Do you like Windows 8 / 8.1's Modern UI?

[+Warwagon MVC]

This is a poll to see how much people like Windows 8's Modern UI.

When it says Windows 8 it is referring to both 8 and 8.1.

 

Happy Voting.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Polls are always misleading in that they don't capture the full spectrum of an answer and are always primed...

 

Although I see no value for Windows 8's Modern UI on the desktop I do like it in Mobile. So my answer was purely reflective of my views for a non-mobile (aka Desktop) scenario.

[InTheSwiss]

Couldn't vote as there isn't an option for me which would be ... I use Windows 8.1 and I really like it. I always have. I don't mind the start screen but then I also don't use it much. The desktop apps I use most are pinned to the taskbar and I boot to the desktop. I have 5 desktops apps pinned to the start screen. These are programs I don't use much. Maybe once or twice a week at most. The start screen works well to quickly access the few programs I need like that. I used pinned items on the start menu in the same way on Windows 7.

 

However I don't use live tiles or any modern apps. I have tried them and I don't like them. I don't like the forced full screen approach and split windows are horrible. It is a shame as the Mail modern app seems alright but I don't like to use it as things currently are. Perhaps in whatever update they come out with that allows us to run modern apps in a window on the desktop like desktop apps.

 

So yeah in short; I like Windows 8. I don't mind the start screen but I don't like modern apps. I use 8.1 over 7 because of the other improvements to the desktop environment.

 

Edit: The options changed after I posted so I voted I have Windows 8 but don't like the Metro UI.

[Skyfrog]

I had a chance to try it on a friend's tablet and for that it works quite well; it's clear that was its intended purpose. On a desktop with a monitor, mouse and keyboard though, no I don't like it at all. Hate isn't even a strong enough word. I don't believe the UI nor the "apps" are suited for a desktop or laptop PC.

[Raa]

Public Poll? C'mon...

 

And the second question is misleading. I don't have Windows 8 installed, but I've used it.

ModernUI isn't the main reason I don't have it (but it is one - for non-touch devices anyway).

[+Warwagon MVC]

Couldn't vote as there isn't an option for me which would be ... I use Windows 8.1 and I really like it. I always have. I don't mind the start screen but then I also don't use it much. The desktop apps I use most are pinned to the taskbar and I boot to the desktop. I have 5 desktops apps pinned to the start screen. These are programs I don't use much. Maybe once or twice a week at most. The start screen works well to quickly access the few programs I need like that. I used pinned items on the start menu in the same way on Windows 7.

 

However I don't use live tiles or any modern apps. I have tried them and I don't like them. I don't like the forced full screen approach and split windows are horrible. It is a shame as the Mail modern app seems alright but I don't like to use it as things currently are. Perhaps in whatever update they come out with that allows us to run modern apps in a window on the desktop like desktop apps.

 

So yeah in short; I like Windows 8. I don't mind the start screen but I don't like modern apps. I use 8.1 over 7 because of the other improvements to the desktop environment.

 

Edit: The options changed after I posted so I voted I have Windows 8 but don't like the Metro UI.

 

When it says Windows 8 it is referring to both 8 and 8.1. I really didn't feel like breaking them apart.

[Max Norris]

Eh sort of like it.  Needs more refinement yet, namely some more usability tweakage with the start screen to make it more flexible like it used to be.  Has a lot of potential though.  For the time being I'm using a different menu.  Other than that, 8.x is just as good (if not better) than 7.. a few adjustments and there's virtually zero difference in my day-to-day usage.

[Tomoko]

Being that it is on Neowin I have a feeling this poll is going to be very one sided.

[snaphat (Myles Landwehr) Member]

Being that it is on Neowin I have a feeling this poll is going to be very one sided.

It should only be considered in the context of neowin and not generalized or extrapolated or used as an argument for the general populous

[i_was_here]

The answers in the poll are rather limiting I'll just explain my thoughts: The start screen is fine; I neither love nor hate it. I don't feel compelled to use a third-party start menu either. The Modern UI OTOH, definitely feels lacking to me.

 

1. I do not like that Modern apps run full-screen. Having the ability to snap the Modern apps does help but it is not perfect. For one, its an action that has to done manually. I would prefer if opening multiple apps would tile them automatically. Secondly not all apps work nice with a 50/50 split although this is probably more fault of the apps' developer(s). Barring that, running the apps as windows on the desktop would be fine too.

 

2. Unless I can switch entirely to the new Modern UI, I'd rather stick with the desktop. I do not like switching between Modern and desktop. Currently the availability of apps favors the desktop but hopefully this will improve with time.

[MorganX]

I don't think many people "dislike" it. They dislike the implementation ... of it.

[Auditor]

Hate this metro crap on PC. Never used it on tablet either as I have Andriod and it is more than what I need. I am experimenting with Hackintosh and it seems to be working perfectly so far. My only gripe with mac is that there are no many programs which are made for mac. 

[Kyang]

The answers in the poll are rather limiting I'll just explain my thoughts: The start screen is fine; I neither love nor hate it. I don't feel compelled to use a third-party start menu either. The Modern UI OTOH, definitely feels lacking to me.

 

1. I do not like that Modern apps run full-screen. Having the ability to snap the Modern apps does help but it is not perfect. For one, its an action that has to done manually. I would prefer if opening multiple apps would tile them automatically. Secondly not all apps work nice with a 50/50 split although this is probably more fault of the apps' developer(s). Barring that, running the apps as windows on the desktop would be fine too.

 

2. Unless I can switch entirely to the new Modern UI, I'd rather stick with the desktop. I do not like switching between Modern and desktop. Currently the availability of apps favors the desktop but hopefully this will improve with time.

 

Certain operations automatically tile the apps, like opening pictures from an email, but it's not something that always happens, only something that happens when the team felt it made sense I guess.

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

Those numbers are surprising - even to me 

O.O

Here I was thinking Dot Matrix was on his own liking the Metro interface, boy was I wrong lol

[Atlantico]

I use Windows 8, I like the Modern UI, in fact I switched from the Mac to Windows because of Windows 8. It is that good, the UI is that good. It is the best OS Microsoft has ever made, from a UI standpoint to technological underpinnings. 

 

It blends the desktop UI and Modern UI very well. It is supremely compatible, I run ancient games on Windows 8.1 without problems. I can be improved upon, nothing is perfect, but it is the best available.

[LimeMaster]

It should only be considered in the context of neowin and not generalized or extrapolated or used as an argument for the general populous

I actually thought you started the poll at first, but I'm glad you stuck by your word and didn't. :)

[simonlang]

i dont like it and i used windows 8 once to give it a try and immediately disliked the "modern" ui. i ask myself if its even modern? why? because its too simplified imho to be called modern. kde's plasma and to a certain extend also windows vista with aero and dreamscene desktop showing/showed what a modern desktop should be about.

[Torolol]

Although I see no value for Windows 8's Modern UI on the desktop I do like it in Mobile.

my sentiment toward win8 ui are the same, its great for tablet or phone.

but i do NOT want it for my desktop.

[Stoffel]

I was waiting for this poll to pop up after somebody else in another thread mentioned that Windows 8 was actually well liked

And some how when I saw the title I knew it was going to be from Warwagon

 

The Metro haters can't wrap there head around it that people actually like Windows 8.

 

Even this poll shows that the majority still has no issue with Metro/Modern UI

 

Give it up guys!

[Sszecret Veteran]

I don't mind Metro (still going to call it that), and I do use the Mail,  Xbox Music and OneNote apps quite regularly. I use the Start Screen as more of dashboard view other than anything else, really. The implementation isn't quite what I would've hoped, but that's what updates are for. 

[Phouchg]

TIFKAM is Microsoft's distinct achievement. A fresh stream of air among boring a la Apple app launchers, it wins by a long shot on mobile devices. It's refreshingly different (not innovative, mind you, but close) and fully captures the toy-grade value of such devices while still maintaining options to transform into a professional platform across devices of every kind. Take a good note how every other fsack soon found it appropriate to embrace, even outright rip off flattening of elements, solid colors, straight edges and the general idea of minimalism. Too bad you can't patent a rectangle. Oh wait...

 

However, it gradually loses its merits as screen size increases - solid color blocks just don't scale well, among other things. Minimalism does not necessarily mean dead simplicity (or dumbing-down), but it seems to have been the preferred course. Microsoft had to do something like that lest its rivals' toyphones gain too much foothold on desktop as well. Unfortunately, having the leading UI, for the rest they chose to follow - to jump into the serial-zombie-consumer toyphone appcloud smelling cashcow bandwagon without having formed a good vision, instead opting for "we'll figure it out as we go along". As a result, UX became a horribly "streamlined" rushjob of bad ideas that would have tanked many other companies if they were to come up with such misdirection.

 

Resume: UI is mostly great, UX is not.

(and I invite every buzzword-spewing fsack to know the difference before hanging on any word of that)

[srbeen]

Overall, the OS is REALLY fast under the hood. Like super fast. But that comes with a userland price of awkward menus and extrememly poor KM support. IMO It should have never been released for desktops. Keep tablet/touchscreen/gesture control where it belongs. glad programs like start8 and classicmenu were there though the beginning to fix microsofts release.

[+Fahim S. MVC]

Although I see no value for Windows 8's Modern UI on the desktop I do like it in Mobile. So my answer was purely reflective of my views for a non-mobile (aka Desktop) scenario.

 

What are we calling mobile here?

 

Smartphone? Phablet? Tablet? Tablet with keyboard dock? Laptop that is convertible to a tablet? Laptop with Touchscreen? Laptop without Touchscreen?

 

Are we saying the Modern UIs apply to all of these? Or just some?

[Chasethebase Reporter]

I think, for an initial implementation, it is good. But as we have seen with 8.1 and consequently the upcoming update, it needs refinement to work well in all environments, which will be tricky.

 

8.1 was a huge improvement for the OS, and the new features added to the start screen are definitely beneficial. There are still a few things which need tweaking to work smoothly on the desktop rather than on touch devices but so far it is good. It's a case of watching how development progresses in the future.

 

Once we see Windows 9, which is rumoured to be in the works, we might see many improvements to the user experience which would make the transition between start screen and classic desktop much smoother than it currently is. I have always been a "don't knock it until you try it" kind of person, and having used Windows 8 for around a year now I must say it really isn't that bad, having a second display definitely benefits Metro, since I have the Skype app open on my second display 90% of the time.

[Jollibee]

At first, I hated it because I thought it does not work the same way as the good old Start menu but after trying out Windows 8 on a friend's PC, I realized it's a glorified Start menu and a very dynamic one. The dynamic live tiles beats the hell out of those stupid desktop gadgets too. I've got to say it really looks nice on a HTPC setup and I control mine with an Xbox 360 controller (with the help of an app of course; I've fetched it over at MSFN forums).