Aesthetically, Windows 8 is the best-looking desktop OS I've seen, including any Windows, Linux and Mac OS variation.
Windows 8
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Aesthetically, Windows 8 is the best-looking desktop OS I've seen, including any Windows, Linux and Mac OS variation.
Mr.WorldWide
Smugly Inferior
That's a highly personal opinion and nearly everyone is going to feel differently on the subject.
I'm not asking that M$ get rid of the whole new "metro" look, I just want the option to use the glass "aero" UI if I wish. After all, mine is a desktop, not a friggin tablet, I got the resources for glass so let me use it.
Vista was very very pretty. Seven already reined in some arguable stylistic excesses, 8 is going for something much cleaner.
In my opinion it doesn't go far enough, some remnants from 7 clash with the overall aesthetic. An even more Metro-ish look with the option for glossy glassy glowy gimmicks would have been nice.
OSX looks mature and quite consistent with lots of attention to detail. The only thing they have to nail is how much skeuomorphy they want, they keep flip-flopping over that.
Linux.. hmm. It has some interfaces available that look pretty much however the user wants them to look. However: As a friend with a design background put it, you can neither sell config files nor put them in your portfolio - who with any training is going to bother?
The full-fat desktop environments are mostly a little behind Microsoft and Apple in design details, but they make up for it with choice and still considerable customisation.
In my opinion it doesn't go far enough, some remnants from 7 clash with the overall aesthetic. An even more Metro-ish look with the option for glossy glassy glowy gimmicks would have been nice.
OSX looks mature and quite consistent with lots of attention to detail. The only thing they have to nail is how much skeuomorphy they want, they keep flip-flopping over that.
Linux.. hmm. It has some interfaces available that look pretty much however the user wants them to look. However: As a friend with a design background put it, you can neither sell config files nor put them in your portfolio - who with any training is going to bother?
The full-fat desktop environments are mostly a little behind Microsoft and Apple in design details, but they make up for it with choice and still considerable customisation.
Win8 definitely doesn't go far enough, MS has continued their trend of having remnant UI fragments from several versions ago in various places.
I quite dislike the OS X window look - the slim borders are nice (Win8 also is much improved with slim borders (like this) - but the window shadows in OS X are hideous and the top window controls are borderline worthless. OS X does shine in consistency - you can basically use nothing but high-quality apps which have the same look and feel to them. I expect Win8 Metro apps will go that way as well, in the future.
I quite dislike the OS X window look - the slim borders are nice (Win8 also is much improved with slim borders (like this) - but the window shadows in OS X are hideous and the top window controls are borderline worthless. OS X does shine in consistency - you can basically use nothing but high-quality apps which have the same look and feel to them. I expect Win8 Metro apps will go that way as well, in the future.
Mr.WorldWide
Smugly Inferior
Who the heck decided that the old boxy windows that harkens from the days of 95 are better looking then the smooth rotundness of windows in xp , vista, and 7? I hate to say it but these gradient-less, 2D, square windows look like a version of windows 95 gone horribly wrong. How can you even keep a straight face when you say it looks better then vista or 7?
Maybe I was spoiled by vista but 8 looks like a step back 10+ years.
Maybe I was spoiled by vista but 8 looks like a step back 10+ years.
shadowplay
your ad here
I've been using Windows 8 on my desktop for a couple of days now, upgraded from Vista. I like it, needs some little tweeks, but it's promising.
One thing that just about made me cry - I made the terrible mistake of clicking "music" on the start-up screen, assuming it would take me to my music. Nope, instead I'm greeted with pictures of Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and some other jackass I don't like. Save me jesus. Luckily you can fix this.
One thing that just about made me cry - I made the terrible mistake of clicking "music" on the start-up screen, assuming it would take me to my music. Nope, instead I'm greeted with pictures of Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and some other jackass I don't like. Save me jesus. Luckily you can fix this.
The rounded window corners in pre-8 are hideous, they all look super-pixelated, and it's even worse if you try to make the window borders narrower.
Few ever get round corners right. Even Apple's are only ok-ish, on Apple's own hardware. Vista tried to be pretty at a time when glass and gloss impressed people. 8 is trying to be crisp and clean with design cues from signage, a more mature approach even if implementation could be better.
Prettier != better.
Prettier != better.
GNOME Shell? That is my favorite linux desktop environment, and I think they got round corners done right. That said there is much disagreement about that, so you have a point about how hard they are to make well.
Terxpahseyton
Nobody
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I now got the additional experience of over two weeks of Windows 8, and the metro-stuff is such a load of crap. It make no coherent sense except for those which are impressed by the smart-phone-like look of metro and don't give a crap about functionality for - err- a desktop PC. It just means a split of windows functionality, which makes everything more complicated except for those that are - in my opinion - very low-demanding desktop-users which superficial priorities. Some parts of the new design have potential. The charms-bar could be useful (and occasionaly is when looking for a program . though with the old start-menu that worked even quicker...). And an app-screen for people who like it - why not. But the split of functionality is just dumb. And don't get me started on how you can shut down apps. You have to click on a specific spot and make them smaller my some moves and then drag then down to the button - what a terrible way for someone using a freaking mouse instead of say a smart phone or a tablet.
Advanced settings are way less efficient to handle lacking the old start menu. But now I discovered that when one runs a resource-consuming program (a game) which crashed, it is impossible to just open the task-manager and shut it down. Because pressing the windows-button on the keyboard gets you to metro, but when starting the task-manger it naturally shifts to desktop-mode, where the program automatically takes precedence, making one unable to use the task manger..sigh
And pretty? Okay, this is a matter of taste. I don't particularly like the metro-look. At the first sight it is kind of refreshing, but it soon gets old and ugly. It just is a one-dimensional intense color-background and then some big squares. Not sure what is supposed to be so pretty about it, but so be it if you dig that. But the desktop-mode - the only relevant mode for a user with sense - definitely has not improved visually. I can hardly take someone seriously arguing so.
Advanced settings are way less efficient to handle lacking the old start menu. But now I discovered that when one runs a resource-consuming program (a game) which crashed, it is impossible to just open the task-manager and shut it down. Because pressing the windows-button on the keyboard gets you to metro, but when starting the task-manger it naturally shifts to desktop-mode, where the program automatically takes precedence, making one unable to use the task manger..sigh
And pretty? Okay, this is a matter of taste. I don't particularly like the metro-look. At the first sight it is kind of refreshing, but it soon gets old and ugly. It just is a one-dimensional intense color-background and then some big squares. Not sure what is supposed to be so pretty about it, but so be it if you dig that. But the desktop-mode - the only relevant mode for a user with sense - definitely has not improved visually. I can hardly take someone seriously arguing so.
Metro not being useful for desktop at this point isn't really a problem, since the desktop works great for desktop. I can use my tablet in Metro mode when I'm out, and then dock it to full mouse/keyboard/monitor when I'm home and use the desktop.
You don't need to shut down apps. They're not really running, and Windows will close them automatically if it needs the resources. And if you really want them gone, you can push alt+F4, same as always.
You can work around the task manager issue by toggling "always on top".
In terms of good visuals, I'm specifically referring to the desktop.
You don't need to shut down apps. They're not really running, and Windows will close them automatically if it needs the resources. And if you really want them gone, you can push alt+F4, same as always.
You can work around the task manager issue by toggling "always on top".
In terms of good visuals, I'm specifically referring to the desktop.
Mr.WorldWide
Smugly Inferior
There are always those few bad programs which don't suspend like they should, ofc with the very controlled environment metro runs in I suppose that's less likely.
I also don't like the fact that 8 defaults to metro when launching a program which has a metro "version". There needs to be an option that forces every program to default to desktop.
And I really hate the "hot" edges of the screen, it's got junk jumping out at the worst moments, so I turned them off...with 3rd party software because M$ didn't make it apparent how to do so otherwise. Those touch gestures are such a load of crap when you exclusively use a mouse.
LamaGT
Emperor
You have no idea how often I had to open the task manager to kill freezed games or even flash player. Without it I'd probably had to reboot the pc.
It is impossible for background programs in Metro to not suspend, beyond specific background tasks like active network transfers, music, etc. - and like I said, you can still close them with alt+F4.
Windows has a "Default programs" app - it's pretty easy to use it to set defaults to whatever programs you want.
Windows 8 doesn't even have hot edges, it has hot corners and it's impossible to actually do anything without clicking on them. I suppose you disable window previews for the taskbar a well, with are IMO one of the top features Windows has over other operating systems. (Though much improved by tweaking the hover delay time to 0.)
Right, that's why I provided a workaround to make the task manager work for fullscreen games so you don't have to reboot.
Mr.WorldWide
Smugly Inferior
I haven't disabled the window previews on my taskbar but wouldn't miss it cause I hardly use them. Why squint at a thumbnail when in the exact amount of time I can evoke the entire window onto my screen? Windows 7 had the right idea on how the window previews should work until sp1 rolled out and it got trashed.
Although you are correct and only the corners are hot, the charms bar takes up a good 1" on the right side of your screen as well as displaying a heinous large black popup with the time and date. The gestures are by far the most annoying though, I end up switching in and out of metro with accidental clicks when my finger sits a bit too heavy on the mouse or when I'm typing on a laptop and my finger or palm accidentally grazes the touchpad and if you think pulling the cursor down the entire height of the screen is an easier method of closing a window then a simple click in the upper right corner, you must be off your meds.
Although you are correct and only the corners are hot, the charms bar takes up a good 1" on the right side of your screen as well as displaying a heinous large black popup with the time and date. The gestures are by far the most annoying though, I end up switching in and out of metro with accidental clicks when my finger sits a bit too heavy on the mouse or when I'm typing on a laptop and my finger or palm accidentally grazes the touchpad and if you think pulling the cursor down the entire height of the screen is an easier method of closing a window then a simple click in the upper right corner, you must be off your meds.
Window previews are the entire windows that preview when you mouseover the thumbnail in the taskbar. They might be the biggest feature I miss of Windows in Mac OS.
The charms bar doesn't come up unless you specifically mouse up or down the side the side of the monitor, and then disappears immediately when you mouse away, I really fail to see how it can be a problem in any context.
If you're accidentally clicking on things, that's not an OS problem, you're just bad at using a mouse. I imagine that makes games difficult when you're accidentally shooting things, browsers difficult when you accidentally click on links, etc.
Your trackpad being activated by your palm is a hardware problem - both my laptop and my tablet with keyboard/trackpad have typing/palm detection which prevents the trackpad from activating with your palms when you're typing.
I never claimed dragging a window the height of the screen was either than clicking in the corner, but it's largely irrelevant. If you're in a metro app, you don't need to close it. If you're in a desktop app, it's much easier in Windows 8 to hit the top right corner because it's sticky, so your cursor doesn't fly onto the next monitor.
The charms bar doesn't come up unless you specifically mouse up or down the side the side of the monitor, and then disappears immediately when you mouse away, I really fail to see how it can be a problem in any context.
If you're accidentally clicking on things, that's not an OS problem, you're just bad at using a mouse. I imagine that makes games difficult when you're accidentally shooting things, browsers difficult when you accidentally click on links, etc.
Your trackpad being activated by your palm is a hardware problem - both my laptop and my tablet with keyboard/trackpad have typing/palm detection which prevents the trackpad from activating with your palms when you're typing.
I never claimed dragging a window the height of the screen was either than clicking in the corner, but it's largely irrelevant. If you're in a metro app, you don't need to close it. If you're in a desktop app, it's much easier in Windows 8 to hit the top right corner because it's sticky, so your cursor doesn't fly onto the next monitor.
Mr.WorldWide
Smugly Inferior
How about 8's "one task manager to rule them all" when it comes to programs? Both metro and desktop programs show in the task manager which opens in the desktop. However I think metro programs should appear in the desktop taskbar as well because the reason I'm using the desktop is so I can see all relevant information of w/e I'm working on at a glance. Hiding my open metro "apps" while in desktop mode isn't helping. Out of sight, out of mind.
Terxpahseyton
Nobody
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@Zelig
Thanks for the hint regarding the taskbar, but I would like to note that IMO you overlook a major dimension of the windows 8 hate.
Even if we except that Windows 8 is superior to Windows 7 in all dimensions (which I would like to dispute for the aforementioned division of functionality between desktop and metro, but lets just assume), it isn't just about comparing Windows 8 to Windows 7. It is also about what Microsoft chose to improve and what not. It is also about what proprieties Windows 8 establishes. And what unrealized potential this implies and entails.
It is about the IMO not unfounded impression, that for the sake of getting people caught up in metro*, Microsoft deliberately neglected the functionality of the desktop mode. And hence harms users who want to do their primary business in that mode. Not necessarily in relation to Windows 7 (while as said I think that is - at the very least mildly - the case) but in relation to what they could have done if it wasn't all about coercing people to adapt to the metro-environment
*Presumably for two aims:
a) Have people grow accustomed to the metro look so that Microsoft tablet and smart phone environments seem familiar (favored by a lot of functionality - unnecessarily - being put exclusively in total or with regards to easy intuitive access into the metro environment + the abandonment of Aero for the sake of clear colors in the desktop mode).
b) Make money with apps.
And the priories established by Microsoft are so important because of the so - in terms of the ideal of competition for the sake of consumer preference - dysfunctional OS-market.
Thanks for the hint regarding the taskbar, but I would like to note that IMO you overlook a major dimension of the windows 8 hate.
Even if we except that Windows 8 is superior to Windows 7 in all dimensions (which I would like to dispute for the aforementioned division of functionality between desktop and metro, but lets just assume), it isn't just about comparing Windows 8 to Windows 7. It is also about what Microsoft chose to improve and what not. It is also about what proprieties Windows 8 establishes. And what unrealized potential this implies and entails.
It is about the IMO not unfounded impression, that for the sake of getting people caught up in metro*, Microsoft deliberately neglected the functionality of the desktop mode. And hence harms users who want to do their primary business in that mode. Not necessarily in relation to Windows 7 (while as said I think that is - at the very least mildly - the case) but in relation to what they could have done if it wasn't all about coercing people to adapt to the metro-environment
*Presumably for two aims:
a) Have people grow accustomed to the metro look so that Microsoft tablet and smart phone environments seem familiar (favored by a lot of functionality - unnecessarily - being put exclusively in total or with regards to easy intuitive access into the metro environment + the abandonment of Aero for the sake of clear colors in the desktop mode).
b) Make money with apps.
And the priories established by Microsoft are so important because of the so - in terms of the ideal of competition for the sake of consumer preference - dysfunctional OS-market.
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