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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

#151

Post by tehayj »

Zirro wrote: post #116
rlu wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

"So, if you're a power user and want to stay away from all of that nonsense..." But the people in the usability study were no power users. They were the intended audience. Besides, I don't think the performance issues OP describes would be appreciated by non-power users either.

I just got a new ultrabook with W8 for my wife. First thing I had to do was download some software that W8 boots into desktop mode. Then I got another application that brings the start menu back. Now it is OK and ready to use for her. MS should have released a work version and a home version that comes either with or without Metro.

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

#152

Post by tehayj »

kabdib wrote: post #105
robomartin wrote: post #60

I have yet to take the leap in terms of using it day-to-day. I just don't have the time to play. I had my kid install it in a small netbook we were not using just to see what it felt like. Neither one of us is interested in using it very far past boot. It's one of those "Right. Brilliant!" moments and then the notebook is closed shut and turned off. Professionally my concern has to do with wasting time and not being…

The core OS underneath the glitzy pixels is a fine OS. Really, more than fine -- it's a /great/ OS, fantastic at asynchronicity and driver support. It has warts, but on the whole it was well thought out. (I've been working with OSes for 30+ years, starting with TOPS-10 and Unix in the late 70s. I have a little pedigree here). The stuff they put on top, not so much. I will probably wait years until I install anything…

I know a lot of creative professionals who would abandon OSX and WIN in a heartbeat if Adobe would release their software for Linux.

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

#153

Post by conradfr »

rlu wrote: post #133
simonw wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"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." That's not how usability works.

Is pinch to zoom obvious? Is left clicking obvious? Is ctrl alt delete obvious? Is spacebar to pause/resume video/music obvious? I'm no UEX expert but all of the above seem to be things that many people know how to do, yet would not seem immediately obvious at first. I am quite confident that "swiping in from the right to reveal charms/commands/options" will join the ranks of the above. It'll just take a few months o…

There is a LOT of people that don't even understand ctrl-c ctrl-v and go to the menu each time to do it.

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

#154

Post by chris_wot »

alyx wrote: post #80

This is all yawn inducing. I don't remember the last time we had this many articles on HN discussing an OS. All this "discussion" and criticism of Microsoft and Windows is 90% conjecture or very personal (read biased) opinions. I too have been using a Surface since launch and have been running Win8 Pro on my laptop since RTM, and guess what? I disagree with the OP. I highly recommend you go to a store and give it a t…

I try not to be too confrontational here, but in this case I'm probably going to have to. I would dearly love for Microsoft to release a killer OS, but so far as of yet I can't see any real compelling feature that I would be particularly interested in.

Let's be honest here... if I have to do development work, then I'm not going to use Windows 8. I'll be using Windows 7.

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

#155

Post by chris_wot »

f4stjack wrote: post #132

Wow... I feel like I am in a minority who enjoyed windows 8. As for the article I disagree with it on many points. I am using this beast for several months (adding the beta releases to the queue) and although I was very sceptic and using the same words with Mr. Nielsen as in the UI is schizophrenic and tries to be two things in one shell BUT you know what? If you are not interested, you don't even see Metro (or whate…

I expect windows 9 will streamline it even more.

I do not want to have to wait for Windows 9 for Microsoft to get their act together.

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

#156

Post by sliverstorm »

potatolicious wrote: post #23
isaacwaller wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Drag down from the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen to close a Metro app

Thank you . This would've been very useful as part of the animated tutorial on your first boot that you can't skip (and that I've seen 3 times this week thanks to setting up new machines).

Mmm, the animated tutorial is going to be aimed at the common denominator of users. I think MS is trying to hide things like "whether an app is running" from the average user. For example, I'm told apps will eventually close themselves if they aren't used.

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

#157

Post by Ergomane »

lessnonymous wrote: post #69
davidlumley wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Am I the only person who thinks the lack of a start button and a 'traditional desktop' are non issues? The lack of a start button/desktop is not a usability issue in and of itself - it's everything else that makes it such a nightmare.

I live on the start menu. It's how I launch all apps. And by typing their name. What part of moving to Win8 required that it no longer fit? I've installed a third party app now, though it's sub-optimal and I'll probably go hunting for something better.

Launching apps by typing their name still works on Windows 8. Just get to the start screen (winkey or bottom left corner, or via charms bar), then start typing.

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

#158

Post by [deleted] »

pixie_ wrote: post #7

Windows 8 must be the slowest train wreck in computing history, it's been being reviewed as crap for over a year now and they keep chugging along. It's funny to read all the comments from over a year ago and how nothing has changed since then - http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/10/18/designing-sear...

[deleted]

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

#159

Post by jakeonthemove »

rlu wrote: post #87
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…

But you do HAVE to use it! Start computer - Metro, Open app - Metro, Search for something - Metro, Shutdown/Restart - Metro, Windows Updates - Metro, Control Panel - Metro, switch apps - Metro, and more. It's a real PITA when you get the huge goddamn Start Menu when you want to do something simple...

And even if you do reduce that to a minimum (which is possible), it's still stupid - here you are working with 4 windows open on something, completely forgetting that you're on 8, you want to do some random simple operation and BAM - METRO IN YOUR FACE! :-)

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

#160

Post by Lockyy »

yen223 wrote: post #141
actsasbuffoon wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What parts of Mountain Lion do you consider "a complete mess"? LaunchPad is a joke, but other than that I find Mountain Lion to be very intuitive and easy on the eyes.

Am I the only person around here who actually likes LaunchPad? It integrates so well with Apple's lovely touchpad. Map it to your favourite hot corner, and suddenly all your apps are much easier to access.

But all my apps are immediately accessible with cmd+space and typing the apps name.
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