My slightly-above average users first time Windows 8 experience

[pparks1]

I performed an experiment with my wife last night, who I would qualify as a slightly above average computer user. She hasn't yet looked at Windows 8, and she isn't out reading about it, nor trolling forums to see how it works.

I brought home a work laptop with Windows 8 installed on it. I gave her the username and password to log in. I pressed the power button and walked away.

THE RESULTS:

After about 2-3 minutes, I noticed she wasn't doing anything. I asked her if she got logged in and she said, "no, I'm still waiting for it to bring up the log on screen". I told her it was ready about 2:30 minutes ago. She then clicked on the screen, or hit something on the keyboard and got the log on prompt. Her response, well that wasn't intuitive at all.

The "new windows UI" appeared with the tiles, and she said, "What the hell is this...is this the new version of Windows?". I gave her the task of getting calculator running. About 2 minutes later, she said, "I screwed something up. I got to the desktop, but there is nothing here, and I cannot figure out how to get that first screen back". A few minutes later she said, "I got it". I said, "you got calculator running". She said, "No, i got back to that first screen thingie". I asked her how she did it, and she said "um, I don't remember". So, I told her to click back on the desktop and show me. It took about a minute for her to discover how she did it, she had accidentally discovered the "Charms Bar" and hit the Start Button.

So, now that she was back to the "new Windows UI", I asked her to again launch calculator. It only took her about a minute, and she had calculator up. I asked how she did it, and she said she got that "wierd menu on the right" to pop up and she clicked on search and typed calculator.

Next, I put her back on the "new Windows UI" and asked her to launch mspaint, but WITHOUT using the Charms bar. I kept repeating, launch mspaint, and I was spelling it out, over and over and over again". After about 3 minutes, and her getting nowhere, I said to my 5 year old, "Logan, go find MSPAINT" for mommy. He walked over and naturally just hit the M key and was hunting for the S, when my wife said, "Ah, so you can just type what you are looking for?". So, I showed her how she could also right click and pull up the apps list, or just type what she wanted. Again, she said, "for somebody used to how to use a computer, this isn't very intuitive".

Next, she managed to open one of those "New Windows UI" applications and after a bit she said. So, I opened something up, and now I cannot figure out how to close it. After about a minute, she said, "Ok, I got out of it". Once again, she utilized the "Charms Bar" to get the Start Button. She said, "Why did they hide the Start Button in that hidden menu?". I explained to her that she didn't close the app, but rather just left it and started something else...just like she would do on her phone. She couldn't figure out how to actually terminate it. I showed her how to grab the top of the Windows with the hand and drag to the bottom of the screen. She said, "how would anybody figure that out?.

Finally, I got her to launch 2 metro apps and I got her to get them both running at the same time. She spent a little time trying to figure out how to size them on the screen so they were both usable. She figured this out, she said, "so, one is always going to be small and one is going to be large, and that's just how it is?" Then she said, "what if I need more than 2 things". I said you would have to use the desktop and the desktop apps for that. She said a bit relieved, "ah, so that will work like it always has?"


The Verdict
She said, that it's not intuitive, but once she learned to use it, "I don't hate it". She said, but "wow...companies and such are going to have to spend some time training people on how to use this thing or else people will just be sitting at their computers and trying to figure out how to do anything. They will just be playing and won't be getting any work done".


I'm certainly hoping that when RTM gets installed, there is a quick Interactive How-To, that the OS will walk you through to teach you the very basics about "the new UI", the charms bar, "the new UI apps" and how to get back and forth to and from the desktop. That would resolve many a first users complaints on day 1.

 

[tcman50]

I would assume there would be a help guide or its a trip to the local book store to pick up a copy of windows 8 for dummies

 

[Mystere]

While I think this is a fair assessment, It should be noted that you really only need to know 4 or 5 things. And these things are all pretty common to people that use phones, they just don't expect them on their PC.

You have to know that you use the windows key to open the start screen. There are other ways, but pressing the windows key is really the simplest and easiest way. (this is like the Main screen on the iPhone or Android's apps menu).

You need to know that you can type in the start menu to easily find what you are looking for. Navigating the Start menu is easier if you have a touch screen, but if you are keyboard bound then it's simple to start typing what you need. (this is like the home button on the iPhone)

You need to know about the charms bar, and that this is how you access settings and other kinds of features. (this is like the settings features of iOS or Android)

You need to know how to manipulate Metro apps, and shut them down by dragging (or if you know alt-f4, that still works). (this is not exactly like the phone, but analogous enough to managing iPhone apps with double tap home button, etc..)

You need to know to just use the power button to shut down your PC, don't go looking for it in the OS. Just hit the power button. (this is like either android or iOS devices).

If you know those things, then you should have no trouble with Windows 8. Millions of people figure out how to use their iPhones and Android devices. Why do people suddenly get dumb when they sit in front of a computer?

 

[phailyoor]

I would have to sat that feature discoverability is complete garbage in windows 8. After getting over the learning curve, the desktop is not too much worse than windows 7. Considering how stupid the average user is, I think making things hidden by default was a very, very stupid thing to do.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Did you get this idea from phailmoor's post where he loaded 8 for his mother?

I, myself, think it not to be fair with showing a user without them reading some of the help files, or a "What's New" if included in final release. Help within RP leads one to here as one place: Windows 8 Release Preview This learning curve has been true in other past OSs, although I'll agree that 8 is much different.

Just for starters and not to boast, but I intuitively new to push enter to rid the splash screen when I first saw it to get the sign on screen. Lucky I guess. I think the splash screen is there to hide the sign on screen as not to tempt one to fiddle with someone else's sign on screen. Outa sight - Outa mind so to speak.

Bottom line, 8 is not ready for enterprise if ever at all and enterprise is not ready for 8 if ever at all. I've read that a lot of Pros are suggesting to stick with 7 or previous for now.

Also, when I get back home next week I'm going to stick 8 in front of my 16-year-old daughter and some of her friends to get results of what they think. Like your wife, they are above average computer users since most of this generation learns and uses it in school on a daily basis. It'll be interesting indeed.

 

[FSeal]

Heh, you know how there are those books "OSX for Windows users" and such that take you from one type of paradigm to another?

Someone could probably make a lot of money on a "Windows 8 for Windows users" book

 

[SIW2]

There will be plenty of books - with big simple pictures.

Nice little earner for the writers and publishers.

 

[FSeal]

"How to survive Windows 8"

Instead of complaining on W8Forums I should have been writing the book!

 

[pparks1]

If you know those things, then you should have no trouble with Windows 8. Millions of people figure out how to use their iPhones and Android devices. Why do people suddenly get dumb when they sit in front of a computer?

That's the issue, you gotta know those things. Somehow people need to learn those things. The reason that doing this on the iPhone or Android device tends to be easier is that they don't have 10+ years of doing it another way on something else.

Did you get this idea from phailmoor's post where he loaded 8 for his mother?

It's something that I have historically done for previous versions of the OS. I was just curious to see the reaction of somebody who really couldn't care less if it was XP, Vista or 7 to see how they would get along with things in front of a Windows 8 PC.

I, myself, think it not to be fair with showing a user without them reading some of the help files, or a "What's New" if included in final release.

But there will be lots of people who either buy a new computer, or decide to purchase Windows and upgrade their existing computers and today there really isn't an in your face guide to get you through these basics..hopefully there is in the RTM release. People who have stopped by and asked me about Windows 8 at work have gotten the tour, but I am curious to see how those people get along without the tour. I don't think average joe's really sit around and read the "help files" As far as the OS goes, there is no "in your face" help button either to guide a novice around in the OS.

Just for starters and not to boast, but I intuitively new to push enter to rid the splash screen when I first saw it to get the sign on screen. Lucky I guess. I think the splash screen is there to hide the sign on screen as not to tempt one to fiddle with someone else's sign on screen. Outa sight - Outa mind so to speak.

I'm sure some will do just like you did. Others will try pushing CTRL-ALT-DEL and will manage to get the logon screen. But undoubtedly some people will simply just sit there and wait assuming that after the upgrade it's just taking their computers a long time to get them to the desktop or a logon screen.

 

[Brink]

My small contribution to help with this.

• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5752-signing-windows-8-a.html
• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4595-search-windows-8-a.html
• Windows 8 Tutorials
• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6795-windows-8-tutorial-index.html

 

[pparks1]

Thanks Brink,

Fortunately my wife has me and I can help her navigate around. Now that she knows what she is doing, she would be fine on the machine.

Perhaps we can include a copy of your posts with all sales of Windows 8 for the rest of the users.

 

[legacy7955]

My small contribution to help with this.

• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5752-signing-windows-8-a.html
• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4595-search-windows-8-a.html
• Windows 8 Tutorials
• http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6795-windows-8-tutorial-index.html

Nice job Brink.

MS ought actually refer people that are booting up Windows 8 for the first time to this site for further help during the initial set up process.

 

[Coke Robot]

I've yet to actually set Windows 8 in front of someone and let them have at it, but then again, I don't take small children and put them in the driver's seat of a car and tell them to have at it...

Having said that, at first, it doesn't make sense and seems hugely the opposite of unintuitive, at first. After a bit, it makes sense. But I do find it interesting that your child just went and started to open up Paint without any command. I think Windows 8 will be huge with the younger crowd as it's something new and something totally different and younger people, THEORITICALLY, can learn something like a new UI easier than older crowds.

Speaking of such, yesterday, I introduced the Windows 8 to a friend of mine and her family. It was by far the most interesting introduction I've done as the family ranged in different ages and abilities. My friend's mom was literally taken aback and borderline overwhelmed, but a good overwhelmed. She was SO shocked at it. Her husband was telling a story of how his friend's tractor engine blew up, I was listening to it too and I though she was gasping at the story, but she was actually gasping at how different Windows 8 is. This is considering they were using xp on that netbook and vista on a couple of laptops. My friend was iffy about it, as she isn't huge on change, let alone radical change. But she said that she might want 8 on her laptop AFTER she plays around with 8 and see if it's ok. When I was at the point of showing off the metro apps, my friend's younger brother was like, "You can have apps on a computer?" And I said YES! You can have it all! Another of their little kids said it looks like you can touch it, which is interesting. Kids are pretty honest about these things! Overall though, they seemed to like it. I showed off Office 2013 as well, as the mom is a HUGE Office user and I showed her around the new Modern Office, and from what I gather, that along with SkyDrive will be excellent. They told me that they had three consecutive years in a row where tax documents got lost on THREE different storage mediums. I bet they will have some usage issues, that's expected, but I bet after a month at the very most, everyone will be using it with different accounts, the kids will be better monitored with Family Safety, and the Windows 8 will be bomb!

I feel like a technological rock star. There was a recent thread around here about Windows 95 and someone had a story where they had a laptop running 95 on it that got passed around the airplane as everyone wanted to see what it looked like and how it operates. I have a tinkling of a feeling something like that might happen.

 

[pparks1]

I've yet to actually set Windows 8 in front of someone and let them have at it, but then again, I don't take small children and put them in the driver's seat of a car and tell them to have at it...

Neither did I. I took somebody who has been using a computer/driving a car for many, many years. They found Windows 8 unintutive and hard to figure out how to do things. It's actually my kids, with less experience, who find it easier.

Speaking of such, yesterday, I introduced the Windows 8 to a friend of mine and her family. It was by far the most interesting introduction I've done as the family ranged in different ages and abilities. My friend's mom was literally taken aback and borderline overwhelmed, but a good overwhelmed.

I seriously don't understand who these people are that you keep showing Windows to. Do you just walk around with a laptop going from house to house to house proclaiming the virtues of Windows 8. Everybody you show Windows 8 too, is blown away according to you. Every computer user that I have shown it to, has said, 'Meh, maybe I could get used to it"...but blown away was not a phrase I would have used to describe any of their reactions.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thanks, Brink. That's exactly what I'm speaking of. HELP FILES. What's the antage? -> When all else fails, read the instructions.

I've yet to actually set Windows 8 in front of someone and let them have at it, but then again, I don't take small children and put them in the driver's seat of a car and tell them to have at it...

Good point, Coke. One can't obtain a drivers license without some instruction first.

@pparks1

But there will be lots of people who either buy a new computer, or decide to purchase Windows and upgrade their existing computers and today there really isn't an in your face guide to get you through these basics..hopefully there is in the RTM release.

I have a "Help" metro tile. I don't remember if it is original or if I pinned it there. Either way, RP came with help. I referred to it many a time when first learning 8. So it was always there.

People who have stopped by and asked me about Windows 8 at work have gotten the tour, but I am curious to see how those people get along without the tour.

Just kidding with you here -> Please don't take this seriously -> After reading some of your posts on the subject, I can't help but to have this vision in my head of your office door with a sign that says "Free Windows 8 tours. Donations appreciated" Is P.T. Barnum a distant relative of yours by any chance? Just curious as to why you like to show people this drastic-of-a-change OS? Do you take pics of their expressions as their jaws drop and tack the pics on a wall? And then to show your wife without even a short intro. What is it with that? Are you getting even with her about something else?

I don't think average joe's really sit around and read the "help files" As far as the OS goes, there is no "in your face" help button either to guide a novice around in the OS.

Was there not in past OSs a "What's New" or a "Let's Get Started"? Again, RP came with help. Besides, there is the WWW that is billions of pages big to search for HELP on just about every subject under the sun.

 

[pparks1]

Just kidding with you here -> Please don't take this seriously -> After reading some of your posts on the subject, I can't help but to have this vision in my head of your office door with a sign that says "Free Windows 8 tours. Donations appreciated" Is P.T. Barnum a distant relative of yours by any chance?

No problems. Part of my job responsibilities include research and development into new technologies, etc. I'm one who will have to make the choice as to whether or not Windows 8 should roll out in our environment and also to help anybody who may (or may not) get this version.

Just curious as to why you like to show people this drastic-of-a-change OS?

For the above mentioned reasons. I will have a say as to whether or not there is a need/use for this OS in our environment. I will also be responsible for end user training on the system. Rather than simply "assume" which issues users have, I like to get their input as to what they like and don't like.

My own personal opinion is, and always has been, that Windows 8 is more or less crap. I have failed to find much in terms of productivity advancements, and I don't feel that any speed improvements at boot time will overcome the loss of time as people flip/flop back and forth between the "new Windows UI" and the desktop. I find Windows 7 to be more or less the best balance between power, performance, efficiency and functionality.

Do you take pics of their expressions as their jaws drop and tack the pics on a wall? And then to show your wife without even a short intro. What is it with that? Are you getting even with her about something else?

No pictures.

Giving my wife the laptop with an intro showing her all of the differences would have biased her with my obvious concerns with this OS. Instead, I wanted to see what a person, who isn't inclined to have learned anything about Windows 8 would have gotten along.

Was there not in past OSs a "What's New" or a "Let's Get Started"? Again, RP came with help. Besides, there is the WWW that is billions of pages big to search for HELP on just about every subject under the sun.

I'm waiting to see if in the final release there will be an easy to find "what's new" and how to get around. It would be like the way they do the interactive training with video games these days. Rather than read a booklet or scour the web, it leads you more or less through the substantial features, and functions, and commands to be productive with the OS.

Some of us, love to scour the web and hang out at sites like this and learn everything we can. Most people want to just turn on their computer and use it. For pete's sake, most people don't even read the dialog boxes which come up.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

For pete's sake, most people don't even read the dialog boxes which come up.

You work as IT and aid other people. I don't have that experience. You mean to tell me that most people don't read the dialog boxes?! You must be joking?! That's pretty bizarre!

 

[aerandir92]

I'm certainly hoping that when RTM gets installed, there is a quick Interactive How-To, that the OS will walk you through to teach you the very basics about "the new UI", the charms bar, "the new UI apps" and how to get back and forth to and from the desktop. That would resolve many a first users complaints on day 1.

Well, there is something. But I will not call it a guide. It is a very slow, VERY SLOW, demonstration where you se a mouse cursor moving into one of the corners, and the charms menu popping out. And with the text "Move your mouse to any corner"
That's it.
I would say that helps a little, people learn to look in the corners, but still. But it is not enough in my opinion. There should be a demonstration with text that shows "Here you find the start screen" "Type when on start screen to search", just short things like that would help enormous

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I'm certainly hoping that when RTM gets installed, there is a quick Interactive How-To, that the OS will walk you through to teach you the very basics about "the new UI", the charms bar, "the new UI apps" and how to get back and forth to and from the desktop. That would resolve many a first users complaints on day 1.

Well, there is something. But I will not call it a guide. It is a very slow, VERY SLOW, demonstration where you se a mouse cursor moving into one of the corners, and the charms menu popping out. And with the text "Move your mouse to any corner"
That's it.
I would say that helps a little, people learn to look in the corners, but still. But it is not enough in my opinion. There should be a demonstration with text that shows "Here you find the start screen" "Type when on start screen to search", just short things like that would help enormous

Thanks, aerandir92. What's in the help files? What are they like?

 

[pparks1]

You mean to tell me that most people don't read the dialog boxes?! You must be joking?! That's pretty bizarre!

It's hard to find anybody who reads the license agreement, you see people who install freeware stuff and get toolbars and such on their machine because they didn't see the boxes checked during the installer, and software installers will tell people that something is going to happen, and when it does, they come by and ask me about it. It happens quite a bit.