What makes a Desktop more productive/

Coke Robot

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Ok, after the debates and rants of many a thread on here, I post this.

I ask Desktop users, what do YOU think could be improved with the interface of Windows Explorer?

And when I say interface, I mean actual cosmetic changes that could be made or design changes that could be made to increase YOUR productivity. I ask this because there has been a bash on the Start Screen claiming lack of productivity and Microsoft is flipping off Desktop users and the such.

Post away!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
For me, I would tweak the Ribbon by getting rid of the superfluous File menu and consolidate the few useful items in it into the Home tab and place IE 9/10 styled nav buttons in its place.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
And also consolidate the breadcrumb nav bar and search into one, somewhat like in IE 9/10, then move it next to the tabs on the Ribbon to reclaim some space.

Improve either Details Pane to be on the bottom, or have it has a fly out bar when needed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
How about pinning locations to the explorer bar?
There would be like your "bookmarks" tab / ribbon.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64 Home Premium / Commodore OS Vision / Windows 8 Release preview
    CPU
    AMD Athlon x2 Dual Core 7750 BE 2,7Ghz (2/4)
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-e
    Memory
    4Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    GIGABYTE (ATI) Radeon HD 6870 (1Gb)
    Sound Card
    Do i have one?
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2
    Screen Resolution
    1x HD1080 1x SXGA
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 500 Gb
    1x Samsung 30 Gb
    1x LaCie 1Tb Hard drive.
    PSU
    Antec 500W
    Case
    Antec three hundred
    Cooling
    3 fans + psu and cpu + gpu
    Keyboard
    Logitech G19
    Mouse
    CM Storm Xornet
    Internet Speed
    110mb/ s
    Other Info
    Look, what i've created... just a few visits at the recyclement center was enough...
If the Windows Explorer on Windows 7 does the job, then it may need little or no change because it just works as it is. Some would say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" Its no surprise there would be complaints if its redesigned and to me, its no question, its never perfect and its hard to come up with a better design that many people would like and would easily adapt to. Its also uneasy to see a very good way to improve it. As I said before many times, I don't like the ribbon on Explorer because it made the top portion look bulky and full with tools and stuff instead of simpler buttons and bars that does the job anyway like the Windows 7 Windows Explorer.

If I would be asked what improvement I would like to see with Windows Explorer, I had a brain wave, I say "floating" Desktop windows of opened applications that you can zoom towards if you click or touch or you or throw them in the side if you don't use them. And again, many might not like this idea. Windows 7 is already excellent.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows Developer Preview, Linux Mint 9
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
I'm ok with the ribbon oddly of all the things they changed i find that interesting, but i did prefer how win 7 did it.

some of what you mention sounds nice though.
 

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System One

  • OS
    .
    System Manufacturer/Model
    .
    CPU
    .
    Motherboard
    .
    Memory
    .
    Graphics Card(s)
    .
    Monitor(s) Displays
    .
    Hard Drives
    .
    PSU
    .
    Case
    .
    Cooling
    .
    Keyboard
    .
    Mouse
    .
    Internet Speed
    .
Improve either Details Pane to be on the bottom, or have it has a fly out bar when needed.

Agree with this. Not sure what the best design would be but the details pane has always been a mild annoyance where it is and how it looks. Not a hindrance, just an annoyance. The whole "My Whatever" and "Public Whatever" folders are a waste of my time. Whoever designed the mouse context menu should be in another line of work. Why that's such a pain to edit is just plain stupid. Could come up with other minor stuff, but like Vertex said, 7 works efficiently enough for me right now (I also like his idea of floating zooming boxes.) Nothing ever gets in my way in 7, which is the opposite of Metro. Once I get out of that crap, they've improved a little on 7 but enough to get me to buy it? Don't know yet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Black Label 7x64
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1055t
    Motherboard
    GA-890FXA-UD5
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD 6790
    Sound Card
    X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty Pro
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AJ15
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Barracuda 7200 SATA 280GB
    WD Caviar Green SATA 500GB
    PSU
    OCZ ModXStream 700W
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps/25 Mbps
How about pinning locations to the explorer bar?
There would be like your "bookmarks" tab / ribbon.

+1

But to be honest, using Windows 7 would just be more productive for me seeing as I'm much more used to it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64/Windows 8 Consumer Preview x64/Ubuntu 11.04
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Intel Pentium Dual Core E6700 3.2GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5G41T-M LX
    Memory
    Strontium 8192MB DDR3 1333Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    msi GeForce N560GTX-M2D1GD5 1GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CHIMEI CMV 221D 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 3.5'' 2TB HDD/WD Elements External 1TB HDD
    PSU
    SHAW Viper-1500w Gaming PSU
    Case
    Black eMaxx ATX Mini Tower Case
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 1000
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 2000
    Internet Speed
    100GB @ 4.76Mbps
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