Normally, I don’t deviate from web-specific discussions on this site, but I saw something yesterday that REALLY caught my eye: the new demo video for Windows 8.  Watch the video below (it’s ok – I can wait; it’s worth watching once)

Done? Great!  Now, show of hands; how many of you are legitimately excited by this? I know I am.  It’s no secret that while I’m not a person that deeply hates apple (I have an iPhone after all) that I prefer Windows because of a few specific areas (mainly price and gaming functionality).  Anything your Mac can do my PC can do.  Not necessarily better, but it can be done.

Windows 8 is really exciting for me.  The tiles are all built with Javascript and HTML5 (YES!) and the windows 8 “apps” are as well; basically this gives anyone with a semi-competent knowledge in web languages a decent shot at writing a really useful app, including guys like me who are specifically “front-end” designers.  I’ve also always had an affinity for the Metro UI (think Zune player and Windows Phone 7 interface).  The idea that one system can run on any device is exciting to me as well.

One thing I keep hearing in comment threads (and on other blogs) is how it’s a mistake to allow legacy support for older softwares to run on the tablet.  Basically, from what I can tell, people either want Windows as they know and love it, or the tiled touchscreen interface. They think that trying to have the best of both worlds is just a mistake waiting to happen.

I disagree.

I think that you NEED legacy support for businesses to even second glance at Windows 8.  No business will use the tiled start screen, and having the familiar workhorse that is Windows powering behind the scenes is a smart move.  Having the “tiled” apps alongside power user favorites like Excel and Photoshop allows you to truly get the best of both worlds.

Plus, having a machine that functions the same, even with different interfaces, is appealing to me.  For starters, my laptop will remain more like Windows Vintage, whereas a tablet and phone running the same software (and having access to the same apps and files) is appealing for work on the go.  I have one technology web that I can access at any time, but with the appropriate interface for the appropriate needs.

I welcome the new version of Windows, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the demo turns out when they release it.  Microsoft has never come out this early with a “sneak peek” at their new designs, but seeing what the prototypes have in store can only mean that the finished product will be that much cooler.

Related articles

• Dismissing Windows 8 as an iPad rival is premature (slashgear.com)
• Windows 8 and Its Incredibly Cool New Touch Interface [Video] (gizmodo.com)
• Windows 8 finally demoed: Is it just a fancy skin or is it innovative? (intomobile.com)
• Windows 8 revealed: Tablet-friendly UI, HTML5 apps [Video] (slashgear.com)
• Windows 8 Previewed At D9 (tech.slashdot.org)

There are a lot of fixes for Alpha PNG transparancy in Internet Explorer 6.  They all have their pros and cons, but I love this one because (unlike some other fixes) it covers every image at once.  That way, you can put in a lot of transparent images and get a massive fix for all.

<!--[if gte IE 5.5000]>
<script language="JavaScript">
function correctPNG()
{
   for(var i=0; i<document.images.length; i++)
   {
      var img = document.images[i]
      var imgName = img.src.toUpperCase()

      if (imgName.substring(imgName.length-3, imgName.length) == "PNG")
      {
         var imgID = (img.id) ? "id='" + img.id + "' " : ""
         var imgClass = (img.className) ? "class='" + img.className + "' " : ""
         var imgTitle = (img.title) ? "title='" + img.title + "' " : "title='" + img.alt + "' "
         var imgStyle = "display:inline-block;" + img.style.cssText

         if (img.align == "left") imgStyle = "float:left;" + imgStyle
         if (img.align == "right") imgStyle = "float:right;" + imgStyle
         if (img.parentElement.href) imgStyle = "cursor:hand;" + imgStyle

         var strNewHTML = "<span " + imgID + imgClass + imgTitle
             + " style="" + "width:" + img.width + "px; height:" + img.height + "px;"
             + imgStyle + ";"      + "filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader"
             + "(src='" + img.src + "', sizingMethod='scale');"></span>"

         img.outerHTML = strNewHTML
         i = i-1
      }
   }
}
window.attachEvent("onload", correctPNG);
</script>
<![endif]-->

The only downside: any transparent parts of the image will not be clickable for hyperlink purposes.  If you have a white logo on a transparent background, for example, you can only click on the white parts, and not the image as a whole.