How would you change or improve Windows 8?

[JMH]

Windows 8 has been called many things: a "design disaster," an "unmitigated disaster," and even been likened to Vista, which is perhaps a little harsh. That said, it has also dubbed a "fresh start" for Microsoft.

The code is final, the hardware and computer makers have the finalized software, and ordinary users and enterprise customers will receive the updated Microsoft operating system later this year in October.

Yet many customers are wary over purchasing licenses or upgrading to Windows 8 in fear that the new interface is too confusing. That's the crux of the matter: people like to know where things are and on the most part do not like radical change.

In one real-life, hands-on demonstration of the barriers faced by ordinary users, Chris Pirillo sat his father down at a fresh install of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview (which has since been released to manufacturing albeit with a pretty weak 'tutorial') and left him to his own devices. It's painful to watch, but it rounds-up exactly how many feel about the design of the new operating system.

http://www.zdnet.com/dear-readers-how-would-you-change-or-improve-windows-8-7000003061/

 

[Digerati]

Yet many customers are wary over purchasing licenses or upgrading to Windows 8 in fear that the new interface is too confusing.

To me, it is more than just confusing. What little I have played with W8, I finder it harder to use. Many common tasks seem to take more steps, not fewer to accomplish and that just does not make sense to me. I struggled a little with the learning curve to W7 because I never migrated any of my systems to Vista. But W7 was still pretty intuitive, quickly made sense (with a few quirks) and XP looks odd now.

But W8 is harder still. Much harder, or so it seems considering it is supposed to make things easier. Clearly, the push is for the tiny touch screens. I think W8 reflects that. So does the decline in PC sales. I am just not ready to give up my full sized keyboard, mouse and two 22" monitors. I don't like fingerprints on my monitors. And I am not into voice reconition either because I already talk to myself too much - which drives the dog crazy. I don't need to be yelling at my computer too.

 

[Shintaro]

I don't think I would call it "harder", more like different. I'm thinking that it is not unlike the interface change from Win 3.11 to Win 95, for those who remember that!

I find the Apple Mac, iPhone and iPad that my wife uses just plain strange. But she loves them, so does the relative that have them. But I am getting used to them, well I have to, in order to fix them.

 

[Digerati]

I'm thinking that it is not unlike the interface change from Win 3.11 to Win 95

Yeah, I have been around long before Windows (for workgroups) 3.11 but even then, moving to Win95, the task procedures seemed more intuitive - and did not take more steps to accomplish (for the most part).

"Harder" may not have been the correct word, but "different" is not it either. Different is assumed. I don't have a problem with "different" if it is still fairly intuitive, or to my point, takes fewer steps to accomplish common tasks. My new F150 4x4 is quite different from my older car, but still, operating it is intuitive and still takes the same number of steps to release the parking brake, put it in reverse, and back out of my driveway.

Granted, clicking twice is not "hard", but clicking once is easier. Or should I say "touching" instead of "clicking"?

However, in all fairness, I have not taken the time to fully learn W8.