Ed Bott: 8 Changes I'd like to see in Windows 8

When Microsoft releases Windows 8.1 later this year, it will include a slew of usability changes designed to address user complaints. I've put together my own list of small changes that would make Windows 8.1 more usable. Maybe they'll make it into Windows 8.2 next year.

Full article here:
Eight changes I'd like to see in Windows 8.1 (but probably won't)

These seem to me to be a sensible set of suggestions, and I bet it's a lot more in keeping with Microsoft's vision than the Windows Red thing the other day.

Personally I'd add:
  • Overlapping, resizeable windows which allow multiple Metro apps and Desktop apps to be visible at the same time.
  • Ability to organise Start Screen items into sub-folders.
 
The one thing Microsoft really needs to restore in Windows

For all the complaining about Windows 8's lack of a Start button (much of it coming from me), the tech media has largely ignored an even bigger feature Microsoft unceremoniously pulled from the OS.
And not only pulled, but also slapped with a price tag.
I'm talking about Windows Media Center, the thoroughly awesome software that makes a Windows PC a great companion for TV -- or just a great TV, depending on how you use it.

So with Windows 8.1, Microsoft has the chance to make this right. Either put WMC back into the OS, or make it $9.99 for all Windows 8 users, not just those who have a work machine running Pro. I like it well enough that I'd pay $10 for it. But charging $100 is idiotic and a slap in the face to users who have enjoyed -- and championed -- this product for a long, long time.
Your move, Microsoft.

The one thing Microsoft really needs to restore in Windows 8.1 | Marketplace Blog - CNET Reviews
 

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LOL.

Rick
For example, my new Ultrabook came with Windows 8. To get WMC, I have to buy the Windows 8 Pro Pack, which costs $99.99. Well, guess what: I want WMC, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I spend an extra $100 to get it.
If you have Windows 8 Pro (which, make no mistake, was designed for business users -- exactly the folks who have little to no interest in WMC), you can buy the software for $9.99.



I am not sure that is something which is stopping people buying 8. But Rick has a good point.

It is one thing to make it a $10 add on. The strange part is - you can only add it onto 8 Pro.
 

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When Microsoft releases Windows 8.1 later this year, it will include a slew of usability changes designed to address user complaints. I've put together my own list of small changes that would make Windows 8.1 more usable. Maybe they'll make it into Windows 8.2 next year.

Full article here:
Eight changes I'd like to see in Windows 8.1 (but probably won't)

These seem to me to be a sensible set of suggestions, and I bet it's a lot more in keeping with Microsoft's vision than the Windows Red thing the other day.

Personally I'd add:
  • Overlapping, resizeable windows which allow multiple Metro apps and Desktop apps to be visible at the same time.
  • Ability to organise Start Screen items into sub-folders.

Thanks for posting that David. :)

I like your suggestions. :thumb:

I like Ed Bott. He's a sensible guy. Some good suggestions as well. :)
 

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WMC wasn't included with all editions of 7, so one had to pay for it in the OS price.

I tried to look for the price difference Between 7 Home Basic and Home premium. That would basically be what one would have paid for WMC.

Another thing is that there's only 3 editions of 8, whereas there were 6 for 7.
 

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I agree with a couple of things there, but the rest is just taking old ideas from past versions and repacking them into a new version. Quicklaunch on the Charms bar? What? The Charms bar isn't a quick launch bar or meant to be shown 24/7. You do not need to see the Settings Charms all the time, nor Devices, nor Share, or even Search Charm all the time. Search, MAYBE, but again, not all the time. The things on that piece of UI is meant to be seen/used one and then go away because that's a chunk of screen estate wasted just to show verbose Charms.

A visual cue to the Charms bar however, makes sense. Instead of taking 22 pixels, do a Windows Phone thing there and put three little vertical dots on the bottom right corner of the screen. But this makes me think of the "slide to unlock" part of the lock screen of ios. After 50,000 times of sliding to unlock, I would imagine the person using it knows what to do to unlock their ios device. Basically, it's redundant after the 9th time. Better solution would be showing the Windows 8.1 user what the Charms bar is, what it does, and how to invoke it based on your PC form factor, such as a tutorial after the very first OOBE screen.

This notification center.... Ugh... :doh:

It's called a freaking Start Screen. If you are at your PC, walk away, and miss a calendar appointment or an IM notification, you go to the Start Screen. The calendar tile shows you your current appointment at the time, and the messaging tile will show you if you got a message. Windows 8.1 will make it MUCH easier because of the baby tiles to keep things like that pinned to the Start Screen to show you of a message count. The Calendar tile will need to be large to show detailed things like that, a giant tile can show several appointments too. I just find it SO idiotic when I read comments about Windows 8 and Windows Phone about them needing a notification center. No they do not. If you feel a need for a notification center, you're not doing the modern Windows thing correctly AT ALL. Everything that would be in a notification center on android or ios is literally a live tile on a Windows Start Screen. If you need notifications from an app that you use regularly, but do not have it pinned visible on your Start Screen, that is called a fail.
 

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It's called a freaking Start Screen.
...so I only see it when Windows Starts or to Start an app or software.

And when I do Start an app/software, I click the Windows key and start typing the name straight away, so don't see any tiles or whatever on the Start screen. (Well strictly speaking I probably do see them for about 200ms but it's not long enough to register.)

Also I often Hibernate or Sleep my PC rather than starting from scratch, (which returns to whatever software I was using, again without seeing the Start screen) so I don't always start Windows itself.

Most of the time I have some software or other open on the PC.

So I rarely see anything on the Start screen, not because I'm trying to avoid it; I'm just busy doing other stuff, and most of the time, all the things I need to Start are already Started so I don't look at the Start screen.

It's not a good place to put notifications.
 
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Personally I'd add:
  • Overlapping, resizeable windows which allow multiple Metro apps and Desktop apps to be visible at the same time.
  • Ability to organise Start Screen items into sub-folders.
One more I'd add:
  • A persistent "Help" or "?" link on the screen and maybe Charms bar.
 

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For all the complaining about Windows 8's lack of a Start button (much of it coming from me), the tech media has largely ignored an even bigger feature Microsoft unceremoniously pulled from the OS.
And not only pulled, but also slapped with a price tag.
I'm talking about Windows Media Center, the thoroughly awesome software that makes a Windows PC a great companion for TV -- or just a great TV, depending on how you use it.

So with Windows 8.1, Microsoft has the chance to make this right. Either put WMC back into the OS, or make it $9.99 for all Windows 8 users, not just those who have a work machine running Pro. I like it well enough that I'd pay $10 for it. But charging $100 is idiotic and a slap in the face to users who have enjoyed -- and championed -- this product for a long, long time.
Your move, Microsoft.

The one thing Microsoft really needs to restore in Windows 8.1 | Marketplace Blog - CNET Reviews


Hi there
Who really needs or uses WMC anymore -- things like the FREE VLC do a MUCH better job (and have more codecs) and its all FREE.
WMC perhaps was OK for watching TV before the advent of fast Broadband and Media Streaming. Nowadays things like WMC aren't needed at all any more - there's much better ways of handling multi-media anyway now.

You can stream TV directly to your computer via apps like "Catch up" or BBC Iplayer - or equivalent services in your area. Who needs to bother now with a TV card / USB Tuner --it's all available now on the Net so I think Ms was right in "semi-retiring" WMC.

As for the Most requested features - even the Start button which I'm sure once you have used W8 for a while you don't really miss or need it anyway. Boot directly to the desktop should please the "Anti-Metro" brigade - while those that aren't sure can now run Desktop and some Metro apps concurrently -- that could bring some life back to the metro screens - the standard Ms ones are really HORRIBLE which also added to the annoyance of operating a desktop computer in this manner -- but re-sizeable windows could make these more like "Gadgets" and hence a lot more useful -- having dynamic changing content on your monitor while also being able to perform standard desktop tasks like using Word or EXCEL.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Who really needs or uses WMC anymore

Speak for yourself

even the Start button ...you don't really miss or need it anyway

Plenty of people want it.

I use Alll programs very rarely. I don't want it all thrown into one folder covering up the screen.
 

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Who really needs or uses WMC anymore

The author just said he does.

even the Start button ...you don't really miss or need it anyway

Plenty of people do

Hi there
You'll always find SOME people who want certain features -- however I'd still maintain that WMC isn't a big issue for perhaps the MAJORITY of W8 users -- I'd bet even on this Forum a huge majority of users now who have either have installed or ever use hardware TV cards / USB TV receivers ever watch TV using these via WMC -- especially where fast broadband is available.

The start button was demanded by a load of people coming from W7 - I know quite a few people who bought new computers with W8 pre-installed and don't have any issue with navigating W8 - and I also know some who have never used W7 or earlier windows don't actually like those versions as W8 interface is similar to their phones.

If you need or want WMC you can get it for the non Enterprise versions -- but Ms is correct IMO for not over bloating the OS with features that probably not a large percentage of users would require.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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If MS are going to get inspiration from Ubuntu Unity - they might as well use all of it. Mark has already sorted it out with Unity. No sense in only borrowing half of his work.

The dash (start screen) , panel (fairy wand ), etc all works fine in Unity. MS implementation is half finished.

I see MS are now trying some more of the stuff already found in Unity. ( It also already has some of the things Ed Bott is suggesting.)

I understand what Steve Jobs was talking about.
 

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You'll always find SOME people who want certain features -- however I'd still maintain that WMC isn't a big issue for perhaps the MAJORITY of Windows 8 users

Yes, that is what I said in my first post. But if MS are going to make WMC available at all - it is a bit daft to restrict it Pro only. As Rick said - either make it available to all - or they could just dump it.
 

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You'll always find SOME people who want certain features -- however I'd still maintain that WMC isn't a big issue for perhaps the MAJORITY of Windows 8 users

Yes, that is what I said in my first post. But if MS are going to make WMC available at all - it is a bit daft to restrict it Pro only. As Rick said - they could just dump it.

Hi there

are my eyes going bonkers or do I really need Glasses -- the Article says 8 changes I'd like to see in W8.1 but probably won't -- I can only read ONE in the article -- and then loads of comments etc. Where are the next 7 -- it's not obvious where to scroll next.

As for having the charms bar visible at all times -- NO THANKS -- I don't need a One - Two inch thick vertical bar running down the right hand side of my screen when I'm editing an EXCEL spread sheet -- I'd rather use the FULL WIDTH of the monitor --- and what about playing a DVD -- do you really want the charms bar visible at the same time.

If the rest of his features are of similar mould --thank goodness he wasn't on the design team.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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LOL, maybe you didn't look properly

Yes, that is what I said in my first post.

#3

I am not sure that {WMC} is something which is stopping people buying 8. But Rick has a good point.

It is one thing to make it a $10 add on. The strange part is - you can only add it onto 8 Pro.


One of the few times I agree with Ed Bott.

It is a very good idea to be able to see the Panel (charms bar) and the Launcher ( taskbar ).
 

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are my eyes going bonkers or do I really need Glasses -- the Article says 8 changes I'd like to see in W8.1 but probably won't -- I can only read ONE in the article -- and then loads of comments etc. Where are the next 7 -- it's not obvious where to scroll next.
It's a slideshow thing, with Next and Previous buttons near the top above the image.
 

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It's called a freaking Start Screen.
...so I only see it when Windows Starts or to Start an app or software.

And when I do Start an app/software, I click the Windows key and start typing the name straight away, so don't see any tiles or whatever on the Start screen. (Well strictly speaking I probably do see them for about 200ms but it's not long enough to register.)

Also I often Hibernate or Sleep my PC rather than starting from scratch, (which returns to whatever software I was using, again without seeing the Start screen) so I don't always start Windows itself.

Most of the time I have some software or other open on the PC.

So I rarely see anything on the Start screen, not because I'm trying to avoid it; I'm just busy doing other stuff, and most of the time, all the things I need to Start are already Started so I don't look at the Start screen.

It's not a good place to put notifications.

So then a different UI is needed for notifications now?

Start is a perfect place for notifications because every live tiles is a notification. You will have to look at some kind of notification center for more than 200ms, same with the Start Screen. If you have a conscious effort to look at and reveal a notification center, you can just as well hit your Start key.
 

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