Ex-Microsoft Employee Launches 'Fixing Windows 8' Initiative

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The "Windows" OS was given that name name because you could have open "windows" into different applications on the same screen simultaneously. Can any of you confirm that windows 8 will allow the very basic ability to have several application windows to be open simultaneously on a large monitor? Not just application switching, but using different areas of the screen for different applications. This is a very basic function of any previous windows OS. My work (and others I'm sure) requires this very basic use of a computer. Please don't tell me that it is up to me to adapt, because this would just be making excuses for an OS that doesn't perform the most fundamental task of a Windows OS.
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I can confirm. All your desktop apps will run just as they do today in windows 7...layered "windows" on top of each other. However, the Metro style apps that will be available in the marketplace do not currently run this way. You can snap one to the side of the screen while viewing another, but no bunch of windows. I don't know that I'd say their snap implementation is perfect at this point, but I also don't think the old way of having to drag and resize windows to various parts of the screen was great, either. Aerosnap is one of my favorite features of Windows 7, but even that's not perfect...for example, what if you want to split the screen horizontally or view more than two windows on the screen. But at least it's better than dragging and resizing. I'm hoping they tweak the way metro apps snap, but it's not terrible how's it implemented right now.
 


This is confirmed by the people who complain and then ask if you can run multiple windows like old OS, confirming they've never even tried the product. This is starting to drive me nuts :pt1cable:
 


That is a big IF... to me, a phone, a tablet, and a PC are three different devices where the normal interface of each is not easily interchangeable. Now... if we ever get to the point of total voice and gesture control, things may be different, but the size of the displays at this time dictates what is better (what will and will not work)
 
I installed, used for 15 minutes and uninstalled. Just horrible. It is just like that, not made for mouse and keyboard.

MS beter start working on windows 9, because I think I will skip this one.
 
I installed, used for 15 minutes and uninstalled. Just horrible. It is just like that, not made for mouse and keyboard.

MS beter start working on windows 9, because I think I will skip this one.
 
I installed, used for 15 minutes and uninstalled. Just horrible. It is just like that, not made for mouse and keyboard.

MS beter start working on windows 9, because I think I will skip this one.
 
By the time the final version comes out I am sure there will be an option at bootup to have Metro or Aero, an auto option to go into whichever you prefer at bootup and an option to alternate between them on the fly at any point
...
then all the moaning can end
...
MS want your feedback, they will do what you want as long as comments are constructive instead of just say "OH NOEZ, IT SUCKZ ASS" so grow up and tell them what you would like
 
I think it works just fine with keyboard and mouse? Can not understand the problem. Yes it takes some time to get used to boot in the start menu.. But after that and learning the gestures it is easy going. It lacks a bit in integration between Metro Apps an Desktop but otherwise it is a good functional system. By the way to close Metro Apps move your mouse to top left and right click the Metro App u want to kill.
 
[citation][nom]clalima[/nom]I installed, used for 15 minutes and uninstalled. Just horrible. It is just like that, not made for mouse and keyboard.MS beter start working on windows 9, because I think I will skip this one.[/citation]

Well it sounds like you gave it a fair try...er, wait. 15 minutes, huh? I'd like someone to actually explain to me how Windows 8 is not good with KB/M. Some complaints I've heard (with my response):

1) Vertical mouse scroll pans horizontally: have you used it? I think it's quite natural actually. There is no vertical space to scroll so it's not like you're confusing vertical and horizontal. There's only one way to scroll.

2) Tiles are too big, can't open my programs as quickly: again, have you used it? First question: how many apps do you use regularly? I'm guessing for most people it's only a handful, maybe a dozen. Sooo a) all those would essentially fit on one screen and b) using the scroll wheel is really quick to get to anything off the screen. Not to mention the fact that you can group tiles together...something Win 7 doesn't do btw...unless you have some 3rd party solution or you bury shortcuts in a folder. Let's compare to win 7. Both have a taskbar on the desktop, so that's a wash. Start menu? So you have to click start and MAYBE you have the app right in the quick menu, in which case it's more or less the same as having the corresponding tile all the way to the left on the win8 start menu. Otherwise, you click All Programs, then find then either find the .exe on the list or you click the sub-directory for that program, then click on the actual launcher. Doesn't seem all that efficient to me. Or....you have a shortcut on your desktop...which, depending on how well you maintain your desktop, may take a bit of searching to find (I don't know about you all, but my desktop tends to fill up with all kinds of crap).

3) I don't want full screen apps: Ok, well your desktop apps act just the same as before. Let's be honest, though, even with fairly large monitors, how often are you going to have more than, say, 2 windows visible at any time on a single monitor? Guess what, even Metro style apps support this kind of functionality (as I commented previously, I don't think Metro snap is perfect, but not terrible at this point).

4) Not enough options: I'll assume you're talking about the start screen because the desktop is pretty similar to Win 7. Could there be more customization options for the start screen? Sure. We'll see what the final build looks like.

5) Microsoft Account/Live ID login: personally, I like the idea of my settings and my accounts syncing across instances of Windows 8. This is somewhat Windows Phone-like, though it seems like they're taking it further. However, I have to think that in corporate environments, this will not be mandatory. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it were possible to integrate some kind of corporate login instead that would allow employees to essentially sync windows images..or at least settings..across devices. I don't know if that will happen, but I don't think they're going to require LiveID for sign-in. Actually, I'm not 100% sure it's required now.

I'm sure there are other complaints, but this post is long enough already. Also, in regard to the old man video, how many others in their "golden years" have opted for iPads and abandoned PCs altogether? An anecdotal video does not a point make.
 
There are certain applications that will not work without a keyboard and mouse like autocad pcb design programs etc all these are required by industry you will not have all electronics without them. It's like cutting off your nose to spite your face. And the majory of users until recently have still been using windows xp they refuse to change. This version is no longer windows they are tiles, how do you think big business will react they are very slow to upgrade to new versions of windows. They may refuse point blank. This operating system has a very small market, it just is not practcal for anything else.

These people who say otherwise just don't get it, change for the sake of change is no change. I have talked to users and some don't like all this change, microsoft may get a user backlash if they refuse alter their present course. They are in effect biting the hand that feeds them, they may live to regret this. They seem to lost sight of keeping the customer happy, they will encounter more user resistance.
 
I have been using Windows 8 for a while now and although I have now got over the first steep learning curve and can now find my way around it, I still don't like it. One of the first things I did was to learn how to get the start button back on the desktop. There are some things that I like, like the task manager but I am not keen on the ribbon interface on Explorer. Overall for the desktop user it is just awkward to use.
 
I must admit that Metro probably is a perfect desktop for beginners, kids and for older generations (but apple got that market segment already covered). Anyway, I will be laughing at win8 sales figures as no sane person would use it as a desktop work environment.
 
I say they revamp it all. I'm tired of knowing where to look for my files :) But seriously........

Installed win 8 on the netbook a few days ago. Wow is it fast on an atom proc compared to win 7 home.

I don't care much for metro...don't hate or love, it just doesn't "feel" right. It's like MS is trying to make a bad copy of some other OS instead of making a touch friendly version of what is already an efficiently presented platform.


 
[citation][nom]dongerdo[/nom]I have to say it's just goddamn awful on my laptop (the fact the I couldn't just close my programs alone ignited a full blown rage attack after the first hour)[/citation]Why? Stuff stays cached in memory in existing Windows. This really isn't much different. If you run something that needs memory that is "in use" by other apps, trust me, it'll make it available. Just like freeing up memory that was being used for caching a previously run program.
 
I ran Win8 dev preview on my Iconia Tab W500.

The touch interface is sleek and it actually works pretty well after you fiddle with it after about an hour but I found it clunky seeing that you would just basically bounce between a visual program/app browser and the desktop. I found myself mostly on the desktop.

Albeit, the boot in Win8 is ridiculously fast but I don't yet see a reason to upgrade from Win7.

The whole app element is cool on the surface but that's what programs are for - if I want to use simple apps than I'll use my phone. If I want a computer, I want it to be a computer.
 
Think about it from the point of view of a business user. Everytime a new version of an operating system comes, they have to upgrade either the hardware or their apps or both. What does that mean, cost! That's to train their staff, and lost productivity while they are learning the new hardware/software.
Plus they have to pay trainers. The more bizzare the upgrade ( as in windows 8) the steeper the learning curve will be. If their in house apps may have to rewritten/ modified to suit the upgrade more cost and time wasted. So you can understand how business may view this bold new step/stupid move.

It appears microsoft wants a one size fits all approach, I hope they wake up and smell the roses otherwise they may go the way of the dodo, extinct.
 
Switching between metro and desktop: hit the windows button...
Closing apps: "grab" them at the top and drag them to the bottom, or just right click and hit close in the app sidebar...
To VERY QUICKLY open a program: Hit windows button, type program name, press enter. easy as that.

Tips: Move your mouse to the right of the screen and move up/down and settings will come up.
Move your mouse to the bottom right to switch between metro and active app.
Move your mouse to top left and drag down for list of current running apps.
Move your mouse to the bottom left when in desktop mode and minimize all programs in the desktop, just like in windows 7.

I really enjoy windows 8, it takes 7, adds improvements to several things, and then adds the whole layer of apps and the metro that is really easy to navigate when you get used to it.
 
A prophecy?

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At work and at home, I have dual monitors. Many people at work have four monitors. We all routinely have at least three and more normally five or six applications open so we can see everything at the same time. It is critical to be able to resize windows and place them anywhere we wish.
 
A Metro UI is nice for a Tablet, iPhone, and all other alike technology, but not for Laptops and Desktops. I might be old fashioned but on my desktop I want to use my mouse and keyboard and the good ole' trusty Windows interface with the desktop icons and the task bar below. I want to be able to start up programs, games and the Internet with a simple click. I do not desire this new technology (On desktops and laptops), and from my news sources about computers and other tech stuff, I am not standing alone with this opinion.
 
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