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Maybe neither of us are privy to Microsoft's innermost strategic decision-making processes, so neither are qualified to comment on whether they've thought this

Maybe neither of us are privy to Microsoft's innermost strategic decision-making processes, so neither are qualified to comment on whether they've thought this through? That said, I would argue it is more efficient to expect that one of the world's largest companies would think very carefully about its options before making such a huge leap. One more thing: remember that Microsoft is not gambling on the current Windows 8 UI paradigm itself. Not exactly. Microsoft is gambling on the general style: clean, clear typography matched with bold blocked colour and clear, simple iconography. Take a look at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx. Granted it's not perfect, there are still hiccups - the search magnifying glass for instance. I expect those hiccups to be ironed out soon enough though. Regardless, what Microsoft is effectively doing is staking its claim on a visual style, which it clearly thinks will be prime real estate over the next decade. I think it'll pay off handsomely. At the very least they've wiped the slate clean and laid a foundation that will be much easier to tweak in future.

arethuza 13y ago
My first impression that Microsoft perhaps hadn't thought the whole Windows 8 UI through was actually gained at a Microsoft conference. A chap sitting in front of me was attempting to use the Windows 8 tiled interface on a laptop balanced on his lap - he reached out to do something, touching the screen and managing to knock the laptop off his lap onto the floor. I like a lot of Microsoft products (Excel, Windows 7, Visual Studio, SQL Server, Dynamics AX) - so I'm not a Microsoft hater by any means but I do wonder about their judgement in this particular area.
- corporalagumbo 13y ago
  Like I said in another comment, I'd never argue that Windows 8 right now is worth using. For most people it doesn't offer compelling improvements. Where I differ from most people is that I see a lot of promise in the future Windows 8 hints at, and I have a lot of trust in the ability of Microsoft to continually improve its processes, recognise its errors, and produce better and better products. That after all was the lesson of Vista for me - Microsoft is responsive to defects in its operations.

arethuza 13y ago

My first impression that Microsoft perhaps hadn't thought the whole Windows 8 UI through was actually gained at a Microsoft conference. A chap sitting in front of me was attempting to use the Windows 8 tiled interface on a laptop balanced on his lap - he reached out to do something, touching the screen and managing to knock the laptop off his lap onto the floor. I like a lot of Microsoft products (Excel, Windows 7, Visual Studio, SQL Server, Dynamics AX) - so I'm not a Microsoft hater by any means but I do wonder about their judgement in this particular area.

corporalagumbo 13y ago
Like I said in another comment, I'd never argue that Windows 8 right now is worth using. For most people it doesn't offer compelling improvements. Where I differ from most people is that I see a lot of promise in the future Windows 8 hints at, and I have a lot of trust in the ability of Microsoft to continually improve its processes, recognise its errors, and produce better and better products. That after all was the lesson of Vista for me - Microsoft is responsive to defects in its operations.