It's looking very nice so far, especially with the latest Technical Preview, so I would upgrade right away. I tested the first one back when it came out in October and it wasn't really bad. The OS automatically detects if you're using a tablet or a PC with mouse and keyboard and changes its appearance to match, there's Cortana (but I wonder if it's really useful), and more features I can't think at the moment. You should give it a try via virtualization software like VMware Player or VirtualBox... well, if you don't want to run a WIP operating system as your main, that is, as it's unfinished yet.
Two hours event? Oh, it's the one from January 21 I think. Windows 10's basic requirements are the exact same as Windows 8's, which in turn are the same as Windows 7's, so it should run just fine. While I prefer the way the Start menu looked on 7, the one found in 10 isn't bad at all. I barely used the right side when searching for an application when I was running the first Tech Preview. I even went as far as telling Microsoft to bring the 7 version as an option in Windows Feedback. I use the Search bar most of the times when it comes to that stuff. I never had problems with the full size Start screen in Windows 8 / 8.1... I didn't mind it to be honest. Sure, it might make things complicated as you have to go back and forth from the desktop to the SS for literally, everything, but it was very easy to get used to, at least for me. You could blame how the new menu looks on Microsoft's obsession with the Metro (Modern UI) design language. I don't think you can get rid of the right side, either. In the bright side, people aren't going to complain anymore. I did see Ubuntu and Linux Mint's menus in action and you are right with the former. I never tried it, though.
Looks good, bruh.
ok, let me just tell you how for me, it's still a huge issue.
See, I'm EXTREMELY picky usually. For me, if there;s something that makes more sense and is as easy to have than the other, there's no reasons to use the others way.
So, you say you don't use the right side much? I would honestly behave the same way, however, that is the problem itself.
See, my screen is 1366x768 and has 15 inches, that is really enough to have several windows and with the corner snapping (linux mint supports the snapping on quarter and half of screen), it really allows to use my screen really well as I use it all of it for all the stuff I want.
Now, imagine I was on purpose putting a black paper sticker and covering the fifth of the screen.
Now, I could survive as I imagine the windows would get sdjusted....but then I have to ask, why can't I use the full capability of my screen? Not only I payed for it which makes the thing even worse, but I also for no reason prevented better experience.
In other words, this does not make any sort of sense and that's where I tend to just ignore this, not even consider this and go on my full screen.
This is the problem the start menu has. It hides a part of your screen for something that isn't usefull for the purpose of the menu. Meaning, I loose space for absolutely nothing that's worth so why am I even in the process of using this menu?
Windows 7 menu however didn't do that. In fact, I might say it was a
one. Search is just what I expect, and I have shortcut that together summarize the most fundamental task of an OS (like getting quick access to important folders, settings, the file explorer, etc...) as well as important apps like text editor and calculator. The important shorcut being on the right on their own list, it's really hard to miss them and the shutdown button is placed far enough to the menu button to not hit it accidentally, but not too far to not miss it. It even has a frame so, you really can't miss it. All in background being a customisable color that has just enough gradients to actually make you want to click as it just looks "smooth" and a bit attractive.
The only thing was the left side which is supposed to have the programs list...they are all clustered without category. Now, this might be fine if you're just using like 10 programs, but what if you install a ton?
This makes the browsing a bit complicated as it is easy to miss stuff, in this case you would use search. but most of the time, you would use your mouse to clikc on the button unless you were doing keyboards input just before so it feels better to press the window key. Having to move your hand from mouse to keybaord is something that seems so meaningles...but trust me, there's a reasons there's shorcut everywhere....you loose a lot of time and useless lost for this. However, the browser having a scrollbar, it's not that bad....it just makes the finding annoying when you don't ant to use search.
8.1 is even worst. Here, you first get rid of all gradient....that looks so rough that it means that every option worth the exact same attraction factor than the rest. The size only allow to see it better, but that has still the same roughness. I once said I like simple shape like straight lines or simple curves....that actually MANAGED to be TOO simple. Serious, I can easilly tell you that if you take the UI of TTYD/SPM, both are using simple ines heavily in interface. The TTYD/SPM one even is almost unified at some point....the amount of gradient is very slight, but the simple lines are still there....SPM, btw is heavily oriented on a cubic design which is the simplest 3D object so, it uses of course a lot of square.
But there's some details that make the option more attractive. The outilines are thicker meaning the simple squares are into evidences without feeling yoo rough on the outside of the square....by feeling roguht on the inside. It's weird, but it gives abetter looking. The slight amount of gradients makes the shape itself feel smore smooth so, it sort of feels natural when you choose any option making you enjoy to use it.
Now, this was the 8.1 shape only....the uses is even worse. See, "start" menu is to....well start stuff
This one....what CAN it starts?
You have to make your stuff to start but even if you did.....even if you resize the tile to the smallest size possible....why it is taking THAT much space for ONE link? Just there, you're already limited and again, I'm even assuming you don't use full screen. Because you actually CAN make a fully functional as it should be start menu on full screen....but there comes a way bigger problem that I actually noticed on Ubuntu.
by having to take the whole screen, you abrubtly suspend your workflow which for the purpose of starting stuff....possibly while you aleady have stuff started recently, is just stupid.
I know my analogy is weird, but imagine reading a book. You had already a bookmark so you go there. You read some pages to then reaise you want to go to another place (idk, you put a bookmark there or something). You could have just leave the book open, go to the other bookmark, and then continue reading. The only interruption you did would have been getting to the page....which not only is mandatory, it's fine because you had the intention to do it...you don't feel pausing or anything.
But let's say you decide to close the book and then go to the mark page right after.
Now, by closing the book, it's messed up you closed the book whue it was optional so....it's like you do an extra step before doing what you want whichis just....why are you doing it? You feel so interruptd that it just feels weird when you would go back on reading.
Taking the whole screen for this is the same thing. The start menu is like the table of content of the beginning of the book and by using it full screen, it forces you to go to the table of content before going to the bookmark you want while just freaking go to the bookmark directly....
Now, ths was with one program, but imagine you want to start GIMP, VLC and the file explorer for a multitasking setup (this si actually something I would want to do....editing mc textures and browsing through them all whuile listening to Paper Mario ost...yes I do this
).
So, in Windows 7, it's simple for file explorer and for the 2 others....you might take the search here as you would use it 2 times in a row, but using the browser isn't that bad.
But assuming you use full screen, you have to stop everything you do to start each of them.....that is just not normal.
Now, I know I've been talking about stuff that you don't even notice in seconds, but trsut me, if there;s anything wrong in an UI that makes you mad for 1 seconds each time you use it....you will soon hate the UI. It's really significant how jsut the presentation can affect your views on contents.
It's just that windos 10 had stuff....I had since a year. Desktp switching?
look, I really don't care, but I have them. Even better, I have a grid option....I dislike that they forces you to have on line....if you have 4 desktp....why not a 2x2 grid?
And even more, mint has ONE option that love so much that I don;t even understand why windows doesn't implement it.
Always on top.
Ok, have you ever wanted to alwasy see a windows no matter where you clicked on your screen to give focus to another windows?
Some programs actually offer this...most don't. So, if you would want to quickly browse let's say a text file and while you read it, do other stuff on a window that you want full screen?
Trust me, this situation happened to me a lot.
In mint - cinnamon, there's an option that every windows can have via a right click on tittle bar, that is a toggle to have the window always on top. However, there's also an option to configure what the middle mouse button does, and I use it for this toggle.
I repeat, EVERY windows has this.
You have NO idea how much usefull it is. I really highly question why they don't even put such a thing in a right click option.
Oh and the new windows 8 multi copy windows, mint had it before too.
See, I'm just on mint and I look at this and I have to wonder "euh...shoudl I say YAY!!! now?".
the worst is that I think most of the stuff I wnjoy more from mint e aso on Ubuntu...
This is why I sort of decided to not go bac to Windows. I even repartitioned my hard drive to leave a very minimal part to windows but most of it in Linux. I didn't regrreted since....nor I will soon....
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