Windows 8: Is It A Disaster?

[fabian9]

How often are you guys "stuck" in Metro?

lol the first time I used it, it took me a good 3-4 minutes to work out how to turn off my computer running Windows 8. Are they still hiding the "shut down" button somewhere silly like in the control panel?!

 

[Eidorian]

lol the first time I used it, it took me a good 3-4 minutes to work out how to turn off my computer running Windows 8. Are they still hiding the "shut down" button somewhere silly like in the control panel?!

Oh that sounds like my first few minutes in Metro too. Then you learn the Windows key is everything and what charms appear from the sides now.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I think Microsoft removing the start menu is a mistake, there's no logical reason for that other than they're trying to force the hand. In terms of metros apps they're safer than regular desktop apps because they have file/networking restrictions and hence won't be good for some apps(like torrent programs or similar) so one can't expect everything to be ported over.

WinRT is the new Windows. You'll have your torrent apps and the like for Metro.

be that as it may, this time, he's right.

Even a broken clock is right twice per day.

...

Plus, once you know how to use one of those environments they are MORE POWERFUL than Windows. Metro? its crippled. Try to stack 2 metro apps side by side like you can with 7 to copy/paste between them.

Try to do something in an application whilst browsing a howto in (Metro) IE. It doesn't work.

You mean like this?

 

[Tombs]

I think its ****.

 

[Grannyville7989]

I think its ****.

Then do not use it.

 

[colour]

I have used it for a week, It has some cool ideas though I have found it to be a bit buggy and some of the interface ideas are flawed. I personally miss the start menu, it lays everything out very clearly and hence I feel that windows has taken a step backwards.

Yes the tiles are great but usability of this still needs to be tweaked as navigation and options are really limiting to the point where it's useless to me. Another flaw is one which is so basic, to shut down or to get to the control panel I would say that it takes longer or more clicks. Why would they do that, making common navigation harder than its predecessors, it is the pre release and their are some great ideas but so far it's a bit of a fail.

 

[throAU]

WinRT is the new Windows. You'll have your torrent apps and the like for Metro.



You mean like this?

Yes, i mean like that. 2 inches of screen real estate is insufficient. I have a 24 inch monitor and say I want to give 2 apps equal space, how do you do that in Metro?

 

[Renzatic]

Yes the tiles are great but usability of this still needs to be tweaked as navigation and options are really limiting to the point where it's useless to me.

I disagree, and here's why...

This is my current start menu layout. Fairly clean, easy to navigate, and I'm able to categorize things a helluva lot better.

Now here's a pic the oldschool Start menu I found on the internet. Still useful, sure. I have access to my favorite pinned programs, and it gives me access to pictures, control panel, my computer, ect. ect. ect.

Not much different in actual use...

BUT...

I can cram 10x the amount of stuff on the Start menu, and it never feels quite as crowded as the old menu. Plus you get the added (admittedly fluff) functionality of the live tiles, and...hey...more stuff that's kinda neat. Overall, I think it's a improvement.

Another flaw is one which is so basic, to shut down or to get to the control panel I would say that it takes longer or more clicks. Why would they do that, making common navigation harder than its predecessors, it is the pre release and their are some great ideas but so far it's a bit of a fail.

Yeah, I agree with you here. I'm used to where it's at now, and can hit the power button in 2.534 seconds. But just like everyone else, it took me two years short of forever finding it that first time.

I mean seriously, would it be so damn hard to put the power button to the right of your name on the new Start menu? I'm not an OS developer, but I couldn't imagine it being too too difficult. At least no harder than stuffing it in the charms bar under the settings gear, anyway.

It's derp as hell.

 

[Tombs]

Then do not use it.

Thanks for that, why didnt I think of that 🙄....its still looks and feels **** though.

 

[KevinN206]

I mentioned earlier in a previous, but IMO, the new metro Start Screen is BETTER for most businesses. I work as an engineer, and the programs that we use are below. Most of our ERP and BOM systems are web-based, so with Windows 8, each of these internal links can have a tile that's easily readable.

Microsoft Office 2010
Outlook 2010
Circuit simulators
Internet Explorer
Some internal software for inventory, ordering, pulling test data
Minitab for statistic

All of these can be pinned and organized easily on the new start screen as opposed to the "All programs" within the old start menu. In fact, I would say people can easily navigate the start screen ONCE they know the bottom-left corner. Businesses DON'T have to use the metro apps. In fact, you can run Windows 8 without ever touching a metro app if you don't want. But the benefits over Windows 7 are awesome especially in network performance, cpu utilization, multi-monitor, battery time, start-up time, etc... all of the small things add up.

 

[Tmelon]

I mentioned earlier in a previous, but IMO, the new metro Start Screen is BETTER for most businesses. I work as an engineer, and the programs that we use are below. Most of our ERP and BOM systems are web-based, so with Windows 8, each of these internal links can have a tile that's easily readable.

Microsoft Office 2010
Outlook 2010
Circuit simulators
Internet Explorer
Some internal software for inventory, ordering, pulling test data
Minitab for statistic

All of these can be pinned and organized easily on the new start screen as opposed to the "All programs" within the old start menu. In fact, I would say people can easily navigate the start screen ONCE they know the bottom-left corner. Businesses DON'T have to use the metro apps. In fact, you can run Windows 8 without ever touching a metro app if you don't want. But the benefits over Windows 7 are awesome especially in network performance, cpu utilization, multi-monitor, battery time, start-up time, etc... all of the small things add up.

I agree with the last part about the little changes, but I don't see how going to the metro menu is more efficient than just having the icons on the desktop or pinned to the taskbar.

 

[monkeybagel]

Windows 8 seems very stable, but unfortunately I feel they made a few too many design decisions to make it *too* tablet-focused.

While the iPad has been a good and successful product, it has really created a ruckus in the technology industry. All of these manufactures rushed substandard products with no support path to the market (BlackBerry Playbook, HP TouchPad, ThinkPad tablet (I still have no idea why the put the ThinkPad name on an android product😕)) to hastily compete with the iPad, and most have been complete failures. All of these android products are pretty much a waste of money IMO - they have no clear support lifecycle and will be an expensive paperweight in a short amount of time.

Anyway - I think Microsoft overshot trying to beat the iPad as well. If they would have left users a choice to maintain the Start menu, it would not be bad. But it just takes so long to get around to do basic things. I have been using it for a little while and am just not as efficient with it. I see the main advantage being if Microsoft gets some decent market share with Windows 8 (as it will with consumer PCs as they will not have Windows 7 available after launch I expect) they will get consumers familiar with the Metro interface and perhaps that will boost their Windows Phone sales and tablet sales. This could potentially pay off for Microsoft, but its not an easy transition IMO.

Other than that, is has proved to be a very stable product and the performance seems very good.

 

[throAU]

All of these can be pinned and organized easily on the new start screen as opposed to the "All programs" within the old start menu.

As opposed to just starting them once, and then pinning them to the task bar with right click?

Does metro have jump lists? Can i simply drag a page out of IE10 onto my task bar to create a web-app shortcut? No...

To do any serious work, you need to use the old style desktop. Which makes metro kinda pointless.

Sure, it looks shiny and will be fine for a tablet or a TV. 2 places I am in no way inclined to run windows...



I think microsoft has made a huge mistake here. They've taken the un-proven phone UI which hasn't been selling well at all, and made it mandatory on the desktop.

Good luck with that.

 

[NutsNGum]

Thanks for that, why didnt I think of that 🙄....its still looks and feels **** though.

If it looks and feels ****, it's probably because you've got 12 megabytes of RAM in your iMac.

 

[Mathazzar]

I've been spending a lot of time exploring Windows 8 on my Macbook Pro (dual boot) and have mixed thoughts on the matter, like most people here it seems.

Last week I wrote a "First Impressions" post about it on my blog, and while I hate to shamelessly link to it, it's fairly comprehensive so I'd rather do that than copy in a massive wall of text:

http://blog.mariusmasalar.me/2012/06/windows-8-first-impressions/

The jist of it is that I really love a lot of what Windows 8 is trying to do, I just think that the execution is flawed in some very problematic ways. On the other hand, this is just the Release Preview and Microsoft have very clearly stated that we'll continue to see changes and be surprised by the final version.

At the end of the day, flaws aside, I'm thrilled that Microsoft is finally being ambitious, finally reclaiming some of the boldness that makes this industry exciting in the first place. It's taking a huge risk, it might tank, but it's pushing things forward and it's using its clout to help usher us into the next generation of computing, which is the kind of spirit that someone like me can't help but support. After all, it reminds me a lot of the way a certain other brand we all love theoretically operates.

Is it inclusive? Respectful of those allergic to change? Does it bring things to the table that compel *everyone* to upgrade? Certainly not. No OS update does, but this one will even less than most. To some, that's a hideous travesty and I fully understand that. For the rest of us though, it's at the very least something worth watching — it's going to be a big splash.

So for whatever it's worth, I'm rooting for them. I really am. I hope it turns out to be everything they wish for and that it helps push the rest of the industry forward too. Fresh ideas keep the world going 'round.

 

[Tombs]

If it looks and feels ****, it's probably because you've got 12 megabytes of RAM in your iMac.

? Wtf are you on about?

 

[NutsNGum]

? Wtf are you on about?

Check your sig, dude!

 

[Tombs]

Check your sig, dude!

LOL, I see....oops, Thanks Jim.

 

[Gav Mack]

After running it on a spare pc and VM bootcamp on my MBP it's nowhere near a disaster - that title belongs to Vista! It's just different and I'm getting used to it quite quickly.

Think my kids will like it and I will earn well teaching my clients to use it - but I think on the pcs I use regularly myself (especially bootcamp) I'll stick with 7 for a while yet.

 

[mattburley7]

i find windows 8 to be a disaster now that they are getting rid of aero glass 🙁

 

[tkermit]

i find windows 8 to be a disaster now that they are getting rid of aero glass 🙁

Doesn't look too bad to me. It looks very clean at least, if not terribly exciting.

 

[ReanimationN]

i find windows 8 to be a disaster now that they are getting rid of aero glass 🙁

Me too. Stupid, stupid decision Microsoft. I love Aero Glass and the transparency in Windows 7's UI, the subtler Aero Glass in the Windows 8 Preview builds looked quite good too. What they've replaced it with, however, looks like the Windows XP beta. 🙁

 

[haravikk]

I wouldn't say it's a disaster, but in the pure desktop space (which a lot of businesses are) it's hard to see where it fits. While the start-screen is better than the start menu, the Metro style just doesn't really fit well into conventional desktop use as the transition is too jarring, making it much more of an annoyance than a benefit.

It may do well for tablets, or some of the prototype hybrid devices we've seen some signs of. But for a regular desktop there's just no real incentive to transition from Windows 7, unless the simpler reinstallation process is something you need, or you intend to buy into Metro apps for your business in a big way.

For businesses in particular all the best business features are already in Windows 7, there isn't really anything new otherwise.

 

[Nostromo]

It's definitely ugly. But that has always been a Windows feature.