The Windows 8 tutorial

[Defcon]

It just shows a tiny image of a window with an arrow and the words 'move your mouse to the corners'.

Seriously, this is it ?!! Unless I'm missing something, this has got to be a joke. No mention of the different items in the charms bar, Metro vs Desktop, the task switcher, new Start screen, how to close an app, dock an app, where the old functions are located in Win 8 etc etc etc.

I would have expected all the above in an interactive tutorial that guides users. How is this supposed to help anyone at all?

[Buendia]

I think that it ought to be a short tutorial, just like the one that they already implemented. It shows some basic concepts new to Windows 8 and users are expected

to learn further by themselves.

If it lasted too long, it would annoy users (it would annoy me, at least).

[theyarecomingforyou]

I agree. The included "tutorial" is remarkably lacking and will do little to help new users. People underestimate how difficult it is to use computers for the first time, particularly for the older generation. That said, most Windows users will have little trouble adapting. It will take a while to figure out where everything is but you don't really need a tutorial - the iPad doesn't have one and it's been a runaway success.

[Vice]

Obviously you're computing wrong. It's all your fault for not knowing how to use something, not Microsofts.

/s

Seriously though, the tutorial is a joke and I was surprised while watching it that it didn't show anything else. I was waiting for it to move on from the arrow in the top right thing and was shocked when that was it.

[Defcon]

So a new user runs Win 8 for the first time and they are looking at the Start screen. How will they figure out how to go to the desktop? The 'tutorial' is an animated gif shown on 1st run, it is frankly a total afterthought.

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

Maybe they're preparing a video tutorial which won't come out until the actual retail release, something they could easily show on the first startup, then later if needed.

[The King of GnG]

Heh, the designers ruling Microsoft right now had little time to manage a tutorial for their "wonderful", "beautiful", "fantastic" app-cr*p Metro UI interface so they delegated the thing to the programmers. Which were so disgusted by the new direction taken by Windows 8 that let the users judge the OS quality just by looking at the first screens.

It's a feature, not a bug...

[Defcon]

Maybe they're preparing a video tutorial which won't come out until the actual retail release, something they could easily show on the first startup, then later if needed.

No. The RTM image is already being installed by OEM's.

[devHead]

I have to agree, the 'one thing' tutorial is pretty lame. Especially considering the following:

1. The text says "Move your mouse into any corner." But it shows a cursor only moving to the top right-hand corner over and over and over. Are we for real?
   
2. No indication that in the bottom left-hand corner is where the Start screen also is, like where the Start button was before they decided to remove it. Really? I think removing the button is enough if they are bent on hiding any reference to something being down there. But seriously, c'mon.
   
3. Well, "any corner" is somewhat of a mis-direction. If you have no Metro-style apps running, moving your mouse to the upper left-hand corner does nothing. At all.
   

But thanks for the short, marginally useless tutorial Microsoft!

[Brandon Live Veteran]

I wouldn't call it a "tutorial." It quickly introduces the two new concepts that are core to the experience. Edge swipes (on touch devices only), and hot corners (if a mouse is present). Once you had that tidbit of knowledge, it's easy to figure out the rest (i.e. put your mouse in each corner to see what they do, swipe each edge to see what they do).

So a new user runs Win 8 for the first time and they are looking at the Start screen. How will they figure out how to go to the desktop? The 'tutorial' is an animated gif shown on 1st run, it is frankly a total afterthought.

What do you mean "back" to the desktop? When you first log in there's no "back" to go to. You get to the desktop but clicking on a desktop app, or the Desktop tile. I don't think anyone will have trouble figuring that out.

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

No. The RTM image is already being installed by OEM's.

Yeah but they added a browser choice after launch of Windows 7 so they could easily add/release something after launch. Even some kind of tutorial tile on the start page which could point you to an online tutorial would be helpful. With such a big change in the UI they really should have some kind of help.

[Anthonyd]

Neowin tutorial : Search if a thread on that topic already exists before creating a new topic.

[Defcon]

What do you mean "back" to the desktop? When you first log in there's no "back" to go to. You get to the desktop but clicking on a desktop app, or the Desktop tile. I don't think anyone will have trouble figuring that out.

Where did I say 'back' ? My original quote - "How will they figure out how to go to the desktop?". You might think its easy to figure out but have you actually seen someone new to Win 8 do this? The desktop is one tile among many others, its not easy at all. Its just a confusing mess to a new user who just want their familiar desktop. And if they click on any other tile, they are then locked into Metro with no hope of ever escaping. Or do you also call the close gesture and the left swipe taskbar 'easy to figure out' ?

I wish MS would actually do some studies instead of assuming this stuff is usable.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Where did I say 'back' ? My original quote - "How will they figure out how to go to the desktop?". You might think its easy to figure out but have you actually seen someone new to Win 8 do this? The desktop is one tile among many others, its not easy at all. Its just a confusing mess to a new user who just want their familiar desktop. And if they click on any other tile, they are then locked into Metro with no hope of ever escaping. Or do you also call the close gesture and the left swipe taskbar 'easy to figure out' ?

I wish MS would actually do some studies instead of assuming this stuff is usable.

Weird, I could swear your post said "back."

I don't know what you're talking about regarding getting "stuck" in an app. Putting the mouse in any corner will reveal a way to get to Start. If you're on a touch device, your device has a Start button and you have the charms.

Yes I have seen many people use Windows 8 for the first time. None have ever had any of the problems you describe. And we have done endless usability studies. None of these changes were made lightly.

[d1glow]

well that's because you have everything on that one charm? though they could have showed how to get the the start menu from desktop going to the left corner of the screen. I mean you guys know how to use windows 7 right? usually the start button is on the bottom left hand corner.

[Detection]

I think its pretty simple to "read" things once you know that you need to go to the corners to activate different menus

For someone who has never used / seen Windows 8 before, not knowing that you have to move to the corners would leave them wondering wtf to do

As soon as you see that the different corners activate different things, its not exactly brain surgery to work out what to click on