By now, you may have heard that Microsoft has announced Windows 10. Gosh, it seems like Windows 8 came out only 2 years ago. What happened to 9? I thought they were avoiding association with Ed Wood's "Plan 9 From Outer Space." Someone opined that they needed to skip a number to basically get away from the stink of Windows 8. But in fact, Microsoft is skipping 9 because they fear programs written by lazy programmers will find the string "Windows 9" and assume your new 4 GHz 64-bit 8-core PC is running "Windows 95" or "Windows 98."
The fear of connection with Windows 8 is plausible. Windows 8 may be one of the most unpopular Windows releases ever; it's even less popular than Windows Vista was on their respective timelines. Market share numbers suggest that users are buying Windows 8, using it, then uninstalling it after they can't 'get used to it.' Why is Windows 8 so unpopular? Didn't the press say it was wonderful? Aren't there ads on TV showing potential customers how users are literally dancing with joy over Windows 8?
Apparently Microsoft people were shocked that users don't like Windows 8. Presumably they use this OS quite a lot in-house. Maybe these people are paid to like it. I am willing to believe the people at Microsoft are smart--smarter than I am--and perhaps they are able to adapt to a UI that's a pain in the butt for most people. Perhaps they know special "cheat codes" and settings to make Windows 8 more tolerable. Or maybe the smart people at Microsoft are all like poor Doctor Frankenstein, unable to control the corrupted monster they created, only to watch in horror as users tear it apart and burn it with pitchforks and torches.
How much do users prefer Windows XP? Windows XP was released in 2001; Windows Vista came out and flopped, and users overwhelmingly stayed with Windows XP. Windows 7 (which can be made to look and act very much like Windows XP) came out in 2009, and users still stayed with Windows XP for 3 years before Windows 7 barely eclipsed Windows XP's market share in 2012. At this point, Windows XP was 11 years old.
11 years is a long time in the world of computers. The 8-bit Apple II was only 7 years old when Apple released the groundbreaking 32-bit Macintosh. The 8088-based IBM PC was only 4 years old when IBM released its 80286-based PC AT. The original Microsoft Windows 1.0 was released in 1985, and Microsoft Windows was largely a waste of time until 1995, when Microsoft released Windows 4.0, popularly known as Windows 95--a long time, but still only a 10 year span. But Windows XP has been going strong for 11 years. Microsoft gave up on it in April, but it's still popular now.
Why? There are many good reasons so many people have not switched from Windows XP, and the price tag is low on the list (otherwise, the free Linux OS would have better than a 2% market share).
My experience with Windows 8.1 has been like a school bullying; I want to do something legitimate, and suddenly my taskbar screen has been replaced with the active panel display. Or some other display I don't recognize. Suddenly my textbooks are smacked out of my hands. 'Hey, nerd! We changed the rules on you! Looks like you're gonna have to find a new way to walk to school!'
Windows 8 apologists might be quick to tell me that if I don't want to use it, I don't have to use it. More and more users are responding to this by not using it, and dumping Windows 8. Unfortunately many cubicle-dwellers are not given the option of what OS they want to use: their employers provide them with computers, and the employees can either put up with them or quit. If these employees had actual people upending their workspaces, they could lodge a workplace harassment lawsuit. But unfortunately, the problem is the equipment they're required to use. Granted, it's not like losing an arm in an industrial accident; but if it's disruptive, hinders their ability to work, and makes them less productive, it's analogous to harassment.
With Windows 10, Microsoft has promised us the opportunity to provide feedback on their OS. Although this seems like a nice gesture, it sounds like another annoyance in my life; like taking a survey over the phone, or filling out a form to submit an opinion, or registering software I've paid good money for. Who has the patience? And unless I get some indicator that changes I've suggested have been implemented, how can I be sure my time hasn't been wasted? How can I be sure that the people I'm giving feedback to are even paying attention?
I use Windows at home and I use Windows at work, all day long. I have used Windows for decades. I could go on about my qualifications, but for now I will ask you to please accept that I am something of a Windows expert.
Most desktop users don't want flashy distractions like Vista's transparent 3D windows or Windows 8's active panels.
In contrast, video game console users want sizzle. If you want to make a flashy user interface, put it on the XBox. Put it in applications where users like some excitment, like a shoot-'em-up game or music-mixing DJ software. Put it on a smart phone. And leave it there.
But please don't make my workday operations a regular hassle.
Microsoft, with your next desktop OS release, please try to embrace the gentle virtues of simplicity. Please support the latest hardware, fix notorious problems, and feel free to implement whatever internal OS improvements you want; but give your customers back their familiar, comfortable, clean Windows XP user interface.
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