Windows 8 UI is disappointing - Usability expert Jakob Nielsen

[nsane.forums]

Leading web usability expert Jakob Nielsen has conducted a study of the UI in Windows 8 and claims that it is offers "disappointing usability for both novice and power users."

There has been much debate over the "Modern" user interface of Windows 8 before and after its launch in late October. Today, one of the leading experts in web usability, Jakob Nielsen, took the time to conduct a study of the Windows 8 UI and called his final results "disappointing".

Nielsen said in a post on his blog that he invited 12 "experienced" PC owners to try out Windows 8 for his study, both on regular PCs as well as on Microsoft's Surface tablet, which runs under Windows RT. He felt that having both the "Modern" UI and the desktop interface was a problem for a number of reasons, including switching between the two set ups and its users having to remember which UI to go to for certain features.

While Windows 8 does support running two apps, with one in a "snapped view" at the same time, Nielsen said that his test subjects were unable to get this feature to work. He added:

The single-window strategy works well on tablets and is required on a small phone screen. But with a big monitor and dozens of applications and websites running simultaneously, a high-end PC user definitely benefits from the ability to see multiple windows at the same time. Indeed, the most important web use cases involve collecting, comparing, and choosing among several web pages, and such tasks are much easier with several windows when you have the screen space to see many things at once.

He also felt that the "Modern" UI cut down on information that is presented to the Windows 8 user, and that the touch screen gestures can lead to a number of user errors. He also feels the Charms feature is not well implemented.

In his conclusion Nielsen says:

I have nothing against Microsoft. I happen to think that Windows 7 is a good product and that Windows 8 is a misguided one. I derived these conclusions from first principles of human–computer interaction theory and from watching users in our new research. One doesn't have to hate or love a company in order to analyze its UI designs. I'll stay with Win7 the next few years and hope for better times with Windows 9. One great thing about Microsoft is that they do have a history of correcting their mistakes.

View: Original Article

[Ganxxta]

Lol more than 10 topics in the News section of how bad Win8 is.

And they are all right :x

[sanjoa]

Win8 is the new "Win Vista" :rofl:

[Pedrito]

Win8 is the new "Win Vista" :rofl:

Someone already called it Vista 2! :P

And we don't need a usability expert to know Windows 8 UI is...well you know :footinmouth:

[mara-]

Windows Vista is good comparing to Windows 8. :lol:

Cheers ;)

[irefay]

I dont mind it, but $40 to upgrade from W7 to W8 is a bit much. W8 is like the W7 media pack, only certain people are really looking for that type of experience.

[ande]

I like his conclusion.

I have nothing against Microsoft. I happen to think that Windows 7 is a good product and that Windows 8 is a misguided one. I derived these conclusions from first principles of human–computer interaction theory and from watching users in our new research. One doesn't have to hate or love a company in order to analyze its UI designs. I'll stay with Win7 the next few years and hope for better times with Windows 9. One great thing about Microsoft is that they do have a history of correcting their mistakes.

But the thing is that big changes can be applied to Microsoft Windows 8 through annual updates.

[robo]

I like his conclusion.

I have nothing against Microsoft. I happen to think that Windows 7 is a good product and that Windows 8 is a misguided one. I derived these conclusions from first principles of human–computer interaction theory and from watching users in our new research. One doesn't have to hate or love a company in order to analyze its UI designs. I'll stay with Win7 the next few years and hope for better times with Windows 9. One great thing about Microsoft is that they do have a history of correcting their mistakes.

But the thing is that big changes can be applied to Microsoft Windows 8 through annual updates.

let's hope we get some updates soon

[JessicaLeigh]

See? I'm not the only one. ;)

[a2ms]

Lol more than 10 topics in the News section of how bad Win8 is.

another one of this... I miss other kind of news, like free software

[shamu726]

Adding start menu and using only Desktop (most of the time) makes it seem like I'm still using Win7. They should have just called this Windows 7 SP2 and released Win8 to tablets. Not much benefit to PC users.

Whichever MS researcher who dreamt up this "One Windows, Everywhere" strategy is probably not a PC user.

[David]

ìm just using windows 8 because of the fast response time in my Laptop...

They made a great job in the new kernel but the 2D UI of metro apps is just plain awful.... and the metro is disappointing for a pc user... why do i need with the mouse to click in the middle above corner screen and swipe the app to close it ??

just plain ridiculous... i want to give an head shot in who thought of this :P

im using stardock tool to get the start menu :)

ah and i forgot why it is so dificult to shutdown the computer? why do i have to go to configs? looooooooooooooool

[dcs18]

im using stardock tool to get the start menu :)

ah and i forgot why it is so dificult to shutdown the computer? why do i have to go to configs? looooooooooooooool

Doesn't the Start Menu supplied by Stardock tool provide you with the shut-down option? :unsure:

[bojan.miletic]

I know how should we call Windows 8 >> Vista²

[calguyhunk]

I have said this before and I'll say it again. It's not just the UI per se. It's just the seemingly random interchange between Metro and desktop that is confusing, enraging and frustrating. :mad2: Obviously MS didn't quite take the time to implement each and every setting etc. in both interfaces. Result - a haphazard neither here-nor there rage inducing concoction. :(

I still do not have any idea as to why I cannot change my profile picture in desktop mode. Or need the Metro crutches to connect broadband (for not-always-on connection) or even shut down my PC. :o

I have no idea why say for instance I cannot use the Metro version of browsers if they are not set as default :o Dunno how many of you have noticed this, but the only way to use the 'Metro UI' versions of IE and Chrome (and presumably FF as well) can only work if you set it as default, other wise you get the desktop version of it. I mean :wtf:

Hopefully they'll get this affliction of schizophrenia sorted out by their next release :yes:

[shamu726]

I just can't understand what they were thinking. They threw everything they learned about usability (from previous versions) out the window. :blink:

[Karlston]

One great thing about Microsoft is that they do have a history of correcting their mistakes.

And, a history of making great mistakes.

I bet they blame it all on Sinofsky...

[calguyhunk]

I bet here's what's gonna happen. The experienced, comparatively tech savvy users will all personalize Win8 to suit their tastes - if they choose to hop onto the bandwagon to begin with. Meanwhile the non-tech savvy ones with new Win8 PC's (bought without the knowledge of what Win8 is all about) will find a way to cope and learn through trial and error ;)

By the time Win9 (or whatever they choose to call it) comes out, this UI will have become much more common place and we will all have adapted to it albeit grudgingly in many cases :yes: The thing though is, it will be a much more complete OS by then. And unless you want to shift from Metro to desktop or vice versa, you won't need to hopefully. ;)

Personally, I don't like the incomplete implementation of the most basic of features etc. in either of the UI's. Sometimes you move inexplicably from Metro to desktop to run some feature and at other times, you move from Metro to desktop to change some basic setting :(

If they had decided on Metro anyways, would it have killed them to have a Metro interface for the Control Panel, File Explorer, Media Player, Photo Viewer, Paint, Defrag, assorted settings ... whatever ... you get the idea! At least run Metro apps (especially browsers etc.) from desktop! :o

IMO they were just rushing this thing through just for the heck of it to compete with iOS, Android. Desktop heavy users and businesses were far away from their minds. :spank: The way they looked at it was that it is a win-win for MS either way. Sell a few tabs, phones with Win8 and continue to sell Win7 to the businesses/consumers who want it. That way. it all stays in the family ;)

[DKT27]

Meanwhile the non-tech savvy ones with new Win8 PC's (bought without the knowledge of what Win8 is all about) will find a way to cope and learn through trial and error ;)

I don't think so. Most of the regular PC noobs will ragequit.

[calguyhunk]

Meanwhile the non-tech savvy ones with new Win8 PC's (bought without the knowledge of what Win8 is all about) will find a way to cope and learn through trial and error ;)

I don't think so. Most of the regular PC noobs will ragequit.

LOL! :hehe:

[House_maniac]

i just hope they learn from their mistake this metroshit is just fucking bad just push an update through and give people their start button make the update optional! so that people who like the metroshit can continue using it and those who have desktop will be happy or they are too pride to pick up their head from their ass

[David]

im using stardock tool to get the start menu :)

ah and i forgot why it is so dificult to shutdown the computer? why do i have to go to configs? looooooooooooooool

Doesn't the Start Menu supplied by Stardock tool provide you with the shut-down option? :unsure:

yeah, metro is very confusing