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Dev.SN ♥ developers

posted by LaminatorX on Wednesday February 19 2014, @04:27AM   Printer-friendly
from the you-had-one-job-ONE-JOB dept.
stmuk writes:

"BGR reflects on recent comments by a Metro designer. 'Metro is a content consumption space,' Microsoft UX designer Jacob Miller explains, 'It is designed for casual users who only want to check Facebook, view some photos, and maybe post a selfie to Instagram. It's designed for your computer illiterate little sister, for grandpas who don't know how to use that computer dofangle thingy, and for mom who just wants to look up apple pie recipes. It's simple, clear, and does one thing (and only one thing) relatively easily. That is what Metro is. It is the antithesis of a power user.'"

 
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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by Hyper on Wednesday February 19 2014, @04:52AM

    by Hyper (1525) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @04:52AM (#2255)

    I thought that was the whole point about The Mac. Clean simple interface that anyone can use. Information at the user's fingertips. Make it quick simple and easy.

    None of which applies to Metro in my experience.

    I can see how something like Metro would work on a tablet or mobile device where you may only want to do one thing at a time. On a PC? There is no excuse or reason.

    If I was to gripe I would complain about not being able to see or feel navigation. Metro screens do not offer any way out or indication of where you are. I got stuck in PC Settings for a short time until I found the Windows key + E always works. Same for the start screen. I look at it and wonder where all of my programs are.

    Has anyone ever given a decent justification for using Metro on a desktop or laptop computer?

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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by everdred on Wednesday February 19 2014, @05:21AM

    by everdred (110) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @05:21AM (#2272) Homepage Journal

    >Has anyone ever given a decent justification for using Metro on a desktop or laptop computer?

    I suppose that depends on your definition of "decent."

    It's easy to see why a unified UI across phones, tablets and PCs could be appealing if you go all-in.

    You must:

    • devote yourself to using Metro on all of your devices
    • throw out 30 years of expectations of legacy GUI functionality, and
    • don't expect too much from any one of your devices

    Unfortunately for Microsoft almost nobody, from either end of the expertise spectrum, seems willing to do all three.

    --
    We don't take no shit from a machine.
    • (Score: 1) by bobintetley on Wednesday February 19 2014, @05:42AM

      by bobintetley (1273) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @05:42AM (#2282)

      Most insightful comment I've read on the subject. Thanks.

      • (Score: 1) by everdred on Wednesday February 19 2014, @06:16AM

        by everdred (110) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @06:16AM (#2309) Homepage Journal

        Glad you enjoyed it. I just posted another such screed further down the page.

        --
        We don't take no shit from a machine.
    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Hyper on Wednesday February 19 2014, @06:28AM

      by Hyper (1525) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @06:28AM (#2314)

      This.

      3 decades of trial, error, learning and advancements in gui theory, practical application and technology thrown out the window for something perhaps suitable for small children.

      • (Score: 3, Funny) by FatPhil on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:21AM

        by FatPhil (863) <reversethis-{if.fdsa} {ta} {tnelyos-cp}> on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:21AM (#2333) Homepage Journal

        So it's just a cubist version of MS Bob?

        --
        Making a public pledge to no longer contribute to slashdot
        • (Score: 1) by Hyper on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:58AM

          by Hyper (1525) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:58AM (#2351)

          So it's just a cubist version of MS Bob?

          ROTFL

          It is possible that Microsoft Bob would be preferable over Metro.

      • (Score: 4, Funny) by combatserver on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:50AM

        by combatserver (38) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:50AM (#2347)

        "... perhaps suitable for small children."

        And they fucked that up by getting rid of "Clippy". Talk about ignoring your target audience-completely ruined the MS Office Suite for kids.

        --
        I hope I can change this later...
    • (Score: 1) by similar_name on Wednesday February 19 2014, @06:39AM

      by similar_name (71) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @06:39AM (#2318)

      >It's easy to see why a unified UI across phones, tablets and PCs could be appealing if you go all-in.

      I understand it is appealing to some markets and not indicative of anything... Personally, I'd like all of my devices to have a different UI every time I rebooted. I'd pay extra money for that.

      --
      Where can I vote for ACs to be Anonymous Cows? It should always be plural :)
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @11:04PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @11:04PM (#3104)

        Use Firefox then

        Every time I reboot my PC I get a new web browser...

  • (Score: 2, Funny) by microtodd on Wednesday February 19 2014, @12:25PM

    by microtodd (1866) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @12:25PM (#2565)

    Has anyone ever given a decent justification for using Metro on a desktop or laptop computer?

    Think like an MBA, or an ivory tower software program manager. Unified codebase. Results in more efficient QA, smaller dev teams (cost savings), smaller integration and CM footprint, etc.

    Of course if you lose all your customers then maybe it wasn't worth it, eh?

  • (Score: 1) by MachineShedFred on Wednesday February 19 2014, @04:58PM

    by MachineShedFred (1656) on Wednesday February 19 2014, @04:58PM (#2849)

    Has anyone ever given a decent justification for using Metro on a desktop or laptop computer?

    Here's the only one: information kiosk.

    Between the Metro / Modern crap, and locking the ever living shit out of everything else with Group Policy, you can make an effective kiosk system.

    Other than that, it's a complete nightmare.