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December 6th, 2012, 15:38 GMT · By Bogdan Popa

Windows 8 Is a “Christmas Gift for Someone You Hate” – MIT Professor

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Windows 8 is a new, different and complicated product.
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Philip Greenspun, Internet entrepreneur and MIT professor, has recently reviewed Windows 8 and came down to a conclusion that may really upset Microsoft: Windows 8 is a Christmas gift for someone you hate.

Greenspun claims that Windows 8 lacks the most important features currently available on Android, iPads and previous Windows versions, such as “a permanently on-screen Back button,” a “permanent hardware Home button,” and a Start Menu, respectively.

“Microsoft has had since October 2008 to study Android. It has had since June 2007 to study iPhone. It seems as though they did not figure out what is good about the standard tablet operating systems,” he wrote on his blog.

What more, Greenspun recommends users to keep a Windows 7 computer close, just in case they need to search for step-by-step instructions on how to access some Windows 8 features. That’s because when “you go to a web browser in the desktop interface you can see the tablet interface that you’re getting advice on how to use.”

“The only device that I can remember being as confused by is the BlackBerry PlayBook. I would find this machine a lot more useful if it simply ran Android as a sub-environment and did so in the right-hand third of the screen,” Greenspun continued.

While noting that tech journalists were wrong when they offered Windows 8 positive reviews, Greenspun explained that Windows 8 is nothing more than a new, different and complicated product.

Of course, he criticizes the Modern UI and the fact that you have to restart the computer or launch an app from the “tablet interface.” Fortunately, this isn’t true, as you can also pin apps to the Taskbar and restart the computer by pressing Alt + F4 from the desktop.

“Suppose that you are an expert user of Windows NT/XP/Vista/7, an expert user of an iPad, and an expert user of an Android phone…. you will have no idea how to use Windows 8,” he concluded.


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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: Zaide on 06 Dec 2012, 16:39 UTC reply to this comment

What a moron.

Comment #1.1 by: flo on 06 Dec 2012, 16:48 GMT

The funny thing is that there is plenty of real little things not perfect with win8 that he could have used in his "review", but i guess he didn't use win8 long enough to find that out, it's much easier to decide he doesn't like it and lie in his review.

Comment #1.2 by: frosty423 on 06 Dec 2012, 18:06 GMT

“Suppose that you are an expert user of Windows NT/XP/Vista/7, an expert user of an iPad, and an expert user of an Android phone…. you will have no idea how to use Windows 8,” he concluded."

A so-called "expert" user of any or all of Window OS's with minimal exploration should have no problem with Windows 8. They've put a Windows key on keyboards for some time now, and any "expert" user should already know about keyboard shortcuts. The "average" user, today, simply wants to point, click, go... and the Modern UI gives them just that, still allowing the "expert" user the use of what's "under the hood."

Finally, "expert" users tend to figure things out and if it bothers them... they customize it. Windows 8 Basic Edition has been out less than two months and the upcoming release of Windows Professional and Enterprise Editions ("expert" editions) I'm sure will certainly be the standard for personal PC's and commercial (corporate) PC's for some time.

By the way, can you please tell me where the "start" button is on OS X, IOS 6, the iPad, iPad mini of iPhone?

Comment #1.3 by: marko on 06 Dec 2012, 19:04 GMT

Swipe from each edge, or move the mouse to a corner. Sorry that is too challenging for a MIT prof. BTW, it also has a permanent home button, both in the UI and on the hardware. Rubbish article.

From my awesome Surface RT

Comment #1.4 by: Toxic_Wanderer on 06 Dec 2012, 21:49 GMT

I fully agree with the professor. Win 8 is a disaster, a re-incarnation of Vista. Utter rubbish on a desktop or laptop.

Apple will always dominate the tablet and phone markets, because their products are far superior and looks the part, but most importantly, is very easy to use.

And no, I don't own any Apple products. Win 7 user.

Comment #1.5 by: Garry on 07 Dec 2012, 18:38 GMT

MIT professor does not know what he is writing. Moron

Comment #1.6 by: nick on 08 Dec 2012, 01:05 GMT

Couldn't agree more! Have used my new ASUSE VIVO touch for a couple weeks now and I love it. Took first couple days of discovery, but now I completely ignore my Windows 7 machines. The wife got a new IPhone at the same time, and we are still having trouble figuring out * to use that antique UX.
I find it hard to imagine the this reviewer is a professor, and having issues with the most innovative, simple UX ever.


Comment #2 by: ChromeShine on 06 Dec 2012, 17:21 UTC reply to this comment

MIT professor struggles with Win8? Really? It is not that hard. Yes, there are things which Microsoft did wrong for the desktop users, and it is absolutely the craziest thing have two worlds in one, but it works. The two systems do coexist well. Once learned it is sort of fun. The effort is not that hard for learning this in a day, and being fluent within a week or so.

Comment #2.1 by: abba on 13 Dec 2012, 15:18 GMT

"Yes, there are things which Microsoft did wrong for the desktop users"

Yep, they did the entire OS wrong for PC. The PC is not a tablet, and should not be controlled like one.

This is standard for Microsoft though, one good OS, one bad OS, then another comes along.


Comment #3 by: Rich on 06 Dec 2012, 21:55 UTC reply to this comment

I worry about the education provided by MIT....


Comment #4 by: samit on 07 Dec 2012, 04:49 UTC reply to this comment

haha.....looks like some expert don't know how to use windows....


Comment #5 by: darthrevan13 on 07 Dec 2012, 10:01 UTC reply to this comment

Suppose you're an expert user in DOS and UNIX, could you make you're way around Wndows 95?


Comment #6 by: Jake on 07 Dec 2012, 16:08 UTC reply to this comment

he's not very intelligent is he?

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