Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability

Why repost this old shoe again? This has been posted at least 3 or 4 times already!
The Alertbox is a sales pitch to sell you an expensive opinion piece.
 

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Why repost this old shoe again? This has been posted at least 3 or 4 times already!
The Alertbox is a sales pitch to sell you an expensive opinion piece.

Oops... didn't notice it had already been posted. Just trying to bring you cutting edge news...:geek:

Sorry.
 

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How bizarre.

Are you suggesting an excerpt/precis from the Lancet is not to be trusted because it costs £160.00 a year.

What about any expert - usability or otherwise - are they all to be dismissed, because it brings traffic, or raises their public/media/business profile , etc.

Go ahead and post it up Rickkins - it has been posted before, but the thread may be several pages back - it deserves to be seen.



Why repost this old shoe again? This has been posted at least 3 or 4 times already!
The Alertbox is a sales pitch to sell you an expensive opinion piece.
 

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How bizarre. Are you suggesting an excerpt/precis from the Lancet is not to be trusted because it costs £160.00 a year. What about any expert - usability or otherwise - are they all to be dismissed, because it brings traffic, or raises their public/media/business profile , etc.

Yes. I am suggesting it is not to be trusted. Yes. I am dismissing the negative slant on usability because I see and have experienced no such issues. I could effectively fabricate a negative slant on the inefficiencies of a light bulb, but that does not make it unusable. There is no evidence that the author of the advertisement has ever even used Windows 8. He has brought together a group of like minds to assemble an opinion piece that is for sale. As an experienced user of Windows 8, I reject usability whining because, IMO, it works great! 8 is better than 7 IMO. I am not going to critique every fine point because I do not need to, and I am not being paid to do so. I do not care what critics of 8 say about usability, it is irrelevant. Windows 8 works very well. There are too many critics of 8 that do not use 8. Why would I want to become a member of the other forum and bash Windows 7. I could, but it would be illogical to do so. There are plenty of positive reviews of the utility of 8 for use at home or business. Some people actually enjoy using 8 and appreciate the metro.

Go ahead and post it up Rickkins - it has been posted before, but the thread may be several pages back - it deserves to be seen.

Frankly, I do not understand your point. Why highlight everything that you do not like? Is that in your personality? You must enjoy negativity! This endless detailing of every facet that irritates you is somewhat annoying. Also, this obsession with the grand conspiracy is not helpful. One thing for sure, it will be double spaced.
 

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I don't know, to me that article hit the nail right on the head as far as Windows 8's shortcomings go. It's to bad Microsoft couldn't decide what it was supposed to be and actually finish it before releasing it.
 

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What about any expert - usability or otherwise - are they all to be dismissed, because it brings traffic, or raises their public/media/business profile , etc.

You're talking about an "expert" that worked for the company that gave you Swing. And other terrible UI's. His expertise lies in Web site design and usability, which is very different from user interface usability, although certainly they share some common pieces.

A web page has the luxury of adapting each pages usability to fit the design. An OS UI does not, it must fit the usability of everything.

Yes. I am suggesting it is not to be trusted.

I don't mistrust Nielsen, and I largely agree with many of his assessments. What I disagree with, are his conclusions. In part, I disagree because he does not take into account what Windows 8 is trying to achieve. Rather, he's viewing it from an ivory tower of an academic. In the real world, UI's have to make comromises, and he fails to take that into account. Just look at every UI that his company (Sun) put out.. they are all compromises.
 

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Oh I think this article is the one that summarizes my issues with windows 8 the best. It looks takes a look out how the aesthetics of windows 8 play into the usability. I mean in the end it's not that windows 8 is horrible but it could have been better. Yes people could learn how to use it I have. But there are just a few things that could have used some fixing to make the experience less jarring and awkward. Although it might not seem like it I'm sure they thought it out but unfortunately it wasn't the best solution. It feels half done.
 

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"It feels half done" It is half done, only a Microsoft nurd would defend this half baked piece of crap, Windows 8 is going nowhere............;)
 

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There is always some people defending windows 8 they say that critics never used it or dont want to learn to use it. I use windows 8 baught 2 copies. dedicated one pc just for windows 8. but this article describes windwos 8 shortcomings very well.. right on the spot I would say.. I got same problems with windows 8..
ofcourse all shortcomings can be overcome by "getting used". this article doesnt mentions advantages that windows 8 has for example I like new file explorer, I like ribbon UI, file copy, move operations is faster and shows more information. new task manager is good (well you can get same information in windows 7 resource monitor but it is more hidden/advanced and not used by as many as task manger). when using ssd boot times are almost same, and speed of os is almost same so there is no difference.
anyone who dont agree with article provide counter arguments because its empty talk otherwise.. and i dont care reputation or other bias.. because article seems to provide same points as my experience with windows 8.
 

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Funny thing is, I like 8 just fine, albeit in desktop mode. With classic shell installed I boot direct to desktop, I have my start menu and start button, hot corners and charms thing disabled. It's just metro.... don't want it.
 

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Nothing new here, just the same old B.S. about how bad 8 is and all the B.S. MS fanboys put out. In other words the parrots are flocking in to. . .:drool: about win 8.
 

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Huh?:huh:


Me, I'm neither a fanboi nor a hater.
 

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Huh?:huh:


Me, I'm neither a fanboi nor a hater.
Didn't point out any names, or accuse any one person. Just a personal opinion. . .nothing more. . .:thumbsup:
 
Last edited:

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Hidden features, reduced discoverability
I like these new features...:thumb:

Nah... the hard way is to discover (indeed) how or where for example ALL the text colors can be changed.
Because they CAN be changed. I quite confident with that.

On the other hand Win8 protects itself from (my) wrong text color changes.
I'll never forget the day I messed up my XP, simply because I had black text on black backgrounds, on multiple places and I couldn't read a thing on the screen! :D

But still wonder what hidden features are out there... :think:

So far, all works well on Win8, for me at least, and I shouldn't complain.
 

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    That's basically it.
Huh?:huh:


Me, I'm neither a fanboi nor a hater.

Yeah, me too. I don't hate Windows 8, and I wouldn't consider myself a fanboy. It's just disappointing the way Windows 8 turned out after all the hype. I do like some of the new features but that's offset by the disjointed UI.
 

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Huh?:huh:


Me, I'm neither a fanboi nor a hater.

Yeah, me too. I don't hate Windows 8, and I wouldn't consider myself a fanboy. It's just disappointing the way Windows 8 turned out after all the hype. I do like some of the new features but that's offset by the disjointed UI.
That fairly well sums up my feeling toward it, even though I've bought retail version.

In my opinion, in it's native state it's mechanically less efficient by a long shot from traditoinal desktop GUI. And without hacks would not have purchased.

Positives are quicker boot, 2 second shut down, (unbelievable, but not surprising as had to be cut down to work on mobile phones/tablets), and very bland for same reason, but efficient OS in getting the job done.
 

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Had to help my dad and his friend figure out how to shut down their new Windows 8 laptop last night. They had resorted to just using the power button as they couldn't stumble upon any other way.

We have a couple people at work on 8 now because we are a software shop and have to see what customers see. I have had to help many of them because they failed to figure out the new method of doing something. It is not intuitive in my experiences. Perhaps fir others here, they simply think and process differently. I could easily have 8 at home or work of I wanted to, but I simply don't want it. In no real way, does it provide me with advantages on a day to day basis.
 

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They made a very obvious mistake.

Instead of offering what they knew the customers would want, they tried to force something MS wants.

That is why they are getting so much criticism.

If they had allowed booting to desktop and start menu as default for desktop machines - those desktop usability criticisms would not be there.

That's not to say it would be perfect - but the reception would have been much better.

They would still have consistency across devices - desktop mode looks and acts the same on all devices, and metro mode looks and acts the same across all devices.

They are trying to force start screen on users to get them to buy MS apps. and services and draw them into MS clouds.

It might sell ok in spite of that.

Imagine how much better it could have sold if they hadn't made a mess of it.

Difficult to overcome those initial perceptions/bad reviews even if they fix it now.
 

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    PC/Desktop
It's not the usability that's a disappointment.

Its the BS that is going on behind the scenes that sucks.

I like the OS, but the direction MS is pushing us only makes me want to run (not walk) in the opposite direction.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
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    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
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    Acer
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    8GB DDR3
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    1920x1024
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    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
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    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
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