A “real” user proves Windows 8 fails on the desktop

[Firebot]

meh, put the anyone in front of some different OS with a different interface and watch them flail about.

This is a very weak argument against Win8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeeOkHjV7nM&feature=relmfu

Same guy, using OS X for the first time. The fact that an old guy "real user" who's a Windows user found how to use a Mac much faster then Windows 8 is the biggest fail of all.

The whole point of Metro GUI is to be intuitive and be used easily by real users, and in that aspect if fails miserably at the very basic level. We're not talking about a real user trying to use Unix here.

 

[mikeymikec]

Why does everything needs to be super intuitive? Why does software needs to be designed for an idiot? Just spend some time to RTFM so that you can use the latest technology fast and efficiently. It will pay-off in no time.

Ah yes, let me check the Windows manual I got with my Windows 7 licence...

Of course, the reason why operating systems don't need a manual is because they're so much more intuitive than they used to be, a time when they had to come with a manual. I think that's one thing that annoys a lot of older people about computers is this stupid fallacy.

 

[Nothinman]

Ah yes, let me check the Windows manual I got with my Windows 7 licence...

Of course, the reason why operating systems don't need a manual is because they're so much more intuitive than they used to be, a time when they had to come with a manual. I think that's one thing that annoys a lot of older people about computers is this stupid fallacy.

The thing is that the same things aren't intuitive to everyone. Intuitiveness is practically a farcical concept because everyone's experiences are different. Most people are just used to the way Windows does things because it's so pervasive. And ironically to me, most everyone touts OS X as the simplest, most easy to use UI available but I just don't get it. Every time I touch a Mac I get frustrated as hell because it doesn't work the way I expect and it's so limiting.

So I do think that Windows should come with more of a manual and introduction to it's basic functionality than it does right now.

 

[lifeblood]

So I do think that Windows should come with more of a manual and introduction to it's basic functionality than it does right now.

I would be shocked if MS doesn't include a little tutorial the first time you log into Win8. It's too obvious. I know its not on the previews but if its not on the final release then someone needs to get fired.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Most all games come with tutorials, why shouldn't new operating systems? At least for the basics.

 

[Number1]

Microsoft reinvents the wheel with Windows 8

" Windows 8 looks to me to be an unmitigated disaster that could decidedly hurt the company and its future."



I have always been a big admirer of Microsoft and what they have accomplished. I have been using Windows for almost 20 years, since version 3.1 and I have upgraded to every versions including Windows Millennium and Vista. I actually liked Vista and Millennium. This new version, this version 8, it's like having to relearn how to use a computer.

I can just imagine what the casual users, like my wife, will think of this. Business will reject this out right. Far too many changes for very little gain.

I am going to pass on this one.

Other awfull reviews:
Final thoughts on Windows 8: A design disaster


Review: Windows 8 a big misstep for Microsoft

"New interface, dubbed Metro, is radically different in appearance and use from Windows desktop, forcing users to relearn how to use their PC; the interface hides many functions, making it difficult to know how to do even ordinary tasks; the shortage of Metro apps means users will frequently have to flip back and forth between Metro and desktop interfaces; no way to turn off the Metro interface."

 

[dagamer34]

Microsoft reinvents the wheel with Windows 8

" Windows 8 looks to me to be an unmitigated disaster that could decidedly hurt the company and its future."



I have always been a big admirer of Microsoft and what they have accomplished. I have been using Windows for almost 20 years, since version 3.1 and I have upgraded to every versions including Windows Millennium and Vista. I actually liked Vista and Millennium. This new version, this version 8, it's like having to relearn how to use a computer.

I can just imagine what the casual users, like my wife, will think of this. Business will reject this out right. Far too many changes for very little gain.

I am going to pass on this one.

Other awfull reviews:
Final thoughts on Windows 8: A design disaster


Review: Windows 8 a big misstep for Microsoft

"New interface, dubbed Metro, is radically different in appearance and use from Windows desktop, forcing users to relearn how to use their PC; the interface hides many functions, making it difficult to know how to do even ordinary tasks; the shortage of Metro apps means users will frequently have to flip back and forth between Metro and desktop interfaces; no way to turn off the Metro interface."

People constantly ask how to do the simplest thing to do on a PC today. How do you uninstall an app on Windows 7? It's not easy. Windows 8? Stupidly simple. Right click the icon, and select uninstall. Tons of examples like that.

 

[Zaap]

People constantly ask how to do the simplest thing to do on a PC today. How do you uninstall an app on Windows 7? It's not easy. Windows 8? Stupidly simple. Right click the icon, and select uninstall. Tons of examples like that.

those are the things they should have concentrated on, not dicking up and dividing the UI into a mess
Two steps forward and four back is still going backwards.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

meh, put the anyone in front of some different OS with a different interface and watch them flail about.

This is a very weak argument against Win8.

That's what I tell Windows people about Macs and Mac people about Windows, but somehow everybody just ends up hating me.

 

[exdeath]

People are not born into this world knowing how to use a computer. The "intuitive" argument is silly.

Meh. I intuitively figured out DOS 2.11 and GW BASIC when I was 6 years old. Actually I read the manuals, remember those 2-3 big ring binders that came in cardboard sleeves?

Even at 6 I knew the first thing I should do... make a diskcopy a: b: of the system/boot disk in case I broke something. Duh.

Windows is not hard.

Actually I did break my system disk playing around in BASIC with something like this before I knew what I was doing:

10 POKE RAND(65535), RND(255)
20 GOTO 10

Computer beeped, made funny screens, and disk drive buzzed before it froze and killed my boot disk. 😛

My other awesome feat as a 6 year old learning computers was plugging a second 8088 CPU into an 8087 COP socket thinking I would get SMP in DOS... strangely nothing smoked or fried, it just wouldn't power on.

Of course this was all hand me down junk; I had this 8088 stuff when the rest of the world had 486s.

 

[Number1]

People constantly ask how to do the simplest thing to do on a PC today. How do you uninstall an app on Windows 7? It's not easy. Windows 8? Stupidly simple. Right click the icon, and select uninstall. Tons of examples like that.

And you need to read a geek website like here to find out about it.🙄

To be fair, I will give this latest version another test run but I was seriously "disappoint" when the first version came out.

 

[cboath]

I'm an expert Windows user as well. I'd have to say the corner system is not very intuitive, but i'll also admit I haven't used it a lot. I did use a mac at one point and I didn't think it was very inutitive at all. It never felt natural to me at all even once i understood how to get around. It probably has something to do with using Windows for 20 years.

I think it's a very good point that windows has changed very little (from a basic user standpoint) since 95. That's 17 years of things working basically the same. Any change is likely to be seen as not good. When 95 came out there was tons of complaining that they changed what worked well for people in 3.1/3.11 simply to change it and just forced this mess on us, etc. I can remember getting it early day 1 and thinking this is radically different and a couple days later being upset i couldn't get some of my DOS games to work easily. Didn't take too long to figure out to boot into pure dos mode, but I wanted to be able to run them right from the main OS.

I've not seen the latest 8 yet, haven't had time, but my impression of the preview was if they just gave user a bit of customization on those hot corners, things would improve. My two biggest wishes don't seem to have made it through though, a clock on the start screen and an easily excessible shut down/turn off button. Granted you can make a tile for shutdown but it should still be an OOTB option easily not three layers of charms bar.

 

[lifeblood]

My first question about Win8 and Metro is why do I have to relearn how to use a PC? I am paid to do work, not relearn my tools. Does a mechanic have to relearn how to use a wrench every two years? Having to relearn how to do fundamental tasks is not why I buy or upgrade an OS. Its purpose is to enable me to do work.

The ribbon bar in Office 2007 was a prime example. It was a royal pain in the ass to learn how to use it. I eventually did, but not without a lot of gnashing of teeth. Has it made me more efficient as a result? No. I'm no slower on it, but no faster either. So the switch to the ribbon bar was a definite negative.

Given their will be a learning curve for Win8, what will the advantage be for me? I can't see any right now. The only advantage will be for Microsoft by helping them get into the tablet market. I have to suffer anguish and a loss of productivity so they can move into tablets.

Thanks Microsoft!

 

[Nothinman]

My first question about Win8 and Metro is why do I have to relearn how to use a PC? I am paid to do work, not relearn my tools. Does a mechanic have to relearn how to use a wrench every two years? Having to relearn how to do fundamental tasks is not why I buy or upgrade an OS. Its purpose is to enable me to do work.

The ribbon bar in Office 2007 was a prime example. It was a royal pain in the ass to learn how to use it. I eventually did, but not without a lot of gnashing of teeth. Has it made me more efficient as a result? No. I'm no slower on it, but no faster either. So the switch to the ribbon bar was a definite negative.

Given their will be a learning curve for Win8, what will the advantage be for me? I can't see any right now. The only advantage will be for Microsoft by helping them get into the tablet market. I have to suffer anguish and a loss of productivity so they can move into tablets.

Thanks Microsoft!

Part of working in the computer industry is dealing with the myriad of versions of software that get put out. A similar thing applies to mechanics because of the sheer number of different models of cars out there. There are thousands of different makes and models of cars out there which are all put together differently, so they're almost constantly relearning how to do basic maintenance on different models. Mechanics may not have to relearn how to use a wrench, but they definitely have to relearn how to do basic portions of their job all of the time. And one major, comparable shift that applied to them was the proliferation of computers in cars. Mechanics went from being able to do anything with a car with a simple tool set to having to use diagnostic computers for basic diagnostics and having several little black boxes in which they have no visibility.

 

[lifeblood]

Part of working in the computer industry is dealing with the myriad of versions of software that get put out. A similar thing applies to mechanics because of the sheer number of different models of cars out there. There are thousands of different makes and models of cars out there which are all put together differently, so they're almost constantly relearning how to do basic maintenance on different models. Mechanics may not have to relearn how to use a wrench, but they definitely have to relearn how to do basic portions of their job all of the time. And one major, comparable shift that applied to them was the proliferation of computers in cars. Mechanics went from being able to do anything with a car with a simple tool set to having to use diagnostic computers for basic diagnostics and having several little black boxes in which they have no visibility.

Here we go again with the bad car analogies, but I'll go down this rabbit hole. 😉

Their are different categories of cars as they have different functions. Trucks for hauling cargo, sedans for people. This is why Apple has iOS for smartphones and OSX for desktops and laptops. (Side issue, I know, but I thought it worth mentioning).

People learned how to drive with a automatic because for most purposes it was better than a manual transmission. An automatic gave them something, therefore the change was worth it.

A mechanic learned how to use computer diagnostics because it gave him the ability to do something he couldn't with a wrench. The new knowledge helps the customer because his car gets fixed. The switch to Win8 helps Microsoft move into tablets, but does not help the customer who uses a desktop. See the difference?

 

[Snoop]

What I do not understand is why do I need the metro UI and apps on a desktop? Apps, I thought were a function of having to fit x amount of information in y amount of space (IE, phones, tablets etc). Why would I use an email app when I can go to gmail? Why use a sports app when I can go to ESPN/CBSSPORTS? Why would i use an ebay app instead of the ebay site?

So if I do not need apps in any way shape or form, why do I need to be bothered with going in between windows mode and Metro? Can anyone explain this?

 

[arod]

My first question about Win8 and Metro is why do I have to relearn how to use a PC? I am paid to do work, not relearn my tools. Does a mechanic have to relearn how to use a wrench every two years? Having to relearn how to do fundamental tasks is not why I buy or upgrade an OS. Its purpose is to enable me to do work.

An apt comparison is mechanics having to re-learn how they work on cars with the coming revolution of electric cars.... windows 8 is the same thing with touch being the coming revolution in computing.

What I do not understand is why do I need the metro UI and apps on a desktop? Apps, I thought were a function of having to fit x amount of information in y amount of space (IE, phones, tablets etc). Why would I use an email app when I can go to gmail? Why use a sports app when I can go to ESPN/CBSSPORTS? Why would i use an ebay app instead of the ebay site?

So if I do not need apps in any way shape or form, why do I need to be bothered with going in between windows mode and Metro? Can anyone explain this?

If all you need is a browser just go chrome os and be done with it.... that sounds like what you really want and never buy another smartphone or tablet because they all inherently work the same now. Eventually all apps you use today will get the metro treatment.... that's the whole idea behind this is to start working on the next generation of apps and fix the issues with the way apps are done now.

 

[Snoop]

If all you need is a browser just go chrome os and be done with it.... that sounds like what you really want and never buy another smartphone or tablet because they all inherently work the same now. Eventually all apps you use today will get the metro treatment.... that's the whole idea behind this is to start working on the next generation of apps and fix the issues with the way apps are done now.

You really did not address my questions. I have no use for the apps in the metro interface as I stated. I do need to use other desktop applications though. I cannot imagine trying to use the Metro UI to do development/database work. Why would I want to limit myself to a non 'windowed' environment especially when I use quad monitors (but even on 1 monitor I would prefer to be 'windowed'). So what is the point of switching in and out of a UI which has 0 utility?

 

[dagamer34]

What I do not understand is why do I need the metro UI and apps on a desktop? Apps, I thought were a function of having to fit x amount of information in y amount of space (IE, phones, tablets etc). Why would I use an email app when I can go to gmail? Why use a sports app when I can go to ESPN/CBSSPORTS? Why would i use an ebay app instead of the ebay site?

So if I do not need apps in any way shape or form, why do I need to be bothered with going in between windows mode and Metro? Can anyone explain this?

1) Less ads.
2) Push notifications.
3) Cleaner design.

No one is making you use Metro apps. But I guarantee you that a lot of Metro apps will be better designed than their respective websites. And there are bound to be certain instances where you get more features from the Metro app than the website (for example, there are more HD Netflix streams on any dedicated streamer like the 360 or Roku than there are on the website).

 

[arod]

You really did not address my questions. I have no use for the apps in the metro interface as I stated. I do need to use other desktop applications though. I cannot imagine trying to use the Metro UI to do development/database work. Why would I want to limit myself to a non 'windowed' environment especially when I use quad monitors (but even on 1 monitor I would prefer to be 'windowed'). So what is the point of switching in and out of a UI which has 0 utility?

Eventually every app will be on metro.... the reason the desktop still exists in win8 is so you can have that backwards compatibiltiy. With each iteration of metro (and it will be around for the next 20 years) you will see more and more apps running natively in metro. They are also being very smart about the timing of this with win7 being as entrenched and successful as it is. They won't lose any significant marketshare while they use the next 5 years to get a bunch of hardware custom tailored for win8 and most apps moved over. Because metro will be the user interface for windows for the foreseeable future they will enhance it as the learn what works and what doesn't currently.

And metro does have a bunch of utility over the old app model... install/setup, updates, performance, battery impact, security, touch capabilities are all significantly improved over the old application model then you get the other advantages like push notifications, live tiles, more consistent user interface across all your apps. If you don't find any utility there by all means don't upgrade and stay on 7.

 

[Snoop]

Eventually every app will be on metro.... the reason the desktop still exists in win8 is so you can have that backwards compatibiltiy. With each iteration of metro (and it will be around for the next 20 years) you will see more and more apps running natively in metro. They are also being very smart about the timing of this with win7 being as entrenched and successful as it is. They won't lose any significant marketshare while they use the next 5 years to get a bunch of hardware custom tailored for win8 and most apps moved over. Because metro will be the user interface for windows for the foreseeable future they will enhance it as the learn what works and what doesn't currently.

And metro does have a bunch of utility over the old app model... install/setup, updates, performance, battery impact, security, touch capabilities are all significantly improved over the old application model then you get the other advantages like push notifications, live tiles, more consistent user interface across all your apps. If you don't find any utility there by all means don't upgrade and stay on 7.

So Microsoft's plan is to severely limit a users ability to multitask, constrain current desktop applications, and all to placate the tablet/smartphone market even though these markets are minuscule when compared to their corporate OS sales. Good idea...

 

[NetGuySC]

I consider myself an advanced computer user and have been nothing but frustrated with windows 8. I've loaded it twice and it just doesn't click with me. Yeah I know.. different OS / interface... it's more than that. I keep hoping that Microsoft has a surprise awaiting us that would make windows 8 make sense, like some now type of new input method, that you could treat your desktop as a tablet with new hardware that recognizes your hand and finger gestures.

All I am sure of is this, since windows 3.1 I have been extremely excited with anticipation of every new release of windows, but I have no excitement whatsoever at all about Windows 8. In fact, this release has me worried about Microsoft's future.

 

[dagamer34]

So Microsoft's plan is to severely limit a users ability to multitask, constrain current desktop applications, and all to placate the tablet/smartphone market even though these markets are minuscule when compared to their corporate OS sales. Good idea...

350 million Windows licenses sold last year vs. 1 billion phones. Continuing to please only corporate users is what I would dub "the RIM strategy". Not working that well for them right now.

 

[HeXen]

Then such people should have enough common sense to buy a book on how to use a new OS. windows 8 for dummies or something and very likely that once its actually released, thats what many people will do.

Perhaps you guys forgot back in the 80's when you first used a computer you kinda had to look in the manual or read a book to get very familiar with it. But even since windows 95 and each one after, books and mag sales discussing how to's skyrocket in sales.

But seriously, if someone doesn't even think to hit the Win Key or move a mouse to one side just to figure things out for themselves, then obviously the should be using either a Tablet or a Fisher Price laptop.

 

[wirednuts]

Every time I touch a Mac I get frustrated as hell because it doesn't work the way I expect and it's so limiting.

lolz, i totally agree. i have been loving windows ever since DOS days. and over the years i have given apple a small chance here and there.. and its frightening every time. i feel like a total moron on a mac, its like alien technology to me and im not a stupid person....

on the other hand, when i got my first tablet i had never used android before it... and i picked up the process very quickly and after just a few months im familiar with the entire os. i can root the hardware and setup whatever i want... it was a very easy transition from windows.