I HATE Windows 8. This is the worst OS ever invented.

Mark,

I wonder if you realise that Metro is the Modern UI and that Desktop is the "legacy" UI which will only be kept until application developers have ported their Windows apps to Metro ? (or at least this is my understanding on what the current Microsoft focus is all about, and I believe this direction is to make the transition to Cloud based applications easier, another current direction of Microsoft.)

I think the key to understanding "why Metro UI?" can be found in the statement "Things are changing and Microsoft is making the shift. Windows 8 is just one piece."

I ask myself this question, "Today, what percentage of does/could the average user make of their Windows computer when it isnot Internet connected?"  They could write email, but not receive or send email, Facebook, Twitter would be useless, as would Skype, web browsers, RPGs, MORPGs, MMORPGs, etc.  Writing a document or looking at their digital photos/video is about all that is left?

You may find these article interesting reading.  Published late last year and describes my views on the Metro/Modern UI.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/11/26/is-microsoft-on-the-verge-of-a-sudden-collapse-predicted-by-catastrophe-theory/

http://www.nngroup.com/articles/windows-8-disappointing-usability/

Summary: Hidden features, reduced discoverability, cognitive overhead from dual environments, and reduced power from a single-window UI and low information density. Too bad.

Flat Style Reduces Discoverability

In practice, the charms work poorly — at least for new users. The old saying, out of sight, out of mind, turned out to be accurate.

On a regular PC, Windows 8 is Mr. Hyde: a monster that terrorizes poor office workers and strangles their productivity.

And what is behind Microsoft's insistency on using Metro UI?

http://betanews.com/2012/06/11/microsoft-the-cloud-is-your-future-and-ours/

"Microsoft is doing what it can to promote cloud computing, ..."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323826804578468823595533416.html

Mr Gates hand-picked Mr Ballmer and has supported his attempts to move the company from desktop software to a cloud-based, networked future.

http://www.ida-mediafoundry.be/2013/03/07/ida-mediafoundry-at-microsoft-techdays-2013-developer-keynote/

Microsoft recently rebranded itself as a “devices and services” company.  This is an important and significant move, as the whole industry is similarly shifting its focus to mobile devices and cloud services. … •There will be about 50 billion devices (PCs, tables and phones) in use by 2020 •The cloud services market keeps growing; it currently represents a $70 billion dollar industry

http://talkincloud.com/teched-microsoft-is-really-serious-about-the-cloud

Whether you feel nostalgic about the end of the PC era, or Microsoft was the monopolist you loved to hate, take a good long look — the company we once knew is going to change forever. This is the era of the cloud.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2013/03/19/microsofts-cloud-strategy-and-roadmap-evident-at-convergence-2013/

Kirill Tatarinov’s keynote this morning at Microsoft’s Convergence 2013 marks a subtle, yet very significant shift in how this technology leader is marketing itself to partners and the outside world.

http://modernappslive.com/Events/Las-Vegas-2013/Sessions/Tuesday/Keynote-Building-Applications-with-Windows-Azure.aspx

Azure can be used to build modern web sites and Web APIs, migrate your existing applications to the cloud, and develop cloud-connected apps for Windows 8 and Windows Phone.

http://www.codeguru.com/blog/category/technology/microsoft-windows-8-will-not-fail.html

The other factor for Windows 8 is mobile. … Metro is a result of a fundamental shift in how we use – or will use—computing devices. It is a beginning point (or really a beginning of the middle point) of a paradigm shift that is occurring. … Things are changing and Microsoft is making the shift. Windows 8 is just one piece. As things start to solidify, more people will begin to realize that changes are needed and that Windows 8 is closer to what is needed than previous versions of Windows.

http://www.computerworlduk.com/in-depth/it-business/3419278/windows-8-and-surface-tablet-to-lead-microsoft-fight-for-relevance/

"The company has told me that Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Office 2013 and SkyDrive are all long-term bets. Microsoft has the resources to fight this fight for a long time."

http://www.ida-mediafoundry.be/2013/03/07/ida-mediafoundry-at-microsoft-techdays-2013-developer-keynote/

Microsoft’s definition of a ‘device’ is somewhat different from its competitors’ in the sense that PCs are considered devices as well, whereas the competition clearly separates tablets and phones from traditional computers. … modern apps as having the following traits:

•Connected through cloud services

•Personal with social networking (“follow, friend, share”) •Natural via various input interfaces including mouse and keyboard, touch, gestures via Kinect, and voice

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/ff431685(office.14).aspx

Microsoft Office Web Apps is the online companion to Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote applications that enables users regardless of their location to access documents and edit documents. Office Web Apps gives users a browser-based viewing and editing experience by providing a representation of an Office document in the browser. When a user clicks on a document stored in a SharePoint document library, the document opens directly in the browser.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ee815687.aspx

Business customers licensed for Microsoft Office 2010 through a Volume Licensing program can run Office Web Apps on-premises on a server running Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 or Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/web-apps/

Use Office Web Apps on SkyDrive for anywhere access and document sharing at home and school. Put the family budget in a central location that everyone can access, work with classmates on a class presentation, or plan that big remodel with your contractor in an online notebook.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2013/03/19/microsofts-cloud-strategy-and-roadmap-evident-at-convergence-2013/

Microsoft reports that Office365 will go to an accelerated release cycle … For the cloud, device and services strategy to succeed Microsoft must also succeed in convincing enterprise accounts to migrate their applications to Windows Azure.

Are we ready (lets not ask about willing) to embrace the New World of the Cloud ? !

PS: What is your internet bandwidth?  Mine is ADSL2+ ANEX-M running at 7.8Mb/s download, 1.6MB/s upload.  Reliability is generally good but can have outages of up to there weeks as Telco's don't give great service.  I am not quite ready to abandon my Windows Desktop GUI as yet.  A lot of my work does not require Internet access, though it does make it easier.  I also prefer overlapping Windows, not snapped side by side as in Metro.

MS Surface hardware..

http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications

Mark,

I read through the page "continuing-the-windows-8-vision-with-windows-8-1" and found a comment by mkautzman which explains what we all have been trying to say to Microsoft.

http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/30/continuing-the-windows-8-vision-with-windows-8-1.aspx

Hot corners suck with traditional PC and OSX demonstrated that years ago. 

No one wants to deal with a touch interface when you have a mouse.

Really, the theme of this entire debacle is 'functionality'.  Windows 7 had it and it was and continues to be the OS of choice for many because Windows 8 isn't.  That's what 8.1 should be about:  Restoring functionality. Instead it's about adding more dumb toys that no one asked for, integrating Bing and a Windows Store™ that no one asked for and trying to build a desktop OS around a touch interface that no one asked for.

On Thu, 1 Nov 2012 02:54:25 +0000, JohnOstendorf wrote:

How in the ** does anybody operate in this environment.  I now have 20 windows open and can't figure out how to close a damn thing.  I know the weather in Paris and couldn't give a **. This SUCKS!!! This is an improvement?  Can I get Windows XP or 7 back?  This SUCKS!!!  I can't get around.  I can't close a window.  I can't update any of these stupid tiles.  This SUCKS!!! Any advice from anybody else out there?   Frustrated beyond belief, John

You don't know how to use Windows 8, so you hate it? That's like

saying you don't know to fly an airplane, so you hate airplanes.

Like anything else new, it takes some time to learn to use Windows 8

and get accustomed to what's different and what's improved. Instead of

taking steps backward in time and reverting to an obsolescent version

of Windows, you should get yourself a good book and learn how to use

what you have.

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

Ken, I think that windows is limited and very hard to use. I think the programmers at Microsoft programmed windows 8 for people that don't know anything about computers. You want us to be tied into thoughtless usage of an operating system. Well, I have to say that I really loved the old format. I understand it and I am in no mood to be in a mindless environment where you can spy on me with every keystroke. I hate windows mobile 8 too. Yuck yuck yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The desktop improvements are excellent. Task Manager is a gem. The way default programs is handled is great. Defender is now a solid part of the OS. A few registry tweaks (like disabling the lock screen on my laptop) and I got used to Windows 8 in a few days. It isn't rocket science. You use the Modern UI for a few things and the desktop as much as you need. 

I'm a huge fan of Windows Phone and genuinely more fond of tiles in that environment, but there is nothing difficult about using Windows 8. I use the tiles to see who sent me mail and check the weather. Found a good app for tuning my ukulele. Bank of America app is cool. I use the Netflix app. The modern interface has quirks, but like any OS, you learn how to work with it.

Just type to search... that is the most convenient thing ever. Who cares about all the other stuff? How many apps do you want to use at once anyway? Use the desktop. Anyway, 8.1 ought to bring some good tweaks. I'm looking forward to it, but really, this OS is not anywhere near Vista, which was bloated. This is a fast and efficient OS under the hood. Design-wise it needs work. There are some irritations, but the good outweighs the bad by a long shot.