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Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

venturebeat.com

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Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

#11

Post by tangue »

snogglethorpe wrote: post #4
tangue wrote: post #3

All this bashing on Windows 8 reminds me of the first version of OS X, Cheetah. Apple proves the pundits wrong. I wish Microsoft the same.

Yeah, but Apple is, despite their (myriad) flaws, pretty darn good at the "making a usable OS" game. MS, well, not so much.

They learnt it the hard way. Have a look at the first Siracusa's review of OS X http://arstechnica.com/apple/2001/04/macos-x/

But I had to admit that compared to Apple, MS might not be introspective enough to improve Windows.

Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

#12

Post by krakensden »

freditup wrote: post #7

I think he's right in a way, and wrong in another way. The combination of metro and desktop programs being used together in Windows 8 is somewhat of a usability nightmare. However, only using one or the other primarily works great. On my laptop for example, I primarily use the desktop features and regular programs. The only time I really touch the metro-styled areas is when I search for a program or file. This sort o…

It doesn't make a lot of sense to my why Metro applications need to be fullscreen, especially if lots of applications are supposed to work on a phone form factor too. Stick them in some standard chrome at a standard size, and let them float if the user wants them to float.

Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

#13

Post by mitchty »

tangue wrote: post #9
Mythbusters wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

have you?

Yes. And I liked it ( I was puzzled by the UI for the 3 first days.) Besides usability and esthetical considerations, MS has done something very clever : Javascript as a first class citizen for building apps is a game changer.

I can't say I'm a huge fan, it is really undiscoverable with the charms etc... The one normal person I showed it to kept hitting escape to try to get out of where they were.

I don't think it will do overly great based on what I've seen. But we'll see if I'm wrong!

Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

#14

Post by mark_integerdsv »

zaidf wrote: post #2

At the end, this is what matters: I have great hopes for Windows 9 on mobile and tablets. Just as Windows 7 was “Vista Done Right,” it’s quite likely that the touchscreen version of Windows 9 will be “Windows 8 Done Right.” I’ll stay with Win7 the next few years and hope for better times with Windows 9. One great thing about Microsoft is that they do have a history of correcting their mistakes.

Your post above should be in the dictionary under the title: 'Apologist.'

...there may be further references to Stockholm Syndrome (he doesn't mean to do this to me, that's just his process...)

MS has a history of just not 'getting' it with Windows. This is just the next chapter.

Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

#15

Post by tangue »

mitchty wrote: post #13
tangue wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. And I liked it ( I was puzzled by the UI for the 3 first days.) Besides usability and esthetical considerations, MS has done something very clever : Javascript as a first class citizen for building apps is a game changer.

I can't say I'm a huge fan, it is really undiscoverable with the charms etc... The one normal person I showed it to kept hitting escape to try to get out of where they were. I don't think it will do overly great based on what I've seen. But we'll see if I'm wrong!

It's not a great experience for working, I had to admit that. But as an "entertainment OS" I found it really interesting.

Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

#16

Post by dmight »

frooxie wrote: post #10

I've used Vista until now, but I'm planning on buying a new stationary computer soon, and I'll probably buy Windows 8, mainly for the improved security features (but also the improved speed/boot time, file copy dialog, Reset & Refresh and File History). From what I hear, it's possibly to largely ignore the Metro interface, which is what I plan to do. Would anyone who's used Windows 8 recommend me to buy Windows 7 ins…

I've used windows 8 for a few days and I would say its not THAT bad once you get accustomed to it. So far I haven't seen any reasons to switch to Windows 8 on my main computer yet.

Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

#18

Post by recursive »

snogglethorpe wrote: post #4
tangue wrote: post #3

All this bashing on Windows 8 reminds me of the first version of OS X, Cheetah. Apple proves the pundits wrong. I wish Microsoft the same.

Yeah, but Apple is, despite their (myriad) flaws, pretty darn good at the "making a usable OS" game. MS, well, not so much.

MS seems pretty capable of making a usable OS. Have you used Windows 7?

Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8

#19

Post by Encosia »

frooxie wrote: post #10

I've used Vista until now, but I'm planning on buying a new stationary computer soon, and I'll probably buy Windows 8, mainly for the improved security features (but also the improved speed/boot time, file copy dialog, Reset & Refresh and File History). From what I hear, it's possibly to largely ignore the Metro interface, which is what I plan to do. Would anyone who's used Windows 8 recommend me to buy Windows 7 ins…

I've been using Windows 8 on my primary machine for about a year. I couldn't imagine going back to Windows 7. 8 is a clear upgrade once you learn to use it (which takes very little time if you actively attempt to learn the new interface).
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