Windows 8... - Page 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spark771 

  It wouldn't be difficult for Microsoft to add the option to disable the new interface and go back to the regular start menu for the users who want nothing to do with touchscreens.

Exactly.

Or maybe, make the new interface as your screensaver, so it displays status updates while you're not working.

And their ad campaign doesn't help either. Makes me cringe. Doesn't really explain whats so good about this new interface, just sing and dance around.

The new UI was made to implement a platform unification across multiple different form factor devices, which is why there isn't much willingness from Microsoft to made Classic Desktop a main option.

People should keep in mind that as long as everything is customizable enough to enable users to restore usability enough to make it work just like previous versions, it's still good. We aren't forced to use whatever new UI or features come by default.

It's not hard to navigate Win8 with just kb + mouse. I haven't felt like I've lost out by not have a touchscreen, touch pad, or gesture-sensitive mouse.

It's just a slightly different UI. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roller 

 We aren't forced to use whatever new UI or features come by default.

I guess thats what MS is afraid about. If they give the choice, and the new UI is not well received, they'll lose even before the race starts. The default desktop is already diminishing.

Its a big challenge, they need to have the consumer take the decision of embracing their UI. Forcing doesn't help, not when there are other options.

Thats why I don't like their ads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric_C 

It's not hard to navigate Win8 with just kb + mouse. I haven't felt like I've lost out by not have a touchscreen, touch pad, or gesture-sensitive mouse.

 

It's just a slightly different UI. 

Exactly. But do you find it an improvement? Or anything special? 

I'm just a bit skeptical about the mind set I can sense.  The most common response I see is, 'Oh, its not as big a hindrance as I thought', but its still not "Oh, this is nice, I like it!". 

Modern UI is meant for content playback, not content creation, at this point, and that's a main issue with any but domestic users. When a new start menu was introduced on Vista (even on XP), Microsoft gave users 2 OSes to get used to the new start menu, then they removed the classic start menu on 7, but masses of users didn't like it and restored the classic start menu. Microsoft went one step further this time and removed the start menu altogether. Again, it has been restored and working with more functionality than it originally had.

Quote:

Originally Posted by proton007 

 

Exactly. But do you find it an improvement? Or anything special? 

I'm just a bit skeptical about the mind set I can sense.  The most common response I see is, 'Oh, its not as big a hindrance as I thought', but its still not "Oh, this is nice, I like it!". 

 

I don't know. I use my desktop strictly for gaming; since I'm not a student and I'm not a freelancer there just isn't a need for me to use it for anything else. As such, I don't have a lot of random add-ons for my desktop, and I'm not mindful of boot-up times and all that.

Reviews consistently say Win8 is faster. I trust them, but I can't say from my own experience.

At US$ 40 (and S$ 50) to ugprade to a prettier, more integrated Windows is a very easy pill to swallow, though. The Win8-specific apps are well designed to look beautiful and seem to do a good job of display information well. 

I like Windows 8. I don't regret upgrading. And I'm happy to learn the new UI in anticipation of Windows Phone 8, which I'll have to use along with my first Windows phone later this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roller 

Modern UI is meant for content playback, not content creation, at this point, and that's a main issue with any but domestic users. When a new start menu was introduced on Vista (even on XP), Microsoft gave users 2 OSes to get used to the new start menu, then they removed the classic start menu on 7, but masses of users didn't like it and restored the classic start menu. Microsoft went one step further this time and removed the start menu altogether. Again, it has been restored and working with more functionality than it originally had.

Agree.

I'm still not sure why didn't MS use the Win Phone OS on these devices? It would make a lot of sense. They already have an Office version for that. Its pure mobile interface, nothing confusing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by proton007 

 

Agree.

I'm still not sure why didn't MS use the Win Phone OS on these devices? It would make a lot of sense. They already have an Office version for that. Its pure mobile interface, nothing confusing.

They do use Windows Phone, both 7.8 and 8, but then they muck up things by having released Windows RT, which belongs on the same device branch. And since all those share UI similarities with Windows 8, it makes for a not so good segmentation mess that will be a nightmare for uninformed users.

I think Windows Phone should simply have all Windows RT features embedded into it, and become similar to how Android works mildly different on phones and tablets, and leave Windows 8 as a desktop OS that could even have a small UI portion dedicated to device/file/settings syncing, which could even be as fullscreen Modern UI app, but they decided to go the opposite way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roller 

 

They do use Windows Phone, both 7.8 and 8, but then they muck up things by having released Windows RT, which belongs on the same device branch. And since all those share UI similarities with Windows 8, it makes for a not so good segmentation mess that will be a nightmare for uninformed users.

 

I think Windows Phone should simply have all Windows RT features embedded into it, and become similar to how Android works mildly different on phones and tablets, and leave Windows 8 as a desktop OS that could even have a small UI portion dedicated to device/file/settings syncing, which could even be as fullscreen Modern UI app, but they decided to go the opposite way.

 Exactly.

They could've gone this way.   Windows Light (only mobile) for tablets and phones, uses the same internals with some changes in the UI. Windows Mobile would be a better name, but MS already has bad memories associated with that name.

Windows Pro, the good old windows, for all other uses.

Also, from a developer perspective, its pretty messy. Develop the same app for 3 platforms? Not unless they have a much easier platform (and now there's two of those already).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric_C 

 

I don't know. I use my desktop strictly for gaming; 

As do I.  But Win 7 is rock stable for gaming.

As a matter of fact, I use Win7 only for gaming. Linux is my primary desktop. 

The trick to improving usability on Windows 8 is to heavily use hotkeys.

To shutdown my system, I either go to start menu and shutdown or simply Alt+F4 and shutdown, no faffing about Charms Bar or any of the unnecessarily convoluted new methods.