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You could argue that the disorientation and loss of context caused by completely replacing the entire desktop with a list of shortcuts is a loss of functionalit
by NamTaf 13y ago
You could argue that the disorientation and loss of context caused by completely replacing the entire desktop with a list of shortcuts is a loss of functionality. Previously the start menu was kind of like looking at the index in a corner of a map that gives grid references for every location, in that you still could keep your location on the map (and thus understanf the context of your surroundings) in view. The new start menu is more like having to completely flip off the page with the map on to look at the index on another page. It's vastly more disruptive to a continuous workflow.
Edit: real-world example: I'm on a web page with a list of prices and want to do a quick sum. On 7, I'd hit win-key, type 'calc' and then enter the prices, all the while keeping my eyes on the numbers I want to add so I don't lose track of them. On 8, it will flash my entire screen full of icons. I lose view of the numbers and therefore may lose track of the numbers I want to add up.
- freehunter 13y agoI wouldn't consider that to be "not offering all the functionality" like the article suggests. It's merely a different way of getting around. If your anecdote is true in the spirit of the original complaint, then Windows 7 doesn't offer all the functionality of Windows XP. I recently got upgraded at work from Windows XP to Windows 7. I've been so used to hitting the windows key, pressing R to open the run menu, then typing 'calc'. Now when I do that, I get distracted when a window pops up searching for something names 'rcalc'. In 7 I don't need to hit 'R', which breaks my workflow and I guess that is a loss of functionality.
- Osiris 13y agoHold WIN and press R to bring up the Run menu (Win+R). Win+D, Win+E, Win+Left, Win+Right, etc. are all global shortcuts I use all the time.
- freehunter 13y agoI'm not being serious in my complaint, I'm trying to highlight the absurdity of "breaking workflow" being linked to "removing functionality".
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- to3m 13y agoI found this quite a lot. For the first few days of using Windows 8 I often found myself suddenly coming to, staring at the start screen. Wait... what's going on? Why am I here? What am I doing? (etc.) I'd have been concentrating on what I was doing, just working through it, then decided I'd needed something from the start menu - and the sudden obvious visual mode switch had snapped me out of my trance and broken my train of thought. Then I'd go back to the desktop and straight away remember what it was I was thinking of. Very strange. Fortunately, most of the time I just wanted another command prompt or explorer window, so I've just got into the habit of middle-clicking one of my existing ones. (This is still slower than the way I used to operate the now-vanished "classic" start menu with the keyboard, so for all the general improvements I'm still feeling like the latest versions of Windows have been something of a backwards step.)