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Harden up, Microsoft!

Claire Porter

by Claire Porter

26 Oct 11:30am

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Filed under: Computers, Microsoft, Technology, Windows

42 comments

Microsoft needs to man up and get off the fence and either embrace a touch interface, or stick to their longheld tradition of desktop publishing.

We're bucking the small trend and going super-sized… Pic: AFP

Unwilling to part with its past and too timid to commit to a touchscreen experience, the new operating system is a massive compromise.

Microsoft argues that Windows 8 gives users choice, but maybe too much choice can be a bad thing.

The new interface is bound to confuse and frustrate users of all ages. It essentially has two “home” screens sitting on top of each other.

The tiled interface offers customisable apps and programs that sit on top of the traditional Windows desktop, except without the Start button we all know and love.

Traditional XP or Windows 7 users will have to relearn how to tailor the new operating system to do what came naturally with the older versions.

Touchscreen fans more familiar with interfaces like the ones offered by Android and Apple will have a difficult time understanding why the traditional desktop even exists at all.

Windows 8 is released in three editions, but all of them share the same user-interface conventions, whether it’s running on a laptop, desktop or tablet, not taking into account the different user experiences each device offers.

Even Apple who has historically boasted the same operating system for all of its devices, still have systems tailored for tablets, phones and PCs.

Managing director of Microsoft Pip Marlow told News Ltd that the interface provides users with the choice to use a mouse, a stylus pen and touch.

“I see my kids today and they rock up to a screen and they touch it,” she said. “They expect almost every screen to be touch these days and if it’s not they’re a bit disappointed.

“Consumers like choice.  If you want to use 100 per cent mouse and keyboard you can do that as well.”

Sure, you can. But based on the preview release, it’s not a pleasant experience.

The idea that you can just switch from Windows 7 or XP over to Windows 8 on the same old computer, is questionable.

Older computers that ran XP won’t have enough processing power to run Windows 8 properly, resulting in a slow system that tends to crash regularly.

If Windows Vista or 7 struggled on a system customised for XP, it’s highly doubtful that users will be able to upgrade seamlessly.

Also, most older Windows computers don’t have touchscreens, meaning that people who choose to upgrade will be forced to navigate using a mouse, resulting in an awkward, frustrating user experience.

Really, Microsoft wants you to buy a new computer, laptop or tablet.

The operating system is also constantly pulling in live data on apps like Facebook and Twitter - which may be fine for mobile phones - but if you’re running your computer or tablet all day like you would in an office environment consumers these live updates may eat up all of your data, resulting in a massive internet or telco bill at the end of the month.

Windows 8 is the first operating system you won’t be able to buy outright.

Consumers will either have to purchase a whole new computer, tablet or mobile with the operating system preloaded, or purchase a second-hand computer running an older version of Windows and pay $40 for an upgrade.

This limits Microsoft’s ability to poach consumers who have been using a competitor product.

Ms Marlow told News Ltd that there would “potentially be new things coming out in the future” for people on a different operating system like Android or Apple, but said at this point the only way to get Windows 8 is through upgrade offers.

Only computer makers will be able to buy a full version of the operating system that can be installed on a PC from scratch.

Switching between the tiled interface and desktop is likely to bemuse young and old.

It’s great that Microsoft is finally trying to catch up to their competitors by beginning to embrace a touch interface, but they’re still only dipping their toes in the water.

Microsoft doesn’t just need to get rid of the Start button - it needs to get rid of the desktop and offer an interface fully committed to touch interfaces.

It just feels like Windows 8 still has the training wheels on as it slowly but surely forces its old customers onto a new platform.

But Windows 8 is likely to make users more afraid to drive on their own, than to encourage engagement with a whole new Microsoft interface. 

Comments on this post will close at 8pm AEST.

Most commented

42 comments

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    • SysAdmin says:

      12:38pm | 26/10/12

      Good on you for providing a face-value assessment of W8; unfortunately you also demonstrate that you have no idea about IT software or the platforms they run on.

      Reply

    • Testfest says:

      01:17pm | 26/10/12

      SysAdmin,

      Careful there champ. Don’t you know that you’re in serious danger of being called a sexist misogynist?

      Please provide more information about the pros and cons of Windows 8 and why you disagree with the esteemed Claire Connelly.

    • Jack says:

      01:17pm | 26/10/12

      I’d add a snarky comment, but my twitter feed ate all my office data allowance.

    • lower_case_andrew says:

      01:27pm | 26/10/12

      “you have no idea about IT software or the platforms they run on.”

      Well, I DO have more than an idea about OS platforms, and I’m here to tell you that Windows 8 is a mess.

      Claire is 100% correct when she says this OS is a “massive compromise”.

      It’s not a desktop OS, nor is it a tablet OS.  It’s an uncomfortable, ill-fitting marriage between the two.

      There’s a reason why Apple re-built Cocoa and forked it in to iOS, using tried-and true Cocoa and Foundation frameworks and technologies.  And then they took the best of iOS and transplanted those technologies back to OS X. 

      Microsoft haven’t done that.  Instead, they’ve tried to have their cake and eat it; designing a desktop OS that is also for Touch.  It doesn’t work.

      So far, Windows 8 is shaping up to be another Vista, in terms of problems and reception.

    • lower_case_andrew says:

      01:43pm | 26/10/12

      @Jack

      Tee hee.

      140 bytes * (n messages).  Damn, that’s a low, low data allowance you’ve got there in your office.

    • andye says:

      01:50pm | 26/10/12

      @lower_case_andrew - Where is your actual argument as to why it “doesnt work”? You keep saying it is a “mess” and that it is trying to be 2 things at once, yet where is your argument that those are bad things or that they have failed?

      I’ve spent a while developing on win 8 in the leadup to this and it has been great. Honestly the best experience with a launch (well pre-launch) OS ever.

    • lower_case_andrew says:

      01:51pm | 26/10/12

      @TestFest

      “Don’t you know that you’re in serious danger of being called a sexist misogynist?”

      That’s unfair.

      I haven’t seen Claire join the Gillard/Wong/Plibersek/Ellis handbag hitsquad.

      Just because some women are using gender as a political card, doesn’t mean all are.

    • lower_case_andrew says:

      02:29pm | 26/10/12

      @andye

      “where is your actual argument as to why it “doesnt work”? “

      I provided more of an argument than you provided a rebuttal, matey. I gave a pretty specific reason why the technology mix in Win8 is not working.

      Maybe you should develop YOUR argument a little further, and present that?

      Anyway… have a read of the Ars Technica review.  And I quote:

      “Windows 8 is a study in compromises”

      and

      “Where it falls down, hard, is when you try to mix and match. Microsoft has done precious little to bring the Metro environment and the desktop environment together. “

      and

      “This makes a mix-and-match approach deeply flawed”

      and

      ” It’s extremely limited, and it means that as a person who has to use the desktop for some things, I find myself avoiding Metro apps for all things. Bridging the gap is just too painful and annoying.”

      and

      “Right now, though, it’s a big pain point. “

      Which was pretty much the point that Claire was making.

      So instead of attacking her, and people who agree with the basic point, how about addressing the actual issue: Windows 8’s usability?

    • Ken says:

      01:02pm | 26/10/12

      By choosing not to sell Windows 8 outright, Microsoft understand that nobody in their right mind would switch from another OS to Windows 8.

      Reply

    • Troy Flynn says:

      03:57pm | 26/10/12

      And by restricting full versions to OEM systems only, those of us like me who have the nouse to build our own PC’s from the motherboard up will be prevented from doing so unless we pay a corporate licence fee, yes?

    • Simonious says:

      01:03pm | 26/10/12

      Clair this really demonstrates your lack of knowledge of PC development history how Bill Gates 10 from ten years ago was practically begging manufacturers for touch screen devices. Your comment “most older Windows computers don’t have touchscreens” is not Microsofts problem. They dont make PC’s. With Apple cornering the market with the iPhone and then the iPad finally other manufacturers came to the party and started building machines that consumers want. Microsoft is now following suit by creating an operating system than can be used on these devices. The sad thing for them is they are playing catch up now to Apple and everything they do forward from this point will be compared to them. From a corporate perspective they have to have the old look and feel of Windows as well. If corporations are going to adopt Windows 8 in the Enterprise space they need it to be able to run on exsiting hardware.
      You said ” Microsoft doesn’t just need to get rid of the Start button - it needs to get rid of the desktop and offer an interface fully committed to touch interfaces.” Well that was easy for Apple when you are the ones developing the OS and the device together. Microsoft have to work with the like of HP and Samsung to make this happen. Apple has also patented some key parts of their Touch Screen technology and this will hinder the other manufacturers from developing devices similar to the iPad. Dont expect a Windows 8 device to be like your iPad. It simply wont happen.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      01:51pm | 26/10/12

      “Your comment “most older Windows computers don’t have touchscreens” is not Microsofts problem. They dont make PC’s.”

      It most definetly is their problem. As you say, they don’t make PC’s.

      It’s up to software makers to tailor their software to fit hardware, not the other way around.

      If Gates doesn’t like the capabilities of the hardware on offer, he can make his own.

    • TheRealDave says:

      02:39pm | 26/10/12

      You mean like the Surface v2- right Tim wink

    • PsychoHyena says:

      02:44pm | 26/10/12

      @TimB, it’s catch 22 really. Software won’t sell if the hardware isn’t there, while hardware won’t sell if the software isn’t there, unless you are making both components yourself.

      It’s pointless making a touch screen device when you have no hardware to actually test it with, otherwise how do you know if it works?

    • RobJ says:

      01:06pm | 26/10/12

      “or stick to their longheld tradition of desktop publishing.”

      Oh my… I stopped reading here.

      Reply

    • Jeremy says:

      01:08pm | 26/10/12

      The system is very easy to use. It’s intuitive enough that I think I could teach my computer illiterate dad to use it well in under an hour. I used an upgrade from W7 and it was easy, most the menu to set it up has only 2-3 buttons to choose from to click on (unfortunately no programs is your on W7)
      Most people using Vista age computers are probably looking to upgrade soon anyway, and besides, hardly anyone has a touch screen lap top or desk top.
      Believe it or not the majority of people who use computers spend quite some time using them at desks, and working, not playing Angry Birds on the bus. Why not design for the market you control 90% of? That it has the features and capability (haven’t used them, but seen) to work seamlessly across the platform range, and touch screen, is a good thing. Sorry Windows hasn’t designed software that can turn an old screen into a touch screen.
      The new menu system basically removes the need to hit start, and looks like the secondary menus have looked since at least W7. So people should already be used to the idea of the format.
      Any way, at least they don’t expect you to buy new hardware every year like Apple does.

      Reply

    • dg says:

      01:12pm | 26/10/12

      This is an absolutely awful article

      “This limits Microsoft’s ability to poach consumers who have been using a competitor product.”

      Who’s the competition? There’s really only Apple, and there aren’t really many people who are going to buy Windows to run on Apple hardware.

      There’s Linux, but lets face it, they’re not going to switch to Microsoft. Linux is a lifestyle (although they probably run Windows in dual boot).

      There’s nothing to poach in the desktop market.

      “Older computers that ran XP won’t have enough processing power to run Windows 8 properly, resulting in a slow system that tends to crash regularly.”

      Try running the latest OSX on an Apple machine that is 8-12 years old… can’t be done. Time marches on. However, Windows 8 has lower hardware requirements than Vista. Try that with OSX.

      “If Windows Vista or 7 struggled on a system customised for XP, it’s highly doubtful that users will be able to upgrade seamlessly.”

      Clearly the hardware is the issue here. If it’s already struggling, why do you expect an OS that’s just been released to work better on rubbish hardware?

      That’s like expecting Windows 8 to work on a Pentium 286 because Windows 1.1 did.

      Reply

    • dg says:

      01:52pm | 26/10/12

      Also this

      “The operating system is also constantly pulling in live data on apps like Facebook and Twitter - which may be fine for mobile phones - but if you’re running your computer or tablet all day like you would in an office environment consumers these live updates may eat up all of your data, resulting in a massive internet or telco bill at the end of the month.”

      Really? It’s ok for a mobile phone to use data in this manner (like Windows Phone does) but not a desktop? Mobile data caps are typically significantly lower than the types of internet connections usually used in business (i.e. fixed line ADSL2+). This would absolutely not be an issue for anyone with a fixed line service.

      You can also turn the background downloads off if you want.

      You can also tell the OS that a particular network connection is a connection that is subject to a data usage cap and as it approaches this cap it will stop these types of updates.

      It’s actually very smart, and something not available built in to any other OS (android has apps to do this, and iOS you can jailbreak).

    • DexteR says:

      01:12pm | 26/10/12

      Microsoft, please note.  I don’t want to touch my computer screen!!!! I don’t want fingerprints all over it and it setup at head height. which means unless I’m also after an erobic work out its a pain in the arse.

      One size fits all always means that the more complex system is dumbified down and less usable than before.  It’s like what happened to many PC games in the console era.  And now they’re doing with an OS.  I’ll keep Windows 7 I think.

      Reply

    • Matt says:

      01:13pm | 26/10/12

      Claire Connelly, go back to playing with your iThingy, you obviously have no idea, and the likely reason why hardly anyone has commented on this article.

      Reply

    • lower_case_andrew says:

      01:29pm | 26/10/12

      @Matt

      “why hardly anyone has commented on this article.”

      That’s a bit dull of you Matt.

      If we get 200 comments in here, will you be apologising to Claire?

    • andye says:

      01:14pm | 26/10/12

      Hmm, this article seems to speculate about things that we were able to check out months ago via the preview version. Windows 8 runs like a dream on my aging desktop. It starts and stops almost immediately while Vista on the same box takes minutes. As far as performance goes, I think you will find it actually runs better on older hardware than recent versions of windows.

      The article also seems to criticise Microsoft for making Win 8 so different that it will be hard to learn, but then suggests the desktop should be done away with completely?

      “Really, Microsoft wants you to buy a new computer, laptop or tablet.”

      Gee, at least they don’t bring out a new must-buy incrementally improved version every 6 months.

      “Also, most older Windows computers don’t have touchscreens, meaning that people who choose to upgrade will be forced to navigate using a mouse, resulting in an awkward, frustrating user experience.”

      Really? I was using it with a mouse for a couple of months and it was fine. Seriously, people learned how to use the iPad when it first came out. People switch between PC and Mac successfully. Those changes are at least as big as this one.

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      01:15pm | 26/10/12

      I’ve been using it for two months now and as a Tablet/Phone OS its pretty good.

      As a Desktop OS - for the love of the FSM - get rid of effing Metro (yes I know its been renamed but I refuse to acknowledge it). I’ll tell you right here and now, there is no way in hell that I will be rolling Win8 out across the corporate and business environments I look after. I spend enough time making sure everyone is able to work every minute they can, I don’t have time to handhold several hundred peoples hands to try and do basic tasks. Shit…it took ME nearly 5 minutes and then Google before I found out how to reboot the bloody thing!

      Moving Metro to the PC desktop is a big mistake. I know my way around it after 2 months using it every day - and its not intuitive, there is no feedback and its ugly on a big screen. I use the desktop. I live on the Desktop….not clicking backwards and forwards from the desktop to Metro’s home page.

      And the X-Box apps for video, music, Internet Explorer, PDF reading etc suck rancid goats balls on the PC desktop. make sure you re-install all your usual apps for this stuff and ensure you set them as the default app for them. You’ll thank me later….after you wear out your Alt-Tab and Alt-F4 keys…

      Try as they might, and I am a huge and unabashed Microsoft fan, and I ‘do this shit for a living’ its a shit desktop OS. End of story. You can’t live on both the desktop and Metro home page. What would have made more sense is to combine the ability of the Metro Apps, the ‘Live Tiles’ with the functionality of the Vista/7 Gadgets where you could plonk them down on the Desktop. Some of those little Apps are pretty handy….but if I live on my desktop I don’t see them unless I make the effort to find them….and then you go and cover up my desktop and what I was doing!

      So, don’t be in any hurry to get this for your home PC’s and lappies. It runs perfectly fine but really…the UI is a shocker for desktop users. I’ll be grabbing a PRO version of a tablet when they hit the market - I wouldn’t get an RT version. As I said the other day, you won’t see Apple of Android pads in business use by this time next year, unless your business already has them and won’t spring for Win8 Pro replacements. This is where Win8 will shine. But it feels to me that MS has stuck its middle finger up at its core market - the Business Desktop Market, where it dominates across the planet. All in order to be a third player in a limited market.

      Reply

    • andye says:

      01:55pm | 26/10/12

      @TheRealDave - “Shit…it took ME nearly 5 minutes and then Google before I found out how to reboot the bloody thing!”

      OH NO! Seriously, this is your issue? take a windows user who has never used a mac and throw them on without instruction. They will get lost. Vice versa? Same thing. If you don;t want to learn a new system don’t upgrade. If what you have now is fine, then good.

    • TheRealDave says:

      02:34pm | 26/10/12

      Try re-reading what I wrote and applying some basic English comprehension skills.

      What I said was that if an advanced user like myself (15 years as an IT Sysadmin/Manager who is on PC’s, Servers, Tablets, Smart Devices/Routers/Firewalls/etc for around 16 hours a day, most days, and been using ‘Computers’ since the early 80’s) takes that long to find a basic task then there is something wrong. I further said the UI (Metro) is bland, offers no feedback and is un-intuitive. I then went further a propsed what woul dhave been a better solution ie using hte Live Tiles on the Desktop ala the former Desktop Gadgets.

      Maybe I pitched my spiel at too high a technical level?? 

      wink

    • Matt says:

      01:18pm | 26/10/12

      “Windows 8 is the first operating system you won’t be able to buy outright.

      “Consumers will either have to purchase a whole new computer, tablet or mobile with the operating system preloaded, or purchase a second-hand computer running an older version of Windows and pay $40 for an upgrade.

      “This limits Microsoft’s ability to poach consumers who have been using a competitor product.”

      ————————-

      What, like Linux?

      Reply

    • Oliver says:

      01:23pm | 26/10/12

      Microsoft has a huge investment in compatibility of past applications, necessary in the corporate sphere.  To keep that market, and those of us who spend their day with a real keyboard, they have to bridge the two.  Or have two products.  I think this is a very interesting choice, and the ARM based surface could well be the wave of the future, with enough new features and touch, but office and the web for old features, that corporates may adopt.  Probably with version 2 (Windows 8 SP1?  Windows 9?). 

      Not everyone can be Apple.  Samsung/Google have tried and been sued.  Microsoft have built on the past, and specialized in not being Steve Jobs.  It’s worked for them for two decades, and will continue to do so for a long time I’d expect.

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      02:49pm | 26/10/12

      The ARM based Windows RT surface is a toy. Its designed ot compete inteh same marketspace as teh iPad and Android tabs. And I don’ tthink it will do that well.

      The Windows 8 Pro Surface - now thats a completely different story. That bad boy is the one I will be grabbing the second I can grab one. I’ve said it a few times now and I stand by it - this time next year only the muppets will have an iPad or Android tab in a buiness environment, even if the MS Win8 Pro ones cost around $1000.

      Why would you pay the money for a 10” tab that, in essence. only runs your email, tasks and calendar (and in the case of the iDevices - poorly in a enterprise environment)  with poorly coded 3rd party apps to display basic documents/presentations that format badly, when you can grab a full Win 8 Pro tablet that will run EVRYTHING your current desktop computer at work runs?? Off the top of my head we are talking crap like your Databases, your Accounting packages including off the shelf MYOB/Quicken stuff and your enterprise grade stuff, your full desktop publishing suites, programming tools, web based stuff, remote access natively and securely and so on and so on…..if all you need is Angry Birds and Fart Noise apps - then by all means - keep your iPad or Android tab wink

      Win 8 is great for that environment - but not for its core Business desktop market.

    • cris says:

      01:27pm | 26/10/12

      Sticking to just one side would be suicide. Businesses need older software. I need older software for my college courses. That is where Windows 8 pro comes in. The hell is this rubbish am reading.

      Reply

    • Ren says:

      01:29pm | 26/10/12

      I have been using the final release for a month or so now and I don’t see what the problem is. Going back to Windows 7 now feels a little awkward.

      Reality is nothing really has changed that much. The main thing is the start menu is now full screen. The rest works as it does with Windows 7.

      I am using my desktop PC as I would, I don’t really use the metro apps aside from the remote desktop app. I like the metro interface as a replacement to the start menu tho which lets face it was a bit of a turd really. Clicking all programs and folders expanding left right and centre.
      I mean who even uses the start menu to open their programs anyhow? Pin to task bar much? Use the easy to group metro interface for the programs you use some of the time. Windows key Q gets ya right into an app search if you looking for something rather than hunting through a start menu.

      If people really want to get fancy than can even use a few shortcut keys and they will be fanging about their Windows install like never before.

      If you cant figure that out then perhaps Mac is the way to go for you.

      The idea of the Surface is awesome. Use your stuff like a pc if you want. Convert to Tablet mode if you want. What’s the problem with that?

      You say switching between the metro and the desktop is hard? and will bemuse young and old”? Have you even used the OS yet?? It is so amazingly easy to get to your desktop and start menu. Even if you don’t want to use a shortcut key there just happens to be a massive button labelled desktop on it. Its a real puzzler.

      I smell noob

      Reply

    • fml says:

      01:43pm | 26/10/12

      Hang on?? Do people still use desktops for anything other than work stations?

      In 5 years time we are going to be looking back at the lumbering paper weight that is the desktop and we will be using holographic pcs.

      Reply

    • lower_case_andrew says:

      02:11pm | 26/10/12

      @fml

      “Do people still use desktops for anything other than work stations?”

      Hence the “work” part of “work stations”.

      I love my iPad but I’m not going to be doing my development, spreadsheet, analysis, graphics and video work on it any time soon.

    • Admiral Ackbar says:

      02:22pm | 26/10/12

      Gaming.

    • wolf says:

      02:31pm | 26/10/12

      Try games?  Consoles just don’t cut it.
      In any case I am grateful to Microsoft for going down this path for Windows 8 as it has driven valve to pour resources into a linux client. Can’t wait to get stuck into some linux gaming goodness!

    • TheRealDave says:

      02:38pm | 26/10/12

      Yep, as soon as they invent Quantum computers…..should be any day now….......any day…...

    • fml says:

      02:52pm | 26/10/12

      Can’t they hurry up?

      They’ve been promising the future for years now..

    • TheRealDave says:

      03:07pm | 26/10/12

      Doesn’t Linux have Tetris?? If it did it would rical Apple for gaming goodness wink

    • Mattb says:

      04:12pm | 26/10/12

      l_c_a

      “I love my iPad but I’m not going to be doing my development, spreadsheet, analysis, graphics and video work on it any time soon.”

      I don’t about “anytime soon”. I used to think that, now i tend to take my iPad out in the field with me. Got a $10 app for a program called “blue beam” that allows me to mark up plans with ease right there in the field. there are other programs and applications that myself and several colleagues have found useful too.

      Every year there are more and more uses for the iPad in a business situation and the compatibility issues when linking with Microsoft programs are steadily becoming less and less of an issue.

    • Kipling says:

      02:21pm | 26/10/12

      Meh, it is the Microsoft way….

      Reply

    • Keith Hammersmith says:

      02:22pm | 26/10/12

      the author is presuming Microsoft gives a crap about touch screen,  years ago Microsoft starting investing (not super publicly) in holographic technology (think minority report). the tech isnt there yet, but once it is it will make touch screens a thing of the past. (think x-box kinect - Microsoft is the only company to make this technology at affordable prices with no remote needed). Until Microsoft=oft gets there, it is all filler…...

      Reply

    • ted says:

      03:27pm | 26/10/12

      Ballmer….got to go.

    • Tchom says:

      03:28pm | 26/10/12

      I’m more worried about the Windows app store. Another closed platform :(

      Reply
 
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