Windows 8 Success

[DeadEndAccount]

Wow, that is friggin awesome! I wish that was the Windows 8 theme - flat, minimalist, and basic - no frills or unneeded ornamentation.

For me the problem with Metro is the lack of consistency through the whole operating system - go with a look and feel then implement it top to bottom, through every facet of the operating system so that there are no strange out of place icons/common controls like there was with Windows Vista and that hideous font add/remove dialogue.

[PGHammer]

Wow, that is friggin awesome! I wish that was the Windows 8 theme - flat, minimalist, and basic - no frills or unneeded ornamentation.

For me the problem with Metro is the lack of consistency through the whole operating system - go with a look and feel then implement it top to bottom, through every facet of the operating system so that there are no strange out of place icons/common controls like there was with Windows Vista and that hideous font add/remove dialogue.

That *lack of consistency* is due to it supporting not just Metro apps but legacy applications - it's a superset of the Windows UI as we have known it.

It's better implemented than GNOME Shell or Unity, to be honest. (The criticism of Metro is more because the trend has been to mimic, or clone, what Apple does.)

Newsflash (from Neowin's own Apple News section) - following Apple's iDevice strategem may, in fact, be the smartest thing Microsoft didn't do, as no less than Apple CEO Tim Cook admits that iPad2 sales are cannibalizing sales of mainstream Macs (everything from Mac Pros to MacBooks). The question that therefore has to be asked of Apple is *does it care*?

[McKay]

The main objective of the ribbon is to what it was originally designed to do in Office, which is to make frequently used and hidden useful features easily visible for home users. People get overwhelmed when they have to dig through long menus and then end up asking how to do even the most simplest tasks. For most pro users who use keyboard shortcuts, the ribbon interface is useless and will be turned off.

As for IE ribbon, I am positive they will never add it simply due to the fact that the minimalism in the browser wins as people simply want to maximum screen viewing space.

After getting used to the ribbon, especially in Office 2010, it is perfect for me, I instinctively know where everything will be, when I have to go back and use Office 2003, I get lost with all the menus, and most of the functions placement makes no sense to me anymore. And I even had to sit through an agonisingly tedious Office 2003 Course that lasted 2 weeks, in the final exam you failed if you clicked in the wrong place once when being asked to find a function.

[xWhiplash]

I can pretty much guarantee that Windows 8 will be Windows Vista R2. Most of the people just NOW are upgrading from XP TO Windows 7. They are not going to upgrade again.

IT professionals are not going to waste their time turning off metro and tweaking their installs to work with older apps they use.

Honestly, I have to say this is the worst decision that Microsoft ever made. IMO this beats Windows ME and Vista bar far. As an IT professional myself, I do not want to deal with the Windows 8 usage issues. People still cannot use Windows XP correctly!

Don't get me wrong, this interface works WONDERFUL for phones and tablets......but Microsoft should have kept it there.

This is a real shame. Having Metro enabled with three LARGE monitors accomplishes what exactly? They pretty much destroyed the screen estate with this version.

Also, what large company will develop metro applications? As far as I know, Windows XP still has between 45% to 50% market share. No large company will develop a completely functional metro application.

My development - I will still be focusing on Windows XP, Vista, and 7

[techguy77]

I can pretty much guarantee that Windows 8 will be Windows Vista R2. Most of the people just NOW are upgrading from XP TO Windows 7. They are not going to upgrade again.

IT professionals are not going to waste their time turning off metro and tweaking their installs to work with older apps they use.

Honestly, I have to say this is the worst decision that Microsoft ever made. IMO this beats Windows ME and Vista bar far. As an IT professional myself, I do not want to deal with the Windows 8 usage issues. People still cannot use Windows XP correctly!

Don't get me wrong, this interface works WONDERFUL for phones and tablets......but Microsoft should have kept it there.

This is a real shame. Having Metro enabled with three LARGE monitors accomplishes what exactly? They pretty much destroyed the screen estate with this version.

Also, what large company will develop metro applications? As far as I know, Windows XP still has between 45% to 50% market share. No large company will develop a completely functional metro application.

My development - I will still be focusing on Windows XP, Vista, and 7

+1

[DocDJ]

Come on people if you just quite your whining and wait for the Beta you just might be surprised. Another thing if you don't want to see the start menu just hit the "Windows Key" and it is gone. If you want use the start menu to launch an app then hit the "Windows Key" again. If all you want is the task bar showing with all your icons on it then place them there then forget using the windows key. Is it really that hard for you.

Hell you would think that some of you just think Microsoft is doing this to pi** you off.

Well, I've installed the Developer Demo and I think it's the UGLIEST interface I've seen for ANY system (and I've been around since Fortran was popular). WHy does MS think a PC should look like a phone? If people want a tablet interface, that's fine on a tablet, but a PC is either a work-tool or a media center or a game-system. ANd often it's used for all of these. The old interface WORKS!

[Melfster]

Well, I've installed the Developer Demo and I think it's the UGLIEST interface I've seen for ANY system (and I've been around since Fortran was popular). WHy does MS think a PC should look like a phone? If people want a tablet interface, that's fine on a tablet, but a PC is either a work-tool or a media center or a game-system. ANd often it's used for all of these. The old interface WORKS!

Well after Playing with Android tablet device.... I can possitively say its a piece of ****. Windows 8 is a much better tablet the Android is. If the proper hardware is built for windows 8 It will be good otherwise its just awkward. I can see Windows 8 tablets outpacing Android.

[Dot Matrix]

I can pretty much guarantee that Windows 8 will be Windows Vista R2. Most of the people just NOW are upgrading from XP TO Windows 7. They are not going to upgrade again.

No, but those that haven't upgraded by the end of this year will.

IT professionals are not going to waste their time turning off metro and tweaking their installs to work with older apps they use.

You can't disable Metro has far as I'm aware, also you don't have to "tweak" Windows to work with older apps. Not sure where that's coming from.

Honestly, I have to say this is the worst decision that Microsoft ever made. IMO this beats Windows ME and Vista bar far. As an IT professional myself, I do not want to deal with the Windows 8 usage issues. People still cannot use Windows XP correctly!

Microsoft isn't targeting those people here. Honestly, if you can't use Windows XP by this point, then there is no changing that. What people forget to mention is all the younger users that do know how to use a computer. I sit and watch people at school all day involved in a wide variety of computing activities. Many of whom seem more than intimate with how their machines work.

Also, what large company will develop metro applications? As far as I know, Windows XP still has between 45% to 50% market share. No large company will develop a completely functional metro application.

Mozilla for one. I think Evernote is on board with another app.

You sound very much angry for some reason. I know many do not like change, but change is front and center in computing. Is best not to fight it too often when using commercial systems.

Well, I've installed the Developer Demo and I think it's the UGLIEST interface I've seen for ANY system (and I've been around since Fortran was popular). WHy does MS think a PC should look like a phone? If people want a tablet interface, that's fine on a tablet, but a PC is either a work-tool or a media center or a game-system. ANd often it's used for all of these. The old interface WORKS!

The old interface is also becoming dated. Computing is moving in a different direction than it was 10 years ago, and as a result some things need to change. THe CLI worked too, but do we still use that anymore? Nope.

[threetonesun]

WHy does MS think a PC should look like a phone?

Everyone thinks the PC should look like a phone. We're going to see the smart phone / tablet / PC market merge in terms of UI and hardware in the next decade or so, so start getting used to it.

[Dot Matrix]

Everyone thinks the PC should look like a phone. We're going to see the smart phone / tablet / PC market merge in terms of UI and hardware in the next decade or so, so start getting used to it.

Exactly, and Microsoft isn't the only one looking at doing this either. No one is complaining that iOS is slowly invading the Mac, so why are they cussing up a storm over Metro invading Windows?

[bjoswald]

I'll probably pass on Windows 8 too. So no, you're not alone.

[V23]

I agree some with brando's statements, however I mostly complain about the babied down interface with huge huge HUGE icons and text that is not very desktop friendly, but centered around tablets only.... that's what we bitch about...

They're live tiles, not just huge icons. They'll be able to display information without actually opening the app.

[remixedcat]

I know that but it could be helpful without being HUGE!!! LOL... would you rather have a big fat momma waitress serve you dinner or a slim hot sexy one??? LOL...

(damn I think of food too much LOL)

[Nick Sheldon]

I'm using the Lumia 800, and if that's a vision of what Windows 8 will be..

BRING IT ON!!!

[MidnightDevil]

I think Microsoft has purposefully held some information regarding Windows 8, such as multi-tasking in Metro. The are getting all this free marketing.

If you remember with Windows 7, their was no interface change revealed till the public beta. So I think we are going to see a lot of surprises when it's beta is released.

Indeed very clever observation ;) Let's hope that is actually their idea and not a naive action without knowing what to do with it lol.

[threetonesun]

I know that but it could be helpful without being HUGE!!! LOL... would you rather have a big fat momma waitress serve you dinner or a slim hot sexy one??? LOL...

(damn I think of food too much LOL)

Which ever one brought me food faster. :laugh:

[remixedcat]

LOL true dat.