gshaw Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 You make some good points there - I think the problem is that XP was the first OS for a lot of users who weren't "into" computers back in the days of 9x so changing the UI massively in Visa, then changing it again for 7 could end up being a right headache for the les technically inclined. The Ribbon for programs is good, the Office 2007 designers did well there but I think when it comes to the OS wholescale changes aren't really what's needed. The under the hood improvements will be good but MS will have a hard time convincing people this is a "new" system... I guess that's why they want to distance the UI from anything beforehand so it feels more different It does seem to run better than Vista did on less RAM so well done there, but really and truly it's still Vista SP2
SYNACK Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 Its not like the move away from the clasic style menus is something that has just been sprung on everyone, both XP and Vista have the newer start menu pannel as default which we transitioned to when we went up to Vista. It did upset a few of the teachers (as do any changes that force them to upskill) at first but with some training they are all copeing fine.
mrforgetful Posted January 14, 2009 Author Posted January 14, 2009 I'm refuse to accept this 'teachers/users can't get used to the XP/Vista Start Menu'. The reason is that anyone who has bought a computer since the launch of XP has been presented with the XP Start Menu and the people who are been used as excuses to stay with the classic menu are the ones least likely to have thought/been capable to have changed it back to the format of an OS relase over 10 years ago now.
gshaw Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 I don't mind the Start Menu, just realised some people are still asking for the really retrooooo Win 98 one, thought they were moaning about the change from XP type to Vista! The thing I don't like is what they've done with the taskbar at the moment... very odd
tmcd35 Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 Just found this rather interesting review of Windows 7 Beta on ars... Deep inside the Windows 7 Public Beta: an in-depth tour: Page 1 To be honest I like the sound of the new task bar. Pretty much how the Apple Dock works in OS X. The XP start menu is more than OK, actually tidies up the desktop a bit. It's the Vista start menu, that's awful IMHO. And if Windows 7 is not giving users the choice, well that is just bad form. I think these two quotes from ars basically sums up my complaints Luddites might be in for a shock, however; while Vista and XP both allowed the use of the "classic" (Windows 95-style) Start Menu in addition to the updated Start Panel, in Windows 7 there's no choice. It's the Start Panel or nothing. The new taskbar is a compulsory part of Windows 7. Just as Office 2007 gave no option to turn off the ribbon, there's no way to revert to the old taskbar. The appearance can be modified to better resemble the taskbar of old (including small icons, text labels, and less collapsing), but jump lists, customized icon behaviors, and the ability to mix running and non-running programs are all permanent. As for the themes, your right I don't like either XP's or (worse) Vista's default themes, but these are very easy to 'switch off', as other have pointed out.
mrforgetful Posted January 14, 2009 Author Posted January 14, 2009 (edited) If you want some indepth articles I'm a big fan of WinSupersite and it'sWindows 7 Coverage is good too. Also take a look at (incidentally) item number 7 on the list here http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2009/01/12/the-bumper-list-of-windows-7-secrets.aspx how handy will that be in school? Edited January 14, 2009 by mrforgetful
Quackers Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 The only thing i like about Windows 7 is the startup screen when its loading. o and the Ribbons in paint, as i think the ribbons are good. But we are having the same issues with Windows 7 as we had with Vista after playing with it today, be annoyances or just down sillyness. To name a few 1) Deploying software via group policy, it just says "Please Wait". No idication of its installing software like Windows XP and 2000 did 2) Network Shares painfully slow to open because like Vista its reading the whole contents to then produce thumbnails for the folder image. What use to take 1 second in Windows NT 4, 95,98,ME, 2000 and XP now takes minutes. 3) Folder navigation is just painful now, it hurts my head. It just looks cluttered. Too much eye candy. 4) When you type Administrator into the logon box you get to "r" and it changes the Logon to from the domain to the local pc i could go on and on and on, i like the new Windows 7 taskbar, but i do not like how you cannot distiguish between whats an open task and what is effectibly a quick launch application.
mrforgetful Posted January 14, 2009 Author Posted January 14, 2009 i like the new Windows 7 taskbar, but i do not like how you cannot distiguish between whats an open task and what is effectibly a quick launch application. You can. Open progams have a box around them. Programs which have multiple windows open have like a stacked box thing, and closed programs are just the icon with no box around them...
Quackers Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 You can. Open progams have a box around them. Programs which have multiple windows open have like a stacked box thing, and closed programs are just the icon with no box around them... Just gone to have a look and your right, so i do not think it stands out enough, it still needs clearly seperating like Quick Launch was to the Open tasks.
SPC Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 I for one really like this OS. I like the funk that has been added and really find it a logical method for the taskbar to work this way (As long as this does not effect my memory usage). I do however agree that for users with less of a technical aptitude who really are technophobes and only use what they know, the classic menu can only generate more sales.
mrforgetful Posted January 14, 2009 Author Posted January 14, 2009 I still fail to see how it is the "technologically inept" who use the old fashioned Start Menu! The ONLY people I know who use it are on here or I meet at technical meetings. My mum, her friends, my sister and my friends all use the XP/Vista Start Menu. After all, you need some technical knowledge to 1) know it can be changed and 2) how to make the change.
JJonas Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 just found this Tim Sneath : The Bumper List of Windows 7 Secrets
mrforgetful Posted January 14, 2009 Author Posted January 14, 2009 Yeh I saw that linked from the site I mentioned before, though it was hidden away in a blog.
Teth Posted January 14, 2009 Posted January 14, 2009 I inherited a user group when I first started here who had a different mandatory profile which was basically windows millenium edition look and feel with a restricted subset of application shortcuts for a small group of the least technically able staff. Most of those have now retired and the rest had to upskill as you say when we got the C2K system because being a national managed system its their way or the highway with regards to UI. I have virtually nothing on my desktop these days I wouldn't dream of having an app shortcut there. However if you took quicklaunch off me I'd just have to retire from IT I've downloaded my windows 7 Beta today and will probably split my OS partition down a bit tonight at home and dual boot it to see what all the fuss is about.
gshaw Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 I think maybe we should try this UI instead [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program_Manager]Program Manager - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
tmcd35 Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 I think maybe we should try this UI instead Program Manager - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Oooh, A bit advanced don't you think? Maybe this GUI would be a better bet? Microsoft Bob
gshaw Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 Ahead of his time was Bob Dumb trivia fact: I read somewhere that Microsoft needed to fill the XP CD with "ballast" for copy protection so in order to use up the last MB on the disc they put encrypted copies of the Bob install floppies
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