Why is Windows 8 desperately trying to be 'hip'? 1

[jsteph]

Sorry folks, I have to question the general layout of Windows 8.
Looking at the interface is like the awkwardness of seeing an older guy trying to impress his teenage son's friends by using words like "rad" and "hip"...even "groovy".

For example: "Apps". Really Microsoft? This is not a cell-phone OS, and the programs I load are still "Programs" or "Applications", so please don't try to jump in so late to the game and start calling them "Apps" is if you're "hip to our scene".

And by the way, my desktop isn't a touch-screen, neither is my laptop, both of which I've tried W8 on. So...I still use a mouse. Where is the 'x' (Close-window) box and other simple mouse-navigation points?

I'm so used to using a mouse or touch-pad and now you're telling me I've got to use the Windows key, Ctrl-Alt-Delete, or Alt-F4 to get around? Or were you thinking I had a touch screen and could just swype to get around?

Maybe I'm just impatient, but it's just incredibly difficult to navigate this, and when I do finally get behind the 'iPhone-like' interface--it's still the same old square windows that do the real work. Going into Admin tools, etc, is still the same, so putting a mobile-like skin on it doesn't constitute a true upgrade to me.
--Jim

 

[2ffat]

Hip" sells. Actually, Win 8 is a cell-phone OS. That's what they are pushing. That's why they developed Metro. Metro seems to make more sense for phones than desk-tops to me. Newer desk-tops and lap-tops may have touch screens.

I develop programs for our shop floor using XP and Win7. They use touch screens. Using touch screens seems more natural that using a mouse in many ways.

There is some speculation MS will drop desk-top OS but personally I don't see it.


James P. Cottingham
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[vacunita]

Not likely to drop Desktop OS however their intent with this is OS is to be used in touchscreen enabled devices such as tablets and the fashionable all in ones that feature touch screens.

It is not really a Cell phone Os, as the functionality is completely different to their Windows Phone 7 Os. It is a Touchscreen/Tablet OS.

However, there is Desktop Mode for those still using a Mouse and wanting to have normal desktop experience.

Also one of the key features of the Metro Interface is that apps are never closed by the user. Windows manages the memory and kills the apps as necessary.

As for the word "Apps" The metro interface "programmes" or "applications" are light weight versions of the Desktop alternatives. so they are in fact correctly named Apps.

Don't expect to see Microsoft Office as a Metro APP in its entirety any time soon. They may produce a light Word and Excel, but for the most part Office will still be a desktop application.

Additionally their very own Visual Studio suite which is the only way to build Metro Apps requires Desktop mode to run.

So while I can see them scaling down the Desktop mode for Home versions of Windows in the future. Professional or Business versions will undoubtedly require the full fledged Desktop mode for many applications to run including some of their own.

All in all, Microsoft is trying to cater to one market too many with the same OS. Its not like Apple uses the same OS for their Desktops and tablets do they?

In any case the Metro Start screen can be easily avoided in its entirety. I simply pinned the still existent start menu folder to the taskbar in Desktop mode to get a usable Start Menu, and never really bother to go out into Metro mode. Which after installing several Desktop Mode Apps is quite a mess.

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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[jsteph]

I couldn't get the 'Start' menu onto the desktop. I got a shortcut to the Start Menu Folder, but that's a far cry from what I need.

I think I agree with some of the sentiment I've been reading elsewhere:

Microsoft "Bob" has returned.

Sure, *if* I have a tablet or smartphone, then this might be fine. But I wasn't offered the option of "Install for a normal Desktop/Laptop instead of Tablet/Smartphone". I must've missed that crucial option. It just installed as if it naturally expected that I'd be using touch.

And I'm *never* going to use a touch-screen on my desktop. Not when I have a keyboard and a mouse right next to me. Now I'm expected to get a touch-screen and lean forward and reach way forward awkwardly to my screen to navigate?? Did they think this through?

Call it an 'app' if you want to sound hip, MS, but the purpose of touch-screen was not because it was somehow inherently 'better' than a keyboard/mouse--it's simply not. It's because a keyboard/mouse were not feasible for smartphones, but touchscreen was. It's like saying--hey, this pedal-and-chain method of getting bicycle to move was quick and easy--lets put a pedal and chain on a semi-truck because it's so 'neat' and 'green'.

Input methods and UI are never universal, what's right for a smartphone or a tablet is (and should be) different from a destkop, so how about letting us desktop/laptop users (we're not dinosaurs yet) stick to the intuitive and tried & true mouse & keyboard, and if you have a tablet or smartphone--more power to you--go with the Metro interface. But for my smartphone--I'm sticking with Android. They've got it down pretty well.
--Jim

 

[hairlessupportmonkey]

get the start menu back

http://www.addictivetips.com/window...-toggle-enable-disable-metro-ui-start-screen/

ACSS - SME
General Geek

 

[hairlessupportmonkey]

Actually just installed Start8 from Stardock.... seems OK

http://stardock.com/products/start8/

ACSS - SME
General Geek

 

[vacunita]

I simply added a toolbar to the Taskbar form the right click menu and pointed it to the Start Menu folder.

Then collapsed it all the way so only the title was visible and I got an old fashioned Win98 start menu that works perfectly.



----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[jsteph]

hss,
I got the Stardock start8 and it works great, thanks!

However, shame on Microsoft for forcing us to go to a friggin' third party to get what was once standard functionality.

I just don't think they thought this through--they were focused on tablets and touch-screen and completely forgot that the desktop/Laptop market is still alive and well despite rumors of it's demise.
--Jim

 

[hairlessupportmonkey]

the pressure is on MS - I bet we will see it back

ACSS - SME
General Geek

 

[dilettante]

And people complained about Vista!

We'll just have to see how it fares once it reaches the masses. Microsoft is ignoring everyone else's input.

The dismal reception Phone 7 saw compared to Windows Mobile should have told them something. Their market share there dwindles ever closer to 0 month by month.

 

[xwb]

It is probably for those who use smartphones. For those like myself who have never used a smartphone, nothing is intuitive.

 

[ChristopherMarks]

Hi! I've read here

http://www.techyv.com/questions/windows-8-going-release-earlier-june

that Windows 8 will be released this June. And will come out with three versions. I felt that it is too early for a widespread release for a buggy consumer preview.

 

[vacunita]

Without any sources its hard to believe.

And considering the Release Preview as its been called was just released a couple days ago, I don't think so.

Everything I can find about it says its slated for October.

All this, and considering my Developer Preview version hasn't yet expired, I'd say A June release date is completely impossible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_8

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...osoft-Windows-8-Release-Preview-unveiled.html

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/31/3055384/windows-8-release-date-october-hint-rtm-two-months

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[flyboytim]

It is now fairly clear that Microsoft is entering a new market to rival the IPad. Kick-starting with Windows 8 and "Surface" tablets. Also a slew of prerelease trial versions of Windows 8 for the PC to give more than a taste to the enthusiasts and technical PC users and IT workers in the run-up to release.

Although the Metro interface is pretty much disliked on the PC, it will not be unfamiliar to those who have tried it out, on whichever device it appears. As a touch-screen OS, it is apparently very usable.

The next stage will be to renew Windows Phone marketing as Metro Apps start appearing and the Windows Store takes off.

I do not believe that Microsoft wants to manufacture equipment beyond what it needs to to open up the Windows 8 / Windows RT market, and will rely on sales of licenses to OEMs and sales of software etc., through the Store to fill its coffers again.