Windows 8: Dissociative Identity Disorder

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

On the Metro Start Screen I have more tiles (have to unlearn using icon)

Me too. I've edited my last post to correctly use the words icon and tile.

. . . in the beginning I could just move the mouse cursor (arrow) to the right edge of the screen and the tiles would move left so I could reach those tiles "hidden" beyond the right edge. Now nothing happens, these changes (undocumented) are very frustrating.

On what I called the consolidated application list AKA All Apps Screen, it seems impossible to scroll left and right if the mouse cursor is near the top of the screen. If in the middle, and I move the mouse cursor very quickly left or right to the screen edge, without pressing any button, the screen promptly scrolls. If in the middle, and I move the mouse cursor slowly left or right, without pressing any button, and hover on the screen edge, it will, in a second or two, slowly scroll left or right. And if I bring the mouse cursor all the way to the bottom, I have a left-right scrollbar that can be quickly moved left or right, but only while the left mouse button is down. Note that the scrollbar is invisible if the mouse is too high up on the screen.

Does this mean that Windows 8 is impossibly complex unless you have a touch screen? I don't think so. It seems designed to me so that once you are used to the new look and feel, it will seem natural. One price for Microsoft, though, may be that a lot of people return their new computer just before they were going to get the hang of it.

[Kumabjorn]

It seems the Metro screens are designed primarily for touch, so using a mouse (slightly old laptop) is less than optimal. On the desktop with legacy apps it is not a problem, but I have yet find a way to send files in Metro Skype, or save a bookmark in IE10. It is probably there, it is just that I feel like a noob again.

[DarkScribe]

Originally Posted by WillysJeepMan

I said that both Apple and Microsoft are moving tablet-centric elements to their desktop operating systems. The transition for OSX started with Lion and continues with Mountain Lion. OSX is not there yet, but that's where it's going.

Apple has clearly stated that they have taken elements from iOS and moved them to OSX, so I am confused as to why you are in disagreement with what I said. As just one example, Launchpad. Launchpad mimics the main interface for iOS devices... makes sense for a touchscreen, zero sense for a desktop.

Another example is "smart scrolling". Makes sense on a touchscreen device, not so much with a trackpad. (although that's the default behavior, it IS customizable)

I have no problem with either launchpad or scrolling. Touchscreens for Macs are due for release in the next few weeks, and it would be pointless to release them without OS support. There are already videos of the new Touchscreen iMacs. One well known LCD manufacturer has included an huge touchscreen order for Apple in their latest annual report.