First off, I personally love Windows 8. I run it on every machine I own. I feel it is a fantastic ecosystem. The issue, to me, has been the way Microsoft has went about marketing it. Microsoft failed to explain what Windows 8 was trying to do.
The biggest issue I hear about Windows 8 is this summed up in one line. “I tried that Windows 8, hated it and had my buddy install Windows 7” Two things stand out to me here, No-one spent time to try it past a day or two and they are confused about how to use it. Microsoft changed too much too quickly for the average user. This is where I differ from the norm. I don’t mind learning a new way to do things. I can adapt quickly to just about any OS. Most people however cannot.
The first thing someone sees if they upgrade their computer to Windows 8 is not the familiar desktop, with the screen full of shortcuts, but a new Start Screen filled with colorful flipping tiles. Microsofts answer to this drastic change was a short “tutorial” explain the charms bar and application bar. I am sure this tutorial was ignored by almost everyone. This lead to people having no idea what to do. They look to the internet, read all kinds of bad posts from their friend’s experiences and give up. Go back to what they know and repeat the cycle.
To some extent this has happened with every release of Windows. Some of us have been around long enough to see Windows and DOS in the early years. I vividly remember customers coming into the shop I worked at in 1995 after Windows 95. Eerily similar complaints. This was repeated with XP and its “Crayola” interface, to Vista and it far too low minimum system requirements and complete driver model change.
The comparison I think that fits is the change the most is DOS and Win 3.11 to Windows 95. It’ was a major change in how Windows ran and operated. People held onto Windows 3.11 for years. I cannot remember how many computers I downgraded to Windows 3.11 and DOS 6.22 for customers for 79.99 LOL. Fun times for a teenage computer gamer trying to make a career from his hobby.
I really feel this will be the same type of scenario all over again except on a much broader scale. I think Widows 8 has tons of potential. I have learned the quirks and keyboard shortcuts and feel it is a much faster and better way to work. I use three monitors at work with Windows 8 and of course spend most of my time in the traditional desktop. But man do I love being able to pull up the start screen to glance at headlines, reddit posts, calendars, etc. etc. while on hold. I was already launching almost all my programs by hitting the windows key and typing a few letters so that was no change for me. After learning about Windows Key + X I didn’t miss the start menu at all.
Now I ask you, what do you think about Windows 8?
The biggest issue I hear about Windows 8 is this summed up in one line. “I tried that Windows 8, hated it and had my buddy install Windows 7” Two things stand out to me here, No-one spent time to try it past a day or two and they are confused about how to use it. Microsoft changed too much too quickly for the average user. This is where I differ from the norm. I don’t mind learning a new way to do things. I can adapt quickly to just about any OS. Most people however cannot.
The first thing someone sees if they upgrade their computer to Windows 8 is not the familiar desktop, with the screen full of shortcuts, but a new Start Screen filled with colorful flipping tiles. Microsofts answer to this drastic change was a short “tutorial” explain the charms bar and application bar. I am sure this tutorial was ignored by almost everyone. This lead to people having no idea what to do. They look to the internet, read all kinds of bad posts from their friend’s experiences and give up. Go back to what they know and repeat the cycle.
To some extent this has happened with every release of Windows. Some of us have been around long enough to see Windows and DOS in the early years. I vividly remember customers coming into the shop I worked at in 1995 after Windows 95. Eerily similar complaints. This was repeated with XP and its “Crayola” interface, to Vista and it far too low minimum system requirements and complete driver model change.
The comparison I think that fits is the change the most is DOS and Win 3.11 to Windows 95. It’ was a major change in how Windows ran and operated. People held onto Windows 3.11 for years. I cannot remember how many computers I downgraded to Windows 3.11 and DOS 6.22 for customers for 79.99 LOL. Fun times for a teenage computer gamer trying to make a career from his hobby.
I really feel this will be the same type of scenario all over again except on a much broader scale. I think Widows 8 has tons of potential. I have learned the quirks and keyboard shortcuts and feel it is a much faster and better way to work. I use three monitors at work with Windows 8 and of course spend most of my time in the traditional desktop. But man do I love being able to pull up the start screen to glance at headlines, reddit posts, calendars, etc. etc. while on hold. I was already launching almost all my programs by hitting the windows key and typing a few letters so that was no change for me. After learning about Windows Key + X I didn’t miss the start menu at all.
Now I ask you, what do you think about Windows 8?