Quote Originally Posted by SJWhiteley View Post
Seriously, though, It doesn't surprise me that a lot of consumers feel this way, but then 'a lot' doesn't mean 'everyone'.

Most users - in my estimation - aren't looking for a 'windows experience', and are looking for a computer to do 'stuff': Microsoft have hedged their bets that the average consumers stuff is nicely accessible from the Metro/Start screen. I believe, much to my chagrin, that Microsoft are correct. Additionally, most users aren't 'dumb' (well, not *that* dumb, anyway) but when it comes to computer operating systems, are largely ignorant ("What's the difference between a Mountain Lion and a Window? About $1200. Wait a minute, is the window closed? What if the mountain lion jumps through the window?"). When it breaks, the accepted understanding as spread by the computer geeks, is that they don't know how to work it: this reinforces the notion in users that 'i r dum' and will never understand this computer stuff. Net result, is that they accept a steep learning curve and accept the notion that they can't do certain tasks readily because they don't have an, almost mystical, technical knowledge.

In other words, when you are used to seven beatings a day, then only five beatings a day is sheer joy (My opinion is that MS have upped the beatings, but, meh...)

The pudding is going to be whether the computer manufacturers actually install Windows 8 or take the option to downgrade to Windows 7 on new PCs.
I agree completely. And I think that's why Windows 8 is a great step in the right direction. There's no reason why things like browsing, weather, email, instant messenger, music and video playback should be complicated, to most of users. Metro will work great for that, and be much more intuitive and a lot simpler. For those of us with the mystical technical knowledge, there's still a desktop like always. So they kill two birds with one stone. And by making the UI the same as mobile devices, they get a third bird for requiring virtually no adjustment when moving between a phone, a tablet and a computer. Something with wich the supreme leader of closed eco systems, Apple, can't boast.

Btw, what's that on your avatar? It always looked like a spaceship to me. I have a feeling it's going to something diametrically different like Shaggy's avatar that turned out to be a vase of fish rather than a pineapple.