Comments on: Windows 8, Users 0? http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=windows-8-users-0 on technology Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:21:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: auto insurance virginia http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55153 auto insurance virginia Fri, 10 May 2013 20:30:42 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55153 Hiya. I noticed your website title, "I, Cringely Windows 8, Users 0?" does not really reflect the content of your internet site. When creating your website title, do you think it's best to write it for Web optimization or for your viewers? This is something I've been struggling with mainly because I want great search rankings but at the same time I want the best quality for my website visitors.

]]> Hiya. I noticed your website title, “I, Cringely Windows 8, Users 0?” does not really reflect
the content of your internet site. When creating your website title, do you think it’s best to write it for Web optimization or for your viewers? This is something I’ve been struggling with mainly
because I want great search rankings but at the same time I
want the best quality for my website visitors.

]]> By: Another Meeting Whore http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55152 Another Meeting Whore Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:11:20 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55152 Yep, time for work, right after those antivirus upgrades, three hundred patches, eighteen reboots, and two bsods.

]]> Yep, time for work, right after those antivirus upgrades, three hundred patches, eighteen reboots, and two bsods.

]]> By: Vista 8 is Heading for the Garbage Can, Suggest Early Reports | Techrights http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55151 Vista 8 is Heading for the Garbage Can, Suggest Early Reports | Techrights Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:27:49 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55151 [...] predicts a failure: What we have here is the Microsoft Bob effect, where change runs amuck simply because it can, [...]

]]> [...] predicts a failure: What we have here is the Microsoft Bob effect, where change runs amuck simply because it can, [...]

]]> By: Hero Orgoat http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55150 Hero Orgoat Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:59:24 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55150 This is a beautiful and accurate comment. Sounds like you pulled toilet duty at MSFT too. Thanks to the politics and large number of chuckleheads the end result at MSFT is usually a bag of 'something' and Win8 will be no different.

]]> This is a beautiful and accurate comment. Sounds like you pulled toilet duty at MSFT too. Thanks to the politics and large number of chuckleheads the end result at MSFT is usually a bag of ‘something’ and Win8 will be no different.

]]> By: jwillis84 http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55149 jwillis84 Sat, 22 Sep 2012 10:30:27 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55149 Microsoft is selling it for $40 Come on.. they already know its a failure. Robert is absolutely correct. Wait for W8 SP1 it will be the best thing since XP SP3. Of course by then it will be banned by Corporate and we'll be waiting for Windows 9 or Windows IX

]]> Microsoft is selling it for $40

Come on.. they already know its a failure.

Robert is absolutely correct.

Wait for W8 SP1 it will be the best thing since XP SP3.

Of course by then it will be banned by Corporate and we’ll be waiting for Windows 9 or Windows IX

]]> By: Ronc http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55148 Ronc Wed, 12 Sep 2012 22:30:25 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55148 Thanks Chris. As a non-developer, Windows (and Galaxy S3) user, and follower of Paul Thurrott's "winsupersite", I tend to agree except for the pricing comments. The $40 price so far is only an introductory upgrade special. We don't know if it will apply to installing Win 8 on a blank drive, nor do we know if it will remain $40 beyond the introduction. On the same size screen, I much prefer my umpc running Windows 7 to the Galaxy S3, especially for reading Cringely's column and comments. With Windows, I have more control of text size, "find on this page" to look for recent posts by date, zoom, and horizontal scroll elimination.

]]> Thanks Chris. As a non-developer, Windows (and Galaxy S3) user, and follower of Paul Thurrott’s “winsupersite”, I tend to agree except for the pricing comments. The $40 price so far is only an introductory upgrade special. We don’t know if it will apply to installing Win 8 on a blank drive, nor do we know if it will remain $40 beyond the introduction. On the same size screen, I much prefer my umpc running Windows 7 to the Galaxy S3, especially for reading Cringely’s column and comments. With Windows, I have more control of text size, “find on this page” to look for recent posts by date, zoom, and horizontal scroll elimination.

]]> By: Chris http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55147 Chris Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:51:50 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55147 Okay, I am going to be up front and mention that I am a windows developer. I also have an Android phone and am currently out of contract and wondering what to buy for a phone. Additionally, my history started on the Apple ][+ and //e so I have a lot of reverence for Apple. So, here is my 2 cents. I have been cringing with Microsoft ever since Windows Phone 7. It has been like watching a 3 stooge’s episode. Additionally, since I am a developer my job has been very painful as WPF, Silverlight and other development technologies have been cast to the roadside. However, my mind has been changing about Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Microsoft is making a big user interface changes and often people don’t like change. People will initially revolt and dislike the changes that have been made to the UI. However after a bit of time the desktop users will get used to the new interface and some may come to like it ( and some maybe not ). But lets be realistic, the start button isn’t the end all of user interfaces either. It is just that it’s familiar to PC users today. People will quickly become used to the metro interface for app launching and control panel. Thankfully the guys at Samsung have already created S Launcher, a start button replacement. But remember these UI enhancements have been around a long time and some will want to use them and others will simply use to Metro. This is because change isn’t always so bad. So let’s look at things. The Metro UI is a step backwards for legacy users. Windows 8 users will be using PC’s for other reasons than the start screen and the way the control panel works. Photoshop, Excel, AutoCad users will not be switching to an iPad or Windows RT anytime soon. They will move to Window 8 for other reasons. Does Windows 8 offer anything else but this big UI change? As I’ve watched the product unveil over the last year I have noticed improvements in areas that people aren’t talking about ( Everyone comments on Metro/Bob). Window 8 is fast which really means it’s not slower than Windows 7, like Vista was slower than XP. So we are not stepping backwards with application performance by using Window 8. Networking (SMB 3.0) shares are tremendously faster when Windows 8 computers talk to Windows 8 computer or Windows Server 2012. Not many realize the improvements in the new SMB 3.0 implementation but it now utilizes your almost your entire bandwidth. So, to my family it means multiple movies can be streamed from the server without network congestion or movies stuttering. It may not be big but we all love faster. Another new feature in Windows 8 is continuous backup using the new volume shadow copy. This feature protects my picture and songs and makes sure they are always backed up. Let’s consider pricing, these new features are paltry $39.99. It’s cheaper than Battlefield 3 if you can get over the Metro blues. So, we are not letting PC users be PC users anymore. Microsoft is pushing Metro on everyone like it or not. Even Windows 2012 server will use the Metro Interface. So all the tech geeks will learn this new interface and become fluent in it. Surface and Windows 8 tables will grab the corporate market simply because they integrate with Active Directory and can be easily managed by IT. This gives Microsoft time and introduces the Metro interface to a lot of people. Let’s say after some time that people decide it’s not so bad after all. Maybe this gives Microsoft the opportunity to compete with Android in the tablet space. If Surface RT is only $199.00 then there are a lot of people that will give Metro a chance. And maybe metro starts being the alternative to Android that actually works consistently ( how odd to say that about windows? ) Now let’s talk about touch.. I’m not a touchy feely guy. I have four 27” monitors on my desk at work and none of them have touch capabilities. Sadly, I don’t think work will buy me new monitors so that I can have the full Windows 8 touch experience. Here comes a little company called LeapMotion. They make a little box for only $70.00 that can track your hands and all your fingers in front of you monitors. It’s cheap and turns my investment in four monitors into a touch experience. Microsoft should buy LeapMotion and include one with the Windows 8 upgrade license. Even if Windows Metro is not the huge success I do not believe it will be a huge failure like Vista. It will get Metro exposure that will cross bread between PC, tablet and phone if it can stand on its own. From what I have seen it can stand on its own but it’s not an iPad or iPhone as Android wants to be. I have come to some rather harsh conclusions about Android. Simply put Android is the Windows 95 of mobile devices. People buy it and use it because they have a contract, but after their purchase out of frustration, they wish they had an iPhone. Honestly, I was expecting to replace my Android with an iPhone 5 but now I’m going to wait and see what the Windows 8 line looks like. My first requirements for a phone are that it always dials when I need it to. Second, I would like to have some apps. My wife’s iPhone 4s does this and my Android doesn’t. I am going to see what Windows 8 offers before I stand in line for an iPhone. Sorry if I’m all wrong.. its just my current thinking. -Chris

]]> Okay, I am going to be up front and mention that I am a windows developer.
I also have an Android phone and am currently out of contract and wondering what to buy for a phone.
Additionally, my history started on the Apple ][+ and //e so I have a lot of reverence for Apple.
So, here is my 2 cents.
I have been cringing with Microsoft ever since Windows Phone 7. It has been like watching a 3 stooge’s episode. Additionally, since I am a developer my job has been very painful as WPF, Silverlight and other development technologies have been cast to the roadside. However, my mind has been changing about Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.
Microsoft is making a big user interface changes and often people don’t like change. People will initially revolt and dislike the changes that have been made to the UI. However after a bit of time the desktop users will get used to the new interface and some may come to like it ( and some maybe not ). But lets be realistic, the start button isn’t the end all of user interfaces either. It is just that it’s familiar to PC users today. People will quickly become used to the metro interface for app launching and control panel. Thankfully the guys at Samsung have already created S Launcher, a start button replacement. But remember these UI enhancements have been around a long time and some will want to use them and others will simply use to Metro. This is because change isn’t always so bad.
So let’s look at things. The Metro UI is a step backwards for legacy users. Windows 8 users will be using PC’s for other reasons than the start screen and the way the control panel works. Photoshop, Excel, AutoCad users will not be switching to an iPad or Windows RT anytime soon. They will move to Window 8 for other reasons.
Does Windows 8 offer anything else but this big UI change? As I’ve watched the product unveil over the last year I have noticed improvements in areas that people aren’t talking about ( Everyone comments on Metro/Bob). Window 8 is fast which really means it’s not slower than Windows 7, like Vista was slower than XP. So we are not stepping backwards with application performance by using Window 8. Networking (SMB 3.0) shares are tremendously faster when Windows 8 computers talk to Windows 8 computer or Windows Server 2012. Not many realize the improvements in the new SMB 3.0 implementation but it now utilizes your almost your entire bandwidth. So, to my family it means multiple movies can be streamed from the server without network congestion or movies stuttering. It may not be big but we all love faster. Another new feature in Windows 8 is continuous backup using the new volume shadow copy. This feature protects my picture and songs and makes sure they are always backed up. Let’s consider pricing, these new features are paltry $39.99. It’s cheaper than Battlefield 3 if you can get over the Metro blues.
So, we are not letting PC users be PC users anymore. Microsoft is pushing Metro on everyone like it or not. Even Windows 2012 server will use the Metro Interface. So all the tech geeks will learn this new interface and become fluent in it. Surface and Windows 8 tables will grab the corporate market simply because they integrate with Active Directory and can be easily managed by IT.
This gives Microsoft time and introduces the Metro interface to a lot of people. Let’s say after some time that people decide it’s not so bad after all. Maybe this gives Microsoft the opportunity to compete with Android in the tablet space. If Surface RT is only $199.00 then there are a lot of people that will give Metro a chance. And maybe metro starts being the alternative to Android that actually works consistently ( how odd to say that about windows? )
Now let’s talk about touch.. I’m not a touchy feely guy. I have four 27” monitors on my desk at work and none of them have touch capabilities. Sadly, I don’t think work will buy me new monitors so that I can have the full Windows 8 touch experience. Here comes a little company called LeapMotion. They make a little box for only $70.00 that can track your hands and all your fingers in front of you monitors. It’s cheap and turns my investment in four monitors into a touch experience. Microsoft should buy LeapMotion and include one with the Windows 8 upgrade license.
Even if Windows Metro is not the huge success I do not believe it will be a huge failure like Vista. It will get Metro exposure that will cross bread between PC, tablet and phone if it can stand on its own. From what I have seen it can stand on its own but it’s not an iPad or iPhone as Android wants to be.
I have come to some rather harsh conclusions about Android. Simply put Android is the Windows 95 of mobile devices. People buy it and use it because they have a contract, but after their purchase out of frustration, they wish they had an iPhone. Honestly, I was expecting to replace my Android with an iPhone 5 but now I’m going to wait and see what the Windows 8 line looks like. My first requirements for a phone are that it always dials when I need it to. Second, I would like to have some apps. My wife’s iPhone 4s does this and my Android doesn’t. I am going to see what Windows 8 offers before I stand in line for an iPhone.
Sorry if I’m all wrong.. its just my current thinking.
-Chris

]]> By: alfred http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55146 alfred Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:29:28 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55146 Microsoft BOB failed because it totally, profoundly and in pretty much every conceivable way sucked as a human-computer-interface paradigm. The end.

]]> Microsoft BOB failed because it totally, profoundly and in pretty much every conceivable way sucked as a human-computer-interface paradigm.

The end.

]]> By: BartNJ http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55145 BartNJ Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:09:56 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55145 The first time I caught on to the massive design change MS was taking windows products through (Big fonts, google like clean space- that isn't really clean at all- Blotches of UGLY primary, secondary and 8-bit color schemes, etc) I was immediately sickened. Upon learning that thie overall strategy was to change the whole "look and feel" to their own products, while merging one design into many platforms, I immediately thought "this is too complex, even with MS's unlimited budgets, and reaches too far without apparently any common sense. How true that "they’ll be little to no help in the tablet and phone markets " where nobody will care until all the bloatware comes literally crashing all around. If I, a lowly end-user with a rudimentary skill set of power-use and desktop repair experience, can look at a color scheme and get annoyed, MS is in trouble. Bob, I just re-read "Accidental Empirers" again (a classic! ) so I am not surprised at the level of ego, delusion, selfishness, and straight out ignorance of end-users actually ability to change and desire for change on the front end pervades throughout this decision. "This is not good but I’m fairly confident it will also be shortly reversed." I hope so. But some things can't be undone. For me, I want to like Windows, and keep upgrading. But the MS "we know better than you about what you want" got old with ME, where 98 was better off just being upgraded with a service pack ( i know, it's about the money). It got ridiculous with Vista, where XP was superior to a NEW release. With Windows 7 i thought "ok, maybe they will settle down with the corny names, intelligence insulting shortcuts, and needless improvements just for upgrading ($$$) sake". I was wrong.

]]> The first time I caught on to the massive design change MS was taking windows products through (Big fonts, google like clean space- that isn’t really clean at all- Blotches of UGLY primary, secondary and 8-bit color schemes, etc) I was immediately sickened.

Upon learning that thie overall strategy was to change the whole “look and feel” to their own products, while merging one design into many platforms, I immediately thought “this is too complex, even with MS’s unlimited budgets, and reaches too far without apparently any common sense. How true that “they’ll be little to no help in the tablet and phone markets ” where nobody will care until all the bloatware comes literally crashing all around.

If I, a lowly end-user with a rudimentary skill set of power-use and desktop repair experience, can look at a color scheme and get annoyed, MS is in trouble.

Bob, I just re-read “Accidental Empirers” again (a classic! ) so I am not surprised at the level of ego, delusion, selfishness, and straight out ignorance of end-users actually ability to change and desire for change on the front end pervades throughout this decision.

“This is not good but I’m fairly confident it will also be shortly reversed.” I hope so. But some things can’t be undone. For me, I want to like Windows, and keep upgrading. But the MS “we know better than you about what you want” got old with ME, where 98 was better off just being upgraded with a service pack ( i know, it’s about the money). It got ridiculous with Vista, where XP was superior to a NEW release. With Windows 7 i thought “ok, maybe they will settle down with the corny names, intelligence insulting shortcuts, and needless improvements just for upgrading ($$$) sake”.

I was wrong.

]]> By: Thomas O'Rourke http://www.cringely.com/2012/08/30/windows-8-users-0/#comment-55144 Thomas O'Rourke Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:30:13 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=4747#comment-55144 She said something like "We came up with many concept characters" ... blah blah blah, "and have decided on a dog and a paper clip". Having seen the Beetle, I said "What was wrong with the car, I like the car". And Melinda said "We didn't choose the car, because car's can't talk". I said, "Sure they can, what about Herbie, he goes beep-beep, and can dogs talk anyways?". She said "People accept that dogs can talk, and they don't accept that cars can talk and converse".. you get the idea... that's about when I remembered how difficult it was to get audio to sync to video with sound-blaster cards.... Story told from perspective of under-resourced, under-paid, over-worked multimedia team person, asking questions from 2 PHDs, an over-resourced, over-paid, over-educated, and silly group. True story...

]]> She said something like “We came up with many concept characters” …
blah blah blah, “and have decided on a dog and a paper clip”. Having
seen the Beetle, I said “What was wrong with the car, I like the car”.
And Melinda said “We didn’t choose the car, because car’s can’t talk”.
I said, “Sure they can, what about Herbie, he goes beep-beep, and can
dogs talk anyways?”. She said “People accept that dogs can talk, and
they don’t accept that cars can talk and converse”.. you get the
idea… that’s about when I remembered how difficult it was to get audio to sync to video with sound-blaster cards….
Story told from perspective of under-resourced, under-paid, over-worked multimedia team person, asking questions from 2 PHDs, an over-resourced, over-paid, over-educated, and silly group. True story…

]]>