This is why I believe Windows 8 will be a success.*

[R0bR]

Even if I could touch my monitor and launch an application, I still don't want full screen apps on my computer monitor. It's just a waste of space. Let me resize the Window so that I can have multiple things running. That IS what Windows is to me.

Then don't use Apps, stick to the desktop and use the Start Screen as a launcher. I've been testing W8 for work for a while and this past week I wiped out 7 and am running 8 exclusively. During my normal work day doing everything I used to do before I spend very little time in the Start Screen. I'd say I spend 90% of my time in the desktop on both my laptop screen and external monitor, the other 10% is launching applications that I use very little, checking personal email in the Mail App or checking the weather etc.

Based on our past posts you know we have similar jobs and I have a hard time understanding your struggles with W8, it's like you force yourself to use Apps when you don't need to. Now if you're talking for personal computing outside of work then that's different, I'm sure we use computers much more differently. Most of my personal computing is reading news, watching TV shows or Movies (I don't have cable) so I spend a lot of time in Metro.

 

[pparks1]

Then don't use Apps, stick to the desktop and use the Start Screen as a launcher.

I am not using the full screen apps, but I'm trying to adjust to the potential change when these apps become more the standard and the classic desktop apps goes away. I use the start screen currently as a launcher, and then I pin the items to my taskbar on the desktop. This gives me very little time on the actual Start Screen in any day. (on a vm, I have tested classic shell and boot to desktop from deviantart) and both of those have sufficed to get things back enough to normal.

Based on our past posts you know we have similar jobs and I have a hard time understanding your struggles with W8, it's like you force yourself to use Apps when you don't need to.

I'm not struggling, I just don't like it. And I'm forcing myself to use it as MS intended so I have a good feel for how everyday people are going to experience it.

My time for personal computing outside of work these days is almost non-existent. Between work, the gym, getting kids to piano, dance and swimming classes, my wife sings in a choir and I run soundboards as a side gig on weekends my computer time is usually an hour with my laptop reading these forums.

 

[R0bR]

I am not using the full screen apps, but I'm trying to adjust to the potential change when these apps become more the standard and the classic desktop apps goes away.

So you're trying to adjust to something that is either not going to happen or if it does it is far off in the future? Classic desktop applications are not going anywhere anytime soon.

I'm not struggling, I just don't like it. And I'm forcing myself to use it as MS intended so I have a good feel for how everyday people are going to experience it.

Why? Is your company looking to move to Windows 8 anytime soon?

 

[pparks1]

Why? Is your company looking to move to Windows 8 anytime soon?

No, we aren't planning to move at my company to Windows 8 in any capacity.

The reason I am using it
#1). I'm a techie and I like playing with this stuff
#2). I'll be asked for advice from friends, coworkers and family...I'm officially their tech support.
#3). I don't want to be closed minded and potentially miss some awesome features which might be available in a new OS.

 

[musiclover7]

Man, I am sorry, but I just have to say that I felt the original poster was just extremely mistaken. I spent about a week on windows 8 and can tell you, that it felt like the most un-intuitive os I had ever used. I wanted to like it. I still think it is a good idea over all, just poorly executed. When you force your user base down a road that you think is best for them like urban sheep, don't get confused when they start yelling Bah... I work in tech support. During work I run about 12 programs side by side, all of which are necessary. I cannot imagine attempting to do this with Win8 as my OS, as it now stands. Again, good idea, poorly executed...

 

[mdmd]

I spent about a week on windows 8

A week? I have been using it for about 52 weeks. I have used every version of Microsoft Operating Systems since DOS and find it to be the easiest OS ever to use.

I still think it is a good idea over all, just poorly executed.

Poorly executed? Because of the start menu? Many agree with you but I think the execution of it was quite inspired and effective.

When you force your user base down a road that you think is best for them like urban sheep, don't get confused when they start yelling Bah...

Many have already said "Bah" in the press and elsewhere. So many agree with you, but it is what Microsoft has engineered as the "next generation" Operating System. The "plain old desktop" is a tool that is enhanced by the new UI, > IMO...

I work in tech support. During work I run about 12 programs side by side, all of which are necessary. I cannot imagine attempting to do this with Win8 as my OS, as it now stands.

If you run 12 programs side by side in 7, Why could you not do the same in 8? What does the metro or the edge UI have to do with it? Surely, multi tasking and minimizing windows is a necessity if running 12 programs or windows. All of that can be done in 8 as well on the desktop. What does the metro have to do with it? The taskbar is still there. Anything can be pinned to the taskbar for desktop work, so what is the difference. Is it the edge UI (charms, thumbnails, hotspots etc) (or the start screen) that you find un-intuitive? It seems a better system to me than the old orb. The pinning and unpinning efficiency to the start screen and taskbar is a huge plus IMO. Getting to know how to operate the hot spots makes this OS click. But I am sounding like another MS press release or commercial, so ...

It will succeed because there is a need to keep up with evolving technology.

 

[pparks1]

If you run 12 programs side by side in 7, Why could you not do the same in 8? What does the metro or the edge UI have to do with it? Surely, multi tasking and minimizing windows is a necessity if running 12 programs or windows. All of that can be done in 8 as well on the desktop. What does the metro have to do with it? The taskbar is still there. Anything can be pinned to the taskbar for desktop work, so what is the difference.

If you are on a single large monitor, and what you want hasn't been pinned to the taskbar, when you flip to the new Start screen, you lose your view of everything that you had open while you are looking around for the start tile for the other application you need. Before I could just bring up the start button and find my app while still being able to see everything that was on my desktop. It's not the end of the world, but is certainly a lot less effect for many of us.

 

[whs]

It's simple. It's modern. It's intrinsic. It's practical. It's unique. It's personal. That is the Windows 8 and this is why I believe it will do well in the younger group.

I would add:"It's hype". And young people fall for hype.

 

[mdmd]

If you are on a single large monitor, and what you want hasn't been pinned to the taskbar, when you flip to the new Start screen, you lose your view of everything that you had open while you are looking around for the start tile for the other application you need.

Ok. A "flip" takes about 1 second. A pin takes 1 second. So now you have your link pinned to the taskbar...and it's off to work again... The "view" will remain and return to desktop by hotspot - 1 second.

It's simple. It's modern. It's intrinsic. It's practical. It's unique. It's personal. That is the Windows 8 and this is why I believe it will do well in the younger group.

I would add:"It's hype". And young people fall for hype.

But young people are not necessarily stupid. What's wrong with "hype?" Hype is a good word. Hype is used in all kinds of advertising. As I said elsewhere, this is international in scope, and many are philosophically opposed to commercial interest.

 

[R0bR]

No, we aren't planning to move at my company to Windows 8 in any capacity.

The reason I am using it
#1). I'm a techie and I like playing with this stuff
#2). I'll be asked for advice from friends, coworkers and family...I'm officially their tech support.
#3). I don't want to be closed minded and potentially miss some awesome features which might be available in a new OS.

Ok, that's cool. It's hard at times to know if you're speaking in terms of a work scenario or personal scenario.

 

[pparks1]

Ok. A "flip" takes about 1 second. A pin takes 1 second. So now you have your link pinned to the taskbar...and it's off to work again... The "view" will remain and return to desktop by hotspot - 1 second.

Yes, it doesn't take long to flip. However, for somebody like me who can easily get distracted, I could flip away from desktop, see something on the news tile and then get swept away and forget to return for a few minutes. I know, I know...just delete the news tile so I'm not distracted.

 

[mdmd]

You don't have to delete or uninstall the news tile, just turn off the live tile. Some folks may find live tiles useful, but I have no use for them. All live tiles are turned off. For heavens sake, the last thing I need is a live news ticker. If needed ok, ... but whatever works. This computer room is flooded with satellite radio all the time. Info overload. Even so, that is partially what thumbnails and snapping edges are for. Some apps do better than others with snap. News in the snap on left (or right) and desktop work on right (or left).
The snappy works best with headlines only or something that fits in as a thumbnail otherwise, to read something, it will go full screen.

The desktop is still there, by way of hotspot. I have never used a virtual box or any type of virtualization (from what I have read) so the edges might work better (not virtualized) if the mouse pointer can be run directly into the corners without having to be gentle.

 

[Coke Robot]

I don't think I've ever has the problem of Windows 8 being "distracting." It could be just me, but if I need something pinned or something opened, I just find it from the Start Screen, just as I would had with the menu.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Hype

But young people are not necessarily stupid. What's wrong with "hype?" Hype is a good word. Hype is used in all kinds of advertising. As I said elsewhere, this is international in scope, and many are philosophically opposed to commercial interest.

Hype is good?

Word Origin & History

hype
"excessive or misleading publicity or advertising," 1967, Amer.Eng. (the verb is attested from 1937), probably in part a back-formation of hyperbole, but also from underworld slang sense "swindle by overcharging or short-changing" (1926), a back-formation of hyper "short-change con man" (1914), from prefix hyper- meaning "over, to excess." Also possibly influenced by drug addicts' slang hype, 1913 shortening of hypodermic needle. In early 18c., hyp "morbid depression of the spirits" was colloquial for hypochondria (usually as the hyp or the hyps).

Hype | Define Hype at Dictionary.com

 

[mdmd]

Wow! 1967 - 1937 - 1926 - 1914 - 1913 - Wow!

Aren't we up to date? If I am not mistaken, this is the year 2012. :shock:

:tip: Hype: - to stimulate, excite, create interest in, to intensify advertising promotion or publicity. :tip:

I do not believe trick, cheat, swindle or deception applies to a Microsoft Operating System.
Their current desktop product is awesome. It handles any number of high performing CAD, photo, finance, multi tasking applications, or network security layers. All tasks I have used it for are working very well. It will be deployed to 400 million+ devices worldwide and there is no going back to the past.

 

[Tepid]

Take this how you wish, but I am not pulling punches here.....
There are many people who just can not handle change

However,

Had MS not included a full blown Desk in Win8, or if they ever get rid of it completely, that will be the end of Windows.

I for one, will not buy Windows (or any OS) without a desktop. It is imperative to real computing to have a Real desktop to work with applications that you do not want Metroized.

With that said, not all applications need to fully run in the desktop environment. Some are actually better as a Metro app.

Such as....

Simple eMail... Rather than having to configure an Outlook app or login to Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail or whatever, I have all of them (5 accounts) added to Mail App. I login, click the Mail Icon and bam, I have all my email accounts access at one time. I can switch between them and see what I want and respond to what I want without having to login to 5 separate accounts. I have others that I have not added (some are junk mail, others are for different site/information stuff, and a couple are personal), unfortunately at this time, there are a couple I can't add as there is no support, or it is an additional price from the email account company. anyway, i digress...

If you can not see the need or the simplicity of this, you either have no use for it (which is fine), or just don't like change (which is fine), but to say outright that it is useless, makes one completely ignorant of the facts that many will find it extremely useful.

With that said,, no, it will not replace a good Corporate Email app like Outlook for business. That is just dumb.

There are many applications out there that will still and must reside on the desktop only.
This will not change for the foreseeable future, and for real computing, it should never change.

To say Win8 is a complete failure already is also completely ignorant. it is extremely small minded in the grand scheme of things.

Is it perfect? No, name one OS that is,, just one,, you can't, cause it doesn't exist.

Is Win8 a good direction for MS to go? we will see, but it's not a horrible one. They could have done worse.

When you can have a Real Tablet that becomes a Laptop and then a Real tablet with just a simple disconnect
And you do not see the intrinsic beauty and simplicity of that, you are truly blind.

Windows 8 is not perfect, but it is a good step in a direction of overall better computing.

It reminds me of this....

I played Borderlands for about a week straight waiting for Borderlands 2,,, when i finally installed it and started playing, I said "what the hell did they do to the GUI?" ugh, the game is great but this GUI sucks."
Till after using it for a while, and actually it is better any many ways over the old one. I just didn't see it at first.

I was the same with Win8 when I first booted it up. but now, I see many of the advantages.
Yes, there need to be tweaks to it, yes it could be better.

But it is not the end all be all of absolute horribleness so many are desperately trying to portray it as.
Wow, that sentence sounds like just about every mainstream app that MS produce.
Office 2003 to 2007 to 2010,, same sentence applies, as well as all the same arguments and now 2013
Honestly, office 2013, is really pretty damn good.

Here is a bit of nostalgia for you.....

Start button introduced in Windows 95 "Oh my god what is that, should I click on it? What if I break something?" Trust me, there were a whole lot of people who felt that way about the good ol start button back in the day.

"Why do i have to click start to access my applications, why aren't they just on my desktop?"

 

[lehnerus2000]

If I am not mistaken, this is the year 2012. :shock:

Believe it or not, the English language wasn't invented in 2011.

Windows re-imagined?
Digitally Authentic?

 

[ebradley]

To tepid, your post is too long, imo, to quote, but I agree 100%. Calling it a failure before it is released is very small minded. The start screen is a great place for the average user to, well, umm, start. :-D

 

[mdmd]

Believe it or not, the English language wasn't invented in 2011.
Windows re-imagined?
Digitally Authentic?

True. And American English slang differs from European English slang / or Australian English slang.
Windows re-imagined is semantic language and is not meant to deceive IMO. Not sure what "digitally authentic" refers to. Windows 8 is a complete redesign of the architecture of Windows. The desktop part is similar in engineering to 7 but it had to be re-written to function seamlessly with WinRT. Microsoft has a right to "add features" and "remove features" to its OS even if many disapprove. It has been discussed elsewhere. I believe the MS engineering teams and design analysts have concluded that the new UI is an improvement (even if many disapprove or do not understand their decision). I wouldn't call it greed, but rather smart business enterprising even if many disapprove.

Do you get CSI: Miami in Australia? I would like to know what kind of OS they use. It probably does not exist.

 

[Coke Robot]

Digitally authentic isn't Aero design, or mac os design for sure as it is the opposite of such. Digital authentic design is taking the RGB pixels on the screen and using those pixel colors. It sounds like a simple concept that every other UI design is, but it's not. You wouldn't take a piece of metal and make it look like wood or vice versa. You would make the wood look like wood and make the metal look like metal. You wouldn't take a piece of glass and make pixels render that. You wouldn't take metal and make pixels render that. Or, you wouldn't take real, physical objects and render them on a screen for a UI. You would design it digitally, things that look digitally right.