A number of participants here support the idea of the Metro-style new Start Screen. I have a suggestion for all of these supporters. If you are so convinced that this Metro-style Start Screen is so aesthetically pleasing and such a superior way of working, please petition Microsoft to make it optional. If you are right, a majority of users will enable it. Since I am certain that you are steadfast in your convictions, you would not mind supporting such a notion. Am I right?

i like it all but the shutdown. i think it should be put back on the start menu.


scrooge

lol, yeah the first time I tried to shut down Windows 8 it ended being a WTF moment. If the metro UI doesn't end up being optional you'll be hard pressed to ever get me to pony up for Windows 8.

Originally Posted by alphanumeric

lol, yeah the first time I tried to shut down Windows 8 it ended being a WTF moment. If the metro UI doesn't end up being optional you'll be hard pressed to ever get me to pony up for Windows 8.

Microsoft would not make it optional, not without intense pressure. The whole idea of the Start Screen, a totally unnecessary element is to "condition" users to the Metro-Style interfaces so that these users find the Microsoft products in tablets and phones more appealing. This is the reason that it is there. It has not a functional utility, its pure reason for existence is marketing.

My guess is that if it is optional, only a small minority of users would ever choose to install it.

However, this strategy may backfire on Microsoft. It would be hard to justify asking for $150 for a license of Win8 on the desktop when the equivalent license in tablets would be in $10 range. So, you unless they sell a gazillion of tablets, they are done. This is why it is such a huge gamble for them and this is why they would make it optional only under extreme pressure.

Never having run it on anything with a touch screen, I don't know if it is easier to use on such a device, or even desirable. I would think though that if you had an option to turn Metro off and go back to the Windows 7 start menu. People that were going to buy Windows 7 for a desktop PC with no touch, may opt for Windows 8 instead. Assuming the difference in price isn't that big. If I was going to be forced into the Metro UI I would pick Windows 7 and not windows 8. I think they could conceivably sell more copies of Windows 8 if they gave you the option to switch the Metro UI on or off.

Originally Posted by ADRz

Originally Posted by alphanumeric

lol, yeah the first time I tried to shut down Windows 8 it ended being a WTF moment. If the metro UI doesn't end up being optional you'll be hard pressed to ever get me to pony up for Windows 8.

Microsoft would not make it optional, not without intense pressure. The whole idea of the Start Screen, a totally unnecessary element is to "condition" users to the Metro-Style interfaces so that these users find the Microsoft products in tablets and phones more appealing. This is the reason that it is there. It has not a functional utility, its pure reason for existence is marketing.

My guess is that if it is optional, only a small minority of users would ever choose to install it.

However, this strategy may backfire on Microsoft. It would be hard to justify asking for $150 for a license of Win8 on the desktop when the equivalent license in tablets would be in $10 range. So, you unless they sell a gazillion of tablets, they are done. This is why it is such a huge gamble for them and this is why they would make it optional only under extreme pressure.

You think that .... but as I mentioned in your other thread, Microsoft released notes to why they decided on the Metro Style UI. It wasn't about Selling Tablets, Touch Screens, phones or apps. Those are a bi-product of their general research. Most people (they had a figure around 70%+) click off icons on their desktops. A huge number of those use the same exact programs everyday ..... it was natural that they would try and streamline this.

I have in another thread disclosed what changes I would like to see made, but I love the general idea of a Metro UI. Until we see the Beta, we are all fighting over nothing. At that point, we will be able to decide has Microsoft tried to improve it to be PC friendly.

Hm, I wonder if all the negative feedback about having to click "START" to shut down windows inspired this change?

Originally Posted by alphanumeric

Never having run it on anything with a touch screen, I don't know if it is easier to use on such a device, or even desirable. I would think though that if you had an option to turn Metro off and go back to the Windows 7 start menu. People that were going to buy Windows 7 for a desktop PC with no touch, may opt for Windows 8 instead. Assuming the difference in price isn't that big. If I was going to be forced into the Metro UI I would pick Windows 7 and not windows 8. I think they could conceivably sell more copies of Windows 8 if they gave you the option to switch the Metro UI on or off.

I think that you would be "forced" to run the Metro-style Start Screen, or stay with Win7. The Metro-style Start Screen contributes absolutely nothing to the computing experience. But it is really essential for Microsoft.

Microsoft wants to condition users to the Metro Interface. Some clever marketer in Microsoft has decided that this is the best way to steer users to Microsoft smartphones and tablets. Without conditioning the users at the desktop, there is no desire by the average user to "go Metro". Personally, I find Metro unattractive and rather "retro". It reminds me of front ends circa 1980's.

Microsoft also wants to make money from its app store, just announced. So, without the Start Screen, there is no money coming from the app store!!! It is as simple as that.

Thus, the Start Screen is (a) a Marketing Device and (b) a Money-making proposition. Because Microsoft wants to have the opportunity of selling these $1.99 - $4.99 apps to tens of millions of users, it has gone ahead and deleted access to hundreds (or even thousands) of desktop gadgets (that were doing much of the same thing and did not cost a penny).

The hunger for money is such that we are now have a useless overlay running "full screen apps" in a windowing OS!!!!

Expect Microsoft to really downgrade as much as possible the Win7 experience. Expect that from now on, several updates to be available only to Win8 users (any upgrades to Windows Essentials for example). The gadgets are gone, certain user routines in applications have been deleted and I believe that certain versions of MS programs would be only for Win8. You will pushed to Win8 kicking and screaming.