Is Microsoft's Modern UI the real problem?

Interesting article but there are other reasons that slow the adoption of Windows 8.

Windows 7 is also a reason why adoption is rather slow because its a really fine OS that is what a Desktop OS should be.

I don't own a tablet and the few times I had to test some iPads on the stores, I knew it wasn't designed for professional use because it was no easy task existing the apps at will. There are no close and minimize buttons. M$ have also gotten into that by not adding window controls on Metro apps which on a desktop PC, designed for professional use, may seem very unnecessary since legacy desktop apps are so much more easier to work with and can usually do more. Though you can swipe Metro apps to the bottom to close them, I'm just no fan of touch or touch gestures just yet.

I can't stand why people go crazy over pricey iPads. Kids play with those things for games more than any real learning. A lot of money down the drain which would have been used for something else more meaningful on this world. Androids are cheaper but their apps are mostly not for professional use either. MS tried to join this hype, trying to join the mobile party, but unfortunately, they have not put anything significantly revolutionary on the desktop for the benefit of professional and corporate desktop use which would have been the strength of MS and there is this obstacle of the Metro thing which Windows 7 does not have and have been doing pretty well as a professional and friendly OS for a working environment. And now that we know mostly what to expect from 8.1, it gets far more disappointing to learn that still, nothing new for the desktop environment except for Start button that only goes back the the phone fullscreen interface. Metro apps don't take the full power of hardware acceleration either which legacy apps would give more meaning to and the top 10 selling Metro apps are just some games, suggesting that its not getting much attention and many developers would dismiss developing stuff for this because, apart from some games, it almost doesn't sell.


I have recently talked to a friend who has recently adapted into Windows 8 and he was also confused exiting Metro apps. I gave him Classic Shell.

As long as MS are being deaf, tech authors like the ones from the above link and many forumers like many of us here can't help but put some tongue lashing against them.

I am no fan of touch and tablets every body complains about fingerprints but my main complaint would be scratches cannot wipe them off like fingerprints look at 2 year old phones.

My personal take on the issue is that it's not the UI that is the problem.

The people are the problem. And the reason that people are the problem stems from the fact that the world has adjusted to a new internet connected world where we can do most things we "want" to do right from our smartphones. Many don't need a full fledged computer (desktop/laptop) to accomplish what they need to do on a computer. Instead, they pull out their phone which is always on, always on their person and they get it done. The iPad got lots of traction because it was just a larger version of the iPhone. The larger screen provided more room for video watching and web browsing. People didn't need to learn anything new, it worked the same. And people trusted the brand because to many, "Apple" is the system that you want if you have the cash.

At the end of the day, I don't think many want a Windows PC in a tablet form factor. It's like getting nothing new. it's more or less more of the same that they have always had. Still worried about crashes, viruses, malware, security, etc. People tend to not worry about these things with Android tablets and iPad's. Also, people spend less on Android and even the iPads (comparing to a Surface Pro)....and money is a key for many people.

I have a Surface Pro on my desk, and once the novelty wears off, you realize you just have a small device, with only so-so battery life with a keyboard and stylus that you have to carry around. And the touchpad is so small, you probably end up carrying a standard mouse too. I hardly ever use the Surface Pro. On the other hand, I use my laptop all day long.

I don't see iPads as a problem for learning and I certainly do not see Windows 8 Pads as any viable "solution".

The thing is, Kids are certainly not the main users of Tablets, especially iPads - The user base for those fall into the categories of Engineers and Doctors. Mostly because only Doctors and Engineers can afford them, or the best versions of them.

But even when Kids get ahold of an iPad or even a Windows 8 Tablet - They do not actually limit themselves to playing Angry Birds. The amount fo Games a kid plays is directly Proportional to the other uses they may have, There is a Scientific Calculator in all Apple Devices - A GOOD one. Windows 8? HAS none. What I mean is, there is no Calculator TILE. The internal Microsoft Calculator can be expanded to Scientific mode, but Apple has this built in as a default. Just tilt the device to Landscape mode and it appears.

Apps can be divided up into categories: User Tools like Calendars, Phones, Address Books and Cameras. Games like Angry Birds and Wheel of Fortune and Scrabble. Utilities like Network Monitors, Teamviewer, Process Monitors and Network File Explorers which are very powerful in connecting to both MACs and PCs. And then Remote Apps like VLC Remote, Mobile Mouse, and others. Finally, content viewers that can view just about any file format there is.

On an iPad, these kids of apps are of the highest quality made by some high profile developers, including Apple Themselves. On Windows 8, ??? Where are they? They are sadly Missing.

I think Metro GUI IS the Problem, in that it was designed to work only in certain ways, ways which are difficult to operate. Any File Exploring app uses internal TILES as well, this is bad design. It makes it VERY difficult to locate what you are looking for. But with FileExplorer for iOS, these items are arrange in a LIST, which can be arranged by Date, Name, Type, etc - This feature is not only Missing in Modern, it is missing at the ROOT. Modern File Explorer is the best Windows 8 app for browsing your Files, but you still have to manually ad each drive you want to go through and on a device these files may be Hidden, so all you see is your Personal Folders.

I think Metro must needs be redesigned from stem to stern, it is a very poor interface. The Only Metro Apps that can rise above the limitations of the Metro Filesystem are the GAMES.

So I really do not see any kids using Windows 8 as a learning tool any time soon, but an Apple device gives any child multitudes of opportunities because there are thousands of Learning apps and they are not limited to the simplistic Metro Interface. Metro needs more internal superstructure - If you download a random sampling of apps, they all look the same and act the same, and once again, except for the Games. Even Onenote and Evernote are stripepd down to basic simplistic monolithic blocks. What happens when Quicken is ported over? I can use Quicken right now on my iPhone and using Quicken Cloud it moves the info into my Laptop.

I disagree that kids are the primary users of iPads. Walk about a school, or college campus and see how many adults have these things with them.

I do some volunteer work at a church, and most of the people on the team (if they are carrying something other than a notepad and a pencil), have an iPad.

pparks1 said:

I disagree that kids are the primary users of iPads. Walk about a school, or college campus and see how many adults have these things with them.

I do some volunteer work at a church, and most of the people on the team (if they are carrying something other than a notepad and a pencil), have an iPad.

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Exactly - And I have also seen Kids doing Engineering Problems on an iPad, using some engineering program running from a Terminal! It was pulling up animated Wireframe. I don't even know what program that was, because I don't even know if there are any Terminal Programs you can download from the Store.