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Consumers downloaded the Windows 8 Consumer Preview over a million times in less than 24 hours, but we're willing to bet that the majority of those downloads came from the technically inclined rather than, say, your parents. The tech world has already proclaimed what it likes and doesn't like in Windows 8 -- but do everyday people really care if W8 has an enhanced contact app? Can everyday people even locate the contact app in W8? Lockergnome's Chris Pirillo decided to put the W8 interface to the test by plopping his elderly father down in front of the new OS with no introduction.
As you can see, Pappa Pirillo struggled to find his way back to the Metro home screen after opening Windows Explorer. What does this prove? Nothing, really -- it's far from a scientific test. But anecdotally, the video shows that the loss of a Start button and the schizoid Metro/Classic interface will likely cause headaches in everyday non-techie users who think that, say, Internet Explorer is the Internet. Or, as Pappa Pirillo says, "Are they trying to drive me to Mac?"
Thanks to Geek.com for pointing this out!
Comments are closed on this article
Jims45wow
April 06, 2012 at 7:13am
The ONLY reason they would make a a PC interface that retarded, is to work toward nickel-and-diming people to death with paid subscription for turning on features of the OS (which they have strong-armed from other developers over the decades)--Well, and to offer "free" apps in exchange for loss of personal privacy.
"app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app app"
illusionslayer
April 04, 2012 at 2:45pm
Meanwhile, in the land of those not entirely incompetent, w8 is easy to use and offers some great improvements over w7. WOA will be great as well.
Engelsstaub
March 13, 2012 at 8:44am
Like it or not, the Metro UI is something that has to be done. MS does not want to be left behind on tablets. I'm actually optimistic that they can make this work for desktop-users as well. Hopefully they listen to their user-base and get it "right" in the eyes of the majority. At the end of the day that's really the best you can do. Everyone else is either going to have to Get Familiar with Win 8 -or- Get Familiar with Linux or OS X.
anagramsolver
March 14, 2012 at 9:33am
They do not want to be left behind on tablets, but that does not mean a tablet OS works on a desktop PC. As many people are saying (and are confounded by), why is there not a tablet edition of Win8 and a desktop version?
Also, I will not have to get familiar with Win8 because I will never buy it. I will stick with Win 7, which I will be able to run for years to come, and will hope that some sanity will be brought to the next version of Windows. I have an "every other" theory on Windows now, that is every other version of windows since ME will be rubbish and should be skipped.
I set up Win8 preview and had the same exact issue that Papa had and could not get back to the horrid metro desktop. I had to Google it to find out how. Simple, but not so simple and many others had the same issue as well.
fung0
March 14, 2012 at 10:25am
You nailed it. I'm tired of all the "they had to do something; this is something; therefore they had to do this" logic. There is simply NO POSSIBLE EXCUSE for saddling a desktop OS with a tablet UI that CANNOT be bypassed.
Microsoft needs to hear loud and clear that users won't be jerked around to suit Ballmer's demented marketing fantasies.
spokenwordd
March 15, 2012 at 2:28pm
Fung0 I could not agree with you more. I downloaded Win 8 Dev preview about a month ago and installed as a dual boot to Win 7. As an IT professional and MS end user I could not believe how counter intuitive the Metro UI was for me. The new bells and whistles are nice and I love the ribbon interface being sewn into the OS fully but the Metro UI can go to hell.
As someone who has zero plans of buying or building a desktop or laptop with a touch screen this has zero interest to me, I have my Asus Transformer for those needs. Releasing Win 8 "as is" will have one effect for sure, a high rate of downgrades to Win 7 by new PC buyers.
Hey MS, did learn anything from Vista? You can't drag users kicking and screaming in a new direction. I don't know anyone that wants a Windows Phone 7 experience on their desktop PCs. Fail...
And this OS will NEVER fly in an Enterprise environment. Who would actually use this?
drevas
March 13, 2012 at 8:10am
The number of people who will have Win8 as their first experience is going to be very small when compared with the number of overall PC users. So the whole "it's O.K.if they don't know anything else" argument is just silly.
Win8 will be made or broken on existing PC users. Oh, and good luck selling this to the corporate world who typically has to be dragged kicking and screaming to ANY OS migration.
If the interface is not modified in the final release Microsoft will have a big problem on the desktop. Windows ME anyone?
At the same time, I hope it will be able to run on my tablet.
ekorre
March 13, 2012 at 3:58am
I feel bad for all the ppl who will have to start over learning windows. I even struggled finding the restart button the other day - what made them put it under hidden sidebar in under settings tab? I actually had to google it to figure it out.
Wingzero_x
March 12, 2012 at 10:54pm
As embarrassing as it is to say this was exactly my experience the other day, before a MaxPC article pointed me in the right direction. The corners weren't working, because I believe was an issue of it running in VM, it never occurred to me to push the Windows key. Fact of the matter I was stuck and had no idea how to return to the the Metro interface aka Home. That is basic user interface, and that is something I have never had a problem with any GUI ever! Not in any previous version of Windows, OSX, Linux, BSD, Amiga workbench, GEOS, BeOS...
I admit I may not be the most technically proficient user, and self taught. But I've been tinkering computers and electronics since the days of the Apple ][, and am far from the normal level of the average user.
Sorry, but moving the mouse down in the corner, or having to press a special key is not intuitive at all! There is a reason why it's called a GUI. I think we all know what happens when people insist on fixing thing s that are not broken.
maxeeemum
March 12, 2012 at 6:30pm
Great video!
Hey Best Buy, Staples, etc. wait till you have to sell these PCs with Windows 8 installed. I predict there will be a never seen before return of computers to your stores in the first 30 days.
ddimick
March 12, 2012 at 5:33pm
They aren't designing an interface for your PARENTS, they are designing one for your KIDS. My daughter was able to use an iPhone at the age of three because this is what Apple does well.
Try putting your preschooler in front of Windows 8. I've no idea what will happen, but it'll be more informative than this was.
Wingzero_x
March 12, 2012 at 11:04pm
So we'll going to have preschoolers doing TPS reports now. I guess there really will be a reason for "Bring your kid to work" days now.
RUSENSITIVESWEETNESS
March 12, 2012 at 5:00pm
Yeah, I want my PC to be as much a pain in the ass as my phone....
SkavenUk
March 12, 2012 at 4:50pm
Working as a Tech for an office enviroment I can tell you this will never see the light of day in our Corporation just because the metro style is in no way compatable for our end users. Not just that but trying to get our in-house programs to work with this will be a nightmare.
ssmithT
March 12, 2012 at 4:44pm
So what about gamers then? I know a decent number of people that have the windows key disabled entirely (either on the keyboard itself or through some setting) so they don't press it and loose focus on the window.
radneo
March 12, 2012 at 3:38pm
I had to create login to MAXIMUM PC to make this comment:
HERE WE GO!!!!!!
You kidding me. Please put monkey to this spot and he will do better job. It is so much easier to use Win 8 then any mac....
Are you guys trying to push no change to the technology?
Put the same guy to the new Tesla Car, and ask him to drive it, or even start it, cmon people. If you guys so smart write your own OS.
RUSENSITIVESWEETNESS
March 12, 2012 at 4:58pm
Ahh ok so we like are making the very advanced operating systems and giving the users experiences of the future. We can predict a the future because we are the a microsoft and we did the invention of the personal computer.
HERE WE GO!!!
God knows Microsoft has NEVER screwed up an operating system before!
Now sync my ass with your face and friend my golden globes.
Neufeldt2002
March 12, 2012 at 4:23pm
It's not the OS that everyone has a problem with, it's the shell (GUI - Graphical User Interface) that MS is using that is the problem. The actual OS itself seems to be for the most part a step in the right direction.
Just as a note, I have no idea your level of expertise, but I include the shell\GUI information for those that do not know. Most people think the GUI is the OS, as that is all they see.
Mortal_M
March 12, 2012 at 5:19pm
Don't worry, I'll just create a GUI in Visual Basic to track the IP address!
;)
Hey.That_Dude
March 12, 2012 at 3:25pm
ROTFLMFAO... My parents and grandparents will be just like this. They can't even run MS7 in the "explorer" mode correctly...
livebriand
March 12, 2012 at 2:31pm
I think his reaction will be pretty typical. Come on, can't Microsoft do better than that? They'd better disable the metro UI by default unless you have a tablet.
Wonko33
March 12, 2012 at 12:25pm
I think it is a good representation of an average user.
He's not a complete N00b, a lot of the things he is saying are very logical and they show he's a windows user that could probably do all his daily tasks independently on Win 7. Many people don't know about shortcuts and keys, they use the mouse interface.
Windows is not only for people like us who spend time on tech websites, many average users will have a difficult time with this new direction MS is taking. Get ready for the in-laws to call for help ;)
illusionslayer
March 12, 2012 at 12:08pm
An embedded Chris Pirillo video. I really liked coming to this site too...
pratikrawankar
March 12, 2012 at 11:33am
its dark truth , nice video
but its just windows 8 BETAhope final build will be a smarter one
DoctorX
March 13, 2012 at 10:50am
problem with your stmt... This is near final what the gui will look like according to MS. They have time to fix it, but they dont think there is a problem. The same interface on Win Phone 7... which is selling like hotcakes... not!
fung0
March 14, 2012 at 10:32am
Anyone who's seen a few of Microsoft's betas will know that they NEVER make feature changes at this point. Microsoft is totally committed to Metro on the desktop. We might as well be equally committed to hating it.
jtrpop
March 12, 2012 at 10:59am
Chris Pirillo had a cry baby tizzy fit with Vista (some justified, most of it not), and is now very anti-Microsoft/pro Mac, but he does have a point here. If users were upset about the Ribbon interface in Office (which I really like), they will go nuts about this new UI.
DoctorX
March 12, 2012 at 11:09am
Vista was a POS until SP2, so you dont have a leg to stand on. I dont love MS either, but i have used every version of windows since 3.11. I love linux, but not afraid to call them out too if they do something stupid. (unity? gnome3? really?)
DocBogus
March 12, 2012 at 5:41pm
Gnome 3 is great in Linux Mint. I've been ditching almost all the "Extensions" from the much loved gnome 2 (even the Menu, Bottom Panel or Windows List) in favor of the full G3 experience. Fast & straightforward, when we get the basics. Metro is just a gimmick to inject advertising into our work spaces & homes
Wingzero_x
March 12, 2012 at 1:23pm
Couldn't agree more, and at least with Linux there are always alternatives. And if you didn't have any issues with Vista count yourself lucky. I had out of all things a A USB connected HDD drive that Vista Sp1 (worked pre-service pack) would not recognize. Luckily MS wasn't so strict on their Virtual PC requirements back then and Vista HP would allow me to install an XP virtual machine. Another issue I had quite a few games that would not play at all on Vista, but played fine on XP. That's basically when I realized that all Vista had going for it was the pretty interface. Loaded XP, and Windows Blinds and was more than happy.
Though I don't agree that Win8 will be the second coming of Vista...No, I'm thinking the second coming of Windows ME.
kevaskous
March 12, 2012 at 1:55pm
Any issue you may have had more than likely came from your choice of hardware and their craptacular drivers for it, like many companies, likely chose to do little to no planing during Vista's redic beta time. I dropped all those companies during beta and advised all my friends, we never experienced one issue, period, out of like 300 machines, choose your hardware wisely ;)
kevaskous
March 12, 2012 at 11:52am
Afraid I don't agree with you there, having used Vista since early beta up until windows 7 beta, can't tell you a -single- issue i had with -any- of my machines, once.
DoctorX
March 13, 2012 at 10:57am
obviously you did nothing with them then. Either that or you have poor memory. If you played games... or my favorite... reboot was dicey at best. Half the time I had to restore the registry after a reboot because it would corrupt itself. When SP2, most of the problems were fixed. Still it was a bit unstable and slow. The CP for win7 was way faster and more stable on the same hardware. I have been running Win7 since jan 2009.
ikleinit
March 12, 2012 at 10:44am
this video should of been shown first http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Fczo6E5gE
Wingzero_x
March 12, 2012 at 1:27pm
Do you have to watch a video every time you buy a new car? Is watching a video necessary to set up a new phone. No, and it should be the same with a computer.
BlazePC
March 12, 2012 at 10:35am
The windows key has been on PC keyboards for how long now?
Hit the button to go back to Metro people!
I laughed at that video.
Priceless
DoctorX
March 12, 2012 at 10:54am
yea... i never use it unless i do a win+r. I never use it to get to the start menu with win7 now. Most people dont use that key that i can tell with those around me unless they do a win+l. I dont laught at that video because the majority of joe 6pack is just like him.
BlazePC
March 12, 2012 at 11:38am
Comments that aren't really relevant are simply Not Relevant!
What you "can tell" and what millions already know are two, completely different things.
DoctorX
March 13, 2012 at 11:04am
any more relevant than the drivel you just posted? Pot calling the kettle black?
I dont use the right menu key either unless something happens and my mouse doesnt work.
Wingzero_x
March 12, 2012 at 1:30pm
Have to agree with the Doc. although I would put that number in the billions of people that never touch that Windows key for anything.
theplustwo
March 12, 2012 at 10:31am
It's not really the end of the world, all they have to do is put a little dialog box that says "Mouse over the bottom-left corner to go back to the Start Screen" the first time you switch to the desktop.
Also: Non-tech savvy users will likely never need to go to the desktop. If all you want to do is browse the internet and check your e-mail, there's no reason to leave Metro.
DoctorX
March 12, 2012 at 11:07am
unless you use real programs... Contrary to what the Microsoft koolaid will tell you, Microsoft does not make the best software out there. Others are much better, ex VLC instead of windows media player. I know at my house that embraced linux and win7 have threatened me to not put that "garbage" on their computers.Wife is not a techie at all that struggles to use the win7 htpc. She used it for a little when i had it installed and said she hated it. i could not get her to try it more than a few minutes.
kevaskous
March 12, 2012 at 11:54am
That's fine and dandy, except all those people are working on Metro integration as well, your argument is really weak.
DoctorX
March 13, 2012 at 11:08am
you are naive... That philosophy is working well in Win Phone 7 isnt? Down to 4.4% and declining?
How long did people hang on to Xp and still hang on to it? Win 7 is the best OS that microsoft has put out and people are still not flocking to it. It has just started out pacing XP the last couple of months.
