Windows, like a car, is a tool to get from A to B. People use tools because they make life easier. If a car manufacturer decided to change the way we drive (eg by swapping the location of the accelerator and brake) then people will rightly ask why. This has happened before - eg the gear stick moving from the column, which had a good reason. When changes are forced on us, it is legitimate to ask what the gain is given the pain of changing the way we use our tools.
I don't believe that saying "just learn it and if you don't like it then you must be a bad driver" is any kind of answer. If anything it implies that you don't have a good answer so you are trying to shame people into not asking questions. Ditto for the argument that Office is not a fail, therefore the ribbon must be good and those who criticized it were, in hindsight, fools. I wonder how successful the new version of Office would have been if the ONLY change had been the ribbon. Learning new technology is fun FOR ME, but I would certainly not presume to speak for the people who use it as a tool to get their real job done. They, quite rightly, ask why they have to relearn how to use this tool just to get the same job done. And they deserve a good answer - not just "suck it up". Btw - I still find the Office ribbon difficult to navigate. DB On 09/05/2013 3:37 PM, "Fredericks, Chris" <[email protected]> wrote: > I suspect the Office Ribbon wouldn’t have passed the "The Level 1 > Helpdesk Test" either – but Office hasn’t been a ‘fail’. And I am sure > that most of the initial ‘issues’ with Windows 8 will pass in time as users > learn it’s nuances.**** > > **** > > Sometimes people have to make some effort to move out of their comfort > zone, embrace change and learn something new instead of expecting > everything to be obvious. The first time someone sits behind the steering > wheel in a car, it is not very intuitive on how to use the clutch to change > gears, or to even start the engine. Almost everyone needs to be taught how > to drive a car – does that mean that a motor vehicle is a ‘fail’?**** > > **** > > Everything I have read about why Windows 8 is a ‘fail’ seems a bit emotive > and most of the problems listed are very easily addressed with a little > research and learning. I suspect that safely driving a motor vehicle > requires more effort, learning and concentration than what is required for > Windows 8. If you can’t cope with Windows 8, please avoid driving a car > anywhere near me or my family. J**** > > **** > > Just my 2c worth and I am most definitely not trying to offend anyone.**** > > ** ** > > Cheers,**** > > Chris**** > > ** ** > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Ken Schaefer > *Sent:* Thursday, 9 May 2013 2:49 PM > *To:* ozDotNet > *Subject:* RE: Is Surface really failing?**** > > ** ** > > 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] <[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. **** >
