Guys, I am feeling both confused and a bit annoyed at the news that I just read so I have to put it here. It has always been Microsoft's vision to push forward with their "Metro", or Modern, interface, to the point where it applies the design language to every one of its products and, even though I was not converted until actually using Windows 8, as a person who loves the new Windows, I truly believe that it will be the future face of Microsoft's ecosystem. I was really happy to see how Windows Phone 8's and Xbox One's UI further confirms this vision, and brings a sense of unity to Microsoft, if only to what its shows to the outside world. Then today I read the report that Microsoft is now making booting to desktop the default option in Windows 8.1 Update 1, and I found my belief challenged. Personally I find this move very redundant. Putting all the complaints about productivity aside, Metro is, in my opinion, leaps and bounds over its competitors in terms of usability (by that I'm talking about other mobile OSes' UI.) It just feels very natural to navigate Windows 8, especially when you have a touch screen (I find a good trackpad to works just as well), which makes it ideal for expansion into other forms of computing experience e.g. tablets. And the with the desktop retaining its original functionality (without anything scaling to full screen, seriously, I don't understand people's complaints about this, since no matter where they access their programs, if it's a desktop program, they are never scaled, and therefore, no one is forced to use Metro-like multitasking), the Metro interface makes Windows infinitely more flexible than before, where everyone can get what they want in one device. This is how Microsoft vision has been communicated to me. Now it is also to my understanding that the only thing that's keeping Microsoft from achieving this vision, is the fact that it has not been able to build a competitive enough application reserve to satisfy the Metro-side of the crowd, the reason for which is that developers are still not convinced in the sustainability of the interface. So why does Microsoft, in the time that it needs to show its commitment to moving forward the most, that it needs people's confidence in its vision the most, why in such a moment does it choose to, instead of staying ahead and stick to the game, backtrack - and to me it's also a sign of - abandon its vision?
I don't know how Microsoft works, nor do I know how they came to the decision on these changes, but I personally think that whoever it is that is in charge of these developments, has gotten something fundametally wrong about customer communication. The changes had never been bad changes, just different changes, radically different changes at that, compare to the old Windows image. The reason for the implemetation having been not as successful as Microsoft has hoped for, in my opinion, was not because of how the changes clashed with customers' needs, but was because of how they clashed with customers' expectations of the product they are getting. Look at how even the most trivial feature that was added to any iStuffs or Samsung's products would be announced, explained and marketed to death months before it actually came out, and long into its life cycle (fingerprint reader, Smart Glance (I think), etc.), and there would always be explanations and step-by-step guidance and even more ads in even the store showcase models, so that there would be no confusion, no misunderstanding once the product actually reached people's hand. On the other hand, somethings so radically different in looks and function from its legacy, with the gargantual responsibility of preserving that legacy like Windows 8, just silently slid out and barely even came with a functional tutorial. Nothing that's shown on showcasing machines actually gives people an understanding of how things works, just how nice it looks. Which is a completely wrong approach, since technology is something that needs constant adaptation and relearning, and the easier and more obvious such activities are shown, the better the consumers will join in. They have fixed this somewhat in Windows 8.1, but still have not had a clear enough message. The Charm bar, for example, was one of the most confusing point to the average customers, and while I personally find it very natural and enhance the ease of use immensely, it would have benefited Microsoft much more had they properly done the explanation themselves to everyone.
The same happened with the Windows Store, Microsoft's vision on which I completely understand. However, people do not come to Windows with the expectation they have when using iOS or Android, and Windows Store, as much as it mimics the existing app stores, needs to be considered a foreign concept to Windows itself and to its users. The fact that Microsoft has failed to communicate its vision on the Store to its customers, or simply to convey the use cases and advantages of Apps on Windows over the desktop version, is also what has put it today in the chicken-and-egg situation of developers and customers.
It would therefore, be much more sensible to me, if Microsoft, instead of making small changes that only shows its uncertainty in its version, would engage itself on a mass-customer-education program, where it goes the length to guide its customers on exactly how things work in Windows 8. A tutorial video, compact and includes the essential tricks for navigating Windows 8 on startup, and constants reminders and contextual helps and tips (like what they did with windows 8.1, just more detailed and thorough, for EVERYTHING new in windows) would be a great start. Refreshing the demo video in showrooms would be good changes (not sure if they already did it anywhere else.) And from now on, be more open about the changes, and while staying firm with the vision, make sure that their customers would know exactly what they are getting into, would improve Microsoft's image immensely. I believe in Microsoft's vision, and I truly hope that they would not abandon themselves in the short-term run, and instead push forward
to victory.
-End of rant, congratulations if you get here
rly:
I don't know how Microsoft works, nor do I know how they came to the decision on these changes, but I personally think that whoever it is that is in charge of these developments, has gotten something fundametally wrong about customer communication. The changes had never been bad changes, just different changes, radically different changes at that, compare to the old Windows image. The reason for the implemetation having been not as successful as Microsoft has hoped for, in my opinion, was not because of how the changes clashed with customers' needs, but was because of how they clashed with customers' expectations of the product they are getting. Look at how even the most trivial feature that was added to any iStuffs or Samsung's products would be announced, explained and marketed to death months before it actually came out, and long into its life cycle (fingerprint reader, Smart Glance (I think), etc.), and there would always be explanations and step-by-step guidance and even more ads in even the store showcase models, so that there would be no confusion, no misunderstanding once the product actually reached people's hand. On the other hand, somethings so radically different in looks and function from its legacy, with the gargantual responsibility of preserving that legacy like Windows 8, just silently slid out and barely even came with a functional tutorial. Nothing that's shown on showcasing machines actually gives people an understanding of how things works, just how nice it looks. Which is a completely wrong approach, since technology is something that needs constant adaptation and relearning, and the easier and more obvious such activities are shown, the better the consumers will join in. They have fixed this somewhat in Windows 8.1, but still have not had a clear enough message. The Charm bar, for example, was one of the most confusing point to the average customers, and while I personally find it very natural and enhance the ease of use immensely, it would have benefited Microsoft much more had they properly done the explanation themselves to everyone.
The same happened with the Windows Store, Microsoft's vision on which I completely understand. However, people do not come to Windows with the expectation they have when using iOS or Android, and Windows Store, as much as it mimics the existing app stores, needs to be considered a foreign concept to Windows itself and to its users. The fact that Microsoft has failed to communicate its vision on the Store to its customers, or simply to convey the use cases and advantages of Apps on Windows over the desktop version, is also what has put it today in the chicken-and-egg situation of developers and customers.
It would therefore, be much more sensible to me, if Microsoft, instead of making small changes that only shows its uncertainty in its version, would engage itself on a mass-customer-education program, where it goes the length to guide its customers on exactly how things work in Windows 8. A tutorial video, compact and includes the essential tricks for navigating Windows 8 on startup, and constants reminders and contextual helps and tips (like what they did with windows 8.1, just more detailed and thorough, for EVERYTHING new in windows) would be a great start. Refreshing the demo video in showrooms would be good changes (not sure if they already did it anywhere else.) And from now on, be more open about the changes, and while staying firm with the vision, make sure that their customers would know exactly what they are getting into, would improve Microsoft's image immensely. I believe in Microsoft's vision, and I truly hope that they would not abandon themselves in the short-term run, and instead push forward
to victory.
-End of rant, congratulations if you get here
rly:
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