Former Xerox PARC Researcher: Windows 8 Is a Cognitive Burden 404
New submitter LiroXIV writes "You know you've messed up big time when someone related to the development of one of the first graphical interfaces for computers thinks you've messed up. Usability expert Raluca Budiu has shared the common conclusion for many about Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8; it's definitely not as user-friendly as past versions. Quoting: 'The advantage of the overlaid menu is that it preserves context. Cognitively, there’s more of a burden when you have to switch context twice (desktop->start screen; start screen -> desktop). There are reasons to force users to switch contexts, especially in the tablet or phone environment, where screen real-estate is a lot more expensive and a menu is forced to use only part of the (already-small) screen. In that situation, a separate page makes better use of the small screen space. There are fewer reasons for a separate page on a desktop – the start menu is a cheaper interaction than the start page.'"
Re:Guess he will change his mind (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Speaking of those precious pixels on a handset (Score:3, Informative)
Why waste a quarter of them with a stupid huge black bar running down the full length of the homescreen [pcmag.com], making it look all lop-sided and amateur? Are we supposed, like, dig this as the trendy new way forward?
Actually, Windows Phone 7.8 and 8 is supposed to get rid of that.
Re:To paraphrase... (Score:5, Informative)
The interface he's describing is moronic.
That's his point.
He obviously hasn't used Android 4.1.
I'm not sure why that's obvious. He has used Windows 8, enough to have said how awful it is. What does Android have to do with it?
Re:To paraphrase... (Score:4, Informative)
Um, She. And teh google results say she worked for Microsoft and PARC before moving to a tier-1 consultancy specializing in usability.
Given she started publishing around 2000, the phrase 'someone related to the development of one of the first graphical interfaces for computers thinks you've messed up' was off-the-cuff text LiroXIV penned to tie together comparatively-ancient accomplishments of PARC and Microsoft.
Re:To paraphrase... (Score:5, Informative)
I have, pretty extensively. Metro blows on a desktop, as it's a completely inappropriate interface for the form factor. I'm not sure why that's a controversial statement.
Re:To paraphrase... (Score:5, Informative)
I suppose a workable alternative is to beat your face repeatedly on the desktop.
Or do what everyone sensible does:
Why I’m uninstalling Windows 8
As a cruel trick on myself, about a month ago I installed Windows 8 on my main PC to see what it was like.
The answer is: abysmal.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Windows 8 is the worst computing experience I’ve ever had. As a desktop operating system, it’s annoying, frustrating, irritating, and baffling to use. I’ve tried on many occasions to explain exactly why it’s so awful to use day-to-day, and most of the time, smoke starts pouring out of my ears. I thought it would be better to get down exactly what the issues are and why you should avoid it.
http://www.pcgamesn.com/article/why-i-m-uninstalling-windows-8 [pcgamesn.com]
It's astonishing how badly Microsoft has implimented this. For a long time I thought they were playing one of their "Queen's Duck" marketing tricks, and with a fanfare and a "We listen to our customers" comment, would switch to a sensible, if bland, UI at the last moment.
They didn't.