windows 8 Windows 8 Consumer Preview: A Call for Common Sense

[Mazhar]

Except for the part where it's full screen and ugly as hell. Sure. I don't see why it's to much to ask to get all of the other great features of windows 8 without the ugly metro start screen.

I guess then we will have to wait and see. I think Microsoft is going to improve that Metro interface very much by the time we have the RC. We just have used the Preview version of Windows 8, you dont know what the final is gonna look like.

[majortom1981]

My complaint is if your using windows 8 in a virtual machine or with say mouse without borders its complete hell to use. The hot corners pretty much stop functioning.

I would like windows 8 if they would get this fixed.

[Southern Patriot]

Just push the power button. Darn it. :p

Not everyone has their computer in a location where the power button is easily accessible.

Thought that was a nice read, but then I noticed it's from Thurott? Still don't get how he can make a living writing about technology as he's got no f*****g clue what he's talking about?

Hey, its worked for Dvorak for a hell of a long time.

[Wakers]

In what sort of situation would you have a computer where the power button is not accessible? You need to be able to get to the usb / Drives, so why would you put it somewhere out of reach?

[Southern Patriot]

What surprises? Corners? Charms? Once you know it, it isn't a surprise anymore. There is no training required and if there is then what the hack, do not you use game Tutorials to learn how to play game? And when you learn it, its fun.

You've never worked in a corporate environment with users (average people, not techies) who have to work with their computers all day then, have you?

I usually do not like Paul's articles but this one is spot on. I have not turned off my pc for years now, it is called sleep, hybrid sleep, hibernate. This is 2012 and modern computers have this function. If someone finds it necessary to shutdown,

Even those options are hidden away much deeper than they were in 7. And it isn't just about the number of clicks required, it is also the fact that the location of those options has changed dramatically from where they have been for nearly 20 years.

In what sort of situation would you have a computer where the power button is not accessible? You need to be able to get to the usb / Drives, so why would you put it somewhere out of reach?

My computer is on the lower shelf of my desk (and this is similar to the setup I've seen in MANY corporate environments). I rarely use my DVD drive, and have a USB hub sitting on my desktop for easy access to USB ports. In most corporate environments, people are discouraged from (even restricted from) putting any discs in the drive of their computer, and not allowed to use USB devices (flash drives, etc.) at all.

[xWhiplash]

Hey, we have been using Windows the same way for the past 20 years but ohhhh wait... it never worked! It was the wrong way of doing things!

We're idiots and we've been using something that doesn't work for the last 20 years, but hopefully, in 2011, a genius working for Microsoft came to DISCOVER what was wrong all this time: the Start Button! So he created a "Start Screen" containing colorful tiles and manking was saved, 'cause we all know that "evolution = annoying your fan base for something they never asked for!"

You know what Microsoft? I pay the bills with my computer. My job is to WORK with my computer. My job is NOT to learn new ways to work with my computer 'cause someone in your company decided I was doing it the wrong way...

I 100% agree with you. Look, everybody here can accept change, but NOT when you change something that has been the norm for 20 years IN A FLASH.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. This windows should have been Windows 9. We needed something a little less Metro-intrusive for lack of a better term so we can SLOWLY get used to the changes.

Look at OS X.

With both Lion and Mountain Lion, the Dock is still there and 100% active all the time. I can use OS X the same way I have been for over 10 years. I ONLY get an iOS like interface when I click the launchpad icon.

[Wakers]

You can still use Win8 the same way that you could use 7 / vista / Xp etc etc..

[Stoffel]

After reading some more of the posts here it's just very clear.

Some people just have an issue with Win 8 because they need to change the way they have done things.

And now they hide behind the fact that 'average joe' will have a big issue adapting to this.

'Average Joe' is buying iPads and other tablets, and they adjust just fine.

Why would it be different for Win 8, especially if you explain the benefits to these people

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

Windows 8 Survey: Half Who Have Tried the OS Wouldn't Recommend It.

Guess they're scared of change...

[Colin McGregor]

Agree 100%. If you dont like it go elsewhere or stay with windows 7. If your not a noob pc user and you rely on the start menu then your doing it wrong.

[trag3dy]

Windows 8 Survey: Half Who Have Tried the OS Wouldn't Recommend It.

Guess they're scared of change...

Or there is a chance they just don't like it? Maybe?

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

Or there is a chance they just don't like it? Maybe?

...my post was missing an emoticon: ;)

[trag3dy]

After reading some more of the posts here it's just very clear.

Some people just have an issue with Win 8 because they need to change the way they have done things.

And now they hide behind the fact that 'average joe' will have a big issue adapting to this.

'Average Joe' is buying iPads and other tablets, and they adjust just fine.

Why would it be different for Win 8, especially if you explain the benefits to these people

What benefits? Relearning how to use your computer just so you can do things you do now only differently?

[dangerouseddy]

After reading some more of the posts here it's just very clear.

Some people just have an issue with Win 8 because they need to change the way they have done things.

And now they hide behind the fact that 'average joe' will have a big issue adapting to this.

'Average Joe' is buying iPads and other tablets, and they adjust just fine.

Why would it be different for Win 8, especially if you explain the benefits to these people

well windows 8 will be fine on a tablet but i wouldnt use it on a desktop pc the way it is at the moment. it just doesnt suit me and ive used it for a number of days :(

[encarta]

Agree 100%. If you dont like it go elsewhere or stay with windows 7. If your not a noob pc user and you rely on the start menu then your doing it wrong.

You people sound like a broken record. I firmly believe that no one on the Neowin forum is a noob pc user. I never used the start menu like "start > all programs > choose program". My most used apps are pinned to the taskbar, and those which are not used as much, are pinned to the start menu "start > choose program". No matter where I am, no matter what I do, I can always start a program with ONE (taskbar) or TWO (start menu) clicks. Useful and efficient.

-------------------------

I also read a few comments saying that now MS has a consistent UI across multiple platforms. Are you serious? You're calling Win8 Metro consistent? Please send me some of that awesome stuff you've been smoking. Metro in Win8 is a COMPLETE MESS. Double Aero/Metro UI is just "WTF", driving my mouse around the corners is retarded, full screen apps are a waste of space. I DO NOT want to constantly press the Win key or alt + tab to switch between full screen apps. It's just stupid.

[Wyn6]

Windows 8 Survey: Half Who Have Tried the OS Wouldn't Recommend It.

Guess they're scared of change...

You failed to recognize the percentage of responses that are somewhat satisfied and extremely satisfied. These responses reflect the overwhelming majority of those surveyed (throwing out the neutral responses). And, that's with a beta release. I'd call that pretty impressive.

[Stoffel]

You failed to recognize the percentage of responses that are somewhat satisfied and extremely satisfied. These responses reflect the overwhelming majority of those surveyed (throwing out the neutral responses). And, that's with a beta release. I'd call that pretty impressive.

It's all about HOW you want to interpret the results.

If you just add up extremely dissatisfied and somewhat dissatisfied, and compare that to the somewhat satisfied together with extremely satisfied you would clearly see over the whole line that the overall impression was positive.

The techies clearly don't like to change their habits :)

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

I also read a few comments saying that now MS has a consistent UI across multiple platforms.

This is what they mean, I guess:

Consistent, as in, let's put these colorful tiles and fullscreen UI on anything we can think of...

[cropcircles]

I'd probably have a more favorable opinion of W8 too if I was in MS's back pocket. The desktop is an app ! Really Paul, I don't think so.

[excalpius]

Yea, try to use those hot corners in a virtual machine such as Hyper-V then tell me how much you like them. They only work 10% of the time.

Or just be ANY normal consumer and watch them look at the screen after they've opened an application and can't figure out anything to do next because the widgets needed to close/switch/etc. are INVISIBLE.

What kind of an uber-moron designs a GUI with invisible widgets BY DEFAULT. As power/speed-up shortcuts, sure, but no visible cues for the uninitiated/novices.

Grandma and Grandpa Public are going to forget how to use their own computer on a daily basis. in...sane...

PS Metro is great for tiny touch screens, but no one uses touch on their desktop/home computer.

[efjay]

I'd probably have a more favorable opinion of W8 too if I was in MS's back pocket. The desktop is an app ! Really Paul, I don't think so.

Makes sense when you realise you can actually close the desktop like any other Metro application.

Or just be ANY normal consumer and watch them look at the screen after they've opened an application and can't figure out anything to do next because the widgets needed to close/switch/etc. are INVISIBLE.

What kind of an uber-moron designs a GUI with invisible widgets BY DEFAULT. As power/speed-up shortcuts, sure, but no visible cues for the uninitiated/novices.

Grandma and Grandpa Public are going to forget how to use their own computer on a daily basis. in...sane...

PS Metro is great for tiny touch screens, but no one uses touch on their desktop/home computer.

This is really just an excuse. No one buys a totally new system and expects to know how to use it. There will be a manual, demos, guides with a new system or did people just know exactly how to use things like ipads and androids just by looking at them? Grandma and Grandpa are just the sort who will love Windows 8 because they dont have to go digging into minuscule menus to open programs, everything is right there for them on the Start Screen in big letters with all the latest info. All they need to know is where the physical start button is, the OS will handle closing programs if needed, Ma & Pa need not worry about that stuff anymore.

Buy one for your grandparents, they'll love you for it! :)

[excalpius]

My complaint is if your using windows 8 in a virtual machine or with say mouse without borders its complete hell to use. The hot corners pretty much stop functioning.

The same can be said for multimonitor environments.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

This is really just an excuse. No one buys a totally new system and expects to know how to use it. There will be a manual, demos, guides with a new system or did people just know exactly how to use things like ipads and androids just by looking at them?

I've watched people use iPads for the first time. And, yes, they figure out how to use them just by looking at them and touching UI elements.

Which is another reason why this whole idea of deploying the same exact interface on different device classes is so flawed, because potential tablet users aren't gaining much of an advantage by using Metro on the desktop before switching to a Metro tablet compared to switching to an iPad.

[efjay]

I've watched people use iPads for the first time. And, yes, they figure out how to use them just by looking at them and touching UI elements.

Which is another reason why this whole idea of deploying the same exact interface on different device classes is so flawed, because potential tablet users aren't gaining much of an advantage by using Metro on the desktop before switching to a Metro tablet compared to switching to an iPad.

So are new ipad users able to use all the features and know all the gestures just by looking and touching? I see no reason why a new Windows 8 users wont be able to do the same and why the expectation is for them to have to know how it works with no effort at all.

And having a consistent interface across platforms and form factors allows for familiarity with the functionality, while accounting for the differing methods of interaction.

[PGHammer]

Its not just the start screen people are moaning about, its the fact that the OS is going touch orientated when most of the people who will use Windows 8 will be on non-touchscreen devices.

And that's supposed to be relevant?

I'm running the Consumer Preview today on a traditional desktop - definitely no touch support anywhere. Traditional display, traditional keyboard, traditional mouse. I have no issue with Metro (in fact, for me, it's largely irrelevant).

Why is Metro largely irrelevant? Because I can hit the WinKey and with each letter following narrow down exactly what application I want to run - WinRT or traditional. I can right-click a file in Windows Explorer and select while application I want to use to open that file (no different from Windows 7).

I can use the StartScreen - but even that is largely irrelevant.

Yet I have banished Windows 7 to VM usage only.

It's not about the Start menu (ala Windows 7) or even the StartScreen. Surprisingly, I get along perfectly without either..

My applications don't care. My games largely don't care, either.