Category: Techtoday
At my office, Mac OSX and Windows 7 is the operating system of choice. At home, my primary machines have been running on Fedora/Mandriva, openSUSE and Ubuntu for years. After running hours of testing on an updated official build of Windows 8, I've realized that after using Linux and Mac OSX for so long, Windows 8 is definitely bringing something new to the table, bad press or not.
A cliche? It really is Different this time.
After spending the last five years or so testing and using various Linux distributions, releases, and desktops running versions of LXDE, KDE 3, KDE 4.x, Gnome 3, Gnome 2, Unity, and xFCE, I thought nothing could impress or excite me anymore. As stable and as successful as Windows 7 was as a production machine, it was boring and predictable. Windows 8's features and interface is well thought out and intelligent. I look forward to actually using the Windows 8 desktop in a production environment despite the bitter first taste with Metro some six months ago. Pending any foul ups in Redmond in the next few months leading to its release, Windows 8 is functional and (dare I say it) fantastic.
Shortcuts and Touchscreens
Any Mac OSX user would tell you they can't survive without the Apple button. It's the first key on the keyboard to go bad after spending your life savings on an iMac or Macbook Pro. In Windows, however, the Windows key just took up space on my keyboard - I'm a traditional mouse user. In fact, the only time I started using the Windows/Super button was after the Unity desktop was introduced in Ubuntu (Super triggers the Dash). But once I got started with the Windows shortcuts in Windows 8, I couldn't stop pressing Windows + I and Windows +D and traditional combinations like Windows + R (Run) and Windows + E (File Explorer). Getting acquainted with navigation in Windows 8 isn't as difficult as it may seem (though I still see people gripe about the absence of the Start button and the presence of Metro).
The shortcuts are great for keyboard-equipped PCs such as netbooks, ultrabooks, desktops, and possibly Microsoft Surface with its fancy stand/keyboard, but what about touch screens? Part of the reason I read up on the Windows shortcuts before running production tests with Windows 8 was because I'm a dinosaur and despite having small fingers struggle with touch screens. I suck at managing text and files using an iOS or Android device. Using the mouse in place of a touchscreen, however, I simulated accessing the Charms panel, switching applications, and configuring PC settings in Windows 8, trying to imitate the swiping motions and gestures. Like Linux, I felt that navigating around the Windows 8 desktop was easier with a keyboard than a touchscreen/mouse - but it was only a matter of preference more than a functional experience. If the hardware supports Windows 8's touchscreen features well (and there's little reason it won't), choosing between a touch screen or a keyboard is a moot point.
Windows Explorer, Task Manager, and Switching Applications
I've read comments about users up in arms over adding the Ribbon in Windows Explorer. I thought it was great having file-sensitive options, checkboxes for file extensions, access to File History, and all sorts of features available directly from Windows explorer. In fact, the addition of the Ribbon was hardly noticeable. I don't get the whole hullabaloo from haters - just click the twisty to collapse or expand the Ribbon. The new file manager is still missing a few convenient features such as the Column View found in Linux file managers such as Nautilus and Dolphin, but I'm hard pressed to think of anything else I need (accessing the network, creating a network drive, etc. are all there).
Search and Settings
I had no issues finding everything essential in Windows 8 even without any tutorial and even after the changes the Microsoft team implemented after they released the trial version. Using the Charms or Search panel did the trick for me. Many users accustomed to XP and 7 can wring their hands all they want but looking for administrative tools and configuring security and networking just takes a bit of getting used to. It's like learning Mac OSX - once you get used to the Finder and the Menu bar, there really is nothing to it. The best tutorial Apple has on Mac OSX is some guy on a forum raving how perfect OS X is - these guys and the Apple.com site will shame you into learning how Mac OSX's desktop works. As a tip, the Search panel in Windows 8 actually works unlike previous iterations.
Despite the numerous types of software managers, desktops, and peculiarities, Linux distributions is still Linux and follow the same rules. Transitioning from Windows 7 to Windows 8 is like moving from Ubuntu 10.10 to Fedora 17 (and learning YUM, Gnome 3, and SELinux while you're at it). The change can be jarring (think sudo and su-) but the benefits are there.
There are more revisions in Windows 8 than there were in Windows 7. The Paging system in Linux desktops has been around for years, but Microsoft decided to take several approaches to managing open applications which range from shortcuts to gestures to Metro. The new Task Manager is also a welcome addition. The data it provides is exceptionally more comprehensive, while also providing a basic view for the casual user. I'm personally more interested in the backup system, File History, and new administrative tools. Oddly enough, the press is focusing more on the Windows Store and the availability of Apps. Can't they understand that there are enough applications supported under Windows as it is, especially since the Windows 8 and Windows Professional editions are backwards compatible?
The Majority Argument
The question is whether the normal office worker, IT guy, or average joe is willing to give Windows 8 a chance (I already know that the guys from the old technical support department are cursing Windows 8). Most people hate change and one of the struggles Microsoft has had over the years is walking the line between remembering its successful past and forging on to the future. It's taking a risk with Windows 8, but it's about time. The problem is that their reputation is so bad these days, Wall Street and every other guy holding an iOS device has dismissed any effort by Microsoft. However, if people take a step back and take a look at Windows 8 without preconceived notions and blinders, they would recognize that Windows 8 is actually pretty good. Unfortunately for Microsoft, that's a big if and there's a huge chance that it's going to impact adoption.
0 comments:
Post a Comment