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A comment on Windows 7 outgains Windows 8 in market share again, Windows XP still above 27%. Parent comment

Re:Windows 7 outgains Windows 8 in market share again, Windo... by brudgers on Tuesday April 01, 2014 @10:09PM (#7513127)
missing start button

I continue to be surprised that HN consistently upvotes comments with this criticism of Windows 8. The start button has been present since Windows 8.1 was released last October. The analogy would be criticizing Ubunto for a feater missing from 12.04.

Having largely transitioned from Windows to Linux in the past few months, I'd never have made it if I abandoned Linux every time I encountered fifteen minutes of configuration WTF? and compared to figuring out how to remove the installation media from yum's list of repositories learning the charms bar [before the start button and Windows 8.1] was a piece of cake.

Then again, I watched the Windows 8 tutorials.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows 7 outgains Windows 8 in market share again, Windo... by doktrin on Tuesday April 01, 2014 @10:49PM (#7513250)
Most HN contributors wouldn't have trouble using Windows 8. True and fair. However, the context of the parent comment was recommending an OS for his (presumably less tech savvy) parents. I couldn't agree more in this regard. I recommend either OSX or Windows 7 to anyone in the family who asks.

The missing start menu may not be a current issue, but it's a fair example of what's wrong with Windows 8 from a UX perspective. That is to say - abandoning almost everything that is familiar about the Windows UX in favor of a new and largely unproven desktop interface.

On top of it all, it's a touch-centric interface that feels (to many people, at least) out of place in a desktop. I personally can't imagine jabbing at my desktop monitor with my finger. What works on a tablet in my lap becomes really awkward when the screen is a full arms length from my face.

If the monitor in question isn't a touchscreen, then what's left is a really unfortunate mess that most less tech-savvy users are going to have a tough time getting rid of.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows 7 outgains Windows 8 in market share again, Windo... by tonyedgecombe on Wednesday April 02, 2014 @01:45AM (#7513785)
Since upgrading to 8.1 I never see the touch interface, boot straight to the desktop (which will soon be the default on no touch devices) and it just isn't an issue.
[ Parent | on HN ]