Microsoft: Metro not just an Interface, it's a Philosophy

Long-time Microsoft watchers like me are marveling at the company’s transformation. Slowly but surely, the siloed behemoth that once couldn’t get its desktop and mobile operating system teams to talk to each other is now starting to glide forward as one vast entity. The most visible refection of this sea change: design.

http://mashable.com/2012/03/29/microsoft-metro-is-a-philosophy/#56229Microsoft-Metro--Fast-and-Fluid

 

[SIW2]

:huh:

 

[GMan]

Choice would be a simple box to check or uncheck to enable or disable Metro. Microsoft won't do that because then it would be blatantly obvious that Windows 8 should have been SP2 for 7.

 

[CalBear]

Calbear,

You are missing the point.

MS have removed choice. They are forcing metro at users.They are doing that to coax/lead/encourage/force users into the MS clouds.

That is why you cannot boot to the desktop. That is why they removed the start menu.

That is what people don't like.

Yes, it is possible to use hacks - third party apps. and lord knows what else to try to avoid to some extent what they are doing.

No hacks needed. One simple key press after boot up and all is desktop.

 

[BarnabasSackett]

Shouldn't have to press that key after boot. The choice should stick.

 

[CalBear]

With a big problem like that I would certainly never use Windows 8 even if it came installed on a new computer

Actually if you only have one monitor just have a program that starts with boot. I have Performance Monitor (free) and DU Meter ($) starting on boot on my one-monitor system and it always boots to desktop.

On my two monitor system I'm forced to hit that darn windows key, its such a pain but somehow I mange to make it through the day.

 

[FuturDreamz]

Choice would be a simple box to check or uncheck to enable or disable Metro. Microsoft won't do that because then it would be blatantly obvious that Windows 8 should have been SP2 for 7.

Which Windows 8 is not. Windows 8 is a stepping stone to a brand new version of Windows designed for the future of tablets and smartphone. Desktop mode is only there to ensure that users have access to their current applications. Once Metro applications and drivers become more prevalent, I expect Desktop Mode and the NT kernel will become an Windows Enterprise (and Ultimate) Edition-only feature, then discontinued completely.

Only time will tell the truth, but Windows is going to become something different, something more suited to the future.

Just think of it like when we moved from DOS to Windows. For many the transition was painful, but now there are very few people that would go back to a Command Line Interface as their main computer.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

I think you are missing the point -- I'm sure even on a tablet (with a powerful enough processor) surely people will need sometimes to view multiple windows or multiple worksheets in an EXCEL workbook or simple compare one or more documents.

Metro is fine for SINGLE WINDOW display like reading a book or casual surfing -- but until they get a decent system of Multi Window display --then forget it for serious users.

On an Iphone or similar then single window display IS OK - but even on an Ipad I'd suggest there are times you want to view multiple Windows side by side.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[fafhrd]

It's not about choice, nor the user, it is just smoke and mirrors to describe a point upgrade from Windows 7 with yet another shell, which may just be another application in future versions of Windows.

Take the phrase "Typography is the new Iconography". This is a truly profound statement - for lightness and speed, all the Metro "icons" are glyphs in the Windows 8 version of the TrueType font SegoeUIsym.ttf, (see here), instead of being packaged in various resource dlls. Each symbol therefore appears as a monochrome white, on a coloured background. We are almost back to the DOS command screen (onto which you typed a command directly, just like in Metro).

The fast boot takes you to Metro Start - why? - because the desktop takes too long to draw consistently without the few seconds hesitation the user requires to make a choice, find the tile required, and start the application. Networks also take a short while to shake hands.

Consistently, Microsoft's PR re. Windows 8 uses the phrase "no compromise" or something similar - they mean it - Metro is here to stay.

The arrogance is immense, but we've come to expect that from Microsoft, and we still have a choice with the next PC we buy - either use the supplied Windows that's preinstalled, or do it yourself with someone else's OS, or something that is old and unsupported, and probably illegal.

 

[alphanumeric]

Eventually you won't have much of a choice if you buy a new desktop or laptop. It will come preinstalled with Windows 8. Microsoft will count it as a sale of Windows 8, and then get even more money from you when you purchase Windows 7 to replace it. Sounds like a win win situation for Microsoft to me. Ironically if you buy a new tablet you should still have alternatives like Android. I, like a few other people, would like to see Windows 8 tailor itself to what its installed on. If you don't want Metro it would be nice to have an option to turn it off. I build my own desktop PC's so unless things change I'll just stay with Windows 7. My laptop runs 7 too and I won't be upgrading the OS on that either. I don't own a tablet, but would really like to have one at some point. Right now I'm undecided on whether I'd buy a Windows 8 tablet or not. The frustration factor while trying to use it on my desktop is really turning me off to it. It will be interesting to see what the final release of Windows 8 looks like.

 

[Ex_Brit]

They'll learn as sales drop off I guess.

 

[area 66]

Hi there

I think you are missing the point -- I'm sure even on a tablet (with a powerful enough processor) surely people will need sometimes to view multiple windows or multiple worksheets in an EXCEL workbook or simple compare one or more documents.

Metro is fine for SINGLE WINDOW display like reading a book or casual surfing -- but until they get a decent system of Multi Window display --then forget it for serious users.

On an Iphone or similar then single window display IS OK - but even on an Ipad I'd suggest there are times you want to view multiple Windows side by side.

Cheers
jimbo

exact, peoples who like Windows 8 just use 1 monitor, how can you be effective with a PC in 2012 with only 1 monitor ?

 

[alphanumeric]

Hi there

I think you are missing the point -- I'm sure even on a tablet (with a powerful enough processor) surely people will need sometimes to view multiple windows or multiple worksheets in an EXCEL workbook or simple compare one or more documents.

Metro is fine for SINGLE WINDOW display like reading a book or casual surfing -- but until they get a decent system of Multi Window display --then forget it for serious users.

On an Iphone or similar then single window display IS OK - but even on an Ipad I'd suggest there are times you want to view multiple Windows side by side.

Cheers
jimbo

exact, peoples who like Windows 8 just use 1 monitor, how can you be effective with a PC in 2012 with only 1 monitor ?

It might surprise you how many regular home users only use one monitor. I use two, and can't imagine going back to just one, but I'm the exception as far as family and friends go. To get work done two or more is the way to go, but for the run of the mill home user I think one monitor is the norm. These same run of the mill home users will be the same people that when the time comes, will just blindly buy a new PC regardless of what version of Windows is on it. All they hear is that it has Windows on it. The WTF moment doesn't happen until they get it home and try to use it. Thats when my phone starts ringing. =(

 

[BarnabasSackett]

I would guess that most of the world still uses just one monitor.

 

[area 66]

So let me ask, who is the one who stagnate most, the one with Windows 8 and 1 monitor or the one with Windows 7 with 2 or 3 monitors ? This morning I was studying Photoshop, Photoshop was open on my main monitor, and the Kiddle version of the book on the other one. Very friendly and more productive. This reply is of course address to the one who said we will stagnate if we keep using Window 7

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there.

Even with ONLY ONE Monitor it's still useful to be able to have multiple windows open at the same time ON THE SAME SCREEN for some applications.

If Metro won't do this then it's DOOMED to failure on a DESKTOP (Laptop / netbook) OS.

Ms is fine in designing an OS that's suitable for a phone / small tablet -- almost ANYTHING has to be better than "Dumbdroid" (although I LIKE samsung and HTC phones !!).

But if they want it also to work as a desktop OS then they need to sort out what these users want too -- I don't just mean whether Metro or Start desktop menu -- that's largely irrelevant once you learn the navigation system -- but it has to be "fit for purpose" for everyday working applications -- and in a business scenario Metro in its current state is DEFINTELY NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

I like the idea - and don't have problems with the new navigation in W8 but I can't really use Metro as currently implemented in the stuff I want to use my computer for.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[CalBear]

Hi there.

Even with ONLY ONE Monitor it's still useful to be able to have multiple windows open at the same time ON THE SAME SCREEN for some applications.

If Metro won't do this then it's DOOMED to failure on a DESKTOP (Laptop / netbook) OS.

Ms is fine in designing an OS that's suitable for a phone / small tablet -- almsot ANYTHING has to be better than "Dumbdroid" (although I LIKE samsung and HTC phones !!).

But if they want it also to work as a desktop OS then they need to sort out what these users want too -- I don't just mean whether Metro or Start desktop menu -- that's largely irrelevant once you learn the navigation system -- but it has to be "fit for purpose" for everyday working applications -- and in a business scenario Metro in its current state is DEFINTELY NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

I like the idea - and don't have problems with the new navigation in W8 but I can't really use Metro as currently implemented in the stuff I want to use my computer for.

Cheers
jimbo

If you are saying the Metro Apps are not fit for purpose, I agree. In fact I have no use for them at present, maybe later. However, Windows 8 is certainly fit for pretty much anything you would do with XP or Win7.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there.

Even with ONLY ONE Monitor it's still useful to be able to have multiple windows open at the same time ON THE SAME SCREEN for some applications.

If Metro won't do this then it's DOOMED to failure on a DESKTOP (Laptop / netbook) OS.

Ms is fine in designing an OS that's suitable for a phone / small tablet -- almsot ANYTHING has to be better than "Dumbdroid" (although I LIKE samsung and HTC phones !!).

But if they want it also to work as a desktop OS then they need to sort out what these users want too -- I don't just mean whether Metro or Start desktop menu -- that's largely irrelevant once you learn the navigation system -- but it has to be "fit for purpose" for everyday working applications -- and in a business scenario Metro in its current state is DEFINTELY NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

I like the idea - and don't have problems with the new navigation in W8 but I can't really use Metro as currently implemented in the stuff I want to use my computer for.

Cheers
jimbo

If you are saying the Metro Apps are not fit for purpose, I agree. In fact I have no use for them at present, maybe later. However, Windows 8 is certainly fit for pretty much anything you would do with XP or Win7.

Hi there

Agree -- W8 even on a small netbook with an SSD it runs like "Greased Lightning".

My only concern is that if the standard desktop disappears and we HAVE to use Metro -- then I'm stymied currently -- I NEED multple Windows either on the same or on a different monitor. Many people in business need to compare documents / data side by side etc.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Kebero]

And 99% of the enterprise world is going to stick with Windows 7 until 2020. For the record, Windows 8 will support multiple monitors in different ways. Not only can you extend the desktop across multiple monitors (while spanning the taskbar), you can also set them up so that Metro is on one display and Desktop on the other.

Outside of work, I'm fine with one monitor on Windows 7. At work I use three, but that's because I have Outlook and SCSM open the entire day at work on the outside monitors, and my active working windows on the centre monitor.

 

[Coke Robot]

Metro is really a philosophy for them. I think that's something right there. I once read that they gave out a 17 page metro design book and in the first page, it basically said that the book isn't a design language, it's the future of Microsoft.

I like metro design. Once you wrap your head around it, it makes perfect sense. Then again, I wrapped my head around this two years ago...

 

[SIW2]

There will be a replacement for the desktop at some stage.

It will called something else - some silly name , I expect.

It will look different, but it will be a desktop nonetheless.

You will be able to do these things:

Jimbo:
surely people will need sometimes to view multiple windows or multiple worksheets in an EXCEL workbook or simple compare one or more documents.

Metro is fine for SINGLE WINDOW display like reading a book or casual surfing -- but until they get a decent system of Multi Window display --then forget it for serious users.

Therefore it is a desktop - it will just be made to look different.

We should scrap the word "Desktop".

We should call the "Main" UI instead.

I have already started doing that .

(Largely because there is concerted attempt by marketing monsters to denigrate the "Desktop" and make it seem old and useless. The more gullible are falling for that rubbish already )