Microsoft France president: "In the next few days, we'll..

Dave, if you're referring to my post, then no, I did not have to pay for Windows 8 . Why did I install it? Well, why is anyone here? That's because I like tinkering with new gadgets on my free time . Besides, I need a second OS to run iTunes (I really hate the thing, but my kid loves his iPad). But all of my work is done on Windows 7.

I've noticed, that 8 is a bit faster when it comes to copying/moving files. I would love to have that added to 7. If the 9 desktop will manage that, I will be happy. That's why next week (if the rumors are true) my 8.1 will get replaced by the 9 preview. But again, in order to ditch 7 on my work machine, I will have to be convinced that what I'm getting is really better. The flat and square design does not help though - 8.1 looks really boring compared to 7.

Risking repetitiveness! Then, as I said, why not boot straight into the legacy (Windows 7) desktop and install the classic shell? What can be boring with something that is identical to Windows 7?
If you are running older, non Metro, programs, as you intimate, then these will all open in windowed environment, as they have always done.

unifex said:

Well, thanks for taking the time to respond to my post !

The least I could do since you quoted mine. Everyone has a viewpoint and I enjoy reading yours and anyone else for that matter. I’m glad to see you joined in. :)

I see you’re a university teacher, professor, or administrator since you’ve stated “colleagues”, “We were working on desktops for years and years”, and via one of your latest post: http://www.nineforums.com/windows-9-...tml#post148513.

Unless of course you’re Max Headroom attempting to be someone else.

But I'm afraid, you misunderstood me. Or perhaps I was not very clear. My main point was not that I simply want to stick with the old. My point is, the new should bring something to me. Ultimately, I don't care what the UI is. But I don't appreciate the change for the sake of the change.

Well, it seems to me the Modern UI is a factor to you by stating this very early this morning:

The flat and square design does not help though - 8.1 looks really boring compared to 7.

Here: http://www.nineforums.com/windows-9-...tml#post148514

Although you did state “ultimately” it would not be a factor.

MS is in no way making “change for the sake of the change”. One good reason, although controversial, is a “Walled Garden” system:

Closed platform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Apple's Walled Garden: Sledgehammer Needed - InformationWeek

Although we see this lately that MS is addressing the “misleading apps” in the Store and rightfully so: How Microsoft addressing misleading apps in Windows Store

Ultimately MS needs to and is addressing the security issues they've been fighting for years simply because Windows is so very popular. Linux, UNIX, iOS, and others not so much, but are also vulnerable. Humankind simply cannot develop a "perfect system" on a "perfect machine", but if they keep doing what they're doing we're all going to keep getting what we're getting. Seems to be working for other systems, but they're simply not that popular for attacks. We'll just have to see how this approach goes.

We were working on desktops for years and years. And it works OK. Now comes the new interface. In order to start using it, I need to spend the time and effort to learn it and get used to it. The question is: why should I do that? Does it bring any new functionality or any other advantage? At this point, I have not seen or read anything that should point in this direction. I have not seen anyone *working* in that interface either and I see a lot of colleagues working with computers.

Well, I see you like to tinker and you learned Linux and iOS UI, so what’s one more? We’ve also had to learn the UI changes from one Windows to the next. 8.x UI is not as difficult to learn as “they say”. IMO it does bring new functionality and other advantages mostly via Charms and app data sharing. That's foreign within desktop applications.

You have not stated anything like that either. You said that "Most users have an email program, calendar, contacts, music, maps, and the like, which all work just as well and are actually more efficient ..." But these things are not really *work*, they are "infotainment", if I can borrow a term from my car manual. Same goes for the live tiles. They blink some information, but it's not work, it's distraction. That's why I have not seen anyone attending a conference for example, who would be looking at them: that would be distracting not only to them, but to people who sit nearby.

If you are using your PC for "infotainment" - that is, browsing the web, listening to music, looking at photos - then perhaps this new interface is right for you. All I'm saying is that for real work it does not seem to bring any advantage, while there are some annoyances and distractions. Hence - why bother with it on a work computer?

You completely ignored my statement that Office is heavily rumored to be ported over to Modern. Do you not use Office programs within your university?

“Real work”, hah? Although some may use the versatility of a computer for "infotainment", but not most. I’m quite sure as a professional you have to receive and send emails, keep a calendar, and keep a contacts database at least, yes? Is that not a part of your “work” that’s required of you? How about Onenote? Perhaps some of those apps aren’t part of your “work” you perform, but it may be for someone else in some other profession. As a professional home and light commercial builder all those plus Photos, Weather, Reader for PDF blueprints, OneDrive since I have a Lumia or other devices, Finance app versatility to zero in on articles and reports related to the building sector, and a whole lot more of which I don’t have time to mention.

(Chuckle) All ready to be launched on a "blinking and distracting" live-tiled screen that conveys more data than a a simple legacy menu ever will. However, the "new" Start Menu previewed may contain live tiles. We shall see.

Furthermore most ignore this one also:
http://www.eightforums.com/general-s...erses-7-a.html

Do as you will for after all it's your free choice, but the bottom line is that I think some have not given the Modern system a fair look long enough to see what it can do all because "they say" so.