I like a lot of the features they demonstrated, however that interface would be hideous with a mouse. Looks like a good start to a tablet OS though.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Microsoft Previews Windows 8 with Cues from iPad and App Store
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Everything looked so confusing...
tiles look pretty awful. He started talking about how the weather panel could tell him the weather, but it took me several seconds (basically until he tapped it,) for me to be able to find the tile... whereas if it were just an icon, I'd instantly recognize it. Maybe they just need more distinctive artwork for apps.
Other than that, a lot of gestures seemed unintuitive. He was seriously grabbing apps from out of nowhere, and it seemed like he had no idea which apps he was going to get when he reached.
And finally... regarding changing the size of split screen apps... that isn't live updating? Seriously? We still have stupid lines being drawn saying "This is where the bounds of the windows will be, but I don't feel like actually drawing the window until you let go." Lazy and ugly.
I'm scared of what Lion is going to look like.
tiles look pretty awful. He started talking about how the weather panel could tell him the weather, but it took me several seconds (basically until he tapped it,) for me to be able to find the tile... whereas if it were just an icon, I'd instantly recognize it. Maybe they just need more distinctive artwork for apps.
Other than that, a lot of gestures seemed unintuitive. He was seriously grabbing apps from out of nowhere, and it seemed like he had no idea which apps he was going to get when he reached.
And finally... regarding changing the size of split screen apps... that isn't live updating? Seriously? We still have stupid lines being drawn saying "This is where the bounds of the windows will be, but I don't feel like actually drawing the window until you let go." Lazy and ugly.
I'm scared of what Lion is going to look like.
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)
Definitely a new approach for MS, but I don't see that touch interface working well with mouse and keyboard, or the standard interface working well with touch. This whole touch interface just looks like a skin to me.
Definitely a new approach for MS, but I don't see that touch interface working well with mouse and keyboard, or the standard interface working well with touch. This whole touch interface just looks like a skin to me.
I have to hand it to Microsoft... It actually looks pretty good. I have a few concerns over the integration of touch sensitivity on a desktop screen. I'd say this looks more "Sophisticated" than the "Corporate-machine" they are trying to get away from. Sophistication is a good move to take, Apple-hardcore-fanboys Might* flame me and say Microsoft is trying to be Apple... But in all honesty, All Technology companies want to be Apple, ASUS for example had that keynote where they wanted to a give an 'Apple feel'. and we all have to remember Windows is Microsoft's flagship product, They are not playing catch-up (anymore) to OS X unlike the Mobile Windows to iOS.
I somewhat agree. I don't think Windows 7 is bloated, but it is excessive for a tablet.
What Microsoft should be doing is designing a form of Windows Phone 7 for tablets, not stuffing Windows Phone 7 pieces into their desktop OS.
I'm disappointed because I think they have two great things here (touch and traditional interfaces), but they don't belong together.
Wow, that "tile" interface is awful. And before anyone says it — yes, the rows of icons on iOS aren't the greatest either. But it's pretty easy to quickly pick out one icon from the rest. It's difficult to instantly tell which tile is which — they're solid colored rectangles with some text.
They may get it badly wrong (and even if they don’t, people hate change)... but it’s too early to say that, and I’m glad to see them taking risks and DOING something significantly new and different.
I hope what eventually ships is truly a break from Windows' past. One is needed. And I’d rather see OS X competing against that than against yet-another-bloated-evolution-of-the-same-old-Windows.
P.S. I like the look
Much like Windows Phone 7 for Mobile, I wouldn’t want to USE the interface I see, but as an image to look at... I do like it.
I hope what eventually ships is truly a break from Windows' past. One is needed. And I’d rather see OS X competing against that than against yet-another-bloated-evolution-of-the-same-old-Windows.
P.S. I like the look
Much like Windows Phone 7 for Mobile, I wouldn’t want to USE the interface I see, but as an image to look at... I do like it.
I basically agree with the above comments. I've used Windows since 3.0 and this just looks like a UI shell to simplify the pc for those too stupid to use one now. Ok, I get that the touch interface is perfect for phone and even tablets. Simply giving that idea a couple of vitamins and upsizing it for a pc will not make it work. There's a completely different way of working with a computer this I'm not really sure this adresses.
Honestly, both Lion and Windows 8 touch interfaces look pretty gimmicky to me. I really hope there's more than meets the eye.
I did not like the tiles for the phone but it appears to work quite well on a larger display. The classic Windows 7 desktop seemed almost out of place. This is x86 operating system. I expect the ARM not to have the desktop at all but strictly tiles.
The Start page appears to bring a news feed like attitude to the login screen and just post-login. Flip in for what you need to know and put the machine back to sleep. That behavior is already being shown on the Windows Phone 7.
The Start page appears to bring a news feed like attitude to the login screen and just post-login. Flip in for what you need to know and put the machine back to sleep. That behavior is already being shown on the Windows Phone 7.
How? That looks nothing like OS X.
To a fanboy, any os is copying Apple.
And Apples too.
I'm sure anything is too complex for someone used to a Mac.
How much time have you had using Windows 8? Could you give us some hands on information? I'd love to hear how it stacks up to Windows 7.
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; U; CPU OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)
Good god.
Thats one ugly UI.
Of course it is. Only something from Uncle Steve looks good to Apple clouded eyes.
Have you considered that powerful tablets running a real os may take the place of notebooks?
Now that's what I call inconsistent; the first UI seems great for tablets, but NOT for desktops, the second UI is basically normal windows, which is what you'll need for doing power things. Even browsing the web with a mouse on the new UI would be terrible.
All they've done is add an extra UI ("but underneath it all, it's still windows"), which isn't good for touch screen desktops - you want to use that screen space, not waste it on 1 and a 1/2 apps, and, more so, for desktops with a mouse, and laptops. The only useful thing for the new UI would be good for is tablets, and Netbooks, because of their lack of processor power, and small screens.
If I was forced to use this I would go straight back to 'classical' view. Apple has done it right: one operating system for tablets (iPads) and one for computers, even if Lion is a bit dumbed down, you can choose (launchpad or stacks or desktop).
Microsoft take some of Apple's advice, sure add elements from mobile to desktop (widget tiles, maybe), but don't combine a tablet and a desktop OS.
I not even going to try to use a mouse with that new UI; when I need to use windows, it will not be Windows 8's new UI, it'll be the old: Win 7 UI beneath it all; so what's the point in upgrading, if I wont use the new features; I don't have / plan on buying a touchscreen Window's tablet or a touch screen desktop - I like my trackpad, and my mouse.
All they've done is add an extra UI ("but underneath it all, it's still windows"), which isn't good for touch screen desktops - you want to use that screen space, not waste it on 1 and a 1/2 apps, and, more so, for desktops with a mouse, and laptops. The only useful thing for the new UI would be good for is tablets, and Netbooks, because of their lack of processor power, and small screens.
If I was forced to use this I would go straight back to 'classical' view. Apple has done it right: one operating system for tablets (iPads) and one for computers, even if Lion is a bit dumbed down, you can choose (launchpad or stacks or desktop).
Microsoft take some of Apple's advice, sure add elements from mobile to desktop (widget tiles, maybe), but don't combine a tablet and a desktop OS.
I not even going to try to use a mouse with that new UI; when I need to use windows, it will not be Windows 8's new UI, it'll be the old: Win 7 UI beneath it all; so what's the point in upgrading, if I wont use the new features; I don't have / plan on buying a touchscreen Window's tablet or a touch screen desktop - I like my trackpad, and my mouse.
Windows 8 looks like Windows 7 with a secondary touch GUI, just like you use the Windows Media Center on existing Windows versions for remote control.
If that is all, I'm pretty sure it will be a fail on notebooks and desktops, because nearly everybody would prefer to work with keyboard and mouse.
And in case this is just a secondary GUI, I'm looking forward how this will perform on tablet devices when the core of the OS is basically a full fledged Windows operation system.
If that is all, I'm pretty sure it will be a fail on notebooks and desktops, because nearly everybody would prefer to work with keyboard and mouse.
And in case this is just a secondary GUI, I'm looking forward how this will perform on tablet devices when the core of the OS is basically a full fledged Windows operation system.
I was wanting Windows 8 to be built completely from scratch and drop the 20+ years of legacy support. Sometimes a fresh start is good. Apple figured that out during the Intel transition. Also hopefully it won't cost $199, something like $99 would be better.