win8 Here's What Windows 8 Would Look Like Without Metro

[TheLegendOfMart]

PS: The desktop hasn't gone away, either. It's still there. ;)

No it's just been sidelined so they can focus on trying to take on Apple which they will fail miserably at, at which point it will be too late as they will have alienated all the people who don't give a flying fig about a touch ui.

[Dot Matrix]

No it's just been sidelined so they can focus on trying to take on Apple which they will fail miserably at, at which point it will be too late as they will have alienated all the people who don't give a flying fig about a touch ui.

Where has it been "sidelined"? Both desktop and Metro apps are appearing in the Store, and the desktop is never more than a single click away from you at all times.

[TheLegendOfMart]

By the mere fact that the desktop is now a legacy application that is launched from Metro is clear which direction they are going.

[argonite]

Just wondering, since I don't have the RP installed. Can you get from any Metro app to the desktop with Win+D?

[.Neo]

Where has it been "sidelined"? Both desktop and Metro apps are appearing in the Store, and the desktop is never more than a single click away from you at all times.

Which is basically just a link directing you to the developers website to buy it there. Will it be possible to buy desktop apps from within the Marketplace as well?

[Dot Matrix]

~sigh~.... nobody is saying it isn't.

However, IT WILL NEVER MAKE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO THE DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT.

Plus, windows touch will never challenge ios or android.

Why won't it? Take a look at my sig, you you'll see there's a fairly untapped market there waiting.

[TheLegendOfMart]

The fact that you think that is achievable anytime soon makes me laugh.

[.Neo]

The fact that you think that is achievable anytime soon makes me laugh.

If at all, considering not everybody will be using Microsoft products only. So unless companies actually start working together to bring seamless integration across all devices from whatever brand that concept video is going to be an unrealizable dream. Looking at the fact I can't even upload a vCard to Hotmail but am forced to use Outlook for Windows makes me have little hope.

[Dot Matrix]

The fact that you think that is achievable anytime soon makes me laugh.

Define "soon". I think in the next 10-20 years we'll see technology similar to that video appear on the market. We're certainly not going to be using the machines we're used to today.

[.Neo]

Define "soon". I think in the next 10-20 years we'll see technology similar to that video appear on the market. We're certainly not going to be using the machines we're used to today.

I remember people claiming that 10 years ago and how desktops wouldn't be around anymore. Yet apart from the tablet not much has fundamentally changed in the way we interact with our computers.

[Detection]

I remember people saying that 10 years ago and how the desktop wouldn't be around anymore. Yet apart from the tablet not much has fundamentally changed in the way we interact with our computers.

I enjoy touch on my tablet, but as nice as it would be to have a touch 23" in the place of my normal 23" LCD, the mouse is still the laziest way to control a PC, apart from typing, you can do more or less everything by only moving 1 hand slightly and a couple fingers a mm or two

Don't think the mouse will go anywhere anytime soon

[.Neo]

I enjoy touch on my tablet, but as nice as it would be to have a touch 23" in the place of my normal 23" LCD, the mouse is still the laziest way to control a PC, apart from typing, you can do more or less everything by only moving 1 hand slightly and a couple fingers a mm or two

I have to stretch my arms all the way in order to be able to touch the upper left and right corners of my 27-inch iMac. I can only imagine how comfortable it will be to have a touch screen in there. :rofl: No, when it comes to that my Magic Trackpad does a much better job. Would be nice though if the cursor actually changed into multiple round dots when performing multi-touch gestures though. I miss that feedback. But then again the trackpad doesn't really represent what's going on on-screen.

[Detection]

I have to stretch my arms all the way in order to be able to touch the upper left and right corners of my 27-inch iMac. I can only imagine how comfortable it will be to have a touch screen in there. :rofl:

lol yea, don't get me wrong I would love a huge touchscreen windows 8 PC to stick on the wall and use for purely Metro, 8 RT maybe, but for everyday use, I`ll keep my mouse and keyboard :D

[ShMaunder]

Some interesting posts in here - some people make a good point regarding choice. This would be my biggest gribe if I still used Windows.

Metro will be accepted. Now I understand this is on a much smaller scale, but when Ubuntu released Unity as the default desktop, a handful of their users went nuts. So those users installed a different desktop environment as you can with Ubuntu (and in general, anything open source). Unity ironed out some of its problems, and some of those users have switched back again - but not all of them. The point is, I believe its very important to have choice and no one authority force you to use their vision. You can't just open up the source code to Windows, fork the desktop shell, insert the start menu code and/or remove Metro, compile and distribute your version to the world - OK, there are hacks/add-ons, but these only go so far to editing the system.

I think this discussion reflects that products that have user bases as big as Windows should be open-source.

/slightly off-topic post

[Rickkins]

Why won't it? Take a look at my sig, you you'll see there's a fairly untapped market there waiting.

"Not that drivel again Bullwinkle, that drivel never works".... Rocket J. Squirrel

[Rickkins]

The fact that you think that is achievable anytime soon makes me laugh.

And even it it did, it would not be from ms. Perhaps from android, but definitely not ms.

[Dot Matrix]

And even it it did, it would not be from ms. Perhaps from android, but definitely not ms.

Why? Are they not allowed?

[Rickkins]

Why? Are they not allowed?

Because for it to work, big picture wise, there would need to be a common factor. Apple and ms are far to proprietorial... and expensive. Android is the ONLY logical choice.

[George P Global Moderator]

Which is basically just a link directing you to the developers website to buy it there. Will it be possible to buy desktop apps from within the Marketplace as well?

MS hasn't said anything about this, guess because they want to keep the desktop as open as it has been. I think once you let desktop apps be sold via the store itself then you'd also have to add some sorta controls to the desktop to make sure they couldn't be pirated like they've done to metro apps. Then that will just make others get more vocal and call out MS for "closing off the desktop" or "walling off the desktop" or w/e you want to call it.

I think they might be able to sell them via the store if a developer wanted, maybe. It's just not a requirement like it is with metro apps.

[George P Global Moderator]

I remember people claiming that 10 years ago and how desktops wouldn't be around anymore. Yet apart from the tablet not much has fundamentally changed in the way we interact with our computers.

Interaction hasn't changed that's true but the form factor shift is clear and it's been the case for quite some time. Mobile is the way forward, and it doesn't mean a phone or a tablet. Laptops/notebooks/netbooks have been outselling traditional desktop PCs for years now. The bulk of new PC sales are these mobile devices, and adding touch to those makes more sense at this time than to your big desktop and 27" monitor. Though personally if I had a 2nd screen and it was touch I'd use it to display the start screen fully while I did my desktop work on the other monitor like I do today. Simple glance to the left to see what info the live tiles give me and then take it from there.

[Dot Matrix]

Because for it to work, big picture wise, there would need to be a common factor. Apple and ms are far to proprietorial... and expensive. Android is the ONLY logical choice.

I don't get what you are saying. I've never had issues with Microsoft telling me what I can and can't do. Apple, yes, in certain spots, they do control what users do, but Microsoft or Windows has never told me that I can't run certain apps, or use certain hardware.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Keep in mind that desktop PCs are already a small minority of PCs. The vast majority of what's sold are laptops.

Nobody expects you to reach up and poke your desktop PC's screen while you're sitting in a chair. At least not as any sort of primary mode of operation (though I can attest to the fact that you will do it out of habit after getting used to touch devices). However, the right way to think about this isn't as your desktop PC suddenly having a touch monitor. It's about form factors evolving and becoming more flexible, more mobile, and more ubiquitous. Touch-screen all-in-ones already make great setups for a lot of situations where traditional desktop PCs would be cumbersome.

And here's one small example of things to think about: I learned years ago is that while standing up, those kind of devices are actually very much easier to use with touch than mouse-and-keyboard. Fairly soon I think it will become more and more apparent that the world wants devices and software which can be flexible to these different ways of use.

[Dashel]

See? You haven't figured out how to most efficiently use Windows 8. This is understandable as it does take learning a few new things. Let's roll with your video example.

Ok, now that this gag is removed, let me try this again Wyn6. (For the record I accept your apology and would like to offer a public one of my own for letting my anger get the better of me). I do hope in the future you will first do your due diligence before becoming a patronizing educator.

Here is my (re)response to your 'tips':

1) My video was intended to compare the four common means of opening an app (PinnedTaskbar, Search, Recent, PinnedStart).

2) Charms search is much slower than just hitting Win and typing. Your claim that this doesn't knock you into full screen is also false.

3) It is a demonstration of the lack of 'recent' items and the issues with the All Programs menu if you hadn't pinned it yet.

4) Powershell was a demonstration of how context menus have changed and it was clearly already pinned.

Is it so hard to just admit that we are not out in left field on those points?

Sources Brandon that desktops are just a small minority or is that just hyperbole? The most optimistic estimates I've seen show the tablet reaching parity with the desktop by 2016 or so (and I don't think 20% is small, we aren't talking Mac usage share here). Can't say I'm surprised that all the flagship 2013 products seem to be stuck in legacy, mouse-biased mode. ;)

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Sources Brandon that desktops are just a small minority or is that just hyperbole? The most optimistic estimates I've seen show the tablet reaching parity with the desktop by 2016 or so (and I don't think 20% is small, we aren't talking Mac usage share here). Can't say I'm surprised that all the flagship 2013 products seem to be stuck in legacy, mouse-biased mode. ;)

.

Couldn't immediately find numbers from 2011 or 2012, but this shows 2010 and their forecast at the time.

http://www.inquisitr.com/76157/tablets-to-overtake-desktop-sales-by-2015-laptops-will-still-reign/

Note I said that laptops were the majority, not tablets.

[BajiRav]

Ok, now that this gag is removed, let me try this again Wyn6. (For the record I accept your apology and would like to offer a public one of my own for letting my anger get the better of me). I do hope in the future you will first do your due diligence before becoming a patronizing educator.

Here is my (re)response to your 'tips':

1) My video was intended to compare the four common means of opening an app (PinnedTaskbar, Search, Recent, PinnedStart).

2) Charms search is much slower than just hitting Win and typing. Your claim that this doesn't knock you into full screen is also false.

3) It is a demonstration of the lack of 'recent' items and the issues with the All Programs menu if you hadn't pinned it yet.

4) Powershell was a demonstration of how context menus have changed and it was clearly already pinned.

Is it so hard to just admit that we are not out in left field on those points?

Sources Brandon that desktops are just a small minority or is that just hyperbole? The most optimistic estimates I've seen show the tablet reaching parity with the desktop by 2016 or so (and I don't think 20% is small, we aren't talking Mac usage share here). Can't say I'm surprised that all the flagship 2013 products seem to be stuck in legacy, mouse-biased mode. ;)

I was off the Internet for 2 days and Macs are at20% share??? Wow!