5 ms·

Windows 8 is the most unusable collection of software I have ever had the misfortune of fighting. It is the worst experience I have ever had with an operating s

Windows 8 is the most unusable collection of software I have ever had the misfortune of fighting. It is the worst experience I have ever had with an operating system, coming from experience with dos, windows 3.1-95-xp-vista-7, ubuntu, and arch. The built in apps feel like MVPs. The interactions are unintuitive, and many things that should "just work" smack you in the face time and time again. the whole thing feels like it's been slapped together without any thought for actual usability, and with zero polish. edit: i should note that I have not yet tried the 8.1 update

dubfan 13y ago
I've been using Windows 8 on my desktop PC for some time now (primarily used for gaming and entertainment, not development) and for my purposes it's a clear upgrade over 7. Yes, the Metro apps are terrible but you don't ever need to use them. I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7 (press Windows key, start typing program name, hit Enter).
- BlackDeath3 13y ago
  This sounds like the same, unconvincing argument I always hear about Windows 8. "It's a bit faster, there are some other minor obscure improvements, and if you just ignore all of the crappy new stuff it's not a big deal!" If boot times are a big issue for you, then I get it. For me, they aren't, so I'm inclined to pass on the update. Perhaps it would work great with a Windows Phone or Surface (I'm tempted to try those at some point, so if anybody would like to share their experiences with theirs...), but it doesn't seem like it was designed for a desktop. So why should I put it on my desktop?
  - adamors 13y ago
    > if you just ignore all of the crappy new stuff it's not a big deal It really isn't a big deal, because you're not being forced to use the Metro apps. You can populate the start menu with regular application shortcuts and you're on your way.
    - BlackDeath3 13y ago
      So why the hell am I upgrading?
      - adamors 13y ago
        Faster, nicer UI, better multi-monitor support, better touch support, improved tools. Basically the same reasons you've upgraded to Windows 7 before that.
      - jongalloway2 13y ago
        I use it on a three monitor desktop. My favorite new features are file explorer and task manager. Also the skydrive + settings sync is really nice. Whenever I install on a new device, everything's set up on first boot. Lots of other features that don't make headlines but are genuinely useful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8
- CamperBob2 13y ago
  I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7 (press Windows key, start typing program name, hit Enter). I liked this workflow better when it was called DOS.
  - adamors 13y ago
    > I liked this workflow better when it was called DOS. Knock it all you want, but it's obvious that people like working like this. OS X has Spotligh/Alfred, Linux has Gnome DO etc, it's basically on every OS.
- massysett 13y ago
  "I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7" OK, then why is it a "clear upgrade"?
  - ubercow13 13y ago
    Everything feels faster and more responsive IMO. Dare I say the scheduler has been improved somewhat since 7 (that's a guess). Also there are a number of nice tweaks to the task manager and explorer, and some other things.
userbinator 13y ago
I very recently had to help someone who was using a new Win8 laptop, and it's amazing how much the little things matter - like the title bar's text being centred. I had several notepads open and it was difficult to see which one was which file, because with the text at the edge I would usually leave that edge of the window sticking out beneath the others, but with the title centred I can't see the filename from either side. That seriously annoyed me.
- robertfw 13y ago
  I've also helped a few people with Windows 8 and they are just lost, lost, lost - it is a very confusing interface to use. It catches me out all the time and I consider myself fairly adept at these things.

dubfan 13y ago

I've been using Windows 8 on my desktop PC for some time now (primarily used for gaming and entertainment, not development) and for my purposes it's a clear upgrade over 7. Yes, the Metro apps are terrible but you don't ever need to use them. I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7 (press Windows key, start typing program name, hit Enter).

BlackDeath3 13y ago
This sounds like the same, unconvincing argument I always hear about Windows 8. "It's a bit faster, there are some other minor obscure improvements, and if you just ignore all of the crappy new stuff it's not a big deal!" If boot times are a big issue for you, then I get it. For me, they aren't, so I'm inclined to pass on the update. Perhaps it would work great with a Windows Phone or Surface (I'm tempted to try those at some point, so if anybody would like to share their experiences with theirs...), but it doesn't seem like it was designed for a desktop. So why should I put it on my desktop?
- adamors 13y ago
  > if you just ignore all of the crappy new stuff it's not a big deal It really isn't a big deal, because you're not being forced to use the Metro apps. You can populate the start menu with regular application shortcuts and you're on your way.
  - BlackDeath3 13y ago
    So why the hell am I upgrading?
    - adamors 13y ago
      Faster, nicer UI, better multi-monitor support, better touch support, improved tools. Basically the same reasons you've upgraded to Windows 7 before that.
    - jongalloway2 13y ago
      I use it on a three monitor desktop. My favorite new features are file explorer and task manager. Also the skydrive + settings sync is really nice. Whenever I install on a new device, everything's set up on first boot. Lots of other features that don't make headlines but are genuinely useful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8
CamperBob2 13y ago
I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7 (press Windows key, start typing program name, hit Enter). I liked this workflow better when it was called DOS.
- adamors 13y ago
  > I liked this workflow better when it was called DOS. Knock it all you want, but it's obvious that people like working like this. OS X has Spotligh/Alfred, Linux has Gnome DO etc, it's basically on every OS.
massysett 13y ago
"I spend almost all of my time in the desktop, and the few times I need to use the new Start interface, the workflow is exactly the same as Win7" OK, then why is it a "clear upgrade"?
- ubercow13 13y ago
  Everything feels faster and more responsive IMO. Dare I say the scheduler has been improved somewhat since 7 (that's a guess). Also there are a number of nice tweaks to the task manager and explorer, and some other things.

userbinator 13y ago

I very recently had to help someone who was using a new Win8 laptop, and it's amazing how much the little things matter - like the title bar's text being centred. I had several notepads open and it was difficult to see which one was which file, because with the text at the edge I would usually leave that edge of the window sticking out beneath the others, but with the title centred I can't see the filename from either side. That seriously annoyed me.

robertfw 13y ago
I've also helped a few people with Windows 8 and they are just lost, lost, lost - it is a very confusing interface to use. It catches me out all the time and I consider myself fairly adept at these things.