Win 9 to arrive November...maybe

[usually_quiet]

I use computers every day, extensively for both work and play. My work involves requirements to use Windows and MS based products. I do not like the interface of Windows 8 or 8.1 and I absolutely consider them less user friendly and intuitive to use than previous versions of Windows. I have also found successive versions of MS Office less user friendly than some of the previous versions. I do not understand the logic of this. The Interface for users should be the easiest part to design. I think there are many areas where Windows 8/8.1 is superior to previous versions of Windows and that would be just fine if they change the Interface to make it similar and user friendly as compared to previous versions, whether the user is using a touch screen or not.

At first I REALLY hated Windows 8 when I got a new laptop with it last year. I feel I can adjust to a less user friendly interface far easier than "most" users, I just wonder why? I teach online and I have students who tell me their issues when installing a new program (such as Visual Basic) on their new Windows 8 laptop. They can't find it in their program list so they think it is not compatible with Windows 8. It is, but they just don't know how to find all their installed programs. I don't think there should be such a high learning curve for typical computer users who simply buy a new Windows PC or laptop.

I use a program called Classic Shell which makes the Interface mostly like what I was used to before. I have figured out how to get around with Windows 8 but I still choose to continue using Classic Shell. It is just nicer to use. I was really disheartened with Microsoft when I discovered the new Windows 8, but I have mellowed some for two reasons, both of them are admittedly biased reasons.

First of all, my husband got me a MS Surface Pro 2 for Christmas. Of course it has 8.1 on it (and I added Classic Shell). I'm typing on it right now and I absolutely love this thing. I am even going to try video editing on it one of these days (generally I prefer my big desktop and 23 inch screen) with Windows 7. But I know this little tablet/PC combo can do the job of video editing.

Second, my oldest daughter has started a new job working for Microsoft as a researcher and programmer. I still think the Interface is unnecessarily clunky and not user friendly for those who actually NEED to use computer for more than watching Youtube videos and surfing the Internet.

As a retired computer programmer, I can tell you that you are dead wrong in the assumption that designing a good user interface is easy. Designing a good user interface is not a simple task.

Having read a few books on the subject user interface design, I can tell you that if using a Windows programs seemed more intuitive in the past, that feeling was largely based on the similarity to other programs or real-world objects someone is already familiar with, plus user interface design guidelines that Microsoft has encouraged programmers designing software for Windows to follow. The main reason why Windows 8.x is so confusing is that it is a significant departure from the GUI design found in older versions of Windows since Windows 95. If the situation were reversed, and the Windows 8.1 interface was the old familiar face of Windows instead and the new GUI was the one used in Windows 7, people would complain about that too. [Edit] Change is always hard in some way.

[mazinz]

A big issue for many with win 8 is that they want an actual desktop feel, not a tablet/phone feel. If you want that just buy a tablet or phone. However that is just my opinion based on what I have heard many say. I do work for one of the rather larger office supply chains and quite recently we sent back a TON of win 8 discs to Microsoft because they were just not selling at all. They are losing a lot of money with win 8 and the win 7 sales are going up. Curious to see what direction they do take if they do spring a win 9 earlier than expected

[jagabo]

As a retired computer programmer, I can tell you that you are dead wrong in the assumption that designing a good user interface is easy. Designing a good user interface is not a simple task.

They could have left the Win7 GUI intact (or just minor updates) and added Metro for people with touch screens. Then given you the option to select which you want to boot to.

[deadmeow]

If you want to sell more, then just give people what they want. Why not give people the option of having a Windows GUI from any previous version of windows? They slap so much useless garbage into it, just give people what they want. It is not difficult. Simple is very simple to do.

[usually_quiet]

As a retired computer programmer, I can tell you that you are dead wrong in the assumption that designing a good user interface is easy. Designing a good user interface is not a simple task.

They could have left the Win7 GUI intact (or just minor updates) and added Metro for people with touch screens. Then given you the option to select which you want to boot to.

Like I said people generally dislike change, although every once in a while I do see a post from someone who prefers the Start Screen. I'll agree Microsoft's attempt to make an interface that works on all devices was unsuccessful. Someone else suggested an even more elegant solution than yours, to automatically configure the user interface based on the type of device or based on whether or not there is a touch screen. However Microsoft moved closer to what you suggested with Windows 8.1.

There isn't a global "Use traditional Windows interface" setting but there are settings that make it possible to configure Windows 8.1 to boot into the Desktop and settings that turn off the hot corners. The only thing missing is a built in option to turn on the Start Menu, so it isn't necessary to install Classic Shell or Start8. With a third party Start Menu replacement, I rarely find myself on the Start Screen.

[nic2k4]

Here's an interesting blog post from a microsoft employee on how to help make win 8.x feel more like 7. Of course nothing beats Classic Shell, but it would seem that talk of going back to the old windows is not taboo anymore. Wonder if that's a sign of what win 9 will be like.