Windows 8: How it should have been

[AaHaa]

After all the negative reports about Windows 8 and the PC-market, I decided to share my thoughts about how I think Microsoft should have made Windows 8.

First off, don't get my wrong, I love Windows 8. I think it's a truly innovative OS that shows us how we can use our computer with touch-oriented controls. But that's also the problem. There are just too much old and/or professional PC's out there, that just don't need a touch-interface. Why would you upgrade your old HP notebook? Just because of the faster boot times? I get why Microsoft wanted to keep things simple with one (well... two if you count Windows RT) versions of the OS, but I think for a lot of people, it just feels like stuff they didn't ask for.
I think Micrsoft should have made three versions of Windows 8:



Windows 8 Desktop:
Just your old average desktop, but with new and improved features that will excite professionals and people who only use programs like Office and Photoshop. Also meant for people who don't have a touchscreen and don't need a touch-interface, but still want to get in on the faster boot times and updated task managers and stuff.

Windows 8 Hybrid:
The Windows 8 we know today. The deskop, combined with the Modern UI. The perfect OS for all those hybrid laptops and tablets out there. Perfect for people who often switch from work-mode (typing documents in Office, designing stuff in Photoshop) to casual-mode (checking your mail in the mail-app, playing Angry Birds) and app-developers (design and create your app in the Deskopt, immediately test in the Modern UI).

Windows 8 Touch:
The most simple version of Windows 8, that only features the Modern UI. Great for tablets like the Surface. No hassle or confusion with switching to Deskop, just one, simple, beautiful interface. Perfect for people who use their device like an iPad (I'm thinking elderly who just like to check their mail and play Wordfeud now and then) and don't need a desktop anymore.

In a nutshell, the whole idea is like this: let users choose! Don't force a OS on everyone that TRIES to do everything right but gets an awful lot wrong.

I really hope Microsoft will choose an approach like this in the future, because I don't see this version of Windows 8 ever become popular. Not with all the non-touch devices that still exist.
Anyone who feels the same way? I'd love to hear it. Also, I'd love to hear from people who completely disagree with me, because I like to be proven wrong about the fact that Microsoft kinda messed up

 

[maroonedWP]

I think desktop version is pointless. Just make an on-off switch for new ui and serve.

 

[martinmc78]

I can see what your getting at but I think what your suggesting is how it should have been marketed. If you take the RT version out of the equation for a second what you've got above is how they should have shown it off.
Desktop mode - If you want to keep with the win7 vibe but want the new features of 8 then you can use this mode. Theres no real need to use the Metro UI you can just load up all your x86 programs
Hybrid mode for people that want to use both legacy x86 programmes and new apps in the Metro UI

Maybe if they provided a setting to boot to desktop on startup or boot to metro it would help a lot of people out. Just my opinion but I don't feel the need for separate packages W8 desktop and hybrid should just have been a setting toggle in the Bios on how to boot the machine. Would have solved a lot of the bashing I think.

 

[AaHaa]

Yeah you might be right... Maybe a simple screen when installing Windows 8 that says:

How would you like to use this Windows 8 machine?

• As a professional workspace machine without touchscreen, with the traditional desktop interface
• As a touchscreen device, with the new Modern UI, optimized for touch
• As a hybrid device, with both the traditional desktop and the new Modern UI.

Might have taken away a lot of the complaints...

 

[Daniel Ratcliffe]

Yeah you might be right... Maybe a simple screen when installing Windows 8 that says:

How would you like to use this Windows 8 machine?

• As a professional workspace machine without touchscreen, with the traditional desktop interface
• As a hybrid device, with both the traditional desktop and the new Modern UI.

Might have taken away a lot of the complaints...

I'm inclined to agree here. But then if we used just the traditional desktop interface, what if I wanted to play Rocket Riot for example?

 

[AaHaa]

I'm inclined to agree here. But then if we used just the traditional desktop interface, what if I wanted to play Rocket Riot for example?

If you knew you'd want to use both the Desktop and the Modern UI, you should have chosen Hybrid, I guess
I think Desktop-mode should, in this case, mostly be targeted towards businesses and workspace-PC's that won't ever use the Modern UI apps at all. Not even for Rocket Riot

 

[ChMar]

The complains are there just because people like to complain. Is it so hard to press a tile to get to desktop side? And stay there all day? And no there are no 2 versions of the same OS as some have the impression. There is only one os but the version for ARM is doubted Windows RT so people do not have the bright idea that they can run old apps made for intel architecture. But no one is stopping anyone from making an app that can ran on windows rt in desktop mode(see office),

I'm using a machine without touch for work. And I have windows 8 professional installed on it. And I'm not at all upset with windows 8. I need to go to the desktop I go to desktop. I want to run the email client or some modern apps I do that.

I truly don't see any problem. If you are using only desktop just do so. You just have a different start screen(you can still do what you used to do with your old start button).

After using windows 8 for some month now day by day(home and work) I can say that I have no problem with non-touch devices running windows 8. And I truly do not understand the people who complain. To me they seam more like haters who now can voice their complains.

 

[martinmc78]

If you knew you'd want to use both the Desktop and the Modern UI, you should have chosen Hybrid, I guess
I think Desktop-mode should, in this case, mostly be targeted towards businesses and workspace-PC's that won't ever use the Modern UI apps at all. Not even for Rocket Riot

Im thinking its not part of the install, W8 is W8 no matter how you want to use it - just maybe a toggle in the bios that activates metro that way if you choose after a few months that you feel you want to use metro its just a quick F2 on startup to activate it - maybe even keep it separate from bios as that could get some people into trouble - say F1 for W8 usage options

 

[martinmc78]

The complains are there just because people like to complain. Is it so hard to press a tile to get to desktop side? And stay there all day? And no there are no 2 versions of the same OS as some have the impression. There is only one os but the version for ARM is doubted Windows RT so people do not have the bright idea that they can run old apps made for intel architecture. But no one is stopping anyone from making an app that can ran on windows rt in desktop mode(see office),

I'm using a machine without touch for work. And I have windows 8 professional installed on it. And I'm not at all upset with windows 8. I need to go to the desktop I go to desktop. I want to run the email client or some modern apps I do that.

I truly don't see any problem. If you are using only desktop just do so. You just have a different start screen(you can still do what you used to do with your old start button).

After using windows 8 for some month now day by day(home and work) I can say that I have no problem with non-touch devices running windows 8. And I truly do not understand the people who complain. To me they seam more like haters who now can voice their complains.

I see your point and having used W8 since launch I agree with you - but if you added the option to open in desktop and lock off metro but keep W8 core functions how many haters would there have been?

 

[1101x10]

I use some of the Metro apps even though I have a standard desktop - Mail, OneNote, Music, a few other apps and games. I've usually found though it's the people that shout the loudest that have the least to say and if Microsoft had listened to them every time they release a new OS we would still be running MS-DOS.

 

[Coreldan]

Using Windows 8 since it launched both on my desktop PC with no touch and a tad later with Surface RT. The Metro UI is by no means "touch only", it works perfectly fine with mouse and keyboard. Most of this whining is just not wanting anything to be different.

There are a few reasons for Windows 8s "lack of" success.

1) It's different, people don't want things to change
2) Win 7 is a rock solid OS. There is basically no reason to upgrade from it at this point
3) Win 7 is not even really an old OS yet. The reason why Windows 7 had so much better rates when it launched was cos Windows Vista wasn't actually a good OS

Win 8 will be all over the place in a few years when people upgrade the new PCs where it's gonna be preinstalled. Just cos Windows 8 doesnt make the average customer go ZOMG ZOMG NEED TO UPGRADE NOW doesn't mean it's not gonna be succesful down the line, really.

Personally I wouldnt go back to Windows 7 unless someone paid me a decent amount. Once you get used to the changes and learn to embrace the new great features of Windows 8, there is no reason to go back. Unless you somewhy feel some weird attraction to the old start menu (Who really spent time there?), Windows 8 does everything Win 7 did and a handful more.

 

[ChMar]

I see your point and having used W8 since launch I agree with you - but if you added the option to open in desktop and lock off metro but keep W8 core functions how many haters would there have been?

The same amount. They would have complained that they hate the metro stuff and it should not be at all. That on windows all metro should be run inside windows that the desktop side is too much the same like on windows 7, etc

The live tiles while nice seams to crate a fair amount of hate. Is it more useful when you start your computer to see those live tiles that communicate you information like news, unread mails, calendar appointments, number of available updates, etc than jumping you directly to desktop. Sure it is. And going to desktop is one click away anyway.

 

[Daniel Ratcliffe]

The same amount. They would have complained that they hate the metro stuff and it should not be at all. That on windows all metro should be run inside windows that the desktop side is too much the same like on windows 7, etc.

Nah, they would have complained that it should just jump straight to the start screen. People love to complain. Scheuden freude (happiness at the misery of others). Putting something down makes people feel better.

 

[AaHaa]

Okay, I get that people like to complain, but that doesn't change the fact that Windows 8, at this rate, is kind of failing. I really think something like a screen to customize the way you use your computer will help market Windows 8. Cause I have to admit, I've been having some trouble figuring out when I want to use the desktop and when I want to use the modern UI. For example, I'd like to only use the desktop only for Office and Adobe (kind of like a workspace, with Modern UI being the "casual" space), but the Modern UI just doesn't offer enough user-friendliness to go back to it. I still use Zune on the desktop because the Music-app messes up my music library. I still use Firefox in desktop mode because IE11 doesn't have AdBlock. I still use Google/Bing maps in Firefox because the Maps-app is pretty basic and lacking a lot of features.
I guess with future updates, these complaints will go away, but for the moment, to me, it feels like the Modern UI is just "sitting" there, being neglected. If I'd have had the option to use this PC as a 100% desktop workstation, I would have never had these complaints.
On my Lenovo Yoga though, the deskop/Modern hybrid feels very cool and innovative. I wouldn't want a different version on that device.

 

[EauRouge]

Yeah you might be right... Maybe a simple screen when installing Windows 8 that says:

How would you like to use this Windows 8 machine?

• As a professional workspace machine without touchscreen, with the traditional desktop interface
• As a touchscreen device, with the new Modern UI, optimized for touch
• As a hybrid device, with both the traditional desktop and the new Modern UI.

Might have taken away a lot of the complaints...

SUPERB point. This would have been brilliant and silenced the critics.

 

[MERCDROID]

I actually just bought a Windows 8 laptop yesterday, and I must say, I wished I had done so a lot sooner!! I gave my Windows 7 laptop to my younger brother for Christmas; and, to be honest, I was trying to avoid buying another "PC," even though I had absolutely no issues with Windows 7. I bought a Chromebook (waste of $200), then a Galaxy Note 10.1 (waste of $450), and finally this Toshiba laptop (easily the best $380 I've spent).

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, I just wanted to say that I, personally, don't understand all the hate for Windows 8. It's very intuitive and definitely a worthy upgrade from Windows 7. However, I do agree that an option to only use the traditional desktop (for the power users and others) would have been a great option.

 

[ChMar]

I am a power user. And I do not feel the need for separate versions or anything. And once you read any kind of MS info about what your gestures are you are fine(with both mouse or touch). I find this very curious. You buy a washing machine or a new car you read that manual to see what the lights means. You spend 5 minutes to look in that book and you are good to go. I suppose that when you know you install yourself a new os you would spend those 5 minutes to read too.

I read that someone had a problem with checkbox selection using the touch. MS clearly stated that to select elements in lists you make a motion perpendicular to the scrolling direction. So if you are scrolling a list vertically you would swipe on the element horizontally. If you scroll your list horizontally you will swipe your elements vertically. It's not counter intuitive at all is actually normal. Read that once and you get it. (It's made this way so your scroll motion is fast and fluid and you selection motion is perpendicular to avoid using a delay in scroll to determine if the user wants to scroll or select an element)

I read how the charm bar should always be on and I wonder if those people understood the concept of metro and getting rid of chrome.
Everyone can use windows 8 as 100% desktop station no problem. It's just the start screen from where you launch the programs. That's all that is different for people wanting to use only the desktop.

I have friends that come in visit and use my windows box notebook(no touch) and they can't accommodate. They see the start screen and their minds empty instantly. Or they don't want to understand how you quit the video app. When I ask them what is so difficult I don't get an answer just a blank look but those are the same people that would click any kind of link in browsers and answer yes to any popup no matter what that popup wants.

 

[AaHaa]

Windows Desktop making a comeback with Windows 8.1? | Windows Phone Central

And there you have it. I should go work for Microsoft or something.

 

[martinmc78]

Just goes to show you that MS do know what's needed to make W8 a success
Sent from my Windows 8 device using Board Express