Windows 10 a disapointment, hybrids and tablets are dead

[rdubmu]

Most people have desktop PCs. Good thing Windows 10

I can't wait to try the continuity feature on my SP3, currently with this release it isn't there...

I always thought that MS should have merged the desktop and the W8 start screen. The start menu in W10 is so much better than W8. I just want the desktop to be the start screen of W8

 

[nasellok]

Lets just be honest - All Microsoft wants to do is get the billion computers out there running XP and 7 to upgrade to 10 - charge 15$ for the upgrade (money for MS), offer increased performance, access to all the "store apps" (more money for MS). They are providing the familiar start menu, which is the biggest gripe all the holdouts - they need to give a reason to upgrade. They will get all the 8.1 enterprise hiccups cleared up, so businesses across the world can upgrade (more $ for MS). They see Macbooks flying off shelves, and are seeing mediocre sales of the surface tablets (I don't understand why, since my SP3 blows away any MacBook in every category imaginable (well, except for battery life). They know something must be done. If they can convince a vast majority of people to upgrade to 10, and really make a kick a$$ way of integrating Windows Phones - (Think Apple Continuity, only better)....even if they could switch 3-5% of iphone users to Windows Phone it would be a huge #. MS doesn't want all the people out there using Iphones and Android to not use PC's anymore. They have to establish their ecosystem, and do it better than the competition in a way that makes all the iphone toting people that use PC's (a lot of people) want to keep using their PC's, and not switch to OSX "to be in the apple ecosystem".

 

[fatclue_98]

^^ You're assuming these billions of XP and 7 computers meet the minimum requirements to be able to upgrade. Windows 7, not so much. But many XP units lack the hardware to run 7, much less 8.

 

[nasellok]

My 6 year old Lenovo Thinkpad W500 with Core2 Duo processor and AMD graphics upgraded to 8.1 from XP (was actually a Vista downgrade) with no issues whatsoever. It is a 32-bit processor as well........sure, I guess, if your running Pentium 3 from 2005, you may not be able to upgrade.....but the whole point is, for 2-300$, you can get a basic PC or a Convertible running 10, that is similar to your old one.........instead of moving to OSX, or to having just a tablet.

 

[Peter Lu]

I think this is the story.
iOS was so successful, so Microsoft tried to play catch up games.
First, they released Windows 8 to catch up with mobile, but they have disappointed the desktop users. Windows 8 was so hard to use for a PC user.
Then they realized that Windows 8 didn't win back the mobile market, and it has already started to push PC users into using MAC. No winning on the mobile market, and instead losing on their traditional PC market. No good.
Then, Windows 10 comes to the rescue. PC is back. bye bye mobile, although they insisting on saying Window 10 will work on mobile.

To Microsoft: Start building a dedicated mobile system and link it to the desktop system just like what Apple did, otherwise you are not gonna win.

This is a sad story of playing catch up games.

From an engineer & UX consultant

 

[iamtim]

Windows 8 was so hard to use for a PC user.

*rolls eyes*

 

[mjrtoo]

I think this is the story.
iOS was so successful, so Microsoft tried to play catch up games.
First, they released Windows 8 to catch up with mobile, but they have disappointed the desktop users. Windows 8 was so hard to use for a PC user.
Then they realized that Windows 8 didn't win back the mobile market, and it has already started to push PC users into using MAC. No winning on the mobile market, and instead losing on their traditional PC market. No good.
Then, Windows 10 comes to the rescue. PC is back. bye bye mobile, although they insisting on saying Window 10 will work on mobile.

To Microsoft: Start building a dedicated mobile system and link it to the desktop system just like what Apple did, otherwise you are not gonna win.

This is a sad story of playing catch up games.

From an engineer & UX consultant

You know that windows 8 sold more.copies than there are mac users right?

 

[trekgraham]

A unified operating system is the way to go. Making a way to be able to go from PC to mobile to tablet is very important. Apple is surely working on this with incorporating iMessage into Mac OSX

 

[rex.reyesiii]

*rolls eyes*

*rolls eyes*

*am rolling eyes with you here...

 

[EC Translating Services]

Since i was puzzled by the negative comments i went to install it on a virtual machine (here is procedure and links for those who want to do it How to install the Windows 10 Technical Preview in VMWare Player).
Due to time constraints i won't be long but my opinion is as follows:
A) The whole experience is "simplified".
B) Things are where you expect to find them out of the box, like in the old W7
C) The Start menu works for me. It has all the traditional items AND the chance to add tiles for the most used apps or for weather etc. Personally i'd add an option to make the tiled section STICKY and more customizable (alphabetic order for apps, grouping etc.). I'd call it "Pseudo-ModernUI mode". This will allow users who are unhappy about the traditional environment to still operate within the modern UI in a way. Anyway on hybrids and tablets that environment will be present. I don't like the fact that i can't add my own links in the start menu (they are now tiles though and it works fine for me).
D) It's fast also on a VM. Very fast, very efficient and, to date, flawless. Everything works including Microsoft Updates (already got two).
E) You can customize the start menu color and i find it very nice.
F) No more double interface, double menus, double anything. You work in ONE interface with a bit of "Modern taste". No charms as promised. Touch interface is fast, very fast and very accurate. In short, it could be a beta too and people could use it (although many would be complaining for the missing options i don't see after just a few hours of usage)
Below some pics for those who are curious:








EDIT:
Digging more into articles i found out the Metro UI is there in full (Article here:http://www.windowscentral.com/get-back-modern-start-screen-windows-10)
Here it is. You just need to change the options in the navigation menu.



Honestly, can't imagine anything more flexible than this. And this is just a preview.

I have suggested Microsoft some changes/optimizations through the dedicated channel. I'd recommend anyone willing to rant to also go rant there so there are higher chances that rants turn into something constructive out of the box.
I have also suggested to allow for some tiles/widgets (News apps, weather, calendar, and a few others) to be addable as widgets on the desktop. This is because i may like or need to have multiple timezones showing in a comfortable place (I use a third party app at the moment and i am not fond of third party apps).

What do you think? I am genuinely curious!

 

[smoledman]

It is disappointing to see that the Control Panel is not going any time soon. You would think that 3 years would be enough to port all those settings to Modern UI.

 

[EC Translating Services]

It is disappointing to see that the Control Panel is not going any time soon. You would think that 3 years would be enough to port all those settings to Modern UI.

If you mean that it looks OLD compared to all the rest i agree. If you compare it to anything modern UI, personally, i find it much more functional than whatever i ever used in Modern UI. I'd keep it as an under the hood function. I am not saying you can't get a good similar thing in MUI.....i just say they didn't come up with good solution for this. Remember users were tired of searching for things and scrolling the screen vertically or horizontally looking for icons and moving around charm bars to find what they could have with one click/swipe of the Start button.

 

[trekgraham]

It is disappointing to see that the Control Panel is not going any time soon. You would think that 3 years would be enough to port all those settings to Modern UI.

I think the problem is, too many have fully accepted modern UI to move away from control panel. Really surprised that is a fact, anyone else notice the desktop is pretty much a. Start Screen? Minus live tile's, and resizing of tiles(icons). Most fill the desktop with icons of their favorite programs. Modern UI just upped the ante by making them customizable and alive. This just reinforces what I learned from my days in tech support. You change one thing on some peoples screen and they can't find a thing

 

[orangeman34]

So far I'd say it is the complete opposite of a disappointment for me. I was actually kind of underwhelmed when I first saw the leaked screenshots and the announcement afterward, but after installing the preview I actually really like it at this point and it should only get better as they continue to update it.

 

[Mike Maio]

It's a global test! Test it,report its bugs but dont post any crap about it as if its a finished product.. It works awesome desktop wise though.

 

[Chris Stevens1]

I agree that the Old look is not consistent with the Modern UI.
That said, I go to control panel so seldom that the "Look: is low priority to me.
Many user never even open control panel, so I see why it is low priority to MS.

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.... Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

[Karthik Naik]

^^ You're assuming these billions of XP and 7 computers meet the minimum requirements to be able to upgrade. Windows 7, not so much. But many XP units lack the hardware to run 7, much less 8.

anything which will run windows xp will run windows 7 even better and even more with windows 8 provided it has a gpu for windows 8 effects etc
from my experience with a pentium 4,xp was dead slow with 1gb ram,the minute i put 7,it literally flies,14seconds to boot!! even faster than my other systems with better specs
i cant install 8 on it again because my nvidia 8600gt died out on me,but 7 still runs fine

 

[Karthik Naik]

A unified operating system is the way to go. Making a way to be able to go from PC to mobile to tablet is very important. Apple is surely working on this with incorporating iMessage into Mac OSX

but if two macs/idevices are running different versions of OSX/Mac ,it doesnt work,facetime etc
so i cant call my friend via facetime since hes on ios 8 and im on ios 6.1.3
microsoft has the edge with skype provided they fix bugs

 

[trekgraham]

I gotta say I thought the look of Windows 8 but finally tried it a and I love it. Though I still got trouble getting used to IE for Windows 8(not desktop) especially address bar location

 

[rodan01]

1) THIS IS A TECHNICAL PREVIEW I.E. its very early software meaning its very flexible and MS will add or change features.
...
4) I like the windowed apps as i tend to run both modern and win x86 apps together, it makes my life easier. It sounds like you want a phone where apps are immersive this is a computer not an over sized phone its meant for productivity and entertainment and as others have said MS can change allot so they can even add an immersive mode for you if you suggest it enough times. BTW most people use multiple apps and have many windows open so windowed modern apps make more sense than always immersive apps.

5) The OS is named Windows ... so i don't understand why you don't see the value in windowed modern apps as both Google and Apple have every thing run in a window on their OS .... and i don't see apple merging IOS and OSX any time soon apple only does things when they have perfected it so you may have a very long wait. i see merit in what you say but for a power user windowed apps are better but the option to go immersive or full screen for both desktop and modern apps should be there like what Apple offers.

It's not early, It's quite late, in a few months they have to be feature complete.
Power users are a small niche, and even for them is unusual to work with many apps on the screen at the same time. Although, a better snap feature in Windows 8 could accommodate more apps in more complex layouts for the corner cases.
Immersive apps with a good snap functionality is a more productive environment for most of the users. Managing resizable and movable windows doesn't add much value, but it adds a lot of friction.
Rumors are that Apple is working in a 13-inch iPad, maybe they've perfected some kind of "Modern UI".

B) Things are where you expect to find them out of the box, like in the old W7
D) It's fast also on a VM. Very fast, very efficient and, to date, flawless. Everything works including Microsoft Updates (already got two).
F) No more double interface, double menus, double anything. You work in ONE interface with a bit of "Modern taste". No charms as promised.

Yes, Windows 10 is Windows 7 with tiles, and It's fast.
The double interface was the problem with Windows 8. I though they would introduce a way to run win32 apps in the Modern environment, but they did the opposite wrapping the beautiful experience of Modern apps in ugly windows. They're filling the screen of useless chrome and adding friction and complexity.

Windows 10 loses many of the good features of Windows 8 and introduce new usability problems. For example, the Mail store app have a bar at the bottom with three dots to improve discoverability. That bar is easy to hit in Windows 8 with mouse and touch because you just go to bottom of the screen, but in Windows 10 the taskbar is at the bottom, and the bar with the three dots is really hard to hit with the mouse and almost impossible with touch. Windows 7 is not touch friendly, Windows-7-with-tiles neither.

Windows 10 doesn't add much value to the OS landscape. Microsoft looks like a scared company running backwards, trying to hide themselves in the big and falling desktop market share. They're destroying most of the work they did with Windows 8 to bring back Windows 7. Irrelevance is not a random event, It's caused by wrong decisions and cowardice. If Steve Jobs had been an coward, we would still be using feature phones.