Windows 8 Adoption Poor

[Hawk Tuah]

Huh ?!?

I have windows 8 on my PC. I have the windows key disabled on my gaming keyboard. Very rarely see metro now. I don't even need a start button replacement.

Once I have the desktop set up, that's it, and im happy.

I game on it and I also have it set up for .Net development with IIS and various servers. It also streams my media to all my other DLNA devices, thru-out the house.

I never really liked metro, and still don't. But I don't let that get in the way of using the desktop.

Looking forward to all the free blue updates.

You're not exactly a standard computer user though. The majority of people commenting in this forum aren't. You have the knowledge and confidence to make changes from the default roll out to make the environment better suit your preference. The fact you've mostly disabled Metro is exactly my point.

For you're average person, the departure from a familiar environment is a poor decision by Microsoft. One that will cost them a lot of money.

 

[Macro]

For you're average person, the departure from a familiar environment is a poor decision by Microsoft. One that will cost them a lot of money.

Windows can't stay with a UI designed in the 90s forever though, it has to move on at some point (whether Metro is the best option is another matter, however things have to change eventually). Without a move to a more touch friendly UI Microsoft would be left standing on a "burning platform" as traditional PC sales fall away being replaced in large part, in particular with consumers, by tablets.

This forum has a somewhat unique take on PCs because of it's membership, i'm pretty confident that the vast majority of consumers over the next few years will be looking at tower and desktop PCs as either antiquated or, more likely a hobby thing. It wouldn't suprise me to see traditional desktop PCs for gaming etc go back to being the small hobby/entusiasts market it was in the 90s.

 

[marc2003]

Without a move to a more touch friendly UI Microsoft would be left standing on a "burning platform" as traditional PC sales fall away being replaced in large part, in particular with consumers, by tablets.

don't have a problem with that. but it should only default to metro when it detects you have touch capable hardware. give the desktop/old start menu to devices without it. win/win.

 

[Glaucus]

Not win win in the slightest.
How do you then make an is that runs on every platform?
How does MS save its self from a massive downturn in its main market of desktops/laptops.

So short sighted with out thinking at all. The iPad is selling 14million units a quarter on its own and growing. Tablets and smart phones outweigh desktops by about 2:1. MS know full we'll what they are doing. They were late but at least they cottoned on. Unlike a lot of you who can't think past the now. It's also a good time to change, with w7 being so good and most corporations only just upgraded. They now have several years to refine the platform, before most corporations starts he cycle again. Those with mobile workers are switching to win8 and tablets, as seen by several massive contracts.

 

[marc2003]

what has anything you said got to do with my point?

 

[Glaucus]

what has anything you said got to do with my point?

Everything. Seeing as you don't want metro as the default and want the old start back.

 

[Skeeter]

Guy at work installed Server 2012 the other day...

"What the hell is this!?!!?"



The W8 UI makes perfect sense on a touchscreen device. On a multi monitor desktop or a server it is a major handicap over the W7 UI. In my mind it should have been a parallel release with W7 designed for tablets, rather than a full new release. Call it Windows 7 Touch, or something.

 

[jas72]

Guy at work installed Server 2012 the other day...

"What the hell is this!?!!?"



The W8 UI makes perfect sense on a touchscreen device. On a multi monitor desktop or a server it is a major handicap over the W7 UI. In my mind it should have been a parallel release with W7 designed for tablets, rather than a full new release. Call it Windows 7 Touch, or something.

Yes I agree with this.

I bought it but to be honest can't even see me installing it ever.

I bought it for my netbook but then found out that i can't even install it since the metro UI doesn't work on a low res screen.

My wife would throw a hissy if I installed in on our desktop as she says what's the improvements over Win 7 and to be honest I couldn't answer her.

I spend less time on the PC now and use my ipad for most things (apart from the odd game) I suppose I should try to sell my key before it becomes worthless.

I can totally understand these figures but what is shows more is the depressed desktop/laptop sales since I'm sure win 8 is on all new laptops/desktops.

 

[Devrij]

I will never get people who throw up the UI as an objection. I use it EXACTLY the same way as I used the start menu. Literally no differently. Windows key, then type what I want to open, or click the icon I wanted. Then it goes away. Or I just hit the windows key twice. It is actually handy because I can see more of my regularly used apps pinned to it in a nice organised fashion. How it could possibly detract from the normal W7 experience is beyond me.

The only reason you could have for not upgrading would be a price objection (which didn't exist when the £25 deal was on) and not being able to justify the expense for the extra features and performance. I understand businesses not adopting it: they don't need to yet. Eventually they will, and then they'll upgrade, perhaps to whatever OS exists then. A lot of businesses are still using XP ffs.

The difference between Vista and 7 was big. Performance, features: all appealed to the consumer. W8 has a feature that is too different to be appealing just yet, and the performance is only a bit better.

Combine all that with the fact that people are opting for different form factors more often and you have a slower growth for the OS. It's not a failure, it's just a natural progression. W8 is good, but it isn't necessary. And people are afraid of change.

 

[bemaniac]

ive been using it fine but my metro just has a desktop link and nothing else lol I even deleted the shops.

 

[XeNoN89]

There's nothing wrong with the OS except for Metro. Install StartisBack and problem solved, a quick well performing OS with the good old W7 start menu. I really think if they just had the option in as standard it would be selling a lot better.

 

[bledd]

The thing is, Joe Bloggs doesn't upgrade to the newest Windows, he'll stick to the laptop/PC that he has until it no longer boots and then buys a new PC with Windows 8 on it.

Besides a handful of IT related people, I don't know of anyone in real life that will ever have installed a new version of Windows on their machine.

I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[Elevon]

Remember nobody is forcing anybody here to use an OS like Win8 and you have plenty of choices out there(I still know people that still use XP ,does that make Vista/Win7/Win8 bad etc ....hell no).

Microsoft have the right to change UI to Metro or anything else they want,no OS is perfect and I'm sure Metro will get improved,end of the day sales don't tell the whole picture and nobody here can argue Win8 was great value for money when it was first released.


I do hope Microsoft stay away from Win95 to Win7 UI for good and try to go with something new,its easy to get comfy with old UI that hardly changes,however what we need is something new that reflects 2013 not 1995,Win8 is a step towards that direction.

Metro is not that bad for the record and yes you can avoid it for the most part so a lot of the crap about it is unwarranted.


I've seen a lot of changes over the decades from DOS 6.22 to Win8 so know you always get some people moaning regardless ,that will never stop unfortunately,end of the day no OS is perfect not Win7 or Win8 or any Linux distro you can name,you can avoid an OS but you can't avoid changes.

For most large companies Windows 7 makes sense. It works well, has had time to bed down and be fine tuned, the management and build process is well defined and there's plenty of W7 skills around. W8 makes more sense for scenarios where users need touch enabled companion / tablet devices in an enterprise although it works just fine on a desktop/laptop as well. W8 and W7 will co-exist happily although of course you then have a second build to patch and manage.

Companies are slowest to adapt period ,still plenty out there that use XP,Vista and even Linux etc so Win7 does not have that much of an impact in the whole business market,unfortunately business companies are like with regards to change and speed it takes them.

 

[Minstadave]

Metro is not that bad for the record and yes you can avoid it for the most part so a lot of the crap about it is unwarranted.

For whose record? Metro is that bad to a lot of people, hence the array of software to bring back a start button and bury metro, it reminds me of those people who out every single file and folder on the desktop until every bit of space is full and spend ages searching for stuff. It feels more dated than the start menu, so I don't get the "we must have something new, lets all swallow microsoft's baby gravy" attitude. The Win95 to Win7 style UI worked, it had evolved over years to be clean and efficient - the Windows 8 UI is a mess of hotspots and fragmented ideas.

I don't think desktop users should be compromised by the drive for a more touch friendly UI, considering the tiny amount of touch enabled windows devices compared to desktop PCs.

 

[Elevon]

For whose record? Metro is gash, it reminds me of those people who out every single file and folder on there desktop until every bit of space is full. It feels more dated than the start menu, so I don't get the "we must have something new, lets all swallow microsoft's baby gravy" attitude.

Obviously my record, don't you think somebody like me for the record that has used DOS 6.22 text commands to Win3.1 basic crappy UI to XP,Vista,7 and Linux etc would fine Metro simple to use and not hard ,come on its not rocket science I be first to say its not perfect and could do with more user customization options.

I'm not a Metro fan as such(neutral on it) but don't see the big deal,ie not hard to use or avoid so best of both worlds.

Maybe I'm just damn good at able to adapt or get use to changes in an OS like some people can't .

Btw I'm desktop user and gamer.


I do hope I get my wish in Windows Blue ie more Metro customization options plus Metro tweaked and improved.

The Win95 to Win7 style UI worked, it had evolved over years to be clean and efficient - the Windows 8 UI is a mess of hotspots and fragmented ideas.

That's the problem its been same UI for nearly twenty years time to move forward with a change,you can't get hang up on the past,if I was like you I would still be wishing they bring DOS back(my favourite Microsoft OS).
Win8 is a step in a new direction which was long overdue IMHO,I' sure Win9,10 etc will continue to improve and envolve new UI and stay away from 95 to Win7 UI.

 

[gareth170]

For you're average person, the departure from a familiar environment is a poor decision by Microsoft. One that will cost them a lot of money.

as I said in the other thread, I let my mum use my laptop which as win8 on it, she's in her late 50's and she's no techy and has no idea how to use computers but once she turned on the laptop and spent 10-15min messing about with it, she was starting navigating it easily without any help.

on win7 she'd always ask me how to open XYZ or where this, what's that..

The Win95 to Win7 style UI worked, it had evolved over years to be clean and efficient - the Windows 8 UI is a mess of hotspots and fragmented ideas.

but the UI can't stay the same forever. nothing stay the same forever. the start menu was way outdated. it had to change at some point. I wished this happened 5-6 years ago or did small UI changes in each os release so people would accept UI change better.

the problem is you've got the words "designed for tablets" stuck in your mind. just because the new start screen / metro is in a title format doesn't mean it's bad for desktops.

 

[Skeeter]

I think those jumping to defend W8 are missing the point. People who don't like it arent saying its totally terrible. W8 has its place, its on touch screens, or consumer laptops and PCs, and with people who don't really know or care about computers. For these uses its brilliant.

But its not suitable as a complete sweep across all devices running Windows. I especially don't see the point on Server machines. For people with large, multiple screens who have multiple applications open at the same time it just doesn't make sense. Yes you can use desktop, and yes you can just use Metro like a Start menu and open it, type, close. But if thats all your going to do with it, why bother upgrading from 7?

If you want/need the features W8 and its UI give you, get it. If I got a netbook or a touchscreen tablet PC I certainly would. But if you dont want or need it then you should be able to stick with W7 and not be belittled by the W8 fanboy brigade for doing so.

But its all irrelevent, the adoption figures show that W8 is struggling. Personally I can't see this being the end for W8, it just means MS will invest more in promoting it. They could start with making it cheaper for one thing!

 

[gareth170]

But if you dont want or need it then you should be able to stick with W7 and not be belittled by the W8 fanboy brigade for doing so.

but it's the other way round also tbh. people here including me have said if you don't like win8 new UI then stick with win7. but they still come back to badger the people who says good things about the OS

 

[Elevon]

I think those jumping to defend W8 are missing the point. People who don't like it arent saying its totally terrible. W8 has its place, its on touch screens, or consumer laptops and PCs, and with people who don't really know or care about computers. For these uses its brilliant.

But its not suitable as a complete sweep across all devices running Windows. I especially don't see the point on Server machines. For people with large, multiple screens who have multiple applications open at the same time it just doesn't make sense. Yes you can use desktop, and yes you can just use Metro like a Start menu and open it, type, close. But if thats all your going to do with it, why bother upgrading from 7?

If you want/need the features W8 and its UI give you, get it. If I got a netbook or a touchscreen tablet PC I certainly would. But if you dont want or need it then you should be able to stick with W7 and not be belittled by the W8 fanboy brigade for doing so.

But its all irrelevent, the adoption figures show that W8 is struggling. Personally I can't see this being the end for W8, it just means MS will invest more in promoting it. They could start with making it cheaper for one thing!

So going by your statement then why bother going to Win7 from XP or Vista?...Win7 only offers two things over Vista IMHO ie slight speed increase and less nagging UAC wise,at least Win8 offers a lot more and at a lower price,fact is Win8 is a hybrid OS designed for everything and you have to look at it this way not just a desktop OS from the 90s,we are in 2013 and you have new modern hardware devices like touch phones,tablets etc... Win8 can cater for these where Win7 could not but also still giving you a good desktop experience with IMPROVED SECURITY and NEW features that Win7 does not have, so again I think you are wrong.

You can argue about Win8 UI all day, fact is it may not be perfect but was long overdue to cater for modern hardware,Win7 is also not perfect and in some ways a lot less perfect then Win8,changes were needed and long overdue.

As for " fanboy" I take offence to that,I've used DOS 6.22(my favourite Microsoft OS,lean and simple once you knew the text commands),WIN3.1,Win95,98,98SE,ME(only briefly did not like it),2K,XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Linux Distro's ie Mint, and at the moment Ubuntu and Android tablet and smartphone ,so is that your defence fanboy?..get real.

For the record I don't use touchscreen on Win8 ,just good old mouse and keyboard as a desktop user on both my Win8 PC and laptop,just like I do on my Linux PC.


Finally I will say Win8 is the start of Microsoft going in a new modern direction IMHO,hopefully Win9 and 10 will improve and build on this,I also hope we don't go back to the generic Win95 style UI,leave that in past.

 

[ricky1981]

The very strong focus on touchscreens was a mistake in my mind. I know that MS want to compete more in the tablet market but designing the UI for desktop PCs around touch is quite a strange decision. I've got Windows 8 running on my laptop (it needed a reformat so I thought I'd try it out) and I like the speed improvements even if they're not huge but I feel like I spend more time fighting the interface than I do enjoying it. Perhaps if all I did was play music, look at photos and browse the net it would be okay but trying to actually work on it is a pain and if I were running an IT department I wouldn't want to touch it because the time/money lost in confusion and training staff would be immense. I know you can revert to a Windows 7 look via third party software but no sane IT manager is going to want to do that when Windows 7 works just fine.