4 ms·

The New Windows 8 UI: Trying to be Too Many Things to Too Many Devices?

16 points by FredericLL 15y ago

Qz 15y ago
On a tablet, having to deal with these legacy tools like the Explorer, simply ruins the experience. Sure they showed the regular Explorer interface, but there was also clearly a new UI for file browsing as well, so I don't think people will 'have to deal with legacy tools' at all. On a side note: whenever I see 'Tweet@rama' my brain short circuits trying to say 'tweet-o-rama' and 'tweet-at-rama' simultaneously.
- mahrain 15y ago
  I'm pretty sure I'll have to hook up a mouse to a Windows 8 tablet in order to configure the IP address. On a desktop however, the tiles and fonts are going to be incredible and allow many visually impaired users to use a computer without wearing glasses!
- dorian-graph 15y ago
  People seem to have a lot to say about Win8 that isn't too thought out . .
- lurkinggrue 15y ago
  And by legacy tools that would be 100% of current software. Running legacy photoshop... Sigh
sosuke 15y ago
I think the interface will work great for the tablet form factor, why is being able to run non-touch specific applications seen as a problem? When did extra features become a minus? Besides I think this will work great on all the touch screen desktops and laptops that I believe are coming. I get to go into business mode when I need to program or I can stay in the light touch interface when I am just consuming content.
- Derbasti 15y ago
  The question is: Will it run great on the desktop? For many professions, a computer is first and foremost a desktop machine. How will this UI deal with mouse hovering, right clicks? If the touch UI would worsen the desktop experience that would be a bad thing indeed. We will see whether it turns out to be a Media-Center type overlay that no one ever uses or something really useful that will slowly take over the desktop.
  - Zaim2 15y ago
    From the AllthingsD interview (http://allthingsd.com/20110601/up-next-at-d9-microsoft-windows-president-steven-sinofsky-live-at-d9/ http://allthingsd.com/20110601/up-next-at-d9-microsoft-windo...): 4:57 pm: Could an OEM make a tablet in which the user would never see “traditional” Windows? Larsen-Green: You can’t turn the desktop off. You can choose never to go there…but it’s always there. 4:59 pm: Likewise, by the way, you can’t really turn off the new Windows. It is the start screen. Another quote from the Thisismynextliveblog(http://live.thisismynext.com/Event/Microsofts_Steven_Sinofsky_live_from_D9 http://live.thisismynext.com/Event/Microsofts_Steven_Sinofsk...): Walt: So, if I'm a developer. Am I confronted by a philosophical difference between an app that uses a mouse, or one that is for touch or for a tablet. You call this touch first, but in terms of the apps, if you're saying hey this is Windows. Then I have to figure out — it really affects the way I design my app Julie: You design for touch, and then we translate the touch commands to mouse and keyboard. Walt: And that won't seem clunky? Julie: No. Julie: You go through with the arrow keys, the mouse, using the Windows key... Walt: You're keeping the Windows key? Julie: Yes, that's how you get to Start. So the Win8 start menu is the reverse of the current Windows 7 touch UI situation. It's a Touch UI added on to it, as opposed to the reverse. Most people barely even touch the "All programs button" in the current Start menu as they can just Start-search or use a Pin/Desktop shortcut, so as long as this new Start menu has the Search/Run functionality baked you're missing NOTHING, and can just stay in desktop mode whilst barely touching start.
    - lurkinggrue 15y ago
      Oh this is gonna hurt.

16 points by FredericLL 15y ago

Qz 15y ago

On a tablet, having to deal with these legacy tools like the Explorer, simply ruins the experience. Sure they showed the regular Explorer interface, but there was also clearly a new UI for file browsing as well, so I don't think people will 'have to deal with legacy tools' at all. On a side note: whenever I see 'Tweet@rama' my brain short circuits trying to say 'tweet-o-rama' and 'tweet-at-rama' simultaneously.

mahrain 15y ago
I'm pretty sure I'll have to hook up a mouse to a Windows 8 tablet in order to configure the IP address. On a desktop however, the tiles and fonts are going to be incredible and allow many visually impaired users to use a computer without wearing glasses!
dorian-graph 15y ago
People seem to have a lot to say about Win8 that isn't too thought out . .
lurkinggrue 15y ago
And by legacy tools that would be 100% of current software. Running legacy photoshop... Sigh

sosuke 15y ago

I think the interface will work great for the tablet form factor, why is being able to run non-touch specific applications seen as a problem? When did extra features become a minus? Besides I think this will work great on all the touch screen desktops and laptops that I believe are coming. I get to go into business mode when I need to program or I can stay in the light touch interface when I am just consuming content.

Derbasti 15y ago
The question is: Will it run great on the desktop? For many professions, a computer is first and foremost a desktop machine. How will this UI deal with mouse hovering, right clicks? If the touch UI would worsen the desktop experience that would be a bad thing indeed. We will see whether it turns out to be a Media-Center type overlay that no one ever uses or something really useful that will slowly take over the desktop.
- Zaim2 15y ago
  From the AllthingsD interview (http://allthingsd.com/20110601/up-next-at-d9-microsoft-windows-president-steven-sinofsky-live-at-d9/ http://allthingsd.com/20110601/up-next-at-d9-microsoft-windo...): 4:57 pm: Could an OEM make a tablet in which the user would never see “traditional” Windows? Larsen-Green: You can’t turn the desktop off. You can choose never to go there…but it’s always there. 4:59 pm: Likewise, by the way, you can’t really turn off the new Windows. It is the start screen. Another quote from the Thisismynextliveblog(http://live.thisismynext.com/Event/Microsofts_Steven_Sinofsky_live_from_D9 http://live.thisismynext.com/Event/Microsofts_Steven_Sinofsk...): Walt: So, if I'm a developer. Am I confronted by a philosophical difference between an app that uses a mouse, or one that is for touch or for a tablet. You call this touch first, but in terms of the apps, if you're saying hey this is Windows. Then I have to figure out — it really affects the way I design my app Julie: You design for touch, and then we translate the touch commands to mouse and keyboard. Walt: And that won't seem clunky? Julie: No. Julie: You go through with the arrow keys, the mouse, using the Windows key... Walt: You're keeping the Windows key? Julie: Yes, that's how you get to Start. So the Win8 start menu is the reverse of the current Windows 7 touch UI situation. It's a Touch UI added on to it, as opposed to the reverse. Most people barely even touch the "All programs button" in the current Start menu as they can just Start-search or use a Pin/Desktop shortcut, so as long as this new Start menu has the Search/Run functionality baked you're missing NOTHING, and can just stay in desktop mode whilst barely touching start.
  - lurkinggrue 15y ago
    Oh this is gonna hurt.