Reality check - Windows 8 was not made for you


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I keep reading about some peoples displeasure with the direction Microsoft is going with Windows 8,mostly coming from so called "power users", or people who use professional content creation software. Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, Windows 8 was not made for these people. Maybe Windows 9 will address their concerns. This segment makes up a small percentage of Windows users,that the focus right now is not on them. The focus is on the general consumer who uses their computer to consume content. The focus is on businesses who are migrating to tablet computers,and can use the same software seamlessly on their desktops and tablets without rewriting and porting code,and not having to actually upgrade their hardware. This is a big deal.

The Ipad is proof that people like this direction computing is moving towards. What makes you think people are buying ipads? Businesses migrating to ipads? Is it not because they dont have to **** around with dlls,scattered files hell,inconsistent installers,rogue applications,toolbars,malware,memory hogs,incompatible software,sourcing software,computer slow downs?

Yes, Winrt is not there yet in terms of having the ability to cater to all types of applications. But Windows 8 is not the final version of Windows 8, or the final version of windows period. Eventually it will evolve to incorporate all these shortcomings,but at the moment, the focus is meeting the needs of the general consumer which makes up a huge chunk of windows users. And if the consumer still needs some software that needs win32,well guess what, the desktop is still there for backwards compatibility.

I've seen alot of bitching about the start menu,and in all the years ive repaired computers,i havent seen many people show a hint that they even know how the start menu even works. They mostly have their applications sitting on the desktop,with all their pictures and mp3s. Dont you think Microsoft did studies on how general computer users use their computers? Do you think one day a Microsoft executive said "hey,lets **** around with these guys and lets remove the start menu"?

Yeah some people wont like windows 8,namely "power users" who like to have 3 or more apps open at the same time switching between them,big software developers who've been charging high prices for software with little competition, software developers with their own applications/games stores.

People who will love Windows 8: The general computer consumer. Lots of software to choose from that can be downloaded from one central location without having to worry too much about malware. Files are organized. Music is in music,pictures are in pictures. Fast boot times. Beautiful interface. Consistent UI. No toolbars,or popups,or errors.

Windows 8 is a paradigm shift in computing,and we are all watching history right before our eyes.

Got yer copy? ;)

Power users have this weird sense of entitlement, and I wish I knew where it came from. I see it everyday on here and at work. I also have q few friends who are so animate about desktop computing, that they'll yell at the kids they see with smartphones and iPads.

I also had a college professor who taught a Windows class who used to rant and rant all the time about the GUI, and how modern computing is plain ****.

I simply don't get it.

I'm on the RP right now (waiting until I can get a key for RTM when it's available) and heck I still use multiple apps at once. I jump in and out of the start screen & Modern apps back to the desktop on a regular basis.

I'm used to this from having used Windows Phone for so long now. I don't mind hopping in and out of apps.

Reality check - Power users are Windows users too and have just as much right to an opinion as you do. Regardless whether you agree with them or not. Just as some **** and moan that power users have some false sense of entitlement, so do those who like Windows 8. It's a giant hypocrisy to be frank. Stick to your opinion, and stop trying to force it down everyone else's throat. I think we have enough of these "If you don't like Windows 8, you're an idiot! And here's why..." threads. Just as we have way too many "If you like Windows 8, you're an idiot! And here's why..." threads.

Waste of Internet space.

I'm really tired of reading topics from day to day about people complaining metro/modern etc.

Of course you can have your opinion, I also got my own, but we already got like 10's of topics about it, why do you feel the need to create a new one? (Kinda ironic isn't it :D )

Now for the people who don't like Windows 8 or won't use it:

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

http://software.opensuse.org/121/en

http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/pd/Windows-7-Professional/productID.216645600/vip.true&WT.mc_id=WOL_shop

http://www.apple.com/osx/ (Find tutorials yourself since you're an "power user" anyway right?)

And there are tons and tons more Linux/BSD distros out there, stop with the whining already, no-one is forcing you to use it and if enough people will skip W8 microsoft will do something about it (I doubt they'll remove metro but will make it more user friendly)

So...because you were tired of all the threads...you created a new one?

That's not ironic. That's silly. The "reality" is, no one gives a rats behind whether you like Windows 8 or not, nor whether you think someone should or not. Reality is fun!

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Powerusers? The Start Screen accepts command line arguments FFS. The OS comes with Powershell bundled.

Sure, these people are power users. Just like 'the name we do not speak'. :rolleyes:

I didn't know who she was till now. Thanks a lot. For the sake of others, can you please edit your post and change her name to ... Jessica Alba.

No the reality is, I don't give a rats ass what your think about it. I don't use it but at least I don't go around whining in every f*cking topic like a little b*tch about it.

No, you just start an entirely new thread to add to the hundreds of others instead of adding to the ones that already exist like what you have to say is more important than any of the others.

Even better. *rolls eyes* And to boot you stole part of the title from one that was made just before yours which makes you look even more like the tool you surely are.

No the reality is, I don't give a rats ass what your think about it. I don't use it but at least I don't go around whining in every f*cking topic like a little b*tch about it.

Who went to personal insults?

A tool I am? So now we're going to personal insults? Who's the tool right here?

That's what I thought. I figured since you were allowed to get personal, I should be allowed to as well. I'm sorry you couldn't handle it. Would you like to collect your toys and run home?

Power users can do and use the same things they could in Windows 7. As an App launcher I think Start Screen is generally better than the Start Menu (though the visual overload in the All Apps view can be overwhelming if you have a lot of things installed, especially when you can't remember the name of the thing you're looking for).

  • Like 1
...people who use professional content creation software. Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, Windows 8 was not made for these people.

Bull****

I'm a web designer, print designer, graphic designer, web developer etc etc and run professional creation software on my Windows 8 machines everyday. I personally find it faster and more efficient than Windows 7.

Please stop trying to speak for everyone.

No the reality is, I don't give a rats ass what your think about it. I don't use it but at least I don't go around whining in every f*cking topic like a little b*tch about it.

So you decided to do exactly the same thing, genius.

You also forgot the blatantly obvious, stay with Windows 7, which most if not everyone who can't stand Modern Bob will do

Me included, Windows 7 suits my needs for now.

an iPad is not a work environment and can't be compared to a PC or workstation.

I can't see the benefits in dumbing down productivity by making apps full screen (without a taskbar). I still use WLM (messenger) because I don't want to have to use the Messaging app, which forces me to full screen (or a small narrow conversation docked to the side of my screen). You can't have more than two apps open and in view on the same screen, you can't make use of multi screen by having an app docked in the second screen and using another app on the first screen.. so how does this increase productivity over Windows 7 for example where the taskbar can always be used to switch programs and applications can overlap, and have more than two open at the same time in one or both screens?

This whole rant is so misinformed. Ironically, power users will have the easiest time using Windows 8, with its arcane gestures and keyboard shortcuts that are required to get anything done. Normal users will just be confused and angry with Metro on desktop, the new Start Screen, the confusing jumble of settings split in 2 places etc.

You think normal people don't like to multitask? Every single one of them wants to browse, check email, watch photos/videos, listen to music? Maybe the Metro model of fullscreen apps will make it simpler, maybe people will like the side mode and the duality with normal desktop apps, and maybe they won't.

Last time I checked, Windows was a general purpose OS used by millions for critical jobs, by enterprises, developers etc, not just for these non power users you speak of. Microsoft is simply counting on the fact that making Windows 'cool and shiny' and dumbing it down will make it more attractive (the Apple strategy), and they won't lose sales because frankly there really is no choice.

It's an OS designed to look good in demos done on stage on a tablet, not to be productive or efficient for anyone.

an iPad is not a work environment and can't be compared to a PC or workstation.

I can't see the benefits in dumbing down productivity by making apps full screen (without a taskbar). I still use WLM (messenger) because I don't want to have to use the Messaging app, which forces me to full screen (or a small narrow conversation docked to the side of my screen). You can't have more than two apps open and in view on the same screen, you can't make use of multi screen by having an app docked in the second screen and using another app on the first screen.. so how does this increase productivity over Windows 7 for example where the taskbar can always be used to switch programs and applications can overlap, and have more than two open at the same time in one or both screens?

I agree completely.

The OP of this thread is right, Windows 8 isn't for us. It has been designed from the start to give Microsoft something to compete with the iPad. If they didn't do something soon the iPad would lock everyone in like Windows locked us in to Microsoft's software.

People who don't yet own iPads and are getting ready to buy their first tablet have nothing to lose. They haven't already spent hundreds of dollars on software for an iPad or an Android tablet. But the longer Microsoft waits the more people there is that will buy iPads and will get locked in and will not be willing to switch to another platform. I don't think people will want to own more than one tablet or carry more than one tablet. We don't do that with Phones or Notebooks.

But seeing as how Windows Phone has only garnered a 1.9% share of Smart Phones I don't think Microsofts tablets are going to be that popular, that is just my own opinion and obviously not a fact, computers are different to phones and it is Microsofts home turf so they have a greater advantage there but yeah, we will see if this experiment of theres - And lets be frank it is an experiment - works or not. I sincerely hope it doesn't because for me I like Windows the way it is now and I want them to build off the current windows foundation by adding richness to the desktop experience by including new applications like Apple does and enhancing its UI in evolutionary ways that make logical sense. I don't want them to start over with something so basic as what Metro is.

snip

I consider myself a power user, so why do I feel like using wlm is better than using the messenger app included in windows? why is my productivity decreased when I miss those notification toasts that only appear for a few seconds and cant be retrieved anywhere? and why cant I compose a mail in the mail app in windowed mode so I can reference other content? sure I can use keyboard shortcuts and everything to switch between tasks, but it still makes it a lot more work when I need to find an older email to reference while creating a draft? Now, I have to save draft, find the older email in my inbox I want to reference and then reopen the draft.

How is this "easier"? And I'm talking about out of the box experience here, not having a 3rd party (desktop) email client that I can use.

I'm giving Windows 8 a real try from the out of box experience, and I'm still coming up against a wall of disappointment.

*snip*

Everything you said 100%. Pro-Windows 8 users are much too concerned with why anyone would speak ill about their beloved operating system, than with the reasons why. Legitimate reasons have been brought forth such as the ones you mention.

That being said, the only reason I haven't jumped on either side of the bandwagon (at least not for long), is because I realize Windows 8 is a stepping stone. A jagged, horribly designed one, but a stepping stone none-the-less. Good things are coming in terms of UI and tablet/PC crossovers and Microsoft is just preparing for that.

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