It seemed Microsoft lost its touch with Windows 8. The update to Windows 8.1 improved the experience, yet users still feel that is was not a true Windows system. Microsoft Corporation could learn from this and can improve with Windows 9.
Microsoft learned heavily from Windows 8. By trying too hard to compete with tablet sales and what it meant to home desktops, Microsoft felt that merging the two would excite people. They were wrong. When people using PCs found out that they had to use their desktop and laptop as though they were using a tablet, some became frustrated. Yes, using touch control is easier for some, but it makes for a steeper learning curve when users have to use a mouse and keyboard without their PC or laptop possessing touch capabilities.
By making the Windows operating system tablet friendly, their design aspects fell into that of having to accommodate those with fingers instead off a mouse pointer. The Start Menu became the Metro page with big blocks instead of small icons. The desktop became hidden and people became confused. Even when people found the desktop, it became a nightmare as the user still had to continuously return to the “page of blocks” to find programs and folders.
By attempting to merge the operating system for a desktop and a tablet, there seemed to be two different operating systems in Windows 8. On the desktop, the familiar windows would pop up and the user could dig through folders to find what they were looking for. Most programs opened in familiar fashion and would feel as natural as it should be.
Then a user would want to watch a Netflix movie or a read a PDF file and those would open an app that took over the entire screen. Those not familiar with how tablets worked were confused how to switch back to the desktop. It took a while for users to learn how to motion the pointer to the sides of the screen to bring up a sub menu to switch or close out an app. The mixture of programs and apps became a hassle. Programs and apps were not visually labeled and that meant not knowing whether a user was on the desktop side or the tablet side.
Microsoft Corporation has become better at listening to its users and will use that feedback with the improvement of Windows 9. The update to Windows 8.1 showed just how much they listen and how they could improve the operating system.
The Windows 8.1 update fixed major problems and made the desktop the prime destination again. Now users are able to boot directly to desktop instead of having to find it. Microsoft brought back the Start button. Clicking on the Start button brings users to the Metro menu page, but it is a big improvement over the former release.
The desktop still operates the same, but app usage has changed. Now when an app opens up and takes over the entire screen, a top drop-down menu will become available for users to close or minimize that window and be brought back to the desktop. It is a great improvement over having to feel as though a user is using a tablet with a mouse and keyboard connected to it.
That is the strength that the Microsoft Corporation needs to focus on to improve on Windows 9. Microsoft seemed to have had the premonition that people want to use a desktop in the same way that they use a tablet. People are in fact smart enough to understand the difference between the two. The difference between the two is based solely on what how the user needs to use it.
A tablet is great for users that need to carry something light. A tablet can work wonders for some one that travels most of the day and just needs to check email or look up information quick. It has become popular for that very reason. The rise in tablets sales compared to desktops is because people are seeing that there is another option besides carrying a large laptop or finding a desktop to use.
Users know that desktops are great for those that need computer power and are able to sit for hours using that power to create and work. Someone who is in the mindset of work or creating are able to sit for time needed to use desktop. The drop in sales of desktops is because people that need something lighter found that option with tablets.
Windows 9 has the opportunity to distinguish between being an operation system for a tablet or being an operating system for a desktop and the Microsoft Corporation needs to not look at what they think users are going to want down the road. They need to instead focus on what people have right now in their homes or in their carrying bags. Microsoft is foreseeing the future with only tablets, but the fact is that there are still people that either do not have one or are still using their desktops and laptops for the work they need it for.
Opinion by Raul Hernandez
Source:
ZDNet
ZDNet
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