How Real People Will Use Windows 8

Chris Pirillo · 1.9M views · 2012-03-08 · 4:21

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Overview

Chris Pirillo has his father try Windows 8 for the first time to see how ordinary users cope with the new interface.

On Hacker News

Cited critically, as evidence that Windows 8 would frustrate ordinary users, especially without a start button.

Discussed on HN; no positive recommendation is recorded in this export · HN mentions 2012–2014

Topics

UX & UI design GUI, HCI & interface history

What people said

greatergoodguy · 2014-04 · Criticism
This WAS predicted by many users and blogs prior to the release of Windows 8. Criticisms started a year prior to the official release of Windows 8, with the consumer preview version. Here's one of the videos. [VIDEO] This article was written shortly after the release but it does one of the best jobs of explaining how poor the usability of the OS is. [LINK]
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brownbat · 2013-09 · Criticism
Yeah, I was shocked by the "dad" test: [VIDEO] And when Gabe talked about 8, I winced: [LINK] But watching a few "tips" / "best of new features" videos for 8.1... I start to feel a little left out. Just type to search. Re-engineered file copying. Hot corners make it seem like someone at least skimmed an article on Fitt's Law. And, ooh, Win + Print Screen? Just make the screenshot a file. Yeah, should have been fixed back in 95. So, er, maybe they got a few things right? I haven't upgraded yet, but... the dissonance is mounting.
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jser · 2012-08 · Criticism
Tried using it in a virtual machine, but was an endlessly frustrating experience in Windows 8 (Metro) UI. It's like going from an iPhone to a Blackberry -- you want to touch the screen, but can't. Be prepared to be your family's help desk if they're buying a new machine: [VIDEO]
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Sources

Video by Chris Pirillo, played through YouTube.

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