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Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

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Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#41

Post by consp »

reddalo wrote: post #36
nehalem wrote: post #7

To me personally, it feels like Windows 2000 was the last and maybe only consistent UI onto which all later versions bolted what they considered improvements without ever overhauling the UI in full.

I think Windows XP did a pretty good job for the home market, making Windows appear friendly and easy to use to a wide audience (and without too many style inconstistencies). Moreover, Windows XP let you switch the interface back to the classic 9x look, if you wanted a more serious appearance, and better performance.

> back to the classic 9x look

If i remember correctly this is the windows 2000 look.

Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#42

Post by reddalo »

adithyassekhar wrote: post #13

11 is indeed pretty good looking. Once you use it 10 feels so clunky.

11 is a step in the right direction for a modern consistent look of Windows.

But there's still a long way to go; they still haven't managed to put all the system settings in a single app. And I wonder if they'll ever be able to get rid of the Control Panel; too many legacy applications need it.

Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#43

Post by dpark »

paulmooreparks wrote: post #35

I remember hacking the "Start" button in 95 through 7 to say "Whee!" instead of "Start". Childish and silly, but I liked it. I miss being able to make little hacks like that.

Mine said “Über”, which seemed very clever to me for some reason.

Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#44

Post by cubefox »

I really hated the depressing grey GUI of Windows 95/98/NT/2000/Me. It looks like working in a dull grey concrete office with a grey PC and grey monitor while wearing a grey tie. I get that Windows XP and 8 look too colorful for many people (I like them), but Vista & Co, with their glass design, managed to avoid colors while still not making everything a drab grey.

Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#45

Post by hilti »

nehalem wrote: post #7

To me personally, it feels like Windows 2000 was the last and maybe only consistent UI onto which all later versions bolted what they considered improvements without ever overhauling the UI in full.

Totally agree!

Although I‘m a Mac user for a long time, I still remember that I got work done using Windows 2000.

I‘d buy a license and switch back to Windows if we could get the productivity of this UI.

Typing this on iOS with Liquid Glass that drives me nuts

Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#46

Post by reddalo »

derleyici wrote: post #40
zootboy wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But this article is only grading the styling of the OS GUI elements, not the functionality (or lack thereof) of the OS itself.

Fair point, but the article praises Windows 11 for "cohesion" while the right-click menu literally has two different visual styles, and many system apps still use old UI. Even judging purely on aesthetics, that's inconsistent.

On the surface, Explorer looks more modern on Windows 11. But when you use it, you can "feel" it's still based on old Win32 APIs with just a layer of paint on top.

Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#48

Post by mcny »

cuber_messenger wrote: post #10
derleyici wrote: post #5

8 for Windows 11? An OS that includes ads in the Start menu, made with React. I'm not even mentioning right-click, which has basically two views: you open it and see some uselessly chosen tools, and you still need to open the old version (with the old design, breaking design consistency) to access actually useful things. Viva Windows XP!

IMHO the right-click menu these days seems to get better, at least I can find "Open with Code" or "Open in Terminal", etc. Except that I need the old menu to create a desktop shortcut occasionally.

I want to opt out though. I use 7 zip all the time and I don't want this menu that can't have 7 zip...

Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#49

Post by reddalo »

consp wrote: post #41
reddalo wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Windows XP did a pretty good job for the home market, making Windows appear friendly and easy to use to a wide audience (and without too many style inconstistencies). Moreover, Windows XP let you switch the interface back to the classic 9x look, if you wanted a more serious appearance, and better performance.

> back to the classic 9x look If i remember correctly this is the windows 2000 look.

We're both right. Windows XP had two different legacy themes: "Windows Standard" which looked like Windows 2000 and "Windows Classic" which looked like Windows 9x.

Re: Windows GUI – Good, Bad and Pretty Ugly (2023)

#50

Post by dpark »

adastra22 wrote: post #26
spankibalt wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is, strictly going by looks, one of Microsoft's ugliest UIs. I will never understand how people tolerate it, let alone defend it publicly. Shameful, absolutely and thoroughly shameful!

That is an entirely subjective statement. I think it looks great.

Of course it is. What would an aesthetic judgement be except subjective?
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