Classic Shell is a great non-portable software, not only for Win 8, but also for Vista and 7.SYSTEM wrote:I installed Classic Shell. I'm fed up with the lack of Start button.
Man, all this Windows 8 hate is overblown. It works EXACTLY the same as windows 7 but with better file explorer features and a Start Screen which is just a different looking way to launch or search applications... kinda like a start menu? All these 'Tech Experts' that claim its unusable maybe need to get a new job if they have hard time navigating it.Midas wrote:I became a Classic Shell user, too -- just couldn't cope with 7's interface nonsense...
BTW, here's an appraisal of Windows 8 usability:
http://xpwasmyidea.blogspot.com/2012/08 ... onger.html
Yes, that video review is one of those hyperbolic examples of windows 8 bashing im talking about. If its so unusable, how the hell am I using it? He complains about lack of control. His example is the metro apps system and how annoying it is because its full screen and has no idea how to close it. First of all, you don't have to use metro apps on the desktop and second there are like 4 ways to close them. It didn't take me long to figure it out just by playing with a few hours. This guy a supposed to be a tech journalist with a lot of experience on various operating systems and he couldn't?. What BS. He couldn't find the control panel? Jeebus, you could right click the bottom left corner and you see a nifty menu with admin utilities which includes control panel. You don't need to open the charms bar at all. His other complains were just mostly nitpicks. Like that context crap, how hard is it to mouse over to the corner of a screen? Hot corners were hinted during OS install. When you mouse over the bottom left you'll see a charms hint with a thumbnail of the start screen and it says "Start" on it. BAM! you learned how to use windows 8. There really isn't much to learn about it. Everything he complained about could be solved with a little bit of experimenting.
Userfriendly wrote: The only real change to adapt to is the START SCREEN people. Even that is easy to learn. Everything else is the same dang windows we are all used to.
So yeah. It goes a bit deeper then the new UI.XPwasmyidea wrote: The problem with upgrading isn't about adapting to change or fear of learning new ways to work.
) If you're talking about on first boot. You can skip it by simply clicking on the desktop tile or pressing enter if you put it on the first row on the top left. It just one keypress or mouseclick. Besides what do you do when you boot up to the desktop anyway? I'm sure most people launch whatever program they're gonna work on. Having the Start Screen shown first on boot makes sense because there you can launch an application right away.Firewrath wrote:I have three problems with the Metro UI.
First, they changed it so you can't skip past it. They basically force you to use it.
This is the 'All Apps' screen you're talking about. This screen you shouldn't be seeing that often if you got all the applications you use most often pinned to the main start screen. Even then, not that hard to navigate since its all in alphabetical order with nice large icons. People say you need a touchscreen in order for it to be easy to use but its quite easy just using the mouse.Firewrath wrote: Second, an issue some people seem to have, that if you install older programs on Win8 that create a bunch of start menu folders/shortcuts/etc. Those clutter up the Metro UI, making it harder to sort through. Subfolders in the start menu / quick menus are awesome for this. In Metro, not so much.
Well, it disrupted my workflow. Of course, your mileage may vary.Userfriendly wrote: It just boggles me all these people point out these 'flaws' about windows 8 but I don't really see it. At least it doesn't affect me in the slightest. I actually think the interface of windows 8 is much better than windows 7. I use the start screen more than I've ever used the start menu and that's not much at all. They say start screen disrupts workflow? Shit, maybe they need to change the way they work because I don't see that happening to me at all.
Keep in mind that you're a power user.Userfriendly wrote: If its so unusable, how the hell am I using it?
Could you tell me the other two? I only know of "drag the app to the bottom of the screen" and Task Manager.Userfriendly wrote: His example is the metro apps system and how annoying it is because its full screen and has no idea how to close it. First of all, you don't have to use metro apps on the desktop and second there are like 4 ways to close them.
How on earth would you expect a casual user to right-click the bottom-left corner of the screen hoping that something useful will happen?Userfriendly wrote: He couldn't find the control panel? Jeebus, you could right click the bottom left corner and you see a nifty menu with admin utilities which includes control panel.
But there should be nothing to learn about it. Quoting Evil Brain Jono, "[t]here's no UI better than one you already know". Every time the user interface is changed significantly, there should be a very good reason. Microsoft doesn't have one.Userfriendly wrote: There really isn't much to learn about it. Everything he complained about could be solved with a little bit of experimenting.
If casuals are struggling with an operating system, there is something wrong with the OS.Userfriendly wrote: But I certainly feel smarter than the guy who did that video which is funny because he says he ain't dumb. His video suggested otherwise. That's one good thing about windows 8. Casuals struggling with it while I feel sorta superior in someway because I can adapt with change.
Agreed. If Microsoft really locks down Windows, I'll find a way to break the lock. Trust me.Firewrath wrote: But. I should still be able to install whatever program I want on to my PC. It's Mine. I paid for it. I'll do whatever I want to it. It's not up to Microsoft to sit there and tell me what I can and can't install on my own system. >.<!
(Gee, guess how I feel about politics.
I think he's talking about the Start screen being the only way to launch programs.Userfriendly wrote:If you're talking about on first boot. You can skip it by simply clicking on the desktop tile or pressing enter if you put it on the first row on the top left. It just one keypress or mouseclick. Besides what do you do when you boot up to the desktop anyway? I'm sure most people launch whatever program they're gonna work on. Having the Start Screen shown first on boot makes sense because there you can launch an application right away.Firewrath wrote:I have three problems with the Metro UI.
First, they changed it so you can't skip past it. They basically force you to use it.
If so, Modern UI would have never seen the light of day.Userfriendly wrote:Consumers and developers will decide what Microsoft will do.
No. I'm afraid they will succeed and earn a lot of money.Userfriendly wrote:Closing down the desktop OS is clearly suicide.
Bull's eye! Spot on! It got me trying to get a 'hackintosh' running rather than endure through another MS OS upgrade...SYSTEM wrote:Quoting Evil Brain Jono, "[t]here's no UI better than one you already know". Every time the user interface is changed significantly, there should be a very good reason. Microsoft doesn't have one.
I haven't used Win8 yet, but I think this is an important point. It's a place where tech journalists frequently get stuck: they use something, they're able to get around, they give it positive review. For the broader challenge of making computers more accessible and effective that translates into productivity and wider adoption, technical people have to try and put themselves in the place of being semi or non-techy. Some articles try to replace this with being short on time and patience, but that's not quite the same thing. For example, Blackberry survived for a very long time by being very effective for very busy people, but lacking broad appeal (to say nothing of their recent troubles).SYSTEM wrote:Keep in mind that you're a power user.Userfriendly wrote: If its so unusable, how the hell am I using it?
Windows 8 is not like Visual Studio (which is only used by software developers) or Photoshop (where most users are image editing experts). It's an operating system that everyone in the world is supposed to use. As a result, its UI should be either familiar or very easy to learn. It's neither.
I won't dispute that a lot of tech reviews aren't worth the time you spend reading them, laden with shallow opinions and lack of real technical insight. I'm glad to know that 8 is possibly nimbler; it means there's a possibility some good will come of it, for example once those devious fellas at http://reboot.pro/ really take a go at it, striping away the interface non-sense to expose the nuggets at the core...Userfriendly wrote:The thing is, a lot of reviews only criticize one small part of the OS which is the Start Screen. 90% of Windows 8 is just like windows 7. The desktop is the the same desktop people use in previous versions of windows. Many of them ignore the mostly improved parts of windows 8 like the improved performances. It definitely made my core2duo feel like brand new with the UI definitely more responsive. I haven't tested any benchmarks but I'm sure it's faster if not the same as windows 7. It also has the advantage of using Windows Store apps which win7 definitely can't access. Sure most of the apps aren't useful but it's there if you want them.
Newcomers will find acceptable anything you throw at them for lack of comparing elements; and touch devices are in fact simpler to operate, in fact that's their main appeal. But once you progress to high-school, third grade classes just won't do, will they?Userfriendly wrote:As for ease of use, it's completely easy! I'm disappointed in some of you who I thought were tech savvy folks! Even my dad and sister who aren't power users at all can get around the Start Screen. I set them up Windows 8 on the PC's and taught them the differences of the Start Screen, how to pin stuff, using and navigating modern ui apps etc, in about 15 minutes and they were off on their way. They actually like the whole thing! They approached it without any bias since they knew nothing about Windows 8 in the first place.
Actually, that article sums it up pretty good. But what I really, really hate is how Microsoft nonchalantly disposes of my hard earned savvy, amassed over decades, in order to pursue their next big thing of the moment, that no one will even remember in a couple of years. Remember Project Origami? I do... (and still have some of its mortal remains laying around)Userfriendly wrote:It's just a different way to launch applications. You don't have to use it for the modern ui apps. A lot of people stay on the desktop most of the time anyway and hardly see the Start Screen at all in normal usage. It feels like people are just whining about it because its different from what they're used to without even using the dang thing. People are being swept up by terrible whiny reviews like this one http://www.pcgamesn.com/article/why-i-m ... -windows-8 and the youtube video above. Most of the criticisms are nitpicks or completely untrue. All these reviews tell me nothing about windows 8 but tells me everything about how the reviewers are just ignorant and lack the technical aptitude to be in the IT industry.
You won't find a bigger gadget loving technophile tinkerer (if excessively maladroit) than yours truly; and it ain't really hate, is more like a grudging disdain: been there, seen that, rather walk away...Userfriendly wrote:But I guess what's important is my dad and sister can use it just fine and so can I. So I'm done trying stop the misinformation being spread on this crap. There's so much negativity/whining on the internet about anything and sometimes it becomes of gigantic circlejerk of people who have no clue about things and just go along with it. Be it software, music, TV shows, movies, videogames, sports, etc. Just a big cesspool of hate that I'm tired of. It just kinda ticks me off that some people are just so set on their ways that they are averse to change no matter what it is.
