The preview is different now, that's for sure. The new Poser versions use shaders not just for rendereing, but also for the preview. That's why it looks different, the old preview used just the texture but not the nodes. Your models eyes look glassy because they have glassy shaders. I find the new preview mode better than the old one, because I can spot more problems before rendering, but I fully understand that you will have to get used to it first.

About gamma correction - learn to use it right and you will get more realistic renders. Without gc you will need much to much light for your scenes, and that will show. Search for BagginsBills postings about gc to get some explanations. If you rerender a scene from Poser 7, which does not have gc in Poser 2012, you will have to redo the lights, because gc makes them stronger, though. Learn to use the new features!

A ship in port is safe; but that is not what ships are built for.
Sail out to sea and do new things.
-"Amazing Grace" Hopper

Avatar image of me done by Chidori.