Comments on: Microsoft Power Users, Part II

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 19:10:44 +0000

If you have such troubles with Microsoft, why not move to something else, there are a load of operating systems with a lot better interaction between developers and users. It's not only those usual GNU/Linux, BSD, but you have QNX, ReactOS, AROS (not really that usefull), OpenSolaris, HaikuOS and a lot more, or why not try to get your hands on the OSX-x86. To light things up a bit, you can read this quite funny article,Is MS Windows ready for the desktop?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 02 May 2005 18:42:05 +0000

I think Chris is just mad because MS won't let him plaster Longhorn with advertising.

By: Scott Kindorf

Scott Kindorf — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 20:00:25 +0000

Folks:
Keep this in mind: Since the keynote was open to people other than Hardware developers, like those of us who are involved in the Windows x64 Community and available via webcast, they really shouldn't show any major changes due to the prospect of other companies (coughAPPLEcough) trying to copy or emulate any new features. The conference tracks/sessions at WinHEC are targeted to hardware OEMs for new facilities and capabilities that can be exploited by new hardware designs, like “Metro” (which will revolutionize hardcopy output).
I think you might see more of the UI at the next PDC, but as usual we aren't going to see anything revolutionary until after that event.
–ScottKin

By: Brandon Paddock

Brandon Paddock — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 18:41:13 +0000

To both anons…
You're right, but therein lies the problem.
This was a conference for hardware engineers. So why did Microsoft show off Longhorn's Desktop Search capabilities, and a few poorly implemented DCE effects? Why did they show off the new Explorer interface…
They should not have shown those items at all in their current form, because the presentation wasn't very good. Since they did show those items, they shouldn't have done it the way they did.
My point was that I'd rather see a fake demo of what it is GOING to look like, than a real demo of what it ISN'T going to look like when it's done.
Unless they actually intend for Longhorn to look like that when it's finished, which we all surely hope it does not.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 18:14:14 +0000

Chris, you have no say at all at this conference, it is for “hardware” developers. If you care about the Windows interface so much why not apply for job in the User Experience at Microsoft.
You call yourself a Windows user and you still don't get Windows. I am hinting you should be using Linux. All of what you said makes no sense. You hate Outlook, you hate Windows you hate everything Microsoft yet you still use their products. How confusing you are.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 17:48:46 +0000

Chris –
You're whining and acting like a spoiled member of the press who expects special treatment.
The conference you attended is for hardware manufacturers. By definition, these folks need a long leadtime and early heads-up on plans to tailor their new designs to a new platform. It is not intended as an end-user event – NOR IS THERE ANY IMPLICATION THAT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING NOW IS FOR END USERS (yet – that will take a while).
I do agree with portions of what you state though. Yes, input from geeks would be good. However I dont think WinHEC is the right place or time for that, nor that whining about it is the best way to get what you want (just my opinion)

By: Brandon Paddock

Brandon Paddock — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 03:19:14 +0000

You know, you're right. I've been defending Microsoft and Longhorn a lot this week, but truth be told I'm a little worried, too.
Not because I don't think they can make Longhorn a great OS. But because, when you take this long to do something, people expect to see RESULTS. And PROGRESS. And I'm also not saying they haven't got some hidden away in their UX lab. But come on guys… Show us something for crying out loud.
Show us Aero Glass. You don't have to give it to us. Most of us are fine with the fact that the build released at WinHEC is pretty much useless to anyone but a hardware engineer. That was, after all, the point.
But the build they showed up on the screen wasn't really any better. They should show us a demo of Aero Glass, EVEN if it isn't live. Even if we can't play with it yet.
The build they showed on the screen had broken elements. That shouldn't happen. I don't care if what you're showing on the screen isn't a 100% real, live demonstration, as long as what you show us is how you *intend* for it to work when you're done.
And that's the real problem. A lot of people see these builds and think “This is all Microsoft has planned?” And even though that's probably not true, we need to know that for sure. Enough “wait and see.” Microsoft has got to start convincing customers that it will be worth the wait.
And when the MS-faithful (myself and Paul T included) start to worry, you have a problem.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 03:16:52 +0000

“Oh, a program may have functionality out the wazoo, but if it looks like it was assembled by a hungover chimpanzee, nobody really feels compelled to use it.”
Chris, I agree with you entirely. Windows is functional, but could be so much more for its users (what is that, 90% of the computing world, maybe a little less with the influx of Linux these days.) Come on, folks, talk to the casual and power users to see what is necessary and desired.