Dev.SN

How Would You Change Windows 9?

posted by janrinok on Sunday March 02 2014, @06:30AM   
from the the-weekly-borg dept.

CowboyTeal writes:

"Windows 8 is still being disputed as either the product of a genius or a nerdy sadist but that doesn't mean Windows 9 isn't in the works. That said, how would you guys improve Windows if you could change anything about it? Has windows 8 improved or degraded your overall experience of the Windows platform? If you're not a Windows user, what features would you like to see in Windows for possible assimilation?"

• Different devices need different interfaces (Score: 1) by fadrian on Sunday March 02 2014, @09:07PM

  by fadrian (3194) on Sunday March 02 2014, @09:07PM (#9850)

  Different devices have different UI capabilities and the UI must change depending upon what is/isn't available. So make them react differently depending on what the hardware does.

  For instance, on a system with no touchscreen or touchpad for gestures, make the system act like Windows 7 and put whatever applicious interface onto Win 7 that you want. On a laptop with a touchpad or no touchscreen, add gestures, except when the touchpad is disabled; if it is disabled, have the device revert to a Win 7-like interface. If it's a laptop with a touchscreen, make it work like a tablet unless the touchscreen is disabled. That takes care of about 40% of the issue.

  The other 40% is about the stupid side swipe/active corners that are undocumented and (like most newer devices) has no commonality with any other device and bring up the equivalent of modal dialogs to disrupt workflow. Have these easily disabled. Have a personalization setting that makes all of the new stuff simple to remove without visiting three different screens buried two or three levels deep in the control panel.

  Of course, what do I know? I am not a UI "designer".