Windows 8 Consumer Preview: First Impressions - A Snap Judgement
Initial Impressions of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Despite frequent criticisms regarding the potential pitfalls of Windows 8 – a sentiment widely shared within the technology sector – a desire for its success remains. My home network continues to function effectively with the dependable Windows Home Server 2011 as its foundation.
I maintain a strong preference for Windows Media Center as a premier Personal Video Recorder solution. An Xbox is also a regular fixture in my evening entertainment.
Hoping for a Positive Shift
A genuine sense of anticipation accompanies the arrival of Windows 8. I am eager to experience a potentially groundbreaking shift in the landscape of personal computing.
The expectation is for a futuristic experience, characterized by vibrant colors and a streamlined interface. I am fully receptive to this potential transformation.
This represents the core concept behind Windows 8, prompting me to explore the recently launched Consumer Preview build to gain an early understanding of its features.
Important Considerations
It is crucial to remember that the Consumer Preview is not the finalized version of the operating system. Therefore, observations and conclusions drawn from this preview may not accurately reflect the final release of Windows 8.
Any feedback provided is based on an incomplete product and is subject to change. The ultimate experience with Windows 8 may differ significantly.
I want to be surprised by the innovations within Windows 8, and to be led into a new paradigm of home computing.
A Hidden Start Menu Experience
The functionality of the bottom-right hotspot was already known to me. However, it’s likely many users will initially be unaware of this feature, though its learning curve is relatively short. Ideally, an automated video tutorial will be implemented to demonstrate new functionalities and alterations to the system.
Hovering in this area and clicking will reveal the Metro-style start screen.
Considering the existence of one hot corner, I hypothesized that others might exist. Consequently, I tested the top-right corner.
This action triggered the appearance of a search or utility bar. Among the available options was a "share" function.
Upon selecting this option, the system informed me that my desktop currently contains no shareable content. This was noted.
Exploring Additional Features
The system’s response, while somewhat unhelpful, confirmed the presence of additional interactive elements. Further investigation into these hidden features is warranted.
Hot corners represent a novel approach to accessing system functionalities, potentially streamlining user workflows once discovered.
The inclusion of a tutorial would significantly improve user adoption of these less-obvious features.
- The bottom-right corner accesses the start screen.
- The top-right corner reveals a search/utility bar.
These discoveries highlight the importance of intuitive design and effective user onboarding in modern operating systems.
Applications
Having migrated all my applications, I anticipated the familiar Windows 7 Snipping Tool would be present. An initial search from the start screen proved unsuccessful. However, utilizing the search function located in the upper right corner, with the option to filter by applications, yielded a different result. I entered terms like "screen," "snip," and "grab," but none returned the desired outcome.
A subsequent scan of the application list, arranged without any apparent order, eventually revealed the tool. This appears to be a search functionality issue, not a critical concern. Interestingly, the snipping tool proved ineffective for capturing images within the Metro interface, consistently reverting to the desktop environment. Third-party software provided a solution.
I proceeded to install several applications and began exploring the pre-installed options. This overview is not exhaustive, but highlights a few that initially drew my attention.
Weather Application
The Weather application presented a visually appealing interface. Despite accurately identifying my location, it defaulted to Celsius, which is incorrect for the United Kingdom. It initially displayed a temperature of 50 degrees, an obviously inaccurate reading.
Investigating the settings, accessible via the top right corner, confirmed that these settings apply to applications as well. This allowed me to switch the temperature scale to Celsius. However, I suspect a less tech-savvy user, such as my mother, might struggle to locate this setting.
Xbox Live Games
The Xbox Live Games application was inaccessible to users in the UK. This limitation was immediately apparent upon attempting to launch the application.
Maps Application
The Maps application correctly identified my general location. However, even a search for "London" failed to produce any results. It seems that map functionality may not yet be fully enabled for UK users.
Finances Application
The Finances application boasts a pleasing aesthetic. Customization options are available, allowing users to add stocks to a watchlist. This process, however, proved surprisingly complex. Consequently, my home screen tile now displays information regarding irrelevant foreign markets.
Like many of the default applications, this one feels somewhat superficial.
Closing Applications in Windows 8
The process of exiting applications isn't straightforward in Windows 8, seemingly. This is understandable, as it represents a significant change in user interface design. However, it can be a source of frustration for experienced users.
Many Metro-style applications lack a traditional back button. Instead, users navigate by moving the mouse to the bottom-left corner of the screen to return to the Start screen, leaving previously opened apps running in the background.
Accidentally moving the mouse to the top-left corner of the screen reveals thumbnails of all currently running applications. Notably, the application currently in use is not included in this preview.
Right-clicking on these thumbnails presents options, including a close function and the ability to "Snap to" either the left or right side of the screen. To terminate an application, one must switch to another running app, access the task switcher, and then right-click to close the desired program.
The Snap to feature allocates approximately one-fifth of the screen's real estate to the selected application. Whether interaction with the snapped application is possible appears to be application-dependent.
Attempts to expand the snapped portion to occupy half of the screen are unsuccessful. Instead, the selected app expands to fill four-fifths of the screen, and the previously snapped app moves to the remaining fifth. The practical applications of this feature remain unclear, although some users have reported utilizing it for displaying email alongside other content.
The information displayed on Metro app Start screen tiles appears to be static. Currently, there are no user options to customize the content, such as selecting a specific stock to display instead of the randomly chosen markets. It is possible that this functionality will be added as the applications are further developed.
User Interface Observations
The standard dialog boxes found in common desktop applications appear somewhat simplistic and underdeveloped. They evoke a feeling akin to using a less sophisticated Linux distribution. Their aesthetic quality is lacking, to say the least. Is a decade of technological advancement not reflected in these designs, Microsoft?
Transitioning between the traditional desktop environment and the Start menu is notably swift. However, this rapid switching also feels distinctly disruptive. The two interfaces present themselves as separate and unconnected layers, almost like distinct desktop experiences.
The speed of the transition is commendable – it’s comparable to a surge of stimulation for someone accustomed to overwhelming visual input.
App Testing: USA Today
I proceeded to test the USA Today application as a concluding step in my initial hour of evaluation. The app boasts a visually appealing design and displays a substantial amount of content on the screen. However, accessing additional stories requires deliberate horizontal scrolling.
This isn’t simply a matter of the system anticipating a rightward scroll with the mouse wheel; it necessitates actively switching to a two-dimensional scrolling mode. Could this be an indication of a software defect?
Video Playback
A single click provides access to the video section, allowing me to view a brief segment featuring individuals enjoying a newly opened, round-the-clock muffin shop.
Unfortunately, there appears to be no readily available method to return to the primary article while the video is playing.
While the application is generally well-executed, it ultimately functions much like a skillfully designed website. It regrettably lacks essential elements of an intuitive user experience, such as a back button.
Start Screen Customization
As a final step, I customized my Start screen, retaining only the applications I frequently utilize:
Snap Judgement
Even after a period of use, the initial screen's activation point continues to cause irritation. A sizable, tile-shaped button appears upon hovering the mouse cursor. Naturally, one anticipates being able to release mouse pressure and click the button's center to access the start screen, but this is not the case.
Deviation from that precise corner pixel results in inadvertently selecting Internet Explorer or dismissing the screen altogether, necessitating repeated attempts. Consistently activating the start screen still requires multiple clicks. Ideally, this issue will be addressed in future updates.
Overall system responsiveness is quite good. The initial loading of Metro applications is noticeably slow, however, the system demonstrates superior resource management compared to Windows 7. This improved performance alone may incentivize many users to upgrade.
Metro Interface Assessment
Regarding Metro, despite a genuine desire to embrace it, the applications currently feel superficial, resembling basic JavaScript widgets lacking substantial functionality. It is still early in its development, of course.
The Metro UI appears well-suited for tablet devices, potentially offering strong competition to Android and iPad platforms. Its streamlined, touch-optimized design is ideal for focused, single-purpose applications – contingent upon sufficient app availability and developer support.
However, its implementation on traditional desktop computers is questionable. Similar to Vista Gadgets and macOS Dashboard Widgets, this interface is unwelcome. Regrettably, it is deeply integrated into the core system.
It constitutes the entire start menu and permeates the desktop experience. It isn't a supplementary feature for touch screen users; rather, the traditional desktop is relegated to a secondary position, overshadowed by Metro. This design choice is unfavorable. Were it possible to remove this intrusive interface element and retain the underlying performance enhancements, this Windows version would immediately become my preferred operating system.
Microsoft still has an opportunity to refine the user experience. Corrective action is still possible.
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