Highly respected expert deems Windows 8 ‘weak on tablets..

Highly respected expert deems Windows 8 ‘weak on tablets, terrible for PCs’

Microsoft’s (MSFT) new desktop and tablet platform is not off to a good start. Windows 8 and Windows RT have been criticized by PC manufacturers, reviewers, users, drunk users and others, and now highly respected usability expert and Nielsen Norman Group co-founder Jakob Nielsen has published a usability study that pans nearly every aspect of Microsoft’s new operating system.

Source

Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

Summary:
Hidden features, reduced discoverability, cognitive overhead from dual environments, and reduced power from a single-window UI and low information density. Too bad.

With the recent launch of Windows 8 and the Surface tablets, Microsoft has reversed its user interface strategy. From a traditional Gates-driven GUI style that emphasized powerful commands to the point of featuritis, Microsoft has gone soft and now smothers usability with big colorful tiles while hiding needed features.

The new design is obviously optimized for touchscreen use (where big targets are helpful), but Microsoft is also imposing this style on its traditional PC users because all of Windows 8 is permeated by the tablet sensibility.

How well does this work for real users performing real tasks? To find out, we invited 12 experienced PC users to test Windows 8 on both regular computers and Microsoft's new Surface RT tablets.

Source

A Guy
 
The first report is a point of view taken from a source that is for sale.
The second report is an advertisement.
The so-called experts and his group of critics have published opinion pieces with the intent to promote the sale of reports that are not favorable of Windows 8. You have to get to the bottom of the text before you see their sales pitch to sell something.
 

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You can dismiss anything as biased, etc. It does not negate every point made. A Guy
 

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You can dismiss anything as biased, etc. It does not negate every point made. A Guy

I do dismiss it as totally biased. Anyone can fabricate a point of view that has a negative slant on everything. This "group" is just trying to make hay due to all the whiners out there that find Windows 8 to be a mistake. There is a great deal more popularity of bashers than supporters. The critics always rule the press. If it bleeds, it leads. No one will gain any traction with a nice puff piece. The remake of Windows is controversial and people find it difficult to accept. No one will ever convince me that any flavor of UNIX is better than Windows whatever version. All this comradery of disappointment because it's too unusable is a joke. LOL on the downgrade syndrome.
 

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So the fact that this guy is a usability expert, recognized in his field means nothing because you don't agree with his point of view? I'm not saying I support his findings, I don't have 8 installed, but you dismissing something you don't like is the inverse of someone accepting it because they agree. If you said you disagree because...and then refuted his findings point by point, then that is one thing. But to say he is biased, and is just a hater is quite another. A Guy
 

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Hi there
I think you really shouldn't have pointed a link to something that expects you to PAY to see the report -- all I looked at was just the intro (The Free part) -- and of course you don't get to see the logic of the argument -- so I suggest that that the whole thread is totally worthless and certainly uninformative.

Some people don't have issues with W8 - others do it's as simple as that.

I have to question the value though of the Metro applications ONLY being able to work in full screen mode - especially if you like working with multiple or large screens.


I also tend not to like the endless scrolling that the new interface can lead to in some scenarios - but if you usually only do surfing and the odd bit of computer work then I suppose it's fine.

I think also the way metro live tiles work is basically a load of B/S -- they should be made to work like the old "Gadgets" which you could pin to your desktop.

However there seem to be enough users out there who LIKE W8 so I don't suppose Ms is unduly worried. Remember the fuss when XP was launched -- people absolutely HATED it at first especially with the activation system -- now people often STILL don't want to give it up. !!!

cheers
jimbo
 

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The 2nd link is a report. I don't think you need to see the whole report to get the gist. I didn't post it suggesting you should pay to see the whole thing. I don't like or dislike 8 personally, I am just posting articles. Do the majority appear negative? Indeed, but I am not skipping the positive ones, lol, they are just much less prevalent. A Guy
 

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You mention drunk users, I would agree, anyone that cannot see that it is innovative and addresses future uses and technologies has had one two many of what ever. I am a new user, not a techie or involved the business dealing with the industry, I am just a normal user. I downloaded Windows 8 day one and purchased the Surface, I am very happy with my purchase. Now I will admit, I have a couple of issues, but I feel I can live with them or they will be addressed as required. At my age (old) if I can work with that, I find it hard to see how anyone with some intelligence can not see some merit in it. I am the first to agree that everone does have the right to their opinion, but everyone else has the right to assume they are a nut case.

Cheers
d2
 

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Everyone outside the Microsoft nurd bubble knows Windows 8 is Crap! I even suspect Microsoft themselves know they have got this one way off!.............................;)
 

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i don't believe it is crap, and I don't think most will either. It is certainly a change. Whether is is designed to be useful, especially on a desktop, is in question. A Guy
 

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