Former Microsoft employee launches 'Fixing Windows 8' blog

[Shawn Knight]

A former Microsoft employee has launched a blog called ‘Fixing Windows 8’ that offers suggestions that he hopes the company will implement prior to releasing their next operating system. Simply put, Mike Bibik feels that new users won’t know how to navigate the interface primarily because Microsoft has hidden several features and menus from view.

The author suggests that power users should be able to figure out how to effectively use the mouse in Windows 8 but novice or new users will be completely lost. Furthermore he complains that Metro style apps don’t have window controls so there’s no obvious way to exit or minimize an app once inside.

To back up his claims, he has linked a YouTube video from Chris Pirillo. In the clip, Pirillo’s father can be seen trying to navigate from the Windows 8 desktop back to the Metro UI unsuccessfully. If this video is any indication, the average user is certainly going to have a tough time later this year when the final version ships.

But rather than totally bash Microsoft over the choices, Bibik hopes that his words will be seen as informative and eye-opening rather than overly-critical. He even offers up some suggestions to alleviate the glaring issues, such as combining the desktop task bar with the new Start screen, combining Charms and the master apps list into a single menu, adding a dedicated Charms bar and bringing back the Start button on the desktop.

Is Microsoft trying too hard to make Windows 8 a tablet OS and overlooking traditional desktop users?

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/47801-former-microsoft-employee-launches-fixing-windows-8-blog.html

 

[TomSEA]

"Is Microsoft trying too hard to make Windows 8 a tablet OS and overlooking traditional desktop users?"

That's exactly how I view it.

 

[mario]

Watch the entire video, the last 10 seconds are totally worth it

 

[chaboi390]

mario said:
Watch the entire video, the last 10 seconds are totally worth it

thanks, totally worth it haha!

 

[Guest]

I kinda like the Metro interface but like the video...There are a few things they should change before release...or many of us will be pulling a Vista and wait Till Windows 9 and the fixes comes out. I mean I had to google how to shut the thing down...really...that man clicks and its hidden? Shutdown should be on the main screen!!!

 

[Matthew DeCarlo]

Is Microsoft trying too hard to make Windows 8 a tablet OS and overlooking traditional desktop users?

I think "overlooking" is too strong of a word. To me, that implies Microsoft is completely ignoring the desktop aspect of Windows 8 and that's not true. Windows 8 is obviously trying very hard to be a valid operating system on two completely different platforms. That's no easy task and so I don't expect Microsoft's first attempt to be perfect. There will be problems. How the company addresses those issues is what matters most in my opinion.

If this video is any indication, the average user is certainly going to have a tough time later this year when the final version ships.

I don't think the video proves much of anything. Maybe it proves an old man might not find Metro as easy as he should be able to on his first attempt. That can be easily resolved. And even if it isn't, the "average user" we all love to downtalk doesn't need to access Metro and the desktop UI. They could probably comfortably browse the Web, check their email, check the weather and chat on IM in either interface without ever using the other.

Meanwhile, Windows 8 might not ship in an ideal state for experienced folks, but power users wouldn't be power users if they didn't tweak things to their liking. I can't think of a single desktop OS I've used where I didn't make changes to the usability, be it through registry hacks or third party software. Windows 8 will be no different in that respect. I think the only major argument in all this is whether Windows 8 will be worth upgrading to over 7.

 

[Guest]

If they can't find the shutdown button.Most users will just hit the power button to shutdown..Which isn't good a thing either.
But that video made a real good point though..

 

[Guest]

They need to trash the disaster that is the metro interface and start with a fresh canvas. There are many mockup UIs of Windows 8 that look simple yet spectacularly elegant.

The Fisher Price my-first-computer tile UI does not belong on a desktop computer. It does look good on a slate/tablet PC though.

 

[Zen]

To be honest, I've kind of given up the ghost on bad talking new up and coming Operating Systems. Simply put........"it's going to be, what it's going to be"! I don't plan to take Windows 8 out for even a test drive, for the days of Windows Vista put a sour taste in my mouth in regards to Vista and Vista looking Operating Systems, I just leave them alone now and since the early days of Vista I went back to what I know and love, might not work for some, most people love their "eye candy" now a days, but Windows XP Professional does everything I want and more!

I'm sticking with XP for the duration!

 

[Timonius]

mario said:
Watch the entire video, the last 10 seconds are totally worth it

Priceless! Maybe I should be focusing my IT studies towards that area

On the other hand here might be an opportune time to push free Linux OSes to the masses. Most Linux distros I've tried are pretty straightforward if you are an average user.

 

[Guest]

We secretly replaced this user's Desktop OS with a table OS, let's see if he notices the difference.

 

[Guest]

I think that instead of updating my windows 7 to version 8, I will make a downgrade to Windows XP x64!

Windows eXPerience is the best Windows in history!... no more... Period!

 

[Guest]

that should be Tablet OS...

 

[Guest]

Complete failure on MS's part. Metro is such a failed user interface for the desktop/laptop, it's not even funny. The OS was clearly designed for touch screen devices....how many desktop and laptop computers have a touch screen?

MS doesn't get it. We just spend $100+ on Windows 7. It works well. Why the **** would anyone want to upgrade in just 2 years when Windows XP lasted us almost 10 years. Windows 7 is good enough to last 5+. It has DX11 which is at most what next generation of consoles will use.

MS should have just refined Windows 7 and released Metro for tablets and smartphones and left the traditional desktop ALONE.

 

[Guest]

Yes, come on Microsoft make two versions like you always have. You're so constrained. There's only so far you can get as your developers only reflect a small portion of the global community. Listen to us we use it so we should be able to tell you what will work. You can ignore any "I don't like change statements" just take note of the "How can I do this" and "why down't we have that" statements

 

[Guest]

I can't even begin to tell you how accurately this portrays my experience. I thought to myelf...so THIS is what non-techs feel like when you shove a computer in front of them.

Looks like Microsoft is well on their way to fulfilling their OS Success-Fail-Success-Fail pattern with this Win8 operating system (aka XP, Vista, Win7, Win8) ...and I like Microsoft! yeesh! (They gotta fix that interface before release)

 

[Lionvibez]

Zen said:
To be honest, I've kind of given up the ghost on bad talking new up and coming Operating Systems. Simply put........"it's going to be, what it's going to be"! I don't plan to take Windows 8 out for even a test drive, for the days of Windows Vista put a sour taste in my mouth in regards to Vista and Vista looking Operating Systems, I just leave them alone now and since the early days of Vista I went back to what I know and love, might not work for some, most people love their "eye candy" now a days, but Windows XP Professional does everything I want and more!

I'm sticking with XP for the duration!

I feel for you bro.

But as they say ignorance is bliss.

 

[Guest]

Metro is a nice interface for both tablet AND desktop--or maybe I should say, it CAN be.
Having tried the CP, I know when I say that Metro is a disaster right now. It is way less flexible than the desktop when you can just position multiple windows next to each other in any way or fashion you like.
Stuff is hidden away where you don't expect it is another problem.
Multi-tasking with Metro is somewhat shrouded. We don't know what we can let Metro apps do in the background. Can we compile stuff, can we defrag stuff, can we just let apps load in the background, etc?
The final problem is that all Metro apps are too simplistic. They don't need to be. If they end up too simplistic, power users will just ignore them and the holy grail that is Metro will fail, which it must not do. Remember that Metro is not just a UI; it is based on the new WinRT platform, which will make it easier to develop consistent experiences and get rid of old nuisances such as extremely ugly UI, focusing stealing applications, noisy applications that pop up messages out of nowhere, and more.

NEVERTHELESS, it is pure foolishness to say an OS is bad when you haven't tested it. After you've tested it, you have the right to say so. XP isn't going to stay around forever, anyway, and good riddance--every XP computer out there puts all other computers at risk due to old buggy, insecure code.

So all the naysayers out there - go try it out, then come back complaining. Perhaps it might enlighten you and make you wiser in what is true and what isn't.
And let's hope Microsoft fixes Windows 8 before it ships.

 

[Guest]

The interface is FUBAR, not so much the FU but definitely the BAR (Beyond All Recognition for those that don't know what FUBAR stands for). It's a horrible idea to get rid of the Start button, that is the key to navigation on a PC for your average user as the dock is to OS X. Im certain people will be confused and hate this new interface because most will find it frustrating. The part that gets me is that it is removing the Start button is not necessary, you could have a button there that takes you back to the "boxes" without sacrificing the new style. I guess we'll see what happens when Windows 8 is officially released and pre-installed in all new PC's

 

[gzt7d8]

TomSEA said:
"Is Microsoft trying too hard to make Windows 8 a tablet OS and overlooking traditional desktop users?"

That's exactly how I view it.

I totally agree with you! But, will the Blog make a difference...my opinion....no, I think they've made up their minds.

Guess I'll wait for Windows 9, I think Windows 7 has become the new Windows XP, where people love it and see no reason to move away.

gs

 

[oldikes]

The whole metro UI thing is annoying. It was cool at first because it seemed simple and elegant but now its just a headache. To many things moving around and its to complicated. This applies to xbox live and windows phone too.

 

[Guest]

ahh windows 8! it's like the tock of intel

 

[psycros]

Its too bad Microsoft doesn't go the Linux route and just support different shells right out of the box. They could even have a logo program for the Stardocks of the world while the hackers could be happy with their fifty-eight users worldwide. As long as a Windows program ran on ANY "certified desktop", everyone could be happy. Of course, the most popular desktop probably be one that looks almost identical to XP, followed closely by a Mac-alike, but Microsoft would be smiling because it would move their product. Too bad their obsessed with copying the control freaks at Apple.

 

[psycros]

Guest said:
Metro is a disaster right now. It is way less flexible than the desktop when you can just position multiple windows next to each other in any way or fashion you like.
Stuff is hidden away where you don't expect it is another problem.
Multi-tasking with Metro is somewhat shrouded. We don't know what we can let Metro apps do in the background. Can we compile stuff, can we defrag stuff, can we just let apps load in the background, etc?
The final problem is that all Metro apps are too simplistic. They don't need to be. If they end up too simplistic, power users will just ignore them and the holy grail that is Metro will fail, which it must not do. Remember that Metro is not just a UI; it is based on the new WinRT platform, which will make it easier to develop consistent experiences and get rid of old nuisances such as extremely ugly UI, focusing stealing applications, noisy applications that pop up messages out of nowhere, and more.

NEVERTHELESS, it is pure foolishness to say an OS is bad when you haven't tested it. After you've tested it, you have the right to say so. XP isn't going to stay around forever, anyway, and good riddance--every XP computer out there puts all other computers at risk due to old buggy, insecure code.

So all the naysayers out there - go try it out, then come back complaining. Perhaps it might enlighten you and make you wiser in what is true and what isn't.
And let's hope Microsoft fixes Windows 8 before it ships.

So, basically..you're saying that is sucks, which we already know, but don't take your world for it - find out how bad it sucks for yourself! Ooo-kaaay. Well, FYI the majority of us disparaging the POS that is Windows 8 <b>have</b> tried it for ourselves. The ones who haven't are probably Mac and Linux evangelists anyway. Oh, and that nonsense about XP's "insecure code" needs to be put to pasture. Slap a good security package on XP and its as safe as Windows 7 any day..because everyone disables UAC.

 

[Guest]

Well... ignorance runs amuck here...
No one said you had to get this, however it will need a quick tutorial for the people who aren't power users.

And I love how it isn't even the final version and people are hating on it already.....