During the install I was finding myself concern with the personal info required to install Windows. It wasn't until the next day that I figured out what it was trying to do; getting all APPLE'ISH. Perception is funny because when I bought into the MAC stack several years back I wasn't that concerned about getting an iTunes account. But when Microsoft does it, better watch out!?! Why is that?
Apple has done a very good job appealing to the consumer, guess that is why at work I have a Windows box. After getting past Microsoft's attempt to FRIEND me, I immediately started to wounder how the Metro thing would really work in the enterprise environment. For heath care I suspect it would be great given the tendency to run a single application as a primary tool. Some touch screens would make it easier on the desktop.
Since I didn't have a touch screen on the desktop, I had to fumble around a new user interface trying to figure out how to close an app (drag down from the top). Disappointed to report I didn't figure it out without Google... It always humbling when learning a new platform--its a good reminder to have patience when support others who don't sit in front of a computer for a living.
I'll say, though, that it would behoove MS to not change the interface too much, as it's customers have gotten used to a certain way of doing things. For example: when MS introduced Vista, many users (including myself) found the "productivity enhancements" to the interface to be overwhelming and unnatural. Gradually over time, I re-learned where the little tweaks to the OS had been moved to and was eventually able to get things configured in such a way that I liked.
ReplyDeleteStill, forcing a customer to accept change is a touchy matter. In the end, I am totally used to Vista's and 7's interface and can work productively in either environment. Those few months while I was learning though, I recall many unhappy mutters about MS imposing its will on the customer. With Windows 8, I hope they dont change things too much without giving the option to set it back to something more familiar.