If you look at the pictures from the link, the Windows 9 screenshot has a much better use of space. The two screenshots have almost exactly the same functional

If you look at the pictures from the link, the Windows 9 screenshot has a much better use of space. The two screenshots have almost exactly the same functionality, but much worse use of space. So while I agree with your comments, I still hate the one on the right because it makes my eyes jump around all over. The first, by contrast, has a much smoother eye flow over the controls. This is something most people don't understand when doing UI design, and is somewhat independent from the amount of stuff on the screen.