here is a repost of some of the post I did on the vista beta newsgroups:
Im not talking about the design if its pretty or not... the look is ok...
I am talking about the "user experience"
There MUST be a way to be able to revert to the old way of doing things...
for example have a simple folder list page on windows explorer?
That common places folder on top is tremendously frustrating! After a few
mouse clicks it becomes common places, library and network.. where is my
computer??? lol You have to press 5 or 6 mouse clicks to get back to
that....
The start menu, that pops up the programs on to its self is a REALLY bad
idea!
Xp popped the menu towards the right and then the menus were cascading...
But now there is no way to remember where you were.. and were you want to
be.
At least you have the classic start menu to go back to.....but how many
people will know how to change that back...
And what about the helpful taskpanes that were in XP? they are gone
altogether...
You cannot imagine how helpful they were to novice users... and now all you
have is a bar on top with limited options...
And the explorer and internet explorer bar on top... you cannot customize it
all...
you are stuck with some elements you cannot change...
And the search? What no Google? What is this???
In general I am disappointed in what I saw and frustrated so much that I had
do download another explorer like program (file manager) so I could do
things....
XP was good because it was easy to use... as i see it Vista is NOT easy to
use (at least the beta)
I hope and I am confident that the MS team will fix these problems.. I am
concerned not about me, I can adapt fast since I am computer literate...
but about all the people that will be scratching their heads trying to
figure out how things are done.
<<<<<ANOTHER POST>>>>>
I provide tech support for many people... I can just imagine from saying go
to
start > All programs bla bla bla
I will have to say "go to the little round button like an orb with the flag
inside..."
at least they could make it animated to say start when you hover or
something...
As for your other suggestions I am aware of most of them.. and of course I
can configure my own machine like that, however....
That is not the standard layout... and will create problems for tech people
when
they have to provide support. Its a nightmare!
Also I can imagine all the people getting a new computer with vista, and
they will have to re-learn how to do things. I do not say that advancements
and changes must not be done.. but they must be done for a reason, and to
make things easier.. not harder!
I am just concerned.....
Oh and another thing... the dark colors may have a psychological impact on
all the users of computers. They should hire a team to research the colors
of vista...
its not about design alone. Colors have an impact on mood, and there are
many people who use the computer all day and night. As an artist, and as a
tech I know
how important this is, and is not to be taken lightly.
I would not be amazed to see depression levels increase worldwide! At least
they should provide a choice with colors, like they do with the wallpaper in
the beginning.
XP's Luna theme at least was happy!
Kenny
