using Windows 8 as the OS on your machines.

Of course, you could run a dual boot system, and Microsoft provides a handy link to an article by Lifehacker, showing you just how to do that here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/09/16/running-windows-8-developer-preview-in-a-virtual-environment.aspx

But that is, a bit err, technical for many of us. So here are some handy solutions if you just want a taste, an idea of what the Windows 8 OS will look and feel like on your machine.

Simulators

The Windows 8 Simulator Beta runs in its own window and allows you a 'virtual' experience of Windows 8. Granted, this is not a satisfying or as realistic as the full developer preview version, but it does give you an idea of what Windows 8 will look and feel like.

You can download the Simulator here: http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/25722-windows_8_simulator_beta

Skins

Of if you just want to try out the look of Windows 8, in particular the Metro style desktop, there are some skins you can download to make Windows 7 look like Windows 8.

The Windows 8 UX Pack 3.5 from (http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/23602-windows_8_ux_pack) and the more recent Pulmon 2.0 (http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/24024-pulmon) both offer you the chance to do this.

However, as these are both just skins, changing the look of Windows 7 to Windows 8, they won't give you the true feeling of Windows 8. They are, however, easy to uninstall and will give you an idea, at least, of what to expect with Windows 8.

Have you tried the Windows 8 Developers Preview? If so, let us know what you think.

What do you think of the Windows 8 Simulators and Skins?