56 replies to this topic 3 votes

[CSharp.]

FalseAgent, on 14 March 2012 - 17:38, said:

It's okay to write about how things can be better with metro, but writing an article about ditching metro (and subsequently, bringing the start menu back) is a no-go.

What's wrong with discussing whether it even makes sense to combine a tablet with a desktop UI? Of all people, even Paul Thurrott, is questioning that decision.

Paul Thurrott said:

this two-headed, Frankenstein-like welding of two completely different user experiences?

I don't know.

And I think he's right about this at least:

Quote

Ultimately, I think the thing we all need to realize is that Windows 8 is primarily a consumer play, or at least an attempt to thwart or at least slow iPad adoption across the board.

[xWhiplash]

Can somebody please, for once, explain to my why everybody is all of the sudden saying the desktop UI sucks and NEEDS to evolve NOW?

What is so horribly wrong with the desktop UI that it absolutely NEEDS to evolve NOW, right this second? The fact that it is (basically) the same UI design since Windows 95? Why does that make it bad?

It is what I am used to. I grew up with Windows 95 and older. It is what I know without even thinking how to do something. I am a geek, and always need the latest and greatest, but I will not be getting Windows 8.

There is nothing wrong with the desktop UI. It is more evolved than Metro is (ON THE DESKTOP), I guess people are just blinded to see that Windows 95-7 have better UI than Windows 8 (ON THE DESKTOP).

I would rather use Windows 95 than Windows 8 on a desktop computer, because I prefer the existing UI design on the desktop.

Again, I said it as much as I could above, but I am talking about Windows 8 on the DESKTOP. I think Metro is amazing for tablets and phones. It makes sense on those devices. I do not have my phone or tablet on three monitors while working on every program I have installed side by side.

[amnesia-]

Wyn6, on 14 March 2012 - 17:03, said:

1. So, what you have here, on Neowin, are a lot of geeks who will tell non-geeks to not purchase 8 or that it is seismic fail, or Metro sucks, whatever. In my opinion, this is the wrong way to go about it. Give them the facts and give them the true pros and cons, let them try it for themselves, form their own opinions and let them make a decision.

2. Microsoft doesn't really have to worry. Observing various opinions on 8 web wide, it appears, to me at least, that there is as much love for 8 as there is hate with most of that hate being techies. Someone else's observations may be different of course.

1. I have win8 installed on one of my notebooks. I gave it to my friends (about 10, not at the same time), this is windows 8. Use it. Most of them said that it's ugly and/or boring. Some of them accidentally found corners. They said it's a stupid idea. I showed them around, how you do this and that, and DID NOT tell them that I hate win8 as it is now. Most of them din't like it. Some hated it. Some said they'd use it if they had to (@work). Those people don't care about the new kernel, new copy dialog, new task manager, faster boot times, etc. It's UX that counts for them. And win8 UX IS horrible.

2. Can you provide any links? And no, Paul Thurrott doesn't count.


P.S. I sent this to those friends a few days ago: http://www.theverge....ktop-ui-concept

You know what? They really, really liked it. Why? Beacause it's similar to what they're used to, but it's still something new, something fresh. And this is how MS should make the transition from the classic desktop to metro.

[jakem1]

CJEric, on 14 March 2012 - 17:45, said:

What's wrong with discussing whether it even makes sense to combine a tablet with a desktop UI? Of all people, even Paul Thurrott, is questioning that decision.

You can discuss it if you like but what's the point? Microsoft aren't going to reverse four or more years of planning and development because of a few comments on Neowin. At this point you have to either like it or lump it.

The Stark, on 14 March 2012 - 18:00, said:

1. I have win8 installed on one of my notebooks. I gave it to my friends (about 10, not at the same time), this is windows 8. Use it. Most of them said that it's ugly and/or boring. Some of them accidentally found corners. They said it's a stupid idea. I showed them around, how you do this and that, and DID NOT tell them that I hate win8 as it is now. Most of them din't like it. Some hated it. Some said they'd use it if they had to (@work). Those people don't care about the new kernel, new copy dialog, new task manager, faster boot times, etc. It's UX that counts for them. And win8 UX IS horrible.

2. Can you provide any links? And no, Paul Thurrott doesn't count.


P.S. I sent this to those friends a few days ago: http://www.theverge....ktop-ui-concept

You know what? They really, really liked it. Why? Beacause it's similar to what they're used to, but it's still something new, something fresh. And this is how MS should make the transition from the classic desktop to metro.

So your anecdotes are worth more than his anecdotes? Right.

[Dot Matrix]

xWhiplash, on 14 March 2012 - 17:55, said:

Can somebody please, for once, explain to my why everybody is all of the sudden saying the desktop UI sucks and NEEDS to evolve NOW?

PCs are evolving... Tablets, All in ones, Transformers, Ultrabooks, Kinect for PC.... The time has come where we need a new OS that can adapt with the user to different devices. The UI of Windows past has been denounced by consumers of these devices, which as been made pretty clear by any tech blog/news site you read.

[+TCLN Ryster]

Hum, on 14 March 2012 - 15:41, said:

Gotta agree.

Windows 8 fans please remember the reverse:

Don't act like something is wrong with the people who don't want Windows 8.

We all have the right to accept or reject any new product.

Then reject it and move on... it's the constant moaning over and over that annoys

[CSharp.]

Dot Matrix, on 14 March 2012 - 18:09, said:

The UI of Windows past has been denounced by consumers of these devices, which as been made pretty clear by any tech blog/news site you read.

And Metro has taken the world by storm (on the phone)?

[amnesia-]

jakem1, on 14 March 2012 - 18:03, said:

You can discuss it if you like but what's the point? Microsoft aren't going to reverse four or more years of planning and development because of a few comments on Neowin. At this point you have to either like it or lump it.



So your anecdotes are worth more than his anecdotes? Right.

Listen, I'm the first one to admit that I'm a Microsoft fanboy. I love this company, I love their products, I enjoy using them. But not Win8. To me, it's horrible. And with more metro apps on the way, switching from metro to desktop and back to metro again, is going to become even worse. If you like this abomination, fine, use it, enjoy it. I don't mind. We're all different, and like different things. And would you care to explain, who's anecdotes did you have in mind? Thurrott's or Wyn6's?

[Dot Matrix]

CJEric, on 14 March 2012 - 18:14, said:

And Metro has taken the world by storm (on the phone)?

Metro hasn't been denounced on the phone.

[freak180]

Dot Matrix, on 14 March 2012 - 18:33, said:

Metro hasn't been denounced on the phone.

Well it hasn't taken off on the phones. Honestly you could prolly make a desktop OS with Android ICS compare to the windows phone 7 OS

[migo]

xWhiplash, on 14 March 2012 - 17:55, said:

Can somebody please, for once, explain to my why everybody is all of the sudden saying the desktop UI sucks and NEEDS to evolve NOW?

What is so horribly wrong with the desktop UI that it absolutely NEEDS to evolve NOW, right this second? The fact that it is (basically) the same UI design since Windows 95? Why does that make it bad?

If the iPad hadn't been a huge success, and were just a hobby project like the Apple TV, then your question would make sense. As is, desktops are becoming less popular, and are going to be replaced by tablets. MS was actually working on this since 2004, but quite slowly. Some of the changes in Windows 7 were actually to make it more touch friendly compared to Vista and XP, so MS had already been working on unifying touch and keyboard/mouse UIs. The iPhone and iPad success just spurred them to make the drastic changes much more quickly. That MS was already working on it shows that they knew eventually the shift to tablets would happen, and Apple just accelerated the market shift.

Desktops have been steadily supplanted by laptops, and laptops are getting supplanted by tablets. That's why the change is going to happen, and now.

[BajiRav]

jakem1, on 14 March 2012 - 16:03, said:

IMO there are two types of people who dislike Windows 8:

• The people who explain what they dislike and why they feel it doesn't work for them.
  
• The people who have nothing useful to add other than "it's ****", "burn it with fire", "fail", etc.

People in the first category are entitled to their opinions as they've clearly thought about them. People in the second category are haters and trolls and their opinions and posts are worthless.

Unfortunately, every Windows 8 thread on this site is full of people like Techguy77 who falls clearly into the second category and just wastes everyone's time with ignorant posts and there are very few posts like the OP's that are worth reading. Unfortunately the mods don't seem to care that Neowin is becoming a second rate site and they're happy to let the haters take over.

well said.

freak180, on 14 March 2012 - 20:27, said:

Well it hasn't taken off on the phones. Honestly you could prolly make a desktop OS with Android ICS compare to the windows phone 7 OS

It may look like WP but will still run like ass i.e. Android. Remember, people skinned WM to extreme but in the end the underlying ugly mess still bubbled up pretty quickly. Android is no different.