Microsoft Has Been Watching, and It Says You're Getting Used To Windows 8 675
Dupple writes "Microsoft's user data shows that users are getting used to dealing with the Windows 8 user interface, reports this article at MIT Technology Review. Despite some of the more scathing reviews of Windows 8, ordinary users are getting along with it just fine, according to Julie Larson-Green, the Microsoft executive who leads Windows product development. Data collected automatically from some Windows users, she says, show they are adjusting to some of the new operating system's controversial features without problems 'So far we're seeing very encouraging things,' Larson-Green says of the large volume of data that Microsoft receives every day from people using Windows 8 who have chosen to join the company's 'customer experience improvement program.' All users are invited to enroll in that program when they first log into the new operating system. If they do so, anonymized information about how they are using the operating system is sent to Microsoft. Referring to complaints from some quarters, Larson-Green says: 'Even with the rumblings, we feel confident that it's a moment in time more than an actual problem.'"
Re:Seeing how most companies won't migrate... (Score:3, Informative)
I don't know a single company whose IT will implement Windows 8 on anything. I'm talking everything from tablets, phones, laptops, PC's, or servers. In fact my company said straight out "No" because of all the problems it would entail.
Did they ever fix the lack of command line for windows 8 servers?
I work desktop IT for a company in fortune's top 10. We are not moving everything there (yet) but we definitely are standardizing it for the enterprise and will probably move large numbers (tens of thousands) of users there. Enterprises aren't as scared of 8 as they were of Vista. Roll-out of a new os in a large enterprise takes time and I'm sure once the projects have been worked at various companies many will be moving.
Re:It's not terrible (Score:5, Informative)
The windows button finally has purpose. You can hit that button, start typing an app name and then space/enter to launch. I find I'm mousing less actually.
This is Windows 7 functionality isn't it?
Re:Seeing how most companies won't migrate... (Score:3, Informative)
Bashing it back into shape, rather (Score:5, Informative)
I wanted to try it out, so I put it on my (non-touch) laptop. The Metro UI is an abomination. I wouldn't even want it on a touch tablet ("live tiles" compare very badly to Android's widget, notifications are a joke...), on a PC, it should be taken out and shot.
Which, luckily, you can do easily with http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ [sourceforge.net], and get back the Desktop shell that the IT gods intended.
Apart form that, the new features are:
1- Remote Desktop server...
2- and that's it. Not even ReadyBoost for SSD, nor some tiered storage like Apple has started doing.
3- and after Jan 31st, you won't even get Media Server.
MS is trying to force-feed Metro UI to their Desktop users, hoping to use that familiarity to get some traction on phones and tablets. The problem are that Metro UI 1) makes no sense on non-touch machines, and 2) lacks severely even on tablets and phones.
Re:Seeing how most companies won't migrate... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Poor Sample Pool (Score:3, Informative)
There's a difference between "learning something new" and "making an ungodly mess of a previously clean interface". In our UI design classes we were told that when users have more than 7-9 options in one section of a menu, it starts to become less efficient. The ribbon is a mess that you really have to "learn" where everything is. With good menus you don't have to learn shit, you can just find what you want by looking at the headings. The few times I've had to use the ribbon bar, things have been in weird places. I've had to Google or ask someone. Whereas with all other new interfaces I'm presented with (Android or even iOS for example) things make sense. MS don't have a fucking clue when it comes to good interface design. The only worse offenders are RIM.
Re:Warm feeling (Score:4, Informative)
I'm guessing you've not used Visual Studio, SQL Server Management Studio, MS Office, Windows 8 or any other MS product. When you install an app that has ties to the "Customer Experience Improvement" stuff, there is a handy balloon at the bottom of your taskbar which invites you to click to opt out. If you dismiss the balloon, the icon in your systray stays there showing that you're collecting data.
I'm not sure how much more upfront you can get. Honestly. (And I opt out immediately for anything I use.)
Actually, it's off by default. It's an optional opt-in program [microsoft.com].
Re:It's not terrible (Score:4, Informative)
More like Vista in 2007.
Or Mac OSX's Spotlight from 2005 or '06.
(Excluding 3rd party utilities/launchers since they're not part of the out-of-the-box UI).
Re:Seeing how most companies won't migrate... (Score:4, Informative)
Taskbar. Does it have a taskbar readily available at the bottom or side of the screen at all times?
Actually, it does have a task bar. And if you have a dual monitor setup, the taskbar is open on one monitor at all times (and if you don't open some "app" on the second monitor, it is open on both monitors at all times).
Not that I'd recommend anyone upgrade to Win8. I like it, but I also got it free from my organization. I don't really see any must-have features (unlike Windows 7, which had all the nice snap-to functionality that I couldn't get with XP). Sure, it might boot faster, but it has been months since I rebooted my computers. The extended task bar (one on each monitor) is also nice, but I generally reserve one screen for "Metro" apps. Once you know the keyboard shortcuts (Win+C, Win+I, Win+H), it is better than Windows 7 for social stuff (quickly sharing websites, tweeting, Skype). But from a work point of view, it is not significantly better than Windows 7.