Windows 8 user interface ripped apart by Nielsen Norman Group

[MilwaukeeMike]

Let me get this right. This guy gets a handful of "experienced" computer users, sits them down in front of a new OS without training or time to adapt, and they are frustrated by it. Wow, really good research here. I have seen plenty of experienced Windows users be similarly frustrated by OS X, iOS, or Android.

Typical case of designing an experiment to produce the results you want. Anyone who can't see this is an *****.

I have been using Windows 8 since the first preview, on both a desktop and tablet. Its far from perfect, but overall a step in the right direction. Try it for AT LEAST TWO WEEKS and make an attempt to learn before you judge. Why not try having an INFORMED OPINION for once?

Unfortunately, that's not how many people like to live. Nowadays we want things NOW. Not in 5 minutes, not after some learning... now. The learning curve has become a learning step.

This whole ripping on Metro reminds me of people ripping on the Galaxy Note for having a big screen. If it's not what you want, then don't buy it, but stop telling other people that what they like sucks.

 

[Vrmithrax]

I'm a Gamer, Custom builder and I disagree with you and think he is right!

So as a custom builder, what will you build if Windows 8 does away with the desktop? I highly doubt you'll begin building custom ultrabooks, or liquid cooling them. Do you actually believe that you can eek out the same performance in a laptop/ultrabook/tablet, as you can in a desktop that has far more cooling/graphics/processing/motherboard/upgrade options? Do you honestly believe that an operating system has that much power, to completely eliminate an entire platform? Please enlighten me so that I can understand your reasoning.

I took that line of commenting to mean the Windows Desktop, not necessarily desktop computers in general... Now you've got me second-guessing myself! Heh

 

[KapteinPyn]

I wonder what the same test would show with less experienced users.

Windows hasn't changed its user interface this significantly in quite a few years.
If you make changes to a workflow that has been the same for years of course people would have reduced productivity.

The test should be repeated after a year of use and the results should be compared, this would be more accurate.

 

[Wendig0]

I took that line of commenting to mean the Windows Desktop, not necessarily desktop computers in general... Now you've got me second-guessing myself! Heh

If that's what he meant by his comment, then yes, I can certainly understand that. I was under the impression that he was speaking of the desktop computer platform, which I believe is here to stay for many years to come.

 

[Lionvibez]

I took that line of commenting to mean the Windows Desktop, not necessarily desktop computers in general... Now you've got me second-guessing myself! Heh

I was referring to the windows desktop not general computers.

 

[Jim$ter]

Am I only one who hates that Metro has to run full screen. I mean I want to run multiple metro windows. I have a 24" monitor for a reason. I personally just avoid the metro side and forget its there till I have to go back in there for something and remember how annoying it is. Can I ripe out Metro and have it just in a small desktop window...then maybe I could stand it. Till then the desktop of Windows 8 is at least rocking!

 

[Lionvibez]

Am I only one who hates that Metro has to run full screen. I mean I want to run multiple metro windows. I have a 24" monitor for a reason. I personally just avoid the metro side and forget its there till I have to go back in there for something and remember how annoying it is. Can I ripe out Metro and have it just in a small desktop window...then maybe I could stand it. Till then the desktop of Windows 8 is at least rocking!

Install Start8

 

[Vrmithrax]

This whole ripping on Metro reminds me of people ripping on the Galaxy Note for having a big screen. If it's not what you want, then don't buy it, but stop telling other people that what they like sucks.

But, it's not quite the same... If you don't like the Note, you can still buy a S III or one of the wide range of other Android phones that meet your needs. What scares people is how hard Metro is being pushed even if we don't want it, and that it looks like it is here to stay - so if you want to use Windows, you don't have the luxury of choosing other options. Luckily there are workarounds and utilities to tweak the user experience - most of us just think those should have been provided from the start, and given the option on which interface to use.

 

[Wendig0]

I was referring to the windows desktop not general computers.

Well that makes MUCH more sense... lol

 

[Chris B.]

Not surprised by this at all.

 

[dennis777]

If you haven't try windows 8 yet - don't complain... every software has its pro and cons.. live with it.

 

[Chris B.]

Purchased it. Tried it. Didn't like it. Went back to Windows 7.

 

[ReederOnTheRun]

Purchased it. Tried it. Liked it. Rockin Windows 8 from now on.

 

[Guest]

If you haven't try windows 8 yet - don't complain... every software has its pro and cons.. live with it.

But just know the majority of people who tried Win8 went back to Win7 because it had fewer cons which is a pretty big pro in hindsight.

 

[Guest]

Who or what is nielsen norman and why in the name of fishpaste should we give a hoot ?

 

[captaincranky]

Oo, whee, I bet if Narcissus had himself one of them thar Sur-facey tablet thingys, he wouldn't have set around staring at his own reflection in a puddle. Now you can take your puddle with you!

Face it...(pun intended), it too easy to get caught if you carry a genuine mirror around with you, and it's less of a PITA than unbolting the door to your microwave. (Which is unlikely to fit in your backpack anyway).

Window 8 rules, for narcissists and catatonics alike....!

 

[Tanstar]

I said it before, I'll say it again - I'm finding windows 8 excellent. It's new features are rocking. I don't even mind Metro. What is bugging me are the apps on Metro - the photo's, music, videos etc are all very lacking.I cannot for the life of me find out where to add an email account on mail for Metro.
And as said before, the file search is crap

So the Apps in Metro (the reason MS made Win8) all suck, but Win8 is rocking?

 

[Kishore Kumar A]

http://www.nngroup.com/

Try out the website. If that's his idea of UI / UX, I don't want that...

 

[HellcatM]

"The group invited 12 experienced PC users to try out Windows 8 on the new Surface RT tablet as well as a traditional computer. Sure the sample group was small but regardless, he was able to draw some pretty telling conclusions based on the users? feedback."

What did these users do for a living? Were they just experienced PC users that they got off the street or IT professionals? Depending on how experienced these people are, this could be a very one sided study.

In reality the only people that matter right now are people off the street that buy Windows 8 devices and so far from what I hear people who have them like them. I don't trust most bloggers, or analysts because I don't think they can be non-bias.

 

[avoidz]

My 5 years old son use Win8 without problem...

Right. And your 5-year-old knows so much about productivity and real computer use. To him it just looks colorful and moves in interesting ways. Not a good recommendation, but thanks.

 

[Guest]

Let's face it, some people like Windows 8 however based on various feedback that I have seen, most people prerfer Windows 7. I believe this is because most people are used to Windows 7, run it on a desktop or non-touch device and it is very solid OS. Enter Windows 8 with it's dual modes that doesn't add up for most people. I love how other people say, if you just add Start 8, don't use Metro and stay on the desktop it's great. So if you convert to Windows 7 style it's great? In any event to each his/her own, pick and choose what works for you.

 

[TechM633]

I work at a networking help desk. I was just remoted into a Windows 8 machine yesterday and Server 2012 the day before. I have never wanted to kick a computer before, until yesterday. Do you have any idea how difficult it can be to explain to the end user who needs help turning his computer, why he no longer has a start button? Or better yet, explain to him what the Metro Interface even is?

Microsoft made a big mistake with Windows 8. They should have utilized windows 7 more into windows 8. Make the metro interface an "OPTION" and not an integral part of the OS. That way, you keep the best of Windows 7 and if you want to use their new Metro style, you could turn it on if you so choose.

Windows 8, while cool in some regards, just made the life of guys in my industry absolutely miserable.

 

[sambob]

And Windows 8 is UGLY. I will never use it, it will be a flop like Vista, wait....... even worse than Vista. Look for Windows 9 next year.

I think the words you're looking for are "Microsoft bob" running on a radioshack Tandy ugly.

 

[sambob]

JUST STOP......I think EVERYBODY need's to take a step back...breath In.....breath out...O.K.
Now...If you're not happy with win 8 don't use It, or buy It.
The bad men from Microsoft aren't going to come to you're house and force you to Install and use Win 8, Win 7 Isn't going to magically uninstall Itself, just keep using the OS you're happy with and we can wait for Win 9.

 

[captaincranky]

JUST STOP......I think EVERYBODY need's to take a step back...breath In.....breath out...O.K.
Now...If you're not happy with win 8 don't use It, or buy It.
The bad men from Microsoft aren't going to come to you're house and force you to Install and use Win 8, Win 7 Isn't going to magically uninstall Itself, just keep using the OS you're happy with and we can wait for Win 9.

But really, don' you think that if enough people encourage M$ by saying nice things about Win 8, and buying it, that might embolden M$ to make Windows 9 even worse?.