Is Microsoft about to make the biggest mistake ever with windows8?

[FoxEye]

They really don't need to be touchscreen. It works equally with keyboard and mouse. Especially when used as a start screen. I just can't agree with your assumptions. There's a full workin desktop with all the functionality, so was win7 bad design?

It works so well, in fact, that legions of sites like this have popped up:

http://macgateway.com/windows/unlock-windows-8/

explaining to users who are stuck on the welcome screen how to get past it.

That's pure brilliance, right there.

 

[james.miller]

It works so well, in fact, that legions of sites like this have popped up:

http://macgateway.com/windows/unlock-windows-8/

explaining to users who are stuck on the welcome screen how to get past it.

That's pure brilliance, right there.

hmm in defense of the lock screen (and only the lock screen, i have no arguments on how unintuitive windows 8 is). Dragging the screen isn't the only way to unlock it. If people cant figure out that the escape button does the same thing (which that helpful site neglects to mention), then god help them with anything more complicated.

 

[theheyes]

It works so well, in fact, that legions of sites like this have popped up:

http://macgateway.com/windows/unlock-windows-8/

explaining to users who are stuck on the welcome screen how to get past it.

That's pure brilliance, right there.

I'm sorry but that just has the distinct whiff of FUD about it. I'm guessing the person who wrote that "guide" has never used Windows 8 or is being extremely disingenuous. Pressing any alphanumeric key (plus others including Esc, Spacebar etc.) on the keyboard gets you past the lock screen, and on domain joined computers you get the CTRL+ALT+DEL hint.

If anything is going to kill Windows 8, it's things like this (the article) that people accept at face value.

 

[413x]

I really dont understand why they wouldnt just make it so you can disable the metro? Surely it would add to sales?

 

[theheyes]

I really dont understand why they wouldnt just make it so you can disable the metro? Surely it would add to sales?

The option of disabling Metro (whatever that entails, it's not clear cut) is tantamount to giving people an officially sanctioned way of breaking most of the new stuff they went to the effort of putting in.

 

[Emphacy]

No, I can't agree and say it works well, it was designed for tablets and I don't like the idea of moving my mouse to the corners of the screen to open things, it feels like a tablet, not a desktop because it was made for tablets.

If someone releases an application that allows you to change the experience I'll happily switch over, I like most of the UI.

 

[Glaucus]

Lol, you realse you had to move the mouse to the top corner to open things anyway.

Start button, close button, file menu are all in the corners.

The reason for no option, is they need developers to devlope for metro. Metro is clearly the future. Win8 has actually be well received by developers and other parts of the industry.
It makes no sense to give an option. Don't like it stay with win7, but you'll quickly find how leacy that will become and companies will be rushing to change to win9. Tablets are taking of in Coporations and if possible it doesn't make sense using multiple platforms.

 

[Memphis]

This thread... again...

Sooner they release it the better and everyone either is using it or has gotten over it.

 

[malachi]

i work for a council in IT as well, we have a full XP network lol - no plans to upgrade

don't even ask!

Same here, they renewed our XP licence till 2016

 

[Glaucus]

Same here, they renewed our XP licence till 2016

Not surprising, councils are havng to cut back massively. iT and HR are commonsee partners to get the cuts first. Changing OS cost shed loads, all the licensing, roll out, disruption and training.

 

[blowa fuse]

Is it that intuitive to double click home button, then hold down for a few seconds, until things wobble and an x-appear, so you can close it. Or hold down on an icon u till it wobbles to move it.

.

a x-appear ? can u use a pad to navigate windows 8 , i really dont know, from what i seen it looks like xbox menus?

 

[djkav]

I was skeptical at first.

I just installed it on my main development/gaming rig. Its slowly growing on me. Be better when I get proper drivers for certain hardware.

Once I go on the desktop and get things configured. Its not much different to my Win 7 set up.

It does seem a little snappier than Win 7.

 

[Edward78]

They designed Windows 8 for tablets and that's exactly what it's going to be used for.
That's all I have to say, I'll be sticking with Windows 7 for a long time, there's no need to upgrade.

Same here, Metro for the desktop, bad mix.

 

[djkav]

I might even pre-order one of these little baby's for $70. Its windows 8 compatible too.

 

[Infidelus]

Making people click, hold and drag the wecome screen upwards to show the logon box? Ridiculous.

Really? All I do is click the mouse button and the login box is right there. Didn't think it was that overly complicated ...

 

[Glaucus]

I might even pre-order one of these little baby's for $70. Its windows 8 compatible too.

 

[djkav]

so constrained though. You need somewhere to put it. I'm more interest in kinect type devices. So you can control anywhere in the room, especially for hTPc in lounge/bedroom. I'll probably still get one though, if it's that price. It could work well for desktop.

Constrained? Its smaller than an ipod, and just sits in front of the monitor. Compare that with the huge kinect

"Just about the size of a flash drive, the Leap can distinguish your individual fingers and track your movements down to a 1/100th of a millimeter."

I'd like to see kinect get down to that level

 

[Glaucus]

Constrained? Its smaller than an ipod, and just sits in front of the monitor. Compare that with the huge kinect

"Just about the size of a flash drive, the Leap can distinguish your individual fingers and track your movements down to a 1/100th of a millimeter."

I'd like to see kinect get down to that level

But only works on a desk, you couldn't really use one sat in the lounge, which is why I said I prefer the look of kinect or kinect like systems. Which aren't constrained to a single small area.

Depends what you do, but why do most people need that level of detail? I would rather losse resolution, for distance and convenience. Do you normall draw on a pc?

 

[djkav]

But only works on a desk, you couldn't really use one sat in the lounge, which is why I said I prefer the look of kinect or kinect like systems. Which aren't constrained to a single small area.

Depends what you do, but why do most people need that level of detail? I would rather losse resolution, for distance and convenience. Do you normall draw on a pc?

I only ever use my PC at my desk. My monitor is wall mounted and the keyboard is about 1ft away. I don't think kinect would be that good so close up. I do some drawing, I have a Wacom tablet. I just think its a nice and interesting device.

 

[Glaucus]

It's certainly interesting. I just think such controls are better for systems that you aren't sat in front off. HTPcs being a perfect example. If it remains so cheap then il get one, love gadgets but I do question it's usability. But then I maybe totall surprised.

Although I have just though of something. Second monitor with metro on and this device. Controll music and stuff like that, whilst playing game or whatever on main monitor. Much cheaper and easier than a touch monitor.
As long as you can set it up to work like that.