Blue might not be as bad as we fear

Not that bothered about 8? You're not alone. To even the most disinterested observer, it's clear Microsoft has a lot work to do...

The change in tone.. was marked. Gone were the big messages about the Windows 8 Start screen and Windows 8-style apps... has the Start screen been over-emphasised?

I've changed my pitch...from starting with the Start screen to starting with the Windows desktop.

it's about doing their Windows 7 stuff and slowly get into 'OK I can do other things as well'. And suddenly it's 'well, I've got all these free apps I didn't know I had and I can play Angry Birds

I have been saying that since before it was released.

Moulster mused over whether there was a skew between early adopters and "people who are less techy". He also suggested that coming to Windows 8 without stigma does have positive results on touch-based devices.

Just when you think they are getting it ....oops, the use of the word stigma.That might explain why it took so long for the penny to drop. Or it might be they don't want to admit they were trying to force it. Either way - it is insulting - not a good idea to say it.

"I bought my mother, who's 76, a surface and - obviously while I helped her somewhat - she loves it and just gets on with it. She does her email, online banking, she does everything. What she doesn't use is the desktop. She doesn't really know it's there - she's got fairly simple needs.

Ian, she can do all that on cheap android thing, probably without any help. So what is your USP?


Microsoft: emphasis on Start Screen shackled Windows 8 | News | TechRadar

 

[gregrocker]

Classic Shell is Free? I'll have to look it up, I was assuming the Start8 payment was a monthly payment. It is, if you have the huge monster shell thing they make, 50 bucks a month. Or is it year?

I like this one which grafts on the 7 Start menu, but you need the disk: Windows 7 Start Menu for Windows 8

 

[XweAponX]

Hm, I'll download that one too. Cos it is a pain the way I am installing Start 8, I need a streamlined OS install. I like Start8 cos it immediately gets rid of the Lockscreen (if you want) and boots straight to Desktop.

 

[HOODY]

Hm, I'll download that one too. Cos it is a pain the way I am installing Start 8, I need a streamlined OS install. I like Start8 cos it immediately gets rid of the Lockscreen (if you want) and boots straight to Desktop.

I kinda like this one, Start Menu X I got the Pro version on a good discount, sometimes you can find it free.

tried the others too, IObits Start Menu 8 is also OK for free

Not sure how this WBlue will effect these people that develop these, but if the start menu isn't as good on it I assume I'll just stick with what I'm using.

 

[XweAponX]

IObits, they have one or two non-malware proggies, but most of the stuff is Spamware, I'll check that out.

 

[labeeman]

Windows blue is just going to be the same as we have now with just a few so called improvements nothing to address current customers complaints.

That disconnect between the picture of Windows 8 that Microsoft is pushing and what industry figures and users are saying does not bode well for "Blue." As recently as six weeks ago, when a preliminary build of "Blue" first leaked, Microsoft showed no signs of backing away from its radical overhaul of Windows. In a Wall Street Journal report this week, Patrick Moorhead, president of research firm Moor Insights & Strategy, criticized Microsoft's long-delayed admission that Windows 8 needs a reboot. "Almost everybody in the tech industry already knows the [Windows 8] experience is suboptimal," Moorhead said. "Microsoft was the last one ... in the room to realize this was the case."

The Windows 'Blue' burden: Saving the PC itself | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

But this story says different.

Microsoft on Windows 8 Haters: We Could See This Coming

Who to believe not M$ they may have seen it coming but I think the water has gotten a lot hotter than they wish.

 

[SIW2]

Larson-Green emphasized once again that the software company was more open to customer feedback, explaining that Microsoft’s staff is now reading basically every single detail about Windows 8 that reaches the web.

There you go.

Julie will be hearing about this thread.

If she has any sense ( and I am sure she has ) she will read it herself.

 

[snoop101]

From everything I am reading it sounds like 'Blue' is going to be nothing more than a bunch of Metro updates (more ways to snap screen... not impressive at all when compared to the power of the desktop and desktop applications), a bunch of options moved to the silly Metro Interface (without any reason or logic behind the moves), a boot to desktop option (MS will say they listened to users), and a start button which takes you to the start screen (again MS will say they listened to users, IMO actually patronizing Windows users).

MS will absolutely ignore the main issue for me and the majority of my clients. Windows 8 needs a start menu on desktop/work PC's. The 'Majority' do not need or want a Tablet/Phone UI to launch applications. Nor do desktop/work PC's need full screen apps for anything more than f'ing around when bored to play some angry birds.

Windows should have an option to operate the PC from the desktop environment.... EXCLUSIVELY.

 

[labeeman]

The next rumor that I hear over and over again is that Windows 8.1 will bring back the Windows 7-style Start menu on the desktop. Bzzzzzt. Won't happen.
How prevalent is the "Blue" Start menu rumor? I've seen variations of it all over the Web. The New York Times Bits blog repeated it on Tuesday: "In recent weeks, tech news sites have been reporting that Windows Blue will bring back the start menu."
That Bits article pointed to two articles, one by Mary Jo Foley on ZDnet, the other by Tom Warren on The Verge, and neither of those articles even hints at the possibility of Windows 8.1 reviving the Start menu. They both say the Start button will return -- but clicking on the new, improved Windows 8.1 Start button will simply dump you back on the Metro Start screen. That's precisely what happens in Windows 8 currently when you click in the lower-left corner of the desktop. Microsoft may put a button down there; the company may even make the button look like the Windows 7 Start button. But it won't work the same way that Windows 7 works, no way, no how.

Don't believe the myths about Windows 8.1 'Blue' | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

M$ Windows 8 is dead dead dead get over it.

 

[SIW2]

Yes, I think you are right.

I have been calling it an ambush.

From everything I am reading it sounds like 'Blue' is going to be nothing more than a bunch of Metro updates (more ways to snap screen... not impressive at all when compared to the power of the desktop and desktop applications), a bunch of options moved to the silly Metro Interface (without any reason or logic behind the moves), a boot to desktop option (MS will say they listened to users), and a start button which takes you to the start screen (again MS will say they listened to users, IMO actually patronizing Windows users).

MS will absolutely ignore the main issue for me and the majority of my clients. Windows 8 needs a start menu on desktop/work PC's. The 'Majority' do not need or want a Tablet/Phone UI to launch applications. Nor do desktop/work PC's need full screen apps for anything more than f'ing around when bored to play some angry birds.

Windows should have an option to operate the PC from the desktop environment.... EXCLUSIVELY.

 

[SIW2]

Thanks for the link Labeeman.

The author has the same impression I do.

Unless we see a palace revolt of unprecedented proportions, there is just no way on heaven or earth that Microsoft will back down on its quest for tile supremacy.

Correct.

In the absence of any meaningful competition, MS will force the metro stuff onto the users.

Joe public goes to pc's r us for a laptop type thing and faces a dilemma. Like 92% of people he doesn't have the entry price for a Mac. Then either he gets something with metro - or he gets nothing.

Read more at:

Don't believe the myths about Windows 8.1 'Blue' | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

 

[labeeman]

Thanks for the link Labeeman.

Correct.

In the absence of any meaningful competition, MS will force the metro stuff onto the users.

Joe public goes to pc's r us for a laptop type thing and faces a dilemma. Like 92% of people he doesn't have the entry price for a Mac. Then either he gets something with metro - or he gets nothing.

That is where M$ has made a big mistake they are getting iThings and Android things by the millions.

 

[SIW2]

Yes, that may well be the case.

Joe Public sees what MS is offering on the lappies - then just sticks with what he has already - or treats himself to new ipad/android thing instead.

 

[Jf1450]

Joe public goes to pc's r us for a laptop type thing and faces a dilemma. Like 92% of people he doesn't have the entry price for a Mac. Then either he gets something with metro - or he gets nothing.

This would be a golden time for Apple to do some deep discounting on Mac's and get folks on that platform. You listening Tim?

-jeff

 

[whs]

I bought my mother, who's 76, a surface and - obviously while I helped her somewhat - she loves it and just gets on with it. She does her email, online banking, she does everything. What she doesn't use is the desktop. She doesn't really know it's there - she's got fairly simple needs.

This is the key. You have to be a simple push button user and you get along with Windows 8. But as soon as you want to do some real work, the OS is in the way.

 

[SIW2]

He's been considering it.

Joe public goes to pc's r us for a laptop type thing and faces a dilemma. Like 92% of people he doesn't have the entry price for a Mac. Then either he gets something with metro - or he gets nothing.

This would be a golden time for Apple to do some deep discounting on Mac's and get folks on that platform. You listening Tim?

-jeff