I've persevered with Windows 8 but can't say that I'm loving it. I did end up putting in Start8 and that did fix many of my issues.
And I certainly wouldn't class myself as a "hater" of it, just frustrated. Here are my simple issues: 1. Why the need to move things to obscure places, for no value? One of the things that I regularly do before travelling is to take a system image of my notebook drives, to make it easy to recover. That options used to be in "Control Panel -> Backup". See if you can find it on Windows 8 without using a search engine. 2. I really don't like the focus/context shift with the Windows key and the full-screen start screen. I can no longer refer to other things that were on the screen. It makes fine sense for a tablet, not so much sense for a desktop machine. (Not to mention multiple large monitors) But here's another test: Everyone says that to open a program, you just hit the Windows key and start typing, but what exactly do you do whenever you don't know the name of the program? I have this situation often as I have a very large number of apps that I use occasionally. Often I've purchased them as part of a suite. But if I go looking for one of the audio processing programs that I bought from Nero, what exactly do I type to find it now? (And yes, I can messily find it using the "All Applications" thing) Similarly, if I hit the Windows key and type "Uninstall", 35 entries come up that all say "Uninstall". How do I know which is which? Etc etc Regards, Greg Dr Greg Low 1300SQLSQL (1300 775 775) office | +61 419201410 mobile│ +61 3 8676 4913 fax SQL Down Under | Web: www.sqldownunder.com<http://www.sqldownunder.com/> From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] On Behalf Of David Richards Sent: Thursday, 9 May 2013 4:25 PM To: ozDotNet Subject: Re: Is Surface really failing? In my opinion, a good interface is one an average person can figure out without assistance within about 5 minutes. An auto car with a start button (as some cars have) falls in to this category. You could literally be driving in minutes. Put someone in front of various mobile OSes and you would probably get the same thing. Put someone in front of windows 8 and they'll get stuck. It's like having that nice easy to use auto car with a big red start button but instead of a brake pedal there is a hidden touch sensitive region somewhere at the back of the footwell. Sure they'll get the car moving but the experience will quickly go downhill from there. And I still hate the office ribbon. David "If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate!" -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama On 9 May 2013 15:36, Fredericks, Chris <chris.frederi...@hp.com<mailto:chris.frederi...@hp.com>> wrote: I suspect the Office Ribbon wouldn't have passed the "The Level 1 Helpdesk Test" either - but Office hasn't been a 'fail'. And I am sure that most of the initial 'issues' with Windows 8 will pass in time as users learn it's nuances. Sometimes people have to make some effort to move out of their comfort zone, embrace change and learn something new instead of expecting everything to be obvious. The first time someone sits behind the steering wheel in a car, it is not very intuitive on how to use the clutch to change gears, or to even start the engine. Almost everyone needs to be taught how to drive a car - does that mean that a motor vehicle is a 'fail'? Everything I have read about why Windows 8 is a 'fail' seems a bit emotive and most of the problems listed are very easily addressed with a little research and learning. I suspect that safely driving a motor vehicle requires more effort, learning and concentration than what is required for Windows 8. If you can't cope with Windows 8, please avoid driving a car anywhere near me or my family. :) Just my 2c worth and I am most definitely not trying to offend anyone. Cheers, Chris From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com<mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com> [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com<mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] On Behalf Of Ken Schaefer Sent: Thursday, 9 May 2013 2:49 PM To: ozDotNet Subject: RE: Is Surface really failing? Caller: "Hello. I can't find my Windows desktop" Helpdesk: Press the Windows Key and the letter D at the same time Caller: "No, I can't see my start menu." Helpdesk: Press the Windows Key You should try managing server 2012 via RDP sometime. It really is just 1 pixel in the bottom left which is nearly impossible to click on unless your RDP is full screen. What do you need on the Start screen on Windows Server 2012? Cheers Ken From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com<mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com> [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] On Behalf Of David Connors Sent: Thursday, 9 May 2013 2:13 PM To: ozDotNet Subject: Re: Is Surface really failing? On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 1:58 PM, David Burstin <david.burs...@gmail.com<mailto:david.burs...@gmail.com>> wrote: I am neutral about Windows 8, but what I do find annoying is that when people voice their opinions they get labeled as 'haters'. While it's a convenient way to dismiss other people's concerns, what you are basically saying is "this doesn't bother me so it can't be legitimate and therefore only reason you are saying it is because you are a troll/hater". Not a great basis for a productive discussion imho. I agree. I have this game I play as a part of mentoring people working for me on usability. I call it "The Level 1 Helpdesk Test". Whenever I see something that is batshit crazy, I ask them to run it past The Level 1 Helpdesk Test which involves: 1. Sitting at your PC pretending you're on level 1 helpdesk. 2. Imagine you've just answered the phone and someone is ringing up about the feature you've just shown off. 3. Imagine the conversation with that person as you describe how to use the feature. Windows 8 fails the level 1 help desk test in style. Caller: "Hello. I can't find my Windows desktop" Helpdesk: "Can you see a picture of Seattle or a mountain with desktop written on it?" Caller: "Ummm... no, I think ... I can see a picture of Julia Gillard and the weather in Paris, but I'm in Brisbane. Should I click on the purple box about Victoria Beckham?" Helpdesk: "No, keep looking for a box with desktop written on it in tiny writing." Caller: "Oh, I've found a flower with desktop written on it." Helpdesk: "That's your desktop. Click on that. BTW it is a flower today but it might be a mountain or seattle tomorrow." Caller: "That's better, I can see Windows now." Helpdesk: "Is that all?" Caller: "No, I can't see my start menu." Helpdesk: "Oh, you were just at the start menu." Caller: "The boxes with Victoria Beckham?" Helpdesk: "Yes, that's it." Caller: "Where is it?" Helpdesk: "It is in the bottom left single pixel of your monitor." Caller: "What's a pixel?" Helpdesk: "Nevermind, just move your mouse to the bottom left and you'll see a start menu pop up." Caller: "Oh, I see. But when I move my mouse over the button it disappears." Helpdesk: "Oh, you're not meant you click on it, you just move your mouse to make it appear and then click on it without actually moving your mouse over it." etc etc etc Fkn fail. Don't even start me on the Charms "Nothing can be shared right now" bar. You should try managing server 2012 via RDP sometime. It really is just 1 pixel in the bottom left which is nearly impossible to click on unless your RDP is full screen. What did they do in previous versions of Windows? Helpdesk: "If you want a document or program, click start." Caller: "Thanks!" *click* David.
