Here's what's wrong with Windows 8

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Here's what's wrong with Windows 8[/h] By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
March 12, 2012, 11:00am PDT


Summary: Windows 8 is a massive gamble for Microsoft, and right now I can see the potential for it to fail harder than Windows Vista did.


I’ve been using the Windows 8 Consumer Preview since its release back at the end of February, and having used it extensively on a number of several physical and virtual systems, I can now put my finger on what I think is wrong with Microsoft’s latest incarnation of Windows.


It might not say the word ‘beta’ anywhere on this release, but this Consumer Preview is still pre-release software, and as such there will be bugs and features that are not yet fixed in stone.


Let’s take a tour of where I think Microsoft has gone wrong with Windows 8, starting with the obvious.


Too much emphasis on touch



I know I’ve ranted about this before, but that’s not going to stop me from ranting about it again.


I still can’t fathom out why Microsoft is pushing a touch-based operating user interface onto systems that people are going to be driving with a keyboard and mouse, which I estimate will make up at least 90 percent if not more of Windows 8 users over the lifespan of the operating system. It feels like change for the sake of change and nothing else.


It feels clumsy and awkward and, as far as I can tell, offers no benefit the traditional PC user. By now, I’ve used Windows 8 enough to be confident enough to say that the new interface is far less efficient to use with a mouse than the Classic interface.


But it gets worse. The more you use the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, the more you get the feel that the concessions that Microsoft have made to those using a keyboard and mouse are poor afterthoughts that feel awkward and clumsy to use. There’s a tremendous lack of consistency in the operating system that really bothers me.



Clashing user interfaces



Another problem I have with Windows 8 is how readily Microsoft flips users between the Classic and Metro user interfaces whenever the developers haven’t managed to create a consistent user interface. I find it utterly crazy that I can go from clicking on a tile on the Metro Start Screen and then be unceremoniously dumped into things like a Classic Control Panel applet or Windows Explorer.


Bolting on a new user interface is one thing, but when that user interface is incomplete, it makes you question the value of having it in the first place.


It gets worse. While Microsoft has ribbonized much of the Classic user interface, these Ribbon menus are still packed with small user elements and fiddly to use with a mouse, and I’m sure that they will be even fiddlier, if not impossible to use, when driven with a finger. The ribbon menus weren’t developed with touch in mind, but it seems that Microsoft has decided to adopt it as a cheap alternative to spreading the Metro user interface across the whole of Windows 8, and it seems like a really bad idea.

see two page report

 

[chev65]

one button would be all it takes to stifle all complaints. Classic desktop,..."click" all done

Not a good idea - in the viewpoint of Microsoft:

No metro -> no "Store" icon
No "Store" - > no Apps
No Apps - > no profit

Maybe Msoft should consider that if they don't sell the Op system there will also be no Apps to sell.

There is already enough bad press on this Op system to ruin the market share for a long time to come. Don't get me wrong, I like this Op system and it only took me a week or so to get use to the new way of doing things, it wasn't a steep learning curve for me anyway.

By not giving people the default choices of Metro or Desktop they could be sealing their own fate.

The sad thing is that the actual desktop interface is better than Windows 7 in many ways even though it mostly "looks" the same, it's not.

 

[area 66]

Where's the Metro tile, "Windows User Manual"?
Have you tried using the "Windows Help"?
.

good point , it's easy to say to learn it, but you have to know where to start.

 

[Vertex]

I wonder in the authors disklike of the Ribbon has he ever used EXCEL. I like the ribbon --and if he has trouble with using the mouse I suspect his hardware could have a defect in it.

I love the ribbon on MS Office, MS Paint and Wordpad but I think, its just looks cluttering on Windows Explorer. With the ribbon shown on Windows Explorer, the top section just gets filled with large command icons that most people are not used of seeing on Windows Explorer like me and they even decided to shrink the Details Pane below that I use to make up for the loss of space when they added the bulky looking ribbon on top.

 

[Phone Man]

There is a small icon on the far right next to the help icon that will toggle the ribbon or use Ctrl+F1.

Jim

 

[sandman]

I also like the ribbon plus you can customize it and at a quick launch for the CP in the upper left of the ribbon. I am contantly checking out the features for 8 and there are many and many pro articles about the new version,and I think it will be very polished when the final versions are released. I am running it on my HP laptop and love the interface both Metro and the apps 3 search features work great for me .

 

[tcman50]

The OS is about customizing to your needs, the geeks and nerds are going to love it, everyone else with lower computer IQ, not so much.

 

[area 66]

The OS is about customizing to your needs, the geeks and nerds are going to love it, everyone else with lower computer IQ, not so much.

I must have a real low IQ, the first day I like it, but the more I use it the more I ate it. Of course I like the fact we can't mount ISO, and the corrector in IE10, but they can include them as an update to Windows 7

 

[Night Hawk]

I wonder in the authors disklike of the Ribbon has he ever used EXCEL. I like the ribbon --and if he has trouble with using the mouse I suspect his hardware could have a defect in it.

I love the ribbon on MS Office, MS Paint and Wordpad but I think, its just looks cluttering on Windows Explorer. With the ribbon shown on Windows Explorer, the top section just gets filled with large command icons that most people are not used of seeing on Windows Explorer like me and they even decided to shrink the Details Pane below that I use to make up for the loss of space when they added the bulky looking ribbon on top.

The only real annoyance found so far with the "Better Explorer" as it was released separately for a look months back is the view button. Previously you would see a drop down list of options like list while now while going to change the default details to list the list will close up before you can get the cursor down to now menu type list. Other then that the menu bar simply offers more options without the need for reg mods except the burn to disk button.

As far as customizing things that's a different area entirely. There will always be someone who wants to work up some OS tweaks. Here I look at what each newer version will do expecting some new style will be brought out. What will 8 do that you can't see done in other versions? for example. Not everyone is into customizing things but will ask why this version?

The one tweak that would be good since the CP seems to lack that option would be an exit button or arrow while in the Apps or Settings screen since there isn't any back button. Instead you have to call up the Start screen throughout each step when going to exit one section to get into another.

As far as portable units it wouldn't be smart phones but Windows Phones and Tablet PC where the Metro would see the most use. MS certainly wants to grab up market share in the mobile market especially since the WP 7 didn't go that well. But to abandon the desktop side of the OS entirely is what many will be concerned about. The CP of course is just a "preview" of a newer version not a finished OS.

 

[lehnerus2000]

OK in Excel

I wonder in the authors disklike of the Ribbon has he ever used EXCEL. I like the ribbon --and if he has trouble with using the mouse I suspect his hardware could have a defect in it.

The "Ribbon" is OK in Excel.
I find it to be a nuisance in other programs.

I also like the ribbon plus you can customize it ...

I only have Office 2007.
You can't customise it without hacking files.

 

[Lee]

Rant:

One thing; if you do not like the ribbon turn it off/hide, or is that just to hard for some of you to do. . . /end of rant

Edited to add the word hide. . .it would seem that some people just want to be . . .

 

[lehnerus2000]

Turned Off?

Rant:

One thing; if you do not like the ribbon turn it off, or is that just to hard for some of you to do. . . /end of rant

How do you do anything with it "turned off"?

I assume you actually mean hide it.

 

[NiFu]

The OS is about customizing to your needs

Really ? How to customize:

• disable metro start menu at boot ?
• enable desktop at boot ?
• enable desktop start menu ?
• disable Charmbar ? (because it always appears when I move my mouse cursor to the right to my second monitor on right side)

 

[Boris]

The one thing that keeps annoying me is that if you like metro, all is fine. But when you dislike metro, you are wrong!

Imo metro is good move for touch devices, but is very limited for serious desktop use (non touch).

It is not a surprise for me to find MS using its market share in desktop pc's to force the consumer to accept a product.

 

[area 66]

It is not a surprise for me to find MS using its market share in desktop pc's to force the consumer to accept a product.

You resume well the citation. Microsoft is now too big, Governments will have to step in, if MS want to try new thing no problem, but they have to continue to support and not phase out Windows 7 and even XP, too much peoples are depending on them, this is one of the core of the economy, you can't let Microsoft decide everything for all the world. They make us buy and use XP and Windows 7, they can’t remove it from the market, it’s not moral.
I dont care what thing some peoples who are using their PCs just as entertainement in their houses, it's all the business, the one who make the economy work, who will have to endure this non sense

 

[GMan]

I dont care what thing some peoples who are using their PCs just as entertainement in their houses, it's all the business, the one who make the economy work, who will have to endure this non sense

Over the years and especially lately, I see lots of people saying things like this. If you really think about it though, if MS did not make some funky changes here and there - confuse people a little, throw a wrench in the wheel, add this feature, disable that one, new way to do things, old way may or may not work, move the Control Panel here...etc...

...that's what actually creates jobs. I read people saying how the IT dept will go bonkers, how to train everyone?, is it possible??

Instead, we should be seeing things like, "Oh, this is different in Windows 8. I can easily now add a tiny sub-division to my small business to deal with that for my customers" - or similar - what I mean is clear enough.

All that stuff is creating employment. Every single last person getting paid to deal with anything computers really has Microsoft to thank in no small part. It's all by design and intended.

If Windows 2000 was the newest OS, and Microsoft has been patching it all these years along with companys making drivers all these years (as the sole forefront OS), the stability would be enourmous. IT workers would be out of jobs.

 

[area 66]

In the present economy business, try to survive, not increase their IT department load.

 

[Mark Phelps]

Government stepping in? Really? And THAT is supposed to make things better? I've been in and around Government computing projects for decades, and in all honesty, I can't think of a single instance where they interfered in something and did NOT completely hose it up!

Regarding making Win8 "right" -- I've seen suggestions like adding an entry to the installer to tell it whether or not it's using a touch device, and if it's NOT, then defaulting to the desktop approach, instead of Metro.

I also saw a screen layout that had the Metro stuff centered, but was bordered in the standard desktop -- giving the best of both worlds.

However, there may be a "light at the end of this tunnel" in that I saw an article yesterday on several forums indicating that a former MS person had setup a website to focus on what he thought MS did wrong with Win8 -- focus on touch devices -- and to gather ideas for tailoring Win8 to work well for the REST of us.

 

[SIW2]

LOL - that is like throwing rubbish in the street to make more street cleaning jobs.

I dont care what thing some peoples who are using their PCs just as entertainement in their houses, it's all the business, the one who make the economy work, who will have to endure this non sense

Over the years and especially lately, I see lots of people saying things like this. If you really think about it though, if MS did not make some funky changes here and there - confuse people a little, throw a wrench in the wheel, add this feature, disable that one, new way to do things, old way may or may not work, move the Control Panel here...etc...

...that's what actually creates jobs. I read people saying how the IT dept will go bonkers, how to train everyone?, is it possible??

Instead, we should be seeing things like, "Oh, this is different in Windows 8. I can easily now add a tiny sub-division to my small business to deal with that for my customers" - or similar - what I mean is clear enough.

All that stuff is creating employment. Every single last person getting paid to deal with anything computers really has Microsoft to thank in no small part. It's all by design and intended.

If Windows 2000 was the newest OS, and Microsoft has been patching it all these years along with companys making drivers all these years (as the sole forefront OS), the stability would be enourmous. IT workers would be out of jobs.

 

[tcman50]

win the powerball, buy microsoft, do what you want

 

[Night Hawk]

The OS is about customizing to your needs

Really ? How to customize:

• disable metro start menu at boot ?
• enable desktop at boot ?
• enable desktop start menu ?
• disable Charmbar ? (because it always appears when I move my mouse cursor to the right to my second monitor on right side)

Disable Chamber? or create a shortcut for it once you realize that is all too familiar to Vista's sidebar only not remaining visible once enabled constantly. Only this an auto hide mechanism being used there.

With the CP overall fortunately "still in beta" and not the actual RTM we are having a look at some new ideas MS is tossing around. The initial reaction as well as testing perhaps is one way MS will find out if 8 is "sellable" as well as allowing people to see what is in store.

Once retail the Metro will likely still be default until throwing a switch or the Windows installer may reveal an option for two differenc system configurations. Or how about simply running the tnen setting to find the off switch there?

A total deviation from a desktop OS and not simply a new look with some new "pleasures"(or dimises) would be a downfall trendwise as well as versionwise leading to 8 being a flopperoni that simply falls flat on it's face. If MS incorporates a configuration options wizard that allows disabling Metro to present a more typical desktop for desktop use then they have simply made a stride in touchscreen/tablet support along with the usual desktop OS.

On the other hand if MS leaves all as is will all of the extra step around or through this to get to that to go find something else without regard of what users have been tooled with since 95 then you would have to expect 8 to... FLOP?

Being innovative is what MS is supposed to be about in order to bring out new ideas as well as support for new hardwares and services. Leaving the desktop behind totally however would be disasterous for MS as well as the user.

Incorporation of new ideas into a desktop OS on the other hand without these simply being rhrown in your face with numerous options available would make far more sense. The real look is in the finish however not the CP we see now. That will be what makes or breaks 8 there.