4 ms·

Good article -- more constructive than whining -- but none of this seems easy to learn (or remember) which is probably the problem.

sequoia 14y ago
If you use windows regularly it is easy to learn/remember. Win+E.xplorer Win+D.esktop Win+left move win left. Start there then learn a new one every few days, soon you'll be a power user ;)
- DeepDuh 14y ago
  I'm pretty sure podperson wasn't talking about himself. The main problem with Win8 seems to be that it's going to be difficult to learn for not so technically versed people, e.g. at least 80% of their userbase. And no, it's not true that they will just 'stay on win7'. a) They don't even know what version they're on anyway, b) they will just buy whatever is in store. I expect a massive wave of complaints to store support and OEM support hotlines, possibly enough to give some traction to easy-to-use preinstalled linux distros.
  - gizmo686 14y ago
    From a usability standpoint, Windows 8 seems to be one of the easiest full desktop OSes I've seen, the windows key takes to to a large icon screen with all of your programs, and you click on the one you want to run. I think that some of the decisions made to accomplish that goal hurt productivity for more experienced users, and those experienced users experience that as a hard interface. I had the same reaction when I had to use windows 7 after years of a tiling window manager and the terminal.
- teamonkey 14y ago
  The Win+arrow keys work in Win7 and are fantastic for developers, especially for those that work with multiple displays. Whenever I have to go back to Vista I miss those hotkeys the most.
keithpeter 14y ago
Yes, I like the change from 'this is new, lets reject it' The 'new interfaces' generally (Windows 8/TIFKAM, Ubuntu Unity, Gnome Shell) seem to me to be making less functionality manifest, and hiding a little more. I have not tried Windows 8/TIFKAM yet, but I use Unity/Gnome Shell much of the time. "I am a web guy SO much more than a desktop guy so if you look in my Taskbar on any of my machines you'll see mostly web browsers, text editors and shells. I live off my taskbar and I'm ALL about HotKeys. If I can avoid touching my mouse at all I will." I think a significant number of more ordinary computer users do use the mouse a lot more.

sequoia 14y ago

If you use windows regularly it is easy to learn/remember. Win+E.xplorer Win+D.esktop Win+left move win left. Start there then learn a new one every few days, soon you'll be a power user ;)

DeepDuh 14y ago
I'm pretty sure podperson wasn't talking about himself. The main problem with Win8 seems to be that it's going to be difficult to learn for not so technically versed people, e.g. at least 80% of their userbase. And no, it's not true that they will just 'stay on win7'. a) They don't even know what version they're on anyway, b) they will just buy whatever is in store. I expect a massive wave of complaints to store support and OEM support hotlines, possibly enough to give some traction to easy-to-use preinstalled linux distros.
- gizmo686 14y ago
  From a usability standpoint, Windows 8 seems to be one of the easiest full desktop OSes I've seen, the windows key takes to to a large icon screen with all of your programs, and you click on the one you want to run. I think that some of the decisions made to accomplish that goal hurt productivity for more experienced users, and those experienced users experience that as a hard interface. I had the same reaction when I had to use windows 7 after years of a tiling window manager and the terminal.
teamonkey 14y ago
The Win+arrow keys work in Win7 and are fantastic for developers, especially for those that work with multiple displays. Whenever I have to go back to Vista I miss those hotkeys the most.

keithpeter 14y ago

Yes, I like the change from 'this is new, lets reject it' The 'new interfaces' generally (Windows 8/TIFKAM, Ubuntu Unity, Gnome Shell) seem to me to be making less functionality manifest, and hiding a little more. I have not tried Windows 8/TIFKAM yet, but I use Unity/Gnome Shell much of the time. "I am a web guy SO much more than a desktop guy so if you look in my Taskbar on any of my machines you'll see mostly web browsers, text editors and shells. I live off my taskbar and I'm ALL about HotKeys. If I can avoid touching my mouse at all I will." I think a significant number of more ordinary computer users do use the mouse a lot more.