video Videos of Average people using Windows 8 for the first time.

[.Neo]

I wanna see a video of an 10-30 year old using Win 8 for the first time... Then we'll talk.

Because only people between and 10-30 years old use computers?

[mudslag]

Really a load screen for mail? Talk about taking a step backwards.

[123456789A]

So basically what I see here is something a two minute tutorial will fix.

Really a load screen for mail? Talk about taking a step backwards.

I'll agree with that. There's a needless transition for loading some really basic apps. I hope it goes away.

[giantpotato]

After a fresh install, without setting anything up, just logging in with a live id, the person was able to view their email. Could someone without any technical knowledge do that on any previous versions of windows? Everything normal users need is right there in front of them. Just tell them to hit the windows key when they want to switch to a new program, and they're good to go.

I can guarantee you my parents were just as confused (if not more so) using windows vista for the first time. Explaining how to use Windows 8 would have been a walk in the park. Want to access a program? hit windows then click the program.

[+Warwagon MVC]

After a fresh install, without setting anything up, just logging in with a live id, the person was able to view their email. Could someone without any technical knowledge do that on any previous versions of windows? Everything normal users need is right there in front of them. Just tell them to hit the windows key when they want to switch to a new program, and they're good to go.

I can guarantee you my parents were just as confused (if not more so) using windows vista for the first time. Explaining how to use Windows 8 would have been a walk in the park. Want to access a program? hit windows then click the program.

Amazing!! A point I agree with! Congratulations!

But, this is assuming the person uses web based email through Windows LIve or maybe Gmail. What if they use email through their ISP?

[.Neo]

Really a load screen for mail? Talk about taking a step backwards.

You're telling us you don't like splash screens for the most basic of apps? Blasphemy! ;)

[Dot Matrix]

Because only people between and 10-30 years old use computers?

No, but they're the ones who will be able to sit down and give the OS a true go, without any fears.

I can't even believe we're having this damn argument again. Why did these videos have to be posted for the upteenth time again?

[.Neo]

No, but they're the ones who will be able to sit down and give the OS a true go, without any fears.

Has absolutely nothing to do with age.

I can't even believe we're having this damn argument again. Why did these videos have to be posted for the upteenth time again?

Last time I checked nobody forced you to post or even open this thread.

[Dot Matrix]

Has absolutely nothing to do with age.

Yes. Yes it does.

It's not going to change anything through. Metro isn't going away, and it's paradigm change you will have to adapt to. No matter how many times you post these videos.

[BeerFan]

The fact that these videos exist, and the fact that they keep getting brought up again and again and again, proves that there is a serious flaw in the design of the CP of Windows 8. People just don't like it.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

I do think though that these videos don't really tell us much about how usable Windows 8 is for average users in practice. We can all agree that its basic functionality is not very discoverable. But it could turn out to be very usable after you have learnt the basic concepts (which may or may not be worth it).

[.Neo]

Yes. Yes it does.

No it doesn't. You're under the misguided assumption that everyone in their twenties will sit down and take the time to go through all this and actually like it.

It's not going to change anything through. Metro isn't going away, and it's paradigm change you will have to adapt to. No matter how many times you post these videos.

People don't have to adapt to anything. If they don't like it, they won't buy it. Simple really.

[Dot Matrix]

The fact that these videos exist, and the fact that they keep getting brought up again and again and again, proves that there is a serious flaw in the design of the CP of Windows 8. People just don't like it.

The only flaw there is that it's still in transition and being developed. It's no secret there is a learning curve, it's still not changing anything though, which make having this argument over and over pointless.

[LaP]

its ANNOYING and FRUSTRATING like that. Those videos shows EXACTLY how the ppl feels. Only a fanboy or someone who works for m$ might say that this is the future or the new hipster (aka loser) saying "grow up".

I've yet to try Windows 8 on a tablet but i'm sure it will be a great tablet os. It also works very well on my HDTV from my couch.

But for a desktop os i think it's a step backward.

[Vice]

To be honest first time I tried it I was confused by the lock screen. I moved my mouse around and tried clicking and noticed the screen bounce then I realised it had to be dragged. I only recently found out you could just hit a key on the keyboard to get rid of that screen.

The OS is not intuitive at all. Intuitiveness means you should just have a sense of how to use something by looking at it. Like a search field on a website with the words Search inside it would give you an indicator that if you clicked on that field you could type in a search term. Windows 8 lacks all that. I had no idea how to get to the charms bar or to shut down there was no tutorial in the OS and this would be the first OS that would even need one.

Back in 2004 I bought my first OS X machine an iBook. Before that I had only had experience with Windows and about an hours use of Mac OS 9 from years earlier. Moving to OS X from Windows XP was easier than going from Windows 7 to Windows 8 and I'm serious.

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

I do think though that these videos don't really tell us much about how usable Windows 8 is for average users in practice. We can all agree that its basic functionality is not very discoverable. But it could turn out to be very usable after you have learnt the basic concepts (which may or may not be worth it).

I agree that certain elements of Metro are not very discoverable. Something I think we do all agree on. The power options for example being buried inside a settings menu? That irks me somewhat. Don't forget though that this OS has only just emerged from the pre-beta (ie. alpha) stage of development. Microsoft just aren't going to leave the millions of users of Windows 8 to discover all of these less than obvious interface elements on their own.

For example I can imagine that when you first log in, you'll get a welcome guide or video of some sort. I can also imagine the start screen with 4 pulsating or throbbing arrows (with a small description of each) pointing at the 4 corners of the screen that go away the first time the user activates each corner.

Sure there are improvements to be made, but that is what beta is for. I bet half of the UI discoverability stuff isn't even written yet, let alone included in any builds. Don't forget though that XP changed things around a bit too. New start menu for example. XP had a quickstart guide the first time you logged in, contrary to what Vice said. Windows 8 is not the first Windows version to need one.

[Dot Matrix]

To be honest first time I tried it I was confused by the lock screen. I moved my mouse around and tried clicking and noticed the screen bounce then I realised it had to be dragged. I only recently found out you could just hit a key on the keyboard to get rid of that screen.

"Enter" has always been an option for lock or login screens.

[Kirkburn]

UI hints are something you put in later anyway, once you find out what hints are needed. You don't put a hint on everything and then test it, because then you learn nothing worthwhile.

[BeerFan]

it's still in transition and being developed.

it's still not changing anything though,

Could you contradict yourself anymore?

Windows 8 is going to fail because people don't get it. I get it, but that's because i'm a nerd and i like playing around with new technology. People who just use computers to use computers will not get windows 8. And, it's horrifically fugly.

[Vice]

"Enter" has always been an option for lock or login screens.

For what system? I've always just clicked on my username to login on OS X and Windows. Enter has never played a part. This is just another reason why Windows 8's lock screen makes no sense. I don't see why there even needs to be a screen infront of your username to login it just feels like unnecessary fluff. There is more than enough room to include the weather, time, email messages, battery and wifi status next to a login field.

But again it isn't intuitive and you've not tried to argue that so I guess you accept it.

[Xerax]

Beta OS, No Tutorial given, People that look like playing "peek-a-boo" could give them a heart attack. Yes, very accurate test of how Windows 8 will do after release. :rolleyes:

[Dot Matrix]

For what system? I've always just clicked on my username to login on OS X and Windows. Enter has never played a part. This is just another reason why Windows 8 screen makes no sense. I don't see why there even needs to be a screen infront of your username to login it just feels like unnecessary fluff. There is more than enough room to include the weather, time, email messages, battery and wifi status next to a login field.

But again it isn't intuitive and you've not tried to argue that so I guess you accept it.

For multiple user logins, I have always been able to use the arrow keys and hit enter to select a specific user to login as. Just put it this way, for every "gesture" on windows 8, there is a simple keyboard/mouse shortcut alternative for non-touch screen devices. Microsoft has said over and over that this system works great with that hardware, which in my opinion it does.

Could you contradict yourself anymore?

Windows 8 is going to fail because people don't get it. I get it, but that's because i'm a nerd and i like playing around with new technology. People who just use computers to use computers will not get windows 8. And, it's horrifically fugly.

Contradict, how? Metro is still in development for Windows 8, but it's not leaving the system. Windows 8 IS Metro. It's what Microsoft wants to use going forward, the old desktop OS of years past is dead to them.

[simplezz]

Funny as hell. The whole UI is counter-intuitive for desktop use.

[rajputwarrior]

you think no one at microsoft learned the phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" with this windows 8 they are pushing out

[Vice]

For multiple user logins, I have always been able to use the arrow keys and hit enter to select a specific user to login as. Just put it this way, for every "gesture" on windows 8, there is a simple keyboard/mouse shortcut alternative for non-touch screen devices. Microsoft has said over and over that this system works great with that hardware, which in my opinion it does.

Well in that case, maybe they should just give us a terminal window and we can login the old fashioned way. Let's rip out our mice and throw them in the river the keyboard is here to save the day. :rolleyes:

We've had mice since what 1984? They are an excellent pointing device well suited for a bitmap display. Fast, incredibly accurate, easy to use and intuitive. And you're telling people to just use the keyboard and arrow keys to move around the interface? Do you realise how silly that sounds really?

First of all normal people do not like using the keyboard for anything other than typing. They do not use many key combos they don't use the arrow keys. I've seen many people use computers of all skill levels and the lowest to normal to not even know how to copy and paste and will not touch any key that isn't a letter, number or basic punctuation. Many people don't even know what shift does and press the caps lock key every time they want a capital letter. People feel safe with the mouse and being able to click readily identifiable buttons. For Microsoft to remove those is just plain stupid.

I have very little confidence in this operating system on the desktop and notebooks.