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Metro is quite impressive as a tablet UI. Frankly, I think it's the only legitimate alternative to iPad. But on a mouse-driven desktop it's at best uncompelli

Metro is quite impressive as a tablet UI. Frankly, I think it's the only legitimate alternative to iPad. But on a mouse-driven desktop it's at best uncompelling, and at worst baffling and frustrating. There's a risk Microsoft could pull another Vista, where an overwhelmingly negative public perception of Metro on the desktop overshadows some otherwise good features. The other risk is that if they insist on coupling ARM Metro releases with Desktop Windows releases it may prevent them from moving as fast as they'll need to effectively compete with iOS. Development speed has been a problem for Microsoft these last 10 years or so.

bp_ 15y ago
Here's the thing though: it surprisingly also works with mouse and keyboard! You do lose some display density, mind you, but the upshot in size allocated more than makes up for it.
- nextparadigms 15y ago
  Works and works well are 2 different things. Usually you need a different UI that is optimized for the different form factor/device type, otherwise you might end up with an UI that works very well only on a certain type of device, and one that is mediocre at best on another type of device, because they are used differently, and that UI is forcing you to use it in a different way than you should. Also it's not just the Metro UI itself and how it works with the mouse that you have to deal with. You also have to deal with switching between what most people will see as 2 separate OS's. I predict a lot of people will be frustrated with this.
  - bicknergseng 15y ago
    I don't know that your first point is necessarily the case, though. I would argue that Metro works well on both small screen touch interfaces and larger screen point and click interfaces. The Metro buttons or boxes or whatever are actually very click friendly, and I think keyboard/touchpad/camera/mouse gestures will make it extremely usable. I might go as far to say that the Metro interface seems to transcend interaction type. I do understand the 2 OS's concern. I do imagine that after a few years and maybe another iteration or two, people will move on from the need for the traditional windows desktop experience and appreciate the same look and feel across phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop. People will be initially frustrated, but even Facebook can't roll out a minor redesign without millions of people freaking out like FB stabbed them in the back.
justncase80 15y ago
Out of curiosity, have you tried it with a mouse and keyboard yet?
- Mythbusters 15y ago
  I have. Not the metro as such but Win 8 CP on my laptop. When I read initial reviews, I was not sure how much I'd like this metro UI but to be frank, I haven't seen much of it in last week or so. Since I am using Windows 8 on a non-tablet laptop, all I see is familiar windows 7 UI plus some improvements. Apart from the occasional metro launcher, I have not encountered the metro coolness at all. That makes me think if this duality of OS that everybody is talking about is much of an issue at all. Sure the transition to metro from old UI is a bit jarring. In the first day of use which is what most reporters/blogger based their impressions on, you tend to see it a lot, probably because you are just exploring and poking around, not really using the it as you'd use day to day. And that's why everyone seems to be making a big issue out of it. I think the OS deserves a continued real life usage to get a better feel.

bp_ 15y ago

Here's the thing though: it surprisingly also works with mouse and keyboard! You do lose some display density, mind you, but the upshot in size allocated more than makes up for it.

nextparadigms 15y ago
Works and works well are 2 different things. Usually you need a different UI that is optimized for the different form factor/device type, otherwise you might end up with an UI that works very well only on a certain type of device, and one that is mediocre at best on another type of device, because they are used differently, and that UI is forcing you to use it in a different way than you should. Also it's not just the Metro UI itself and how it works with the mouse that you have to deal with. You also have to deal with switching between what most people will see as 2 separate OS's. I predict a lot of people will be frustrated with this.
- bicknergseng 15y ago
  I don't know that your first point is necessarily the case, though. I would argue that Metro works well on both small screen touch interfaces and larger screen point and click interfaces. The Metro buttons or boxes or whatever are actually very click friendly, and I think keyboard/touchpad/camera/mouse gestures will make it extremely usable. I might go as far to say that the Metro interface seems to transcend interaction type. I do understand the 2 OS's concern. I do imagine that after a few years and maybe another iteration or two, people will move on from the need for the traditional windows desktop experience and appreciate the same look and feel across phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop. People will be initially frustrated, but even Facebook can't roll out a minor redesign without millions of people freaking out like FB stabbed them in the back.

justncase80 15y ago

Out of curiosity, have you tried it with a mouse and keyboard yet?

Mythbusters 15y ago
I have. Not the metro as such but Win 8 CP on my laptop. When I read initial reviews, I was not sure how much I'd like this metro UI but to be frank, I haven't seen much of it in last week or so. Since I am using Windows 8 on a non-tablet laptop, all I see is familiar windows 7 UI plus some improvements. Apart from the occasional metro launcher, I have not encountered the metro coolness at all. That makes me think if this duality of OS that everybody is talking about is much of an issue at all. Sure the transition to metro from old UI is a bit jarring. In the first day of use which is what most reporters/blogger based their impressions on, you tend to see it a lot, probably because you are just exploring and poking around, not really using the it as you'd use day to day. And that's why everyone seems to be making a big issue out of it. I think the OS deserves a continued real life usage to get a better feel.