151 replies to this topic 1 votes

[XX55XX]

Metro is broken on the desktop. Here's how I would fix it:

1. Put a search box in the top right hand corner by the user's avatar.
2. Include "shut down" and "restart" options in the menu that pops up in the top right corner when you click on the username.
3. Give every Metro application a big X in the top right hand corner so that Metro applications can be closed more easily.
4. Make it easier to access both the Charm bar and the application switching bar for better multitasking and such.
5. Have the tiles be arranged in such a fashion so that the user scrolls up and down, not left to right.
6. Create defined boundaries between groups of tiles. Every group of tiles should be a page, not a continuous flowing piece that keeps going when you scroll right.
7. For Metro IE10, put the address bar at the top, not the bottom.
8. Make sure that desktop Metro apps still have menus when big productivity apps (like Adobe Premiere, Microsoft Visual Studio) get ported.
9. For the sake of consistency, port over every Windows application over to Metro. That includes the Control Panel, Explorer, etc.

[Nashy]

I'd remove it.

[XX55XX]

Nashy, on 16 March 2012 - 01:36, said:

I'd remove it.

Unfortunately, Microsoft is going to force Metro on us. I doubt any whining is going to do anything.

[warwagon]

Here we go again, Oh, here we go again.

I don’t know if this is for me, Am I at the wrong party? Cuz If I am, I’m not gonna leave Cuz it’s screamin my name!

--- Joey McIntyre - Here We Go

[Stetson]

1) Bring back the start button almost exactly as it existed in the Developer Preview builds.
2) Have Metro apps show up in the taskbar, or at least have this be an option.


Basically my issue is with the reliance on mouse gestures / hot corners as the primary method for some very fundamental parts of using the OS. I've been using Win8 as a primary OS for a week now and I still find them awkward.

[Doli]

Quote

5. Have the tiles be arranged in such a fashion so that the user scrolls up and down, not left to right.

Left to right is better than up and down.

[Nashy]

Doli, on 16 March 2012 - 02:49, said:

Left to right is better than up and down.

Disagree. I would prefer to have them scroll up and down too.

[ChronKee]

I dunno, think title should be "how would you "CHANGE" metro" on the desktop".

I'm not saying I'm a fan... it's a mixed bag. I don't really care for the desktop environment but managing VM custers on W8 Server in our test evironments from my slate is pretty slick.

Ultimately? It should be the users choice. The server management piece is GREAT from a mobile platform but from my laptop i find it clunky. Let me manage my devices how I choose and mr microsoft, you've got it JUST right.

BTW, LONG time lurker, but felt it was time to start posting. Flame away neowinians, I'm sure I deserve my newbie flogging.

[Luke777]

I could use the taskbar in Metro and like to see it there, in the final version of Win8

But the best would be an option in windows install to choose Metro or Desktop.

Metro = as it is now

Desktop = Metro opens on the Desktop.

[Wyn6]

XX55XX, on 16 March 2012 - 01:20, said:

Metro is broken on the desktop. Here's how I would fix it:

1. Put a search box in the top right hand corner by the user's avatar.
2. Include "shut down" and "restart" options in the menu that pops up in the top right corner when you click on the username.
3. Give every Metro application a big X in the top right hand corner so that Metro applications can be closed more easily.
4. Make it easier to access both the Charm bar and the application switching bar for better multitasking and such.
5. Have the tiles be arranged in such a fashion so that the user scrolls up and down, not left to right.
6. Create defined boundaries between groups of tiles. Every group of tiles should be a page, not a continuous flowing piece that keeps going when you scroll right.
7. For Metro IE10, put the address bar at the top, not the bottom.
8. Make sure that desktop Metro apps still have menus when big productivity apps (like Adobe Premiere, Microsoft Visual Studio) get ported.
9. For the sake of consistency, port over every Windows application over to Metro. That includes the Control Panel, Explorer, etc.

As someone who likes the Metro design language and the direction of Windows 8 in general, I wouldn't call it broken. However, it can certainly do with a few changes, adjustments, tweaks and polish.

1. A search box isn't a bad idea but I'm not quite sure about this one. Universal search is one of Windows 8's strongest points. I think searching by simply typing would be a tic faster. Albeit, a search box only requires a single drag and click.

2. I can certainly go along with this one.

3. I can go along with an "x" in the corner. But, I'm not opposed to closing out the apps by right-clicking the thumbnail in the corner. Though I find myself drag-closing them more than the right-click option

4. I was thinking about this. Maybe dragging the mouse to the bottom of the screen causes these menus to pop up. Or, right-clicking as you do in apps. Perhaps, moving the Charms Bar to the bottom of the screen and Preview Pane to the top. Or, alternatively making the Charms Bar and Preview Pane show by default with the option to Auto-hide them like the current taskbar. In the same vein the All Apps button can go on Preview Pane. It doesn't seem right at the bottom as the sole button there.

5. I definitely don't want to see tiles scrolling up and down. That's cool for my phone but would seem out of place for a computer screen. I get that it would have similar behavior to websites but... I don't know. I think this is all right as is. However, I'd like to see being able to change the colors of tiles and/or specific groups of tiles.

I can find things on my Start Screen easy enough and in the groups I have them in. But, I could see the Work/Productivity group being all red, for example. Entertainment being all green, and so on. Not sure if that really improves anything or not.

6. Not sure if I get you here. There are boundaries/borders between groups. Maybe I'm not understanding what you're saying.

7. I, personally, prefer the bar at the bottom and the option to hide it or keep it showing. Gives me more real estate.

8. I think those apps will have to have some sort of menu. Now, whether that's drop-down or an equally new paradigm as the Metro UI, I don't know. Something similar to the new office 15 apps menus. I could see something like that.

9. I fully agree here. All menus, system tools, accessories, and the desktop need to be Metro-fied. I have a hunch they may be working on this. But, it may be a matter of whether they have the time or not. I hope so.

10. Open desktop programs appear as individual thumbnails in the Preview Pane if you have the desktop snapped. If you click a thumbnail it jumps straight into that app. Which is nice. But, if the desktop is not snapped, only a thumbnail of the desktop shows. What I would like to see is each program that's open in the desktop to show up as individual thumbnails when you bring up the preview pane just like Metro apps. I think this would make multitasking quicker.

I didn't offer my own list so much as I amended yours. Again, I really like 8. Been using it as my main OS since it dropped. That doesn't mean that I don't know some things could use a bit of shine or another coat of paint.

I understand that this is a beta and things will change and I expect them to. If MS makes all of, some of, or none of the changes above, it won't matter for me. As long as the proper polish is put on the OS and the apps are up to snuff with or exceed their mobile counterparts, I'll be good.

Yo ho ho! A Metro life for me. Wait... that didn't come off right.

[migo]

1 and 2 couldn't hurt.

3 is a bad idea, that just takes up space that could be used for something more important, not to mention mousing over there could easily bring up the charms bar. Now being able to close an app from the charms bar instead of having to drag down would be nice.

4, it's pretty easy to access them already. The corners are dead easy to get to on purpose but pretty hard to get there accidentally, as long as you don't stick some UI element in the corner.

5, aside from more consistency with Windows Phone, I don't see how this is of any benefit.

6, again, no benefit, although what you're describing is more like the new Xbox 360 dashboard, so that wouldn't hurt for consistency's sake.

7, I like it better at the bottom, you just want it at the top because that's what you're used to.

8, not something MS can control, that's up to devs.

9, yeah, the best thing for Metro is to have everything Metro so you don't need to go into the legacy mode if you don't want to.

[TCA]

XX55XX, on 16 March 2012 - 01:37, said:

Unfortunately, Microsoft is going to force Metro on us. I doubt any whining is going to do anything.

They may force it, but doesn't mean you HAVE to use Metro at all.

[+devHead]

I have to say that I am starting to get used to the Start screen, but I still installed Start8 from Stardock and think it's the best of both worlds. I unchecked the option to show all Apps when just using the menu, and I've moved Office and Desktop applications to the left so they're the first thing I see. I do think the Explorer ribbon needs to be updated to look more Metro-ish; some of the icons they're using are from XP I think.

[myxomatosis]

Microsoft won't listen to us users, so I suggest we talk with our money. Don't buy Windows 8... when they realise this joke of an OS is a flop, they'll start to listen to what us users need and want.

[Mando]

myxomatosis, on 16 March 2012 - 09:19, said:

Microsoft won't listen to us users, so I suggest we talk with our money. Don't buy Windows 8... when they realise this joke of an OS is a flop, they'll start to listen to what us users need and want.

nice idea and would work if it wasnt for every PC will be shipped with W8 COAs/OEM and as a result the "figures" will show it as a success for the majority (sadly us private builders and power users are the minority)