Being a tech enthusiast, I crave for new products and blindly use them even if they are in alpha, beta or whatever stage. Windows 8 is no exception which I am using since Customer preview. I always hoped for improvements during development stages and now Final build is out.
Call this article a review but actually, it is a real incident where I was trying to convince about new features in Windows 8 and how I was left puzzled with full of questions.
A friend of mine who may not be a tech-freak but a Windows user with sound knowledge and a computing experience of 4 years visited my place. So, I just thought of giving him a demo of newly installed Windows 8.
When I booted the Windows 8, he liked the boot screen and even the way I used Live ID to log in. The way the Metro screen appeared amazed him. But his joy was short lived. Friend was completely confused with the home screen and was unable to decide where to start. This will happen with most of the Windows users who are used to click on START button which is missing in Windows 8.
At this point, I would like to point out the example given by David Gewirtz of ZDNet about Windows 8.
Let’s say that you are used to drive a car with Steering in front and Accelerator, Brake and Clutch as Foot pedal. These are all standard equipments placed at their standard positions inside car. And Suddenly, Car manufacturer decides to bring a new model with the riding elements of motorbike into car. Will you be comfortable with accelerator and clutch in hand?
Same is the case with Windows 8. On home screen, you will have no understanding, no clue on where to go or how to start. Unless you luckily move cursor to bottom right, you won’t be able to figure out Charms bar.
Friend continued asking me “What’s new?” and and I began point by point. Here is a list of new features and his reaction about them. I have changed the way of actual conversation for easy understanding.
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Metro Home Screen
This is the first visual and visible change when you start Windows 8. For desktop user, it is hardly of any use because browsing apps through those big tiles isn’t practical. Personally, Even I noticed that I instantly click on ‘Desktop’ tile on bottom left and skip this screen.
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Live Tiles
Live tiles give real time notifications about social network updates, news, etc.
They are good to show-off but what is their share in productivity?
Do you really need to get always pinged by your Friends from Facebook?
Will you really keep track of Weather, News and Stock market by always pausing your work and visiting home screen?
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Metro Apps
These are completely different from the software application which you were using till now. Always Open in full screen. Developed in completely different programming language.
But They even changed the way we used to open and close apps. Their working may be good for Tablets but for Desktop environment, it’s not so useful.
Moreover, enterprise software and development tools won’t be ever programmed in Metro interface.
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Windows 8 App Store
Exclusive way to find, download and install Metro apps on Windows 8 device. Like App store for iPhone and Play store for Android, this is Windows 8 app store.
This could make things easy for handful but people are now accustomed to find software on web. Though it is possible to install Metro apps outside App store but not all software solutions will be available there.
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Touchscreen compatibility
Out of all Windows computer users worldwide, 99.99995% of then won’t be using Touchscreen device for desktop computing.
A noticeable improvements in Windows 8 could be Fast boot but that too has its own disadvantages.
Now, this really made me think Why Microsoft build this Crap?
Microsoft wanted to enter the Tablet market and build an ecosystem like Apple already have. So, they just skinned Windows 7 (which is really an awesome OS) with Metro interface.
Microsoft really expects us to change the way we used Windows for years? They should have built different system for Tablets instead of making changes to Desktop operating systems.
Definitely a Windows downgrade for loyalists and home users. Owing to these reasons, BusinessInsider speculates that Businesses may never switch to Windows 8.
In short, general user looks in no mood to change the way he used to interact with computer and would prefer sticking to Windows 7. Friend’s last words were- “People like you may get used to it easily but Windows 8 is terrible and confusing for a common user. It will take him months to learn these completely new things.”
What do you think about Windows 8? Are you satisfied with the new features introduced?
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