7 ms·

Seriously, Microsoft have already fucked this one up. One of the things I've learned is to learn from other peoples mistakes (for reference to make sure I'm n

Seriously, Microsoft have already fucked this one up. One of the things I've learned is to learn from other peoples mistakes (for reference to make sure I'm not written off as a Linux shill, I was MCSD cert for the best part of a decade, own an Xbox 360 and a Lumia. Metro just doesn't work on the desktop for me).

foolrush 13y ago
It isn't solely Microsoft. The idea of convergence is a seductive ideological fabrication of Eurowestern making. While seductive, there is a tremendous body of history to examine to reveal the fallacy of the position. Automobiles, cellular phones, portable cameras, pencils and pens, floor coverings, building designs, gardens, aircraft, etc. Every single example grows in diversity and complexity away from their base initial forms. Design appears to begin at a singular starting point and grow in diversity as needs evolve[1]. Only a superficial study of design history would struggle against firm historical evidence of divergence. “…these examples reinforces my thesis that in order to design a tool, we must make our best efforts to understand the larger social and physical context within which it is intended to function.” - Bill Buxton [1] Apologies for the apparent forcing of Eurowestern metanarrative arcs onto phenomena where no such arc may exist.
- microcolonel 13y ago
  This is silly, they're just making a big deal out of something obvous: Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops are all just personal computers, and there's no reason to have a different one for each paradigm when the hardware is essentially identical in functionality. We're just putting a desktop OS in a smaller box than ever like we have for the last decade. The ease of this transition is reinforced by the fact that GNU/Linux systems already work really well on all of these form factors(and many more).
- minor_nitwit 13y ago
  Interesting that many of those things have converged in the form of portable computing already. Would you have said that a phone should not have a camera? Or a phone should not try to do scheduling? Be an alarm clock? etc.
  - foolrush 13y ago
    I would hope that we can agree that at some point a qualitative and privileged "good enough" metric applies here? Is it reasonable that a photographer would prefer a cellular phone camera over a focused device? Or a medical imager? Or a security system designer? Or an astronomer? Or an extreme sports enthusiast? The point stands that the technology diverges to meet contextual needs. Following this reasoning, we can wager on two futures. One where we use less devices and less things. Or one where we use more specific devices that meet contextual needs more acutely. I comfortably accept the latter. Design exists in a multi-dimensional realm where some design decisions may inherently pull away from others. Unless someone wants to believe in a car that seats six, goes from zero to sixty in four seconds, has a child carrier area, ravages off-road snow conditions, and offers an upgrade to carry six sheets of plywood. Bill Buxton's analysis of wooden Inuit coastal maps is fabulous, and I would encourage reading his piece if you can find it.
ladzoppelin 13y ago
Windows phone is damn good and I personally like Windows 8 especially with a touch screen monitor. I think MS is on to something and Ubuntu wants to make sure they have it covered once/If the "one OS" idea takes off. It is smart and if you do not like Ubuntu you can use one of the other distributions available.
- SG- 13y ago
  The majority however don't like Windows 8 metro interface with a keyboard and mouse (the majority of Windows 8 users).
  - freehunter 13y ago
    Do you have statistics on that? The only people I hear complaining about the Windows 8 interface are people who are not using Windows 8 (either have not used it or have switched back). I haven't heard that many people using Windows 8 and still complaining a year later.
    - SG- 13y ago
      3/3 coworkers, all but one of my gamer friends that have tried Windows 8 (~10). I gave Windows 8 a shot for about 2 months before going back myself. The stats speak for themselves from MSFT's Windows 8 numbers, for the most part people aren't buying Windows 8 except for new PCs which is a forced purchase.
      - ladzoppelin 13y ago
        Windows 8 is better in many ways which unfortunately many people do not notice or care. For example how can you not like the hardware acceleration benefits of Windows 8 (desktop) compared to Windows 7? The file system and font handling are also superior to Windows 7 which is huge for people who use a keyboard and mouse. I am only asking because maybe its a graphic card incompatibility that creates these bad experiences. Windows 7 is an awesome OS but Windows 8 is clearly better after using it in desktop mode for a week even on hardware from 2006.
Zigurd 13y ago
This is one of the things Ubuntu is doing right (too bad about Edge). If Surface RT was actual un-crippled Windows, and there is no reason a ton of Windows .NET software wouldn't "just work" on Surface RT, I might have bought one. Ubuntu, by contrast, isn't going to artificially nerf their products for a certain architecture or to segment the market. Having the same capabilities, and a common, but adaptable UI, is going to serve Ubuntu well.

foolrush 13y ago

It isn't solely Microsoft. The idea of convergence is a seductive ideological fabrication of Eurowestern making. While seductive, there is a tremendous body of history to examine to reveal the fallacy of the position. Automobiles, cellular phones, portable cameras, pencils and pens, floor coverings, building designs, gardens, aircraft, etc. Every single example grows in diversity and complexity away from their base initial forms. Design appears to begin at a singular starting point and grow in diversity as needs evolve[1]. Only a superficial study of design history would struggle against firm historical evidence of divergence. “…these examples reinforces my thesis that in order to design a tool, we must make our best efforts to understand the larger social and physical context within which it is intended to function.” - Bill Buxton [1] Apologies for the apparent forcing of Eurowestern metanarrative arcs onto phenomena where no such arc may exist.

microcolonel 13y ago
This is silly, they're just making a big deal out of something obvous: Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops are all just personal computers, and there's no reason to have a different one for each paradigm when the hardware is essentially identical in functionality. We're just putting a desktop OS in a smaller box than ever like we have for the last decade. The ease of this transition is reinforced by the fact that GNU/Linux systems already work really well on all of these form factors(and many more).
minor_nitwit 13y ago
Interesting that many of those things have converged in the form of portable computing already. Would you have said that a phone should not have a camera? Or a phone should not try to do scheduling? Be an alarm clock? etc.
- foolrush 13y ago
  I would hope that we can agree that at some point a qualitative and privileged "good enough" metric applies here? Is it reasonable that a photographer would prefer a cellular phone camera over a focused device? Or a medical imager? Or a security system designer? Or an astronomer? Or an extreme sports enthusiast? The point stands that the technology diverges to meet contextual needs. Following this reasoning, we can wager on two futures. One where we use less devices and less things. Or one where we use more specific devices that meet contextual needs more acutely. I comfortably accept the latter. Design exists in a multi-dimensional realm where some design decisions may inherently pull away from others. Unless someone wants to believe in a car that seats six, goes from zero to sixty in four seconds, has a child carrier area, ravages off-road snow conditions, and offers an upgrade to carry six sheets of plywood. Bill Buxton's analysis of wooden Inuit coastal maps is fabulous, and I would encourage reading his piece if you can find it.

ladzoppelin 13y ago

Windows phone is damn good and I personally like Windows 8 especially with a touch screen monitor. I think MS is on to something and Ubuntu wants to make sure they have it covered once/If the "one OS" idea takes off. It is smart and if you do not like Ubuntu you can use one of the other distributions available.

SG- 13y ago
The majority however don't like Windows 8 metro interface with a keyboard and mouse (the majority of Windows 8 users).
- freehunter 13y ago
  Do you have statistics on that? The only people I hear complaining about the Windows 8 interface are people who are not using Windows 8 (either have not used it or have switched back). I haven't heard that many people using Windows 8 and still complaining a year later.
  - SG- 13y ago
    3/3 coworkers, all but one of my gamer friends that have tried Windows 8 (~10). I gave Windows 8 a shot for about 2 months before going back myself. The stats speak for themselves from MSFT's Windows 8 numbers, for the most part people aren't buying Windows 8 except for new PCs which is a forced purchase.
    - ladzoppelin 13y ago
      Windows 8 is better in many ways which unfortunately many people do not notice or care. For example how can you not like the hardware acceleration benefits of Windows 8 (desktop) compared to Windows 7? The file system and font handling are also superior to Windows 7 which is huge for people who use a keyboard and mouse. I am only asking because maybe its a graphic card incompatibility that creates these bad experiences. Windows 7 is an awesome OS but Windows 8 is clearly better after using it in desktop mode for a week even on hardware from 2006.

Zigurd 13y ago

This is one of the things Ubuntu is doing right (too bad about Edge). If Surface RT was actual un-crippled Windows, and there is no reason a ton of Windows .NET software wouldn't "just work" on Surface RT, I might have bought one. Ubuntu, by contrast, isn't going to artificially nerf their products for a certain architecture or to segment the market. Having the same capabilities, and a common, but adaptable UI, is going to serve Ubuntu well.