Discussion on:

It's the little things: Windows 8 both delights and infuriates

What delights you in Windows 8? What infuriates you?

I have my portable desktop (bluetooth kb/mouse, bluetooth headset, etc) and a slate pc all in one! If you're a user that doesn't need expansion (tons of USB connections, high end video card, 3+ monitors), a slate PC can do it all for you. You can dock your slate and use the desktop to get your more intense stuff done with your 'legacy' windows apps and when you're on the move or sitting on the couch, you can switch to metro and use it's touch friendly interface. Sure there are tons of small improvements and small steps backwards but my favorite thing about Win8 is that I finally have 1 device for the desk and the couch.

Copied from http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-389028?messageId=3646895

DOS was more intuitive.

Windows 8 needs another 5 years of development before it will be ready, damn thing doesn't even tell you to right click in metro to access your programs, or that you have to hover over the right of your screen to access anything. Or how about when the advanced options errors, the error is stuck open, or how about you now have two task bars, metro tasks and normal tasks, or how about new IE which is the ugliest thing I have ever seen, or the fact that metro apps seem to randomly "roll" away and minimize. Or the fact that they don't even give you an easy way to access your files (unless you turn on your desktop icons). The only way I have found so far is to use the run dialog which still pops up when you hold the windows key and press R. How do you even access your documents folder? This should be painfully obvious but I can't find it...
There are so many problems its crazy.

The metro task bar that activates at the top left, but doesn't let you use it until you keep your mouse on the edge, and move down tot he middle, then the bar turns completely black and you can now interact with it.

Even the new IE makes no sense, you have to right click on the border of your screen for anything useful to pop up? And it still keeps randomly rolling away on me, maybe I'll figure out why.

What is the purpose of that thing at the top that lets you grab the desktop or metro app, whats the point of that?


Anything I like? I actually kind of like having the ribbon in Explorer, the new explorer view is far better than Windows 7's.

When I move the cursor to the bottom left hot spot, a button is displayed to return to the Start screen. However, when I move my cursor out of the corner to click that button, it disappears.

How do I close a Metro app?

The upper right hot spot activates the icon bar, but don't let the cursor stray from the edge when you move down to one of the icons or the bar goes away.

I can't find any rhyme or reason to the upper left hot spot, the Escape key, or the Alt-Tab sequence.

I suspect the Win key will not work because the logo matches previous versions of Windows. I'm sure MS is already working on stickers with the new logo for you to put on the Win key so it will work again

Top left shows the metro apps task bar, if you keep your mouse on the left hand of your screen and move it downwards along the edge, eventually you will notice the side bar extend to the bottom of your screen, this is a sign that you can now leave the edge and select or right click and close metro programs.

Where's the instructions to show us how to do in W8 all those behaviors MS spent years indoctrinating and ingraining in us with previous versions? THAT'S the article or reference I'm really looking for. If I could find it, I'd be better able to develop an informed opinion.

I have no experience with touch devices, Windows Phone, or Apple iToys; I've had no reason to use them and don't have those skill sets to draw on. I'm approaching W8 strictly from a 'traditional' Windows background, with a smattering of Linux. It looks approaching W8 with a bag full of XP / 7 power user experience only leads to frustration and disappointment.

Speaking of Linux, it looks like W8 requires the same mindset as transitioning to Penguinistics: forget everything you already know. If that's the case, I'd rather spend the time learning Linux. There; I've said it.

I would have said Win7 except for its DOS missing the edit command. That's been annoying me.

You don't close Metro Apps - Windows will close it when you stop using it or when it needs the memory.
That is a strange thing for me to get used to and I suspect it will be for many of us.

The audio players keep going, etc.
And when that stupid roll away thing happens, you need to use the metro task bar to bring the application back to the front.

As a gamer, leaving a bunch of programs open is unacceptable. Every one of them processing in an endless loop listening for OS messages.

as opposed to temporarily doing something else? Say I'm using an app, and start IE to get more info on that app. How does W8 determine that I'm not coming back? Is it the app's responsibility to save my work when Windows forces it closed, or is it Windows' job? If I can't close it when I'm done, how do I get it off Alt-Tab? (That was one of the confusing Alt-Tab behaviors I mentioned earlier. This may explain why apps I've tried to close keep showing up when I Alt-Tab.)

Taking your question a step further, will Windows ever learn that I changed to another window for a reason and that I probably want to stay there?

I haven't had a chance to look at the new version yet, but the one problem everyone hates that has rippled through every version of Windows - stealing focus. On this style of interface, I don't know if that will still happen, but I can see it becoming even more infuriating than in previous versions!

I have with Win 8 (aside from that hideous Metro thing). I don't want an app I am finished with to be sitting there open. I want it closed. I don't care if it only uses .001% of system resources (or whatever it uses), I want it closed. I'll open it again if I need it. I agree with Slayer that keeping unneeded apps open is unacceptable. And I'm not a gamer.

Slayer is right about that roll away thing. That is infuriating. And try to stay to the right edge of the left monitor on a dual-monitor system to get that "Charms" bar. What a stupid name. Is this the "Barbie" OS or the "Bewitched" OS?

I do like the enhanced Task Manager and the other improvements. Still not sure about the ribbon in Explorer. By the way, there is a program called vistart that adds the Win 7 start menu to Win 8. Haven't had the time to try it yet though.

Been using it on a UL notebook for a couple of days now.
It is different. Some things are intuitive, others not.
Biggest issue I have is the OS seems tablet centric - by that I mean it really limits what you can do.
I do everything from surf / games / email to work.
Work stuff I use a lot of ie, MSO, SQL and other work apps (ex: SAP).
On Win8, I find I cannot open and run everything I am used to at the same time.
OUCH! WTH?!?! OMG!!!

I can positively say at this time WIn8 is not very useful from a work pc perspective.
Time will tell, for now, it's a hobby.

Cannot find and run everything...? Curious for examples.

It was On Win8, I find I cannot open and run everything I am used to at the same time.

Open is a lot different to find.

Col

Press Windows+R to get Run on desktop.

The small stuff blinds common users from how awesome an OS is and can be. I installed Windows 7 on a lady's PC a few weeks ago (she previously had XP) and she complained about how bad the OS was and how XP was much better. I asked her what it was she didn't like; she replied that 7's opening files from Word, Excel, etc. was confusing. That was her only complaint, but that complaint made her want to go back to XP. I trained her on 7's new file organization and windows for about a hour and then she loved 7......

The only difference I've noticed between XP and W7's file organization was an abundance of added folders and libraries I don't want.

When I tried some libraries, thinking it would make my genealogy stuff more convent I discovered I would need to maintain duplicate files for every jpg, tif and gif file for each family, with over 12,000 of these times 10, there goes my disk space, not to mention the time to maintain 10 copies of each! But then I still dislike the Users files because you have to waste time with search to find anything that ends up in them! Windows 8, it took me nearly an hour hunting for a blog or something to tell me how to close the bloody thing and shut down my computer for cleaning! I am still trying to find my way to things I want and need rather than the mostly useless, to me apps, on the screen. I want my file manger at my finger tips, several browsers and several programs running at the same time and even with 8 gig of Ram plus the 2 gig from the video boards, I run out before i have edited, published and checked a new web page. But when it comes to customizing my OS Windows 7 wins hands down. Yes it took me a while and recently when I had to reformat and re-install 4 computers I had to do it all over again, but the freedom to do so is what makes me like Windows 7. Customizing 8, forget it. I have work to do. Windows 7 64 bit is much more stable than XP 64 and I need the memory and speed. I used Xp 64 bit for one week and had more blue screens and freeze ups than all other OS combined over decades. Enjoy XP if you want, enjoy W8 if you want, I will stick with W7.

To quote GlaDOS.

He???s not just a regular moron. He???s the product of the greatest minds of a generation working together with the express purpose of building the dumbest moron who ever lived.

That sounds exactly like Windows 8.

I tried out Win 8 for two days and got totally frustrated with it.
Sticking with Win 7.

I've been using Windows 8 for real work now for three days. It's in a Parallels VM on an OS X 10.6x machine.
I have some issues about how many clicks it takes to move from here to there, but on the whole I really like it. I'm especially impressed with the Microsoft Store where two clicks install an app. Take away as much of the internal goings on from the average user as possible I always say, and Windows 8 is going down that path. Let the IT experts worry about the under-pinnings, remove them from the user.

Would it kill Microsoft to give me a real start button? How about a search function that can actually find files? There are times when I will not be in the mood to even access Metro. Can I have that option? Some power users will not appreciate the "cute" factor. Is it not cool to give an icon to let me intuitively do stuff like go directly back to where I was? Oh, the edge pictures are nice but labels with them would be even nicer when you have a lot of stuff open. And how about a nice off/restart button where I can find it without stabbing for the lucky charms? I'm not crazy about the cheap, flat look of Metro but that's a minor point.

On the plus side this puppy is fast! But dude...

Quiote:
"I think the Store is a good idea. Consumers have grown accustomed, due to their iPhones and Droids, to having a centralized place to get applications. As long as Windows 8 will still run software from other sources, I???m all for the Store. But the Store doesn???t work very well for me in the consumer preview. Sometimes when I click to install an app, it does. Sometimes it doesn???t."

Windows 8 is an OS that is supposedly world friendly. iPhone and Droid users are not the majority so why are we being pushed down that route? Simple! Its all about money.

I've used DOS and all forms of Windows. I personally hate Apple because it is so restrictive. Felt the same recently about Linux but now considering it as an option. In the present economic climate will we really see business embrace Windows 8? I dont think so if what many clients holds out to be true.

I've been using Win8 Dev Preview on an HP Touchsmart600 and rather liked it since it integrates well with the touch screen. However, since "upgrading" to the Consumer Preview, things went down-hill! It no longer recognises the NVIDIA graphics card (tried updating through Nvidia too and doesn't recognise it) and so have fallen down to the generic driver from MS - so 1024x768 on a 23" full HD screen really is a shame and not pretty at all... The calibration of the touchscreen didn't work well (doesn't like close to the edges of the screen) but worked fine in the dev preview, it refuses to remember my keyboard layout, etc...
Same player, play again

Shoukd have read:-

I dont think so if what many clients have told me holds out to be true.

We all have te spend hours and budget to learn! And for old tech on desktops win Win8 you can try WinKey+Y und WinKey+X. Regards

Just push the power button.

if MS could come up with a simple on/off switch!

So far in my testing Windows 8, simply seems like a few enhancements to Windows 7 plus a complete overhaul of the GUI to make it a phone/tablet OS. I use traditional desktops and I don't use tablets or phones (except a traditional phone, you know the one where you actually talk to people). Win 8 simply causes more confusion for desktop users who were used to Win 7, Vista, XP, 98, 95, 3.11. With all the previous versions you stepped your way through them. They made some changes but after a couple days you figured them out. Win 8 is like starting from scratch, what used to work doesn???t and you now have to learn something completely new. It???s frustrating to have such a drastic change (which users did not ask for) as someone in IT, just wait until I try to explain something to a basic user. It just seems like Microsoft is dictating where to go instead of asking where do you want to go. Linux is looking better each day, at least you have choices.

M$ is no exception. I use Lose7 as a 2nd OS in case something doesn't still work in XP. To have an 8 gives the number a whole new association: "useless".

I'd like to see tiles that allow for sub-menus. If the tile has a submenu clicking on it flips the tile and shows those choices. The panel approach for frequently used programs will be great for us. Naive users won't do things not on the punch panel.

I have been testing out the new windows 8 for neary 2 weeks and I love some of the changes they have made. Namely the Task Manager & Windows Explorer. Both were in serious need for an overhaul, Windows explorer still can be improved (nothing seems to beat Directory Opus so I will probably continue to use it on my home PC's) but the Ribbon on windows explore.... about dang time! Here is the BUT! and it is a huge BUT! The Metro interface goes out of its way to hide things.. not make things easier to find and get to. That interface might be fine for a touch screen but desktops and laptop it takes extra time and wild mouse movements where their was none before.

The start button was an absolute awesome application launcher and general "Start" point for everything you needed. Without to much trouble you could organize things into a concise application launcher. And the best part was, it did not steal the entire screen. The Metro interface assumes you will be operating all your apps in full screen mode. There are only a few types of individuals that operate in full screen for all their tasks, and they are usually those that only have one task open at a time (ie casual users or simple users) power users and business users tend to have many overlapping windows (and some of us actually utilize dual monitors or virtual desktops (some use both)).

Full screen apps is not the way to be productive. They hide gadgets, widgets & windows that many are coming to rely upon.

I certainly hope M$ comes to their senses and allows users and admins to choose between which interface is most appropriate to their needs. I for one can not see the Metro interface being remotely useful on anything except lightwieght touch devices.

I've just lost interest in even looking at Win-8 any time soon. With luck I'll never have to, as it will be like Vista and skipped by most corporates.

I hate "The Ribbon". It takes too much screen real estate and to get to some of the common useful stuff, you have to click the little corner thingy to open the old dialog. With that exception, I'm quite happy with Win-7. Oh, and the extra complication of "Libraries" in Windows Explorer, does nothing for me except ensure that sometimes I find new files saved or copied to the wrong place, and thus with the wrong security applied. Many applications have not yet caught up with this fundamental change.

I must say, I enjoy going back to using Office 2003 after a session on 2010.

I run Linux, WinXP and Win-7 concurrently and am used (courtesy of Linux) to having multiple windows open and overlapped on multiple desktops, on the one monitor. Ok, I'm not an average user....but I don't want a PC that works like my phone. May as well use hedge shears to mow the lawn! Oh!, hang on *there's a mower for that!*

I don't know what the fuss is all about. I'm not a geek, I'm just a retired old man but have no problem using Windows 8. Since I don't have a touch device, I installed it in my desktop so I'm using keyboard and mouse with my preview. The only thing that I couldn't find in about twenty seconds of searching using Windows 8 for the first time was the shutdown botton so I Binged it and in a few seconds knew where to look for it. So in about 30 seconds, I had already shutdown the computer. In any case, I read somewhere how to make a shortcut for it and pinned that in my start screen.

I agree on alot of your points. I think this will be great on tablets, but it still certaintly has a long way to go. However the fact that it is a general release beta might suggest they think they are closer then they really are. While it is a great beta, I think the "small stuff" could drive enough people crazy to keep them from upgrading to this product when it comes to market. I'm a long time MS product user, and have been loyal to them over the years. However if the interface doesn't become as natural as it has for Apple devices Microsoft may really start to loose market share. Let's hope Win8 doesn't go the way of the Microsoft Phone!