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Microsoft applications released as store apps were an attempt at minimalism in features. Their music, skype, mail, even the control panel replacement "settings.

Microsoft applications released as store apps were an attempt at minimalism in features. Their music, skype, mail, even the control panel replacement "settings." Windows 10 has been cutting features left and right. To Microsoft, minimalism means: Rebuild a popular piece of software from scratch Release the NEW improved shiny app that follows a new design fad. Gloss over the fact that it's unreliable, slower, more crash prone & lacks over 50% of the old apps features by promising fix the 'issues' and missing features with future updates. Retire the old but fully featured (still working) app while the new stuff still lacks basic functionality. Retire this NEW stuff when it's still lacking promised features. And replace it something that lacks even more features. Windows 10's attempts at minimalism means that a feature you rely on today might be gone forever with the next update or hidden - requiring a treasure hunt. There's just one app that MS didn't screw up by going minimal -- OneNote. I still can't figure out the Win32 version. The store version just clicks for me. They once included an excellent RADIAL Menu for OneNote but removed it inexplicably. (Radial Menu of OneNOte https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Job4Rg-sbDo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Job4Rg-sbDo) * Developers pursing minimalism tend to release software that: Require too many steps to accomplish simple tasks because controls are HIDDEN away behind hamburger menus and/or frustrating gestures. Example - windows 8's charm bar that required moving the mouse off screen to the top right corner to reveal the settings menu. Have too much white space - and have tiny text (self explanatory) Replace intuitive, native, user friendly controls with a Minimal but frustrating version - example removing the Underline of hyperlinks in webpages, even changing the mouse icon on hover. Sometimes, links and normal texts are indistinguishable. Another example super tiny (or hidden) scroll bars Going mobile only - even when the site / service doesn't use any mobile only features. Mobile first - Mobile first and minimalism are often mentioned together and is an excuse to release featureless but bloated websites or apps.

finnthehuman 7y ago
Windows 10's networking settings is the perfect example of this. You open the Windows 10 network settings, find the button to get to the Windows 7 version, then click the button to get the XP version that actually gives you a list of all the network interfaces with the controls you want.
TheOtherHobbes 7y ago
MacOS has been going in a similar direction. But Microsoft really has user-hostile faux-minimalism down to an artform, consistently removing and hiding features for minimum user benefit and maximum irritation. Small case in point - the search bar in Excel 365. Until recently it was a text box next to a magnifying glass, and you could type into it. Now it's just a magnifying glass. You have to click on it to reveal the text box. Only then can you type your search term. This change produces absolutely no user benefit. There is no rational reason to add an extra click. Long-term users now have to go through "Wait, what...?", where previously muscle memory would just work. Another example: the AutoSave switch in Office 365. Users quite understandably assume that "AutoSave" means the file is saved automatically. In fact this is a OneDrive-only form of AutoSave. AutoRecover - a different and much older local drive auto-save feature - is unrelated, and has a separate setting in Preferences. Providing a minimal switch in the UI which doesn't mention the distinction is guaranteed to confuse anyone who doesn't already understand the difference - especially when clicking the switch tells you AutoSave isn't available because of your privacy settings, and doesn't mention OneDrive at all.

finnthehuman 7y ago

Windows 10's networking settings is the perfect example of this. You open the Windows 10 network settings, find the button to get to the Windows 7 version, then click the button to get the XP version that actually gives you a list of all the network interfaces with the controls you want.

TheOtherHobbes 7y ago

MacOS has been going in a similar direction. But Microsoft really has user-hostile faux-minimalism down to an artform, consistently removing and hiding features for minimum user benefit and maximum irritation. Small case in point - the search bar in Excel 365. Until recently it was a text box next to a magnifying glass, and you could type into it. Now it's just a magnifying glass. You have to click on it to reveal the text box. Only then can you type your search term. This change produces absolutely no user benefit. There is no rational reason to add an extra click. Long-term users now have to go through "Wait, what...?", where previously muscle memory would just work. Another example: the AutoSave switch in Office 365. Users quite understandably assume that "AutoSave" means the file is saved automatically. In fact this is a OneDrive-only form of AutoSave. AutoRecover - a different and much older local drive auto-save feature - is unrelated, and has a separate setting in Preferences. Providing a minimal switch in the UI which doesn't mention the distinction is guaranteed to confuse anyone who doesn't already understand the difference - especially when clicking the switch tells you AutoSave isn't available because of your privacy settings, and doesn't mention OneDrive at all.