I wrote some time ago about the Windows 8 Developer Preview, which I didn’t like at all from a desktop perspective.
Today I installed the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. What a complete abortion of an operating system! I thought the developer preview was bad, but it’s like they’ve taken all the comments people made about that steaming pile of crap, given everyone the bird, then made it even worse just to spite them.
Now let’s get this straight. I’ve never used Windows 8 on a phone or on a fondle-slab. It may be awesome on those, but I’ll probably never find out. I’m talking here about a desktop machine with a keyboard and mouse.
Metro: Fail. This is not a fondle-slab, it’s a desktop. Fail. The screen looks crap. Fail. I have to sideways scroll to get to anything, or use extra mouse clicks. Fail. Have you MS guys never used a desktop? Fail. Running IE on Metro is vile. Fail. There is a big chunky address bar that animates on and off at the bottom of the screen. Fail. I despise it! Fail.
Desktop: The crippled Start menu from the Developer Preview has now completely gone. Fail. All you get is the option to switch back to the Metro screen. Fail. Looks like the hacks I used previously to resurrect the Windows 7 style menu don’t work now either. Fail. I read somewhere you can buy some 3rd party software to make it work like Windows 7. Fail.
Desktop art: I hope that crappy fish graphic is just for the Consumer Preview because it is a total fail!
Speed: Fail. This is not the finished product, so maybe there is still a bunch of tracing on, but if this is to show the consumer what they will get, then fail!
There are some WindowsKey+(letter) short cut keys to navigate a bit quicker, like:
- Win+x : Basic Admin Tools menu.
- Win+i : Info screen including power off button
- Win+e : Windows Explorer
- Win+q : All Apps Metro screen, with search bar initiated.
- Win+f : Files
Nothing new here, but my Mom will never find this stuff. If it’s not on a basic menu it doesn’t exist! Fail.
As with the previous incarnations of Windows 8, this is a complete fail of an OS. I can see corporate users going spastic over this. There is no way I would want to support users on this OS. The interface changes between Windows XP, Vista and 7 were quite gradual. This is a complete interface overhaul for all the wrong reasons. The really depressing thing about it is it will be forced on the world because it will get bundled on every new PC. Microsoft will claim record uptake, as they always do, and everyone who isn’t a geek will have no choice but to bend over, lube up and get royally shafted by Microsoft.
I’m sure in a few years we will look back and laugh at how moronic the current OS interface designers are. Repeat after me, “this is a desktop, not a bloody iPad!”
Cheers
Tim…
PS. Looking forward to Windows 9.
“@orana: Windows 8 Consumer Preview : Complete Abortion! http://t.co/3euJRbv5” Una patada en los h… a Windows 8
hmmm…. I guess I’m gonna stay happily ever after on XP Pro and stuff all the “kewl” stuf…
Noons: That’s cool until MS stop shipping security fixes for XP, then it gets a bit scary.
It may be worth moving to Windows 7 now (or at least buying a copy) for when you are forced to move. Then stick with that for a few years while you wait for MS to come to their senses.
I’m happy to avoid Windows personally, but I know I’m going to get loads of grief from friends and family from a support perspective. Not looking forward to it at all.
Cheers
Tim…
I suspect that the Windows 8 everywhere (Desktop, tablet & phone) in marketing FUD.
While I do expect the WinRT API will be common, I suspect that Windows 8 desktop will fork from windows 8 tablet, or possibly Developers and power users will end up with versions of Windows server on their PCs.
Ultimately Windows 8 is great for the people it was designed for, but I suspect it wasn’t designed for us!
So, … You gonna buy it?
Thanks for the review, I learned a lot of new English words from your article.
Windows 8 Consumer Preview : Complete Abortion! http://t.co/sHk7jCIp via @AddThis
David: I agree it will be uber bad for techies, but I don’t think it will actually be any good as a desktop OS for regular people either.
Cheers
Tim…
Windows 8 Consumer Preview : Complete Abortion! http://t.co/c7uxyh0v via @AddThis. I think Windows 8 Consumer Preview is pretty darn good.
To hell with Windoze 8 but I loved the post. Thank you !!!!!!!!
I am still laughing 😀
PS: Waiting for the Windows 9 consumer preview review 😛
Cheers !
Amazing Windows 8 http://t.co/nxtmLWq9 😀 via @oraclebase 😛 #fb
Love @Learco’s comment about learning new English words from your rant, epic.
From my brief look at the developer preview and everything I’ve read, I’m not at all surprised you hate it. Frankly, I can’t imagine why Don Norman glowed about it, but maybe he’s being pragmatic.
Looking at Lion and Ubuntu post 11.x, you can tell the pull toward touch is inexorable. I had hoped that Windows 8 would smooth out the rough transitions between the classic and Metro interfaces, but apparently not.
My only hope is that the many editions of 8 will include a keyboard-friendly version. In many ways, this reminds me of the move from client-server to internet-based design. It’s going to take several years and many releases to push everyone into new behaviors.
That was a support nightmare, so this won’t be any different.
This might make you feel a bit better or worse, depending:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/robmar/archive/2012/03/09/windows-8-keyboard-shortcuts.aspx
Excellent post and without any doubts, I agree to all what is said. Just found this post and it just reflects what most of the users would be experiencing.
http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/a-real-user-proves-windows-8-fails-on-the-desktop-20120312/