The New Windows 8 UI: Trying to be Too Many Things to Too Many Devices?

http://siliconfilter.com/the-new-windows-8-ui-trying-to-be-too-many-things-to-too-many-devices/

by FredericLL • 15 years ago

16 10 15 years ago

Qz• 15 years ago

On a tablet, having to deal with these legacy tools like the Explorer, simply ruins the experience.

Sure they showed the regular Explorer interface, but there was also clearly a new UI for file browsing as well, so I don't think people will 'have to deal with legacy tools' at all.

On a side note: whenever I see 'Tweet@rama' my brain short circuits trying to say 'tweet-o-rama' and 'tweet-at-rama' simultaneously.

mahrain• 15 years ago

I'm pretty sure I'll have to hook up a mouse to a Windows 8 tablet in order to configure the IP address.

On a desktop however, the tiles and fonts are going to be incredible and allow many visually impaired users to use a computer without wearing glasses!

dorian-graph• 15 years ago

People seem to have a lot to say about Win8 that isn't too thought out . .

lurkinggrue2• 15 years ago

And by legacy tools that would be 100% of current software.

Running legacy photoshop... Sigh

sosuke• 15 years ago

I think the interface will work great for the tablet form factor, why is being able to run non-touch specific applications seen as a problem? When did extra features become a minus?

Besides I think this will work great on all the touch screen desktops and laptops that I believe are coming. I get to go into business mode when I need to program or I can stay in the light touch interface when I am just consuming content.

tiles• 15 years ago

Extra features can hurt if there's no clear direction for developers.

When do you use the touch UI, and when do you revert to the Windows 7 UI? Does it depend on the complexity of the application? Will Office switch over to the Metro UI? And if all the momentum and familiarity is in the legacy platform, what convinces developers to try out the newer platform instead (that users can all but ignore if they choose to)?

barista• 15 years ago

What do you mean directions to developers?

As a developer, I will write my app in the new more touch friendly "Metro" UI because it can also be used with a keyboard and mouse.

The familiarity that is there in the old platform is the familiarity of the tools and the API which I believe continue would to exist even with the new shell.

Derbasti• 15 years ago

The question is: Will it run great on the desktop? For many professions, a computer is first and foremost a desktop machine. How will this UI deal with mouse hovering, right clicks?

If the touch UI would worsen the desktop experience that would be a bad thing indeed. We will see whether it turns out to be a Media-Center type overlay that no one ever uses or something really useful that will slowly take over the desktop.

Zaim2• 15 years ago

From the AllthingsD interview (http://allthingsd.com/20110601/up-next-at-d9-microsoft-windo...):

4:57 pm: Could an OEM make a tablet in which the user would never see “traditional” Windows?

Larsen-Green: You can’t turn the desktop off. You can choose never to go there…but it’s always there.

4:59 pm: Likewise, by the way, you can’t really turn off the new Windows. It is the start screen.

Another quote from the Thisismynextliveblog(http://live.thisismynext.com/Event/Microsofts_Steven_Sinofsk...):

Walt: So, if I'm a developer. Am I confronted by a philosophical difference between an app that uses a mouse, or one that is for touch or for a tablet. You call this touch first, but in terms of the apps, if you're saying hey this is Windows. Then I have to figure out — it really affects the way I design my app

Julie: You design for touch, and then we translate the touch commands to mouse and keyboard.

Walt: And that won't seem clunky?

Julie: No.

Julie: You go through with the arrow keys, the mouse, using the Windows key...

Walt: You're keeping the Windows key?

Julie: Yes, that's how you get to Start.

So the Win8 start menu is the reverse of the current Windows 7 touch UI situation. It's a Touch UI added on to it, as opposed to the reverse.

Most people barely even touch the "All programs button" in the current Start menu as they can just Start-search or use a Pin/Desktop shortcut, so as long as this new Start menu has the Search/Run functionality baked you're missing NOTHING, and can just stay in desktop mode whilst barely touching start.

The New Windows 8 UI: Trying to be Too Many Things to Too Many Devices?

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