Longhorn Aero… No!!!
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Just tell me that today's release of Aero is in early alpha… please. I thought it couldn't get any worse than Luna, but Microsoft “topped” themselves with this new UI. It's honestly like somebody's going out of their way to make Windows ass-ugly. It's not impressive, it's not slick, and it's not anywhere *NEAR* the elegance of OS X's user interface and experience. Instead, it looks like some of the worst skins I can dig up on WinCustomize.com. Since I haven't been down to the convention center for WinHEC 2005 yet (to pick up my own copy of this pre-beta version of Longhorn), here's a Neowin page that illustrates what I'm talking about. Thumbs way down.
Why don't they open it up to *REAL* designers?!
UPDATE: Three Microsoft insiders have informed me that this build's UI is, indeed, nothing more than a temporary one. We'll probably not see the official / final user interface for another year or so. Dunno about that, as most of the problems I'm likely to point out are going to be UI related. I'd suggest that they pick up XPize and start incorporating some of those updates immediately. The icons need an overhaul, including file types that are registered with the same program (so that WMV files don't have the same icon as AVI files, etc.).
14 Comments
Chefelf
April 25th, 2005
at 11:10am
I think their real problem is clinging to this basic design which goes back to Windows 95. The basic architecture of the desktop is pretty much the same and that's fine and dandy for all people resistant to any form of change. Personally I'd rather see a major innovation in the desktop experience even if that means a month or two of being a little uncomfortable.
We'll get used to it. And after the initial complaint sesison by users the PC world will be better for it.
Anonymous
April 25th, 2005
at 11:10am
Thats ****
They had all this time -and they did nothing
But i've learnd not to expect much from M$
Anonymous
April 25th, 2005
at 11:42am
Hammer meet nail. I'm sure they have something better. I hope.
-Randy
Brandon Paddock
April 25th, 2005
at 11:44am
That is NOT Aero. Not even close.
This release is to let hardware engineers design drivers for LDDM, Metro, and WS-Discover.
This release is still using the XP taskbar and the same theme engine. There is a basic DWM demo included but that's it. This theme was thrown together by some software developer (ie NOT an Aero designer) as a placeholder so that you could tell it wasn't *just* XP.
You will not see any of the Aero interface until Beta 2 next year.
Brandon Paddock
April 25th, 2005
at 11:47am
And you have to admit, the Search stuff they showed during Bill's keynote is very slick (clearly the Tesla work is being put to use).
piratinghacker
April 25th, 2005
at 1:22pm
i just threw up…
Damn, now i have to clean my screen! thanks MS!
Anonymous
April 25th, 2005
at 1:47pm
Hopefully they don't get rid of the Windows Classic look :)
Scott Kindorf
April 26th, 2005
at 4:32pm
Chris - it was a pleasure meeting you at the x64 Launch - and you're absolutely right about the whole deal with the Aero UI issues; however (and I hate to sound like an utter *** for saying this), this is far from being the final deal, as you said.
I did like the way the folders function, and the meta-tag capabilities for folder objects. WinFX is looking nice, but *dang*, Microsoft - get some decent graphics UI people working on the UI for goodness sakes. People like eye-candy, and geeknoids doubly-so.
Scott Kindorf
April 26th, 2005
at 4:33pm
Chris - it was a pleasure meeting you at the x64 Launch - and you're absolutely right about the whole deal with the Aero UI issues; however (and I hate to sound like an utter *** for saying this), this is far from being the final deal, as you said.
I did like the way the folders function, and the meta-tag capabilities for folder objects. WinFX is looking nice, but *dang*, Microsoft - get some decent graphics UI people working on the UI for goodness sakes. People like eye-candy, and geeknoids doubly-so.
Scott Kindorf
April 26th, 2005
at 4:43pm
Chris - it was a pleasure meeting you at the x64 Launch - and you're absolutely right about the whole deal with the Aero UI issues; however (and I hate to sound like an utter *** for saying this), this is far from being the complete deal.
I did like the way the folders function, and the meta-tag capabilities for folder objects. WinFX is looking nice, but *dang*, Microsoft - get some decent graphics UI people working on the UI for goodness sakes. People like eye-candy, and geeknoids doubly-so.
Scott Kindorf
April 26th, 2005
at 4:45pm
Sorry for the multi-posts - your server was timing-out with a “maintenance” message.
Please refrain from flames
Anonymous
April 27th, 2005
at 10:32pm
The look of the UI in that build is horrible, but it's not nearly as horrible as the “design” and “usability” of this site. Yikes! Your site redefines ugly!!!
Anonymous
April 29th, 2005
at 10:18am
Well Aero isn't included in the Alpha's Microsoft says that they won't introduce Aero until the last Beta for testing. What I don't understand is if you were at WinHec how come you didn't know this wasn't Aero unless maybe you weren't paying attention.
Bob
May 1st, 2005
at 10:12pm
Longhorn has the best looking recycle bin IMHO though ;)