Um, people, as Ken so rightly points out, when you open the desktop, the quickest way back to the start screen is the Window Key. Give it a quick press and you're there. It's just like the Apple key in the Apple world. Stop looking for the tiny pixel area in the bottom left corner - it's a rookie mistake.
The issue I have with Windows 8 is the mental contextual shift between what you are doing (whether it's in Environment 1/Desktop or Environment 2/Win 8 RT) and what you want to achieve next. Say I have a Word document open. I'm working on something and I now want to do a calculation. Oh, ok, just click on the Window Key and select the... oh the phone just rang...talking...off the phone now. Now I'm still on the start screen. Now what was it I was doing? At least if the Word doco was still on the screen you would figure it out quickly. But with the start screen, I now have to say, that's right, I was writing a word document. So Window Key to the desktop, then figure it out. Hmmm. Very easy to find yet another distraction. I am a also a prolific user of apps. I have about 24 open at once (yes, right now there are 24 apps in my task bar right now). Win 8 is not helping me every time I lose where I was because my screen is completely wiped and replaced when I click the Window Key to display the start screen. I also can't keep track of WinRT apps that I might have a need to use because they aren't integrated well into the desktop environment. So I now don't use any WinRT apps. I just use desktop equivalents of the same thing. That said, because of the power consumption benefits of RT, I can see that the future is with RT applications, and not desktop apps. But geez they could do with a few usability pointers. On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 2:49 PM, Ken Schaefer <[email protected]> wrote: > Caller: "Hello. I can't find my Windows desktop"**** > > Helpdesk: Press the Windows Key and the letter D at the same time**** > > ** ** > > Caller: "No, I can't see my start menu."**** > > Helpdesk: Press the Windows Key**** > > ** ** > > You should try managing server 2012 via RDP sometime. It really is just 1 > pixel in the bottom left which is nearly impossible to click on unless your > RDP is full screen. **** > > ** ** > > What do you need on the Start screen on Windows Server 2012?**** > > ** ** > > Cheers**** > > Ken**** > > ** ** > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *David Connors > *Sent:* Thursday, 9 May 2013 2:13 PM > > *To:* ozDotNet > *Subject:* Re: Is Surface really failing?**** > > ** ** > > On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 1:58 PM, David Burstin <[email protected]> > wrote:**** > > I am neutral about Windows 8, but what I do find annoying is that when > people voice their opinions they get labeled as 'haters'. While it's a > convenient way to dismiss other people's concerns, what you are basically > saying is "this doesn't bother me so it can't be legitimate and therefore > only reason you are saying it is because you are a troll/hater". Not a > great basis for a productive discussion imho.**** > > I agree. I have this game I play as a part of mentoring people working > for me on usability. I call it "The Level 1 Helpdesk Test". Whenever I see > something that is batshit crazy, I ask them to run it past The Level 1 > Helpdesk Test which involves:**** > > 1. Sitting at your PC pretending you're on level 1 helpdesk.**** > 2. Imagine you've just answered the phone and someone is ringing up > about the feature you've just shown off.**** > 3. Imagine the conversation with that person as you describe how to > use the feature.**** > > Windows 8 fails the level 1 help desk test in style.**** > > ** ** > > Caller: "Hello. I can't find my Windows desktop"**** > > Helpdesk: "Can you see a picture of Seattle or a mountain with desktop > written on it?"**** > > Caller: "Ummm... no, I think ... I can see a picture of Julia Gillard and > the weather in Paris, but I'm in Brisbane. Should I click on the purple box > about Victoria Beckham?"**** > > Helpdesk: "No, keep looking for a box with desktop written on it in tiny > writing."**** > > Caller: "Oh, I've found a flower with desktop written on it."**** > > Helpdesk: "That's your desktop. Click on that. BTW it is a flower today > but it might be a mountain or seattle tomorrow."**** > > Caller: "That's better, I can see Windows now." **** > > Helpdesk: "Is that all?"**** > > Caller: "No, I can't see my start menu."**** > > Helpdesk: "Oh, you were just at the start menu."**** > > Caller: "The boxes with Victoria Beckham?"**** > > Helpdesk: "Yes, that's it."**** > > Caller: "Where is it?"**** > > Helpdesk: "It is in the bottom left single pixel of your monitor." > Caller: "What's a pixel?"**** > > Helpdesk: "Nevermind, just move your mouse to the bottom left and you'll > see a start menu pop up."**** > > Caller: "Oh, I see. But when I move my mouse over the button it > disappears."**** > > Helpdesk: "Oh, you're not meant you click on it, you just move your mouse > to make it appear and then click on it without actually moving your mouse > over it."**** > > ** ** > > etc etc etc**** > > ** ** > > Fkn fail. **** > > ** ** > > Don't even start me on the Charms "Nothing can be shared right now" bar. * > *** > > ** ** > > You should try managing server 2012 via RDP sometime. It really is just 1 > pixel in the bottom left which is nearly impossible to click on unless your > RDP is full screen. **** > > ** ** > > What did they do in previous versions of Windows? **** > > ** ** > > Helpdesk: "If you want a document or program, click start."**** > > Caller: "Thanks!"**** > > *click***** > > ** ** > > David. **** >
