Windows 8 = Windows for Dummies

[JackMDS]

Both are cars, both are used by people, both can take you to work, both have engine and driving wheel, etc. etc.

However they are far from being equal.

Tablet

Vs.

Full pledged Windows computer.

This thread (and many other similar threads) are insisting in comparing both as though they are suppose to be equal.

 

[TheStu]

Both are cars, both are used by people, both can take you to work, both have engine and driving wheel, etc. etc.

However they are far from being equal.



Tablet

Vs.

Full pledged Windows computer.



This thread (and many other similar threads) are insisting in comparing both as though they are suppose to be equal.

Microsoft is making them that way. It isn't a totally off the wall perspective to take. MS is pushing its tablet UI onto desktops (and from what I have seen) is continuing to push its desktop UI onto tablets. They are saying 'It's all good! It's all Windows, Windows everywhere, Windows all the time, Windows on your tablet, Windows on your phone, Windows on your desktop, developers, developers, developers, Windows on your Xbox, Windows on your laptop, Windows on your coffee table!'

 

[rockyct]

As has been pointed out, it's easy to turn off the Metro interface if you don't like it. (Although a lot of people seem to, maybe the novelty will wear off). It's not worse than OSX Lion, Gnome 3 or Ubuntu's Unity, all of which use similar principles.

Well, the metro desktop IS Windows. It's not really something like Windows Media Center where it runs on top of Win7. The classic Windows desktop is actually more closer to something of an emulated environment than the metro UI.

Although this blog headline is trolling, he makes a good argument: http://gizmodo.com/5840704/if-you-already-hate-windows-8-then-you-hate-technology

Personally, I can't wait for an ipad type form factor device to have a full featured OS. Although the rumor is that the ARM version of Win8 will not have the classic Windows compatibility, there are some Intel chips coming out which should bring x86 computers down to something the size of an ipad.

 

[Cardio]

The worst part about a new Windows launch is the Pavlovian haters.

Certainly true...anything different and they are about to die. Have to lift a finger.. about to die. Pretty hard to make anything new that isn't in some way different! They even provided a way for you to keep it's looks the same. That isn't enough since you have to select it. Why don't you just buy another copy of Windows 7 and reinstall it. Obviously you would not be disappointed or have to learn anything.

 

[lowrider69]

Anybody get the Windows 8 developer build to run in VMware player or workstation? I haven't tried it yet but I did read over at that shithole..hardforum..that people were having issues running it in a VM.

 

[JackMDS]

Certainly true...anything different and they are about to die.

Yap, there is even a Medical term for it, "Neophobia"

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=12318

 

[Cerb]

Well, the metro desktop IS Windows. It's not really something like Windows Media Center where it runs on top of Win7. The classic Windows desktop is actually more closer to something of an emulated environment than the metro UI.

Although this blog headline is trolling, he makes a good argument: http://gizmodo.com/5840704/if-you-already-hate-windows-8-then-you-hate-technology

Personally, I can't wait for an ipad type form factor device to have a full featured OS. Although the rumor is that the ARM version of Win8 will not have the classic Windows compatibility, there are some Intel chips coming out which should bring x86 computers down to something the size of an ipad.

I'll bite: "You care about platforms."

That's pretty much it, for the entire article, and yes, yes I do. I don't think the desktop UI is all that great, but 8's new interface does not fit with using a keyboard and mouse/stick, where most time is either spent reading text, typing text, and file management (gaming and A/V consumption aren't really going to be affected, from what I see, and may improve, if significantly different at all). It will be OK, by the looks of things, but I want it to be better than it is today, and to at least be unbroken OotB to the degree that 2000 and XP were. Add new features, but also fix regressions. Not fixing regressions is what really ticks me off with MS.

- Have they added back in mouse acceleration options (seriously, WTF did you ever get rid of them for in the first place, MS? It's not just gamers, either--find me a CAD guy that isn't tons happier after removing accel, especially if it's for a trackball)?
- Are they going to make explorer sort files correctly, again, or at least make that an easy to choose option (currently, you can do natural sort with extension, or pure alphanumeric sort; but not natural sort w/o extensions, which previous versions would do)?
- Are they going to quit with the searching over metadata just to list files? How about, you know, listing files, then filling in the extra data?
-How about file size of a whole selection the status bar, like you had since '95 or '98? I know it can slow things down, sometimes, but not as much as getting properties, and it would be easy to optimize it.

I will admit there are some neat things, especially for tablets and the like, like good calendar support w/o buying Outlook. But, what I really want to see dealt with are features broken in 7. Then, I might concern myself with new features added.

But, I'm not a normal user. I think MS can serve power users and normal users alike, if they were to try, as what we largely care about are the little things that normal users just put up with (I'm sure many on this forum could come up with their own list like I did above, off the top of their heads).

 

[Zaap]

Certainly true...anything different and they are about to die. Have to lift a finger.. about to die. Pretty hard to make anything new that isn't in some way different! They even provided a way for you to keep it's looks the same. That isn't enough since you have to select it. Why don't you just buy another copy of Windows 7 and reinstall it. Obviously you would not be disappointed or have to learn anything.

*yawn* This has been addressed before. People aren't against 'different' they're just not all zombie fanboi shills that accept any stupid idea that comes along.

It's not like we haven't seen Microsoft do stupid before: I remember clearly the shills doing the same song and dance:

... with Windows ME. "Oh you just hate it 'cause it's different! Microsoft! Microsoft! Rah! Rah! Rah!"

No, people just hated it because it was pure CRAP.

... with Windows Vista. "Oh you just hate it 'cause it's different!"

No. People just hated it because it was bloated compared to XP.


The shills were still insisting these were 'the wave of the future!' until even Microsoft had to admit they were stinkers.

Now some people see a pattern with Metro.

"Oh you just hate it 'cause it's different!"

No. So far many people think its an example of poor user-interface design, and probably destined to be another of MS's duds.

 

[ViRGE]

Anybody get the Windows 8 developer build to run in VMware player or workstation? I haven't tried it yet but I did read over at that shithole..hardforum..that people were having issues running it in a VM.

It works fine in Workstation 8. I think Workstation 7 users are going to be out of luck however.

 

[lowrider69]

It works fine in Workstation 8. I think Workstation 7 users are going to be out of luck however.

I read it works in VMware Player 4 as well which isn't on the official download page yet on their site, but I read a post on their forums with links to Player 4 and the updated tools on the vmware servers.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1832325


Supposedly Workstation 8 has Player bundled with it, to me it's easier just to download the separate Player 4 package.

Edit: Windows 8 runs like a champ in VMware Player 4, I got it going before.

I'm not digging the metro shit.

 

[Maximilian]

*yawn* This has been addressed before. People aren't against 'different' they're just not all zombie fanboi shills that accept any stupid idea that comes along.

It's not like we haven't seen Microsoft do stupid before: I remember clearly the shills doing the same song and dance:

... with Windows ME. "Oh you just hate it 'cause it's different! Microsoft! Microsoft! Rah! Rah! Rah!"

No, people just hated it because it was pure CRAP.

... with Windows Vista. "Oh you just hate it 'cause it's different!"

No. People just hated it because it was bloated compared to XP.


The shills were still insisting these were 'the wave of the future!' until even Microsoft had to admit they were stinkers.

Now some people see a pattern with Metro.

"Oh you just hate it 'cause it's different!"

No. So far many people think its an example of poor user-interface design, and probably destined to be another of MS's duds.

Yup windows 8 is [garbage] until proven otherwise.

No profanity please.

-Thanks
ViRGE

 

[Red Squirrel]

As long as it can be turned off and everything switched to windows classic, then I'll be happy. Windows classic and nothing but!

Actually, when I switch to windows 7, I'll probably force myself to endure the acid trip interface to see if I end up liking it. When I went to XP disabling the fisher price interface was the first thing I did and still is whenever I install it.

 

[ViRGE]

As long as it can be turned off and everything switched to windows classic, then I'll be happy. Windows classic and nothing but!

Actually, when I switch to windows 7, I'll probably force myself to endure the acid trip interface to see if I end up liking it. When I went to XP disabling the fisher price interface was the first thing I did and still is whenever I install it.

Even if it can be turned off, what good would that do you? Microsoft is going after the dev community with a very large cattle prod to encourage them to develop for Metro. In the end you won't be able to escape it and use new programs at the same time.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Even if it can be turned off, what good would that do you? Microsoft is going after the dev community with a very large cattle prod to encourage them to develop for Metro. In the end you won't be able to escape it and use new programs at the same time.

If they somehow do something to restrict programs from running in a normal explorer environment that will truly suck, and they'll also be shooting themselves in the foot at the same time.

 

[CSMR]

Worst case scenario: Microsoft tries to promote Metro as the new interface for all computing (as the hype has been claiming), leading to an inferior interface for serious users. It dumbs down computers as it dumbed down phones with WM6->WP7.

What I expect: there are two interfaces, the desktop interface is no less powerful, but is not upgraded aggressively. E.g. a counterpart to WinRT is not developed, WPF and silverlight stagnate, app store is not integrated, people are stuck with old methods of distributing winforms apps with no new convenience/security/antipiracy features.

Best case: A counterpart to WinRT for the desktop is made, or WPF is extended to have some of the new features of WinRT, an upgrade for the desktop which smooths the interface between Metro and desktop use.

 

[trollolo]

if you are judging windows 8 by its default UI you should be disallowed from using computers entirely. that is all

 

[TheDarkKnight]

if you are judging windows 8 by its default UI you should be disallowed from using computers entirely. that is all

Isn't the above statement kind of like saying, If you judge the world through your eyes and ears you should be disallowed from living?

If UI isn't that important we should all go back to using DOS.

I have read silly statements before but somehow the one about not judging a Windows Operating System by it's UI, pretty much takes the crown.

If you get off on sitting 3 inches away from a screen that you can swipe your fingers on all day until your retina burns, more power to ya. I have no interest in that kind of a UI, at all.

This is the problem with some people. They think the desktop PC is a ****ing tablet. Its not. If I was only going to watch movies and play MP3s on my desktop PC then I might not mind swiping my computer screen all day like a chimpanze. This is not what I do, however. Desktop PCs aren't tablets. Hence, they have different names.

Edit: And to preempt any comments about using the word "default" before UI, yes I seen that. If someone wants to use their desktop PC like a tablet that should be offered as an option. Microsoft has their priorities backwards and they are trying to shove them down everybodys throat. I skipped Vista for the most part. I did get it on one laptop but I bought the laptop for the laptop itself, not the OS. I imagine Windows 8 will have the same fate. No one will actually actively seek out this piece of tablet crap software except people who don't know the difference from one OS to the next.

 

[silvan4now]

if you are judging windows 8 by its default UI you should be disallowed from using computers entirely. that is all

+1
After looking at some forums and seeing the in-depth build and also the features offered i totally agree. I mean after some studies Windows 8 will be around 1.7 times faster in comparison to 7.

 

[Makaveli]

Can wrap this all up in "too soon to tell quit your crying"

 

[JackMDS]

It seems to be so ""Dumb"" and good that people want to change Win7 to work like Metro too.

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-get-the-new-windows-8-start-screen-in-windows-7/