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Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

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Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#81

Post by novamantis »

suresk wrote: post #33

Random usability rant: I find it slightly odd that, even now on Windows 8, keyboard customization requires so much effort in Windows. For example, I always make my capslock key an extra control key (if you haven't tried this before - try it!) and on OS X and most flavors of Linux, this is an easy 5 second process. On Windows 8, there are a ton of Keyboard settings - including promising-sounding ones like "Change how…

I make my capslock a backspace. Seriously, when do you really need to type so many capitals that can't just be rationalised by using Shift instead? Using it as Control as well is a great idea! You should first try out Autohotkey, instead of resorting to registry hacks. Cheers

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#82

Post by lessnonymous »

cheeaun wrote: post #51

I've been using Windows 8 on a laptop (no touch input) for few weeks and it took me 2-3 days to make it "work" like Windows 7. Since I upgrade from Windows 7, several things messed up and none of the Metro apps can be launched. Even the Store app crashes every time. Googled around, tried fixing it and giving up in the end. The only last solution is to 'Refresh' the PC which I'm hesitant to do. So, none of the Metro a…

Thanks for the hint on Start8 .. looks really good!

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#83

Post by rogerbinns »

kyro wrote: post #30

This is anecdotal, but I walked into a Windows store not too long ago to try Windows 8 on a tablet, and I was blown away at how terribly unintuitive it was. There were absolutely zero visual cues to indicate where features were, how to move around the interface. None. Now I don't know if that's changed since then, but the experience left me with such a bad taste that I told myself I would never give it another 5 minu…

> ... how terribly unintuitive it was.

I'm a little uncertain how future proof such a claim is. I used computers before mice became common. Back in those days mice actually came with tutorial programs showing you how to use a mouse! Nowadays we would consider it somewhat absurd and no mice are shipped with such programs. Even typing tutors used to be a very popular category of software.

When I got my first smartphone it was not intuitive that such a thing as a long press existed. If you do not know about it, it can be extremely frustrating doing some actions since you will never find them. Some other cues are almost invisible - for example scroll bars tend to be very narrow. Multi-touch, pinch zoom etc are also all unintuitive before you know about them just as double clicks and drags were earlier.

There are no real cues for mouse interaction (eg double clicking), nor touch interaction (eg long press). But we don't call apps unintuitive - those interactions just became the new normal. You only need to see them a few times to pick up on them.

Perhaps Microsoft needs to have TV ads etc (dare I say a tutorial program) so their interactions become the new normal?

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#84

Post by markmark »

rogerbinns wrote: post #78
potatolicious wrote: post #12

Have been using a Surface as well as a Win8 desktop for a couple of weeks now, and I have to say this is pretty accurate. When WinPhone first came out with the Metro UI I was a fan - there's a visual simplicity to it that's very appealing. After you use it for a while though the weaknesses become pretty glaring and hard to accept. It is often very hard to tell what UI elements are interactive and what are purely info…

BTW Android tried the whole unified search thing. Back in the days of hardware buttons there was even one of the four dedicated to just search. A running app could detect the button press and bring up a standardized search interface. If the search started outside an app (eg home screen) then you get the same standard search interface. Each app could register as a search provider - responding with content relevant to…

Unified search was removed from Android because Apple has a patent on it and successfully sued.

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#85

Post by anonymfus »

robomartin wrote: post #76
anonymfus wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are improvements in taskbar on multimonitor systems, now there is distinction between main taskbar and secondary taskbars which can show buttons only for windows from same display. The main problem of W8-haters with new Start Screen instead of old Start menu is that it distract from work by showing in app list in fullscreen, but in your case it only takes on display from 3. >It was specifically built to make pr…

In desktop mode (if it is named so) can you put shortcuts on the desktop just like on all prior windows versions?

Yes.

It is not mode or app; if you use multiple monitors then desktop is always shown, because Start Screen or WinRT app can use only one.

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#86

Post by novamantis »

tvdw wrote: post #9

I've been using Windows 8 since roughly two weeks before its launch, and I agree with most of the article. In fact, I just realized that I never use a single "Modern UI" app for the simple reason that they force my entire screen (2560x1440, 27") to be filled by one app. Such a waste of space. In desktop mode I often have four 1280x720 windows on my screen. Windows 8 might just be the push I needed to switch to Linux.

It was for me, I regret nothing.

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#87

Post by rlu »

potatolicious wrote: post #12

Have been using a Surface as well as a Win8 desktop for a couple of weeks now, and I have to say this is pretty accurate. When WinPhone first came out with the Metro UI I was a fan - there's a visual simplicity to it that's very appealing. After you use it for a while though the weaknesses become pretty glaring and hard to accept. It is often very hard to tell what UI elements are interactive and what are purely info…

What bothers me about the OP though is that if you really dislike Metro so much on a desktop, you don't have to use it!

I'll repeat that even though I think we all know this already: if you don't want to use Metro apps, you don't have to use Metro apps. It is really that simple.

So, if you're a power user and want to stay away from all of that nonsense, then click on the "Desktop" tile and you're done. Sure, you have to return to metro when you search or for a few other minor scenarios but overall it should not be a big deal.

And then for a lot of the other complaints (e.g. hidden interface, icons that you don't think you can click) it is just a matter of time before people learn it. Then it will become a non-issue.

If OP claims he is a fan of Win7, then he should also like Win8 as the desktop and core OS is very much improved.

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#88

Post by novamantis »

squidsoup wrote: post #18
pteredactyl wrote: post #6

linux

Sadly none of the linux desktop environments are particularly great either - unity, gnomeshell, and kde all have different problems and none of them are nearly as refined as the OS X UI. That being said, if you are comfortable with a minimal tiling wm like awesome or xmonad, you can have a very productive environment.

Well, guh. The point of those DEs is too be highly customisable. Although, I agree that they should be more appealing out of the box.

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#89

Post by madoublet »

I have been using Windows 8 for awhile now. I never really stopped to think about the overall usability of the OS, simply because I thought it was easy to use. Nielson makes some good points, but I think at the same time, his point-of-view is overly academic. It is an OS. If you choose Windows 8, you will use it all the time. Nuances, such as how the charms work, how gestures work, and what tile does what, fades into the background. You learn it and you move on.

Re: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

#90

Post by [deleted] »

robomartin wrote: post #76
anonymfus wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are improvements in taskbar on multimonitor systems, now there is distinction between main taskbar and secondary taskbars which can show buttons only for windows from same display. The main problem of W8-haters with new Start Screen instead of old Start menu is that it distract from work by showing in app list in fullscreen, but in your case it only takes on display from 3. >It was specifically built to make pr…

In desktop mode (if it is named so) can you put shortcuts on the desktop just like on all prior windows versions?

[deleted]
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