And, this is what he initially had to say about the iPad: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/ipad-1st-study.html
Keep in mind that iPad study focused on UI issues with third-party apps. In particular, noting the inconsistent behavior between those apps.
Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
41–50 of 55 posts
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
The problem is the bigger picture here--Microsoft wants to phase out the desktop and move us all to Metro so we have to buy all software through their app store. I would guess that in the near future we'll be talking about jailbreaking windows just to install our own stuff. It's the only explanation I can find for Microsoft completely ignoring how much everyone hates Metro.
I see a different picture. One where they're desperately trying to kick-start their mobile plaform, so they're unapologetically shoving it under the noses of as many customers as possible, and the only way they can see to do this, is by shipping it as the interface of Windows. Once they've got app developers making enough apps for the mobile platform to have a viable evosystem, they can uncouple it from Windows deskt…
This is the clearest explanation I've read. Microsoft may have convinced themselves that Metro is a viable desktop UI but that is post-facto justification.
The real reason is 'developers, developers, developers'.
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
Strange, as a KDE 4 user, I too was overcome with a sense of schadenfreude, when I saw Gnome 3.
As an XMonad user, I am overcome with productivity and have no time to care about the way others work.
As a Unity user, I'm just happy in my own little world.
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
I see a different picture. One where they're desperately trying to kick-start their mobile plaform, so they're unapologetically shoving it under the noses of as many customers as possible, and the only way they can see to do this, is by shipping it as the interface of Windows. Once they've got app developers making enough apps for the mobile platform to have a viable evosystem, they can uncouple it from Windows deskt…
This is the clearest explanation I've read. Microsoft may have convinced themselves that Metro is a viable desktop UI but that is post-facto justification. The real reason is 'developers, developers, developers'.
If the real reason was 'developers, developers, developers', Microsoft would not have created the walled garden, a clone of iOS App Store.
'Developers, developers, developers' want open, bazaar-style platform, like Win32, they do not want curated cathedral-style shop where Microsoft can kick out the competitors from.
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is the clearest explanation I've read. Microsoft may have convinced themselves that Metro is a viable desktop UI but that is post-facto justification. The real reason is 'developers, developers, developers'.
If the real reason was 'developers, developers, developers', Microsoft would not have created the walled garden, a clone of iOS App Store. 'Developers, developers, developers' want open, bazaar-style platform, like Win32, they do not want curated cathedral-style shop where Microsoft can kick out the competitors from.
Is that why developers are trampling over each other in a stampede to the iOS store?
They're fearful of malware and battery-sucking-always-running services and apps like some Android apps.
This way, they start with a clean slate on WindowsRT and Metro apps and then maybe relax some rules
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
If the real reason was 'developers, developers, developers', Microsoft would not have created the walled garden, a clone of iOS App Store. 'Developers, developers, developers' want open, bazaar-style platform, like Win32, they do not want curated cathedral-style shop where Microsoft can kick out the competitors from.
Is that why developers are trampling over each other in a stampede to the iOS store? They're fearful of malware and battery-sucking-always-running services and apps like some Android apps. This way, they start with a clean slate on WindowsRT and Metro apps and then maybe relax some rules
I'm not trampling over anybody in a stampede to the iOS store, and also I'm staying at Win32 and ignoring WinRT platform completely precisely for that reason: lack of developer freedom.
I'm pretty sure that Microsoft will drop entire WinRT thing someday, or there will be alternative Win32 implementation from other vendor. As for WinRT, they have invented a lot of similar toys last years, played them for some short time, and abandoned them.
In any case, Win32 code base and user base is too large, so this platform will be supported in some way for the next 50+ years.
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
What did MS not get with Windows 95/2000/XP/7? I don't think the "tick-tock model" of Windows releases is reliable, after such a big and confused change as Windows 8, I find it very likely that Windows 9 will be released to better reviews.
I see your 95/XP/2000/7 and raise you ME/Vista/8... perhaps I have been a little selective, or perhaps the word 'history' is a iittle vague, I think my point is clear though and IMO well supported... by history.
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#48Something to keep in mind is that regardless of the issues with Metro, you can easily ignore it by using software such as Start8[0], which readds a start menu and goes straight to the oldschool desktop when you log in. Windows 8 has significant performance improvements over Windows 7, so there's no reason not to replace Windows 7 with it at this point for regular, old laptop/desktop use. 0: http://www.stardock.com/pr…
This is fine for the slightly aware power user (I have Windows 8 set up with Start8 and find it miles better than Windows 7), but if you put yourself in the shoes of your technically incompetent grandmother then you can see how things could be that much harder on Windows 8, especially if they took a long time to get used to the traditional Windows desktop.
I suspect OEMs will start bundling something similar with Windows 8 laptops/desktops. Dell has bundled OS X-like docks in the past.
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#49One thing I actually have trouble with is not being able to exit an application. You can tell me all you want that idling in the background uses few resources, but sometimes I would rather just exit. I blame Steve Jobs for that one, damn you Steve Jobs!
Drag down from the top to 'close' an app.
Re: Usability expert tears apart Windows 8
#50Wary after all these gloomy reports, I finally went ahead and repurposed an old laptop to run Windows 8 a few days ago, half expecting to end up putting Linux on it instead. The screen is officially too small (1280x800) and the chipset (Intel's 965 Express) is not officially supported; I had to resort to their Windows 7 drivers to get OpenGL. Needless to say, it has no touch support. And yet, I do not hesitate to cal…
For the most part, I agree - I'm using Windows 8 on my personal computer, and at this point I have absolutely no desire to go back to 7. But I'm a computer guy. So despite my initial frustration at having to go through yet another round of Redmond Musical Chairs, it didn't really take me very long at all to get back up to speed with the new UI changes.
That said, I do think that is a serious issue for businesses. Half the folks I work with still aren't up to speed on Windows 7, and it has a much more discoverable UI than 8 does. Not only is 8 an even bigger widget mover than XP was, but having everything hidden offscreen so you need to be able to independently think to hover the mouse against an edge of the screen to find what you're looking for is going to be an absolute discoverability killer for these users. No, I don't know why it is that so many people have a hard time learning new UI. But they do, and it's a reality that can't be dispelled with dismissive remarks.