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Windows RT: Why do you hate it?

946 views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  kevmatic 
#1 ·
There seems to be a lot of RT hate going around. My theory is that groupthink and bad press has a lot to do with it so I'd like to ask your opinion.

For those of you who have actually used Windows RT on a touch-screen device:

First of all, DO you hate/dislike Windows RT and if so, besides the lack of apps, what exactly do you hate/dislike about it?
 
#2 ·
I was at bestbuy for HOURS picking out a laptop for a family friends daughter. I had about 2-3 hours to play around the store and spent a lot of that time playing with windows RT.

I really just dislike the tiles, in fact I really really HATE that system. My mind instantly goes to fisher price toys for kids as soon as I see that type of layout. For the life of me I can't get past that. It seems there's no creativity at all in the design. I'm sure some people will find it very useful, such as my parents who still cannot figure out how to set a picture as their background in android. They'll love the fact that everything they want is in one place, and its easy to read. However for people like me (us android folks) it really is just is just a slap in the face, more so than iOS and it's limits. Mind you iOS has gotten much better as newer version roll out, but still it's no android.

The lack of apps is not even an issue with me, as there are very few that I always use on android anyways. What really bugs me is the UI, it just lacks so much imagination and screams of desperation. MS I'm guessing didn't want their OS to look like android/iOS so they wanted to stay clear of their design philosophy and go with their own.

I understand that, innovation is always welcomed in this field but in this case just no. Even if MS hands them out or free to people entering best buy, I'd take it and sell it on the streets for 5 bucks, go get a pint.

I'll stick with my TF300 with dock.

Let's not even mention the performance shortcomings.
 
#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Microsis View Post

There seems to be a lot of RT hate going around. My theory is that groupthink and bad press has a lot to do with it so I'd like to ask your opinion.

For those of you who have actually used Windows RT on a touch-screen device:

First of all, DO you hate/dislike Windows RT and if so, besides the lack of apps, what exactly do you hate/dislike about it?
It looked great at first, then I realized there isn't much to do with it. It has about as much functionality as an E-ink tablet thanks to the lack of apps coupled with its inablity to run x86.
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylon View Post

I really just dislike the tiles, in fact I really really HATE that system. My mind instantly goes to fisher price toys for kids as soon as I see that type of layout. For the life of me I can't get past that. It seems there's no creativity at all in the design. I'm sure some people will find it very useful, such as my parents who still cannot figure out how to set a picture as their background in android. They'll love the fact that everything they want is in one place, and its easy to read. However for people like me (us android folks) it really is just is just a slap in the face, more so than iOS and it's limits. Mind you iOS has gotten much better as newer version roll out, but still it's no android.
So you have an issue with the design. Fair enough, but my question to you is: aren't the tiles just icons in different sizes that can optionally display extra information? As of 8.1, there will be 4 tile sizes: Small (icon-sized), medium, double-wide and large. Icons exist everywhere: Android, iOS and Windows, etc. Yet it seems Win RT gives you the most customization for them, no?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Purger View Post

It looked great at first, then I realized there isn't much to do with it. It has about as much functionality as an E-ink tablet thanks to the lack of apps coupled with its inablity to run x86.
I guess you missed the part I made bold. We can talk separately about the lacking app ecosystem, but my question is about the operating system itself.
 
#5 ·
Well see android and iOS solve the "cram more information into one place" problem by having that drop down menu. You get alerted to missed calls, app updates, messages, emails, reminders, alarms, etc. Not to mention shortcut to Settings, and all the quick launch options for wifi, apps, GPS.

The beauty is that it is all there, in one place. If you fancy a bit more information, tap on that and it'll launch whatever application is used to display such information.

Is that not better than looking at a big screen FULL of tiles of various sizes with text written at the bottom of it?

With smartphones you have to have balance. Again this is why I hate windows RT so much. I can pretty much picture the design manager telling his/her teams that this OS must be as far from the main competitors as possible, in every possible way. That lefts the teams with very little to work with. Imagine if say VW said that to their engineers about building the next Golf?

I mean just imagine it, you pull up the tile interface screen. You have a BUNCH of stuff, you can even scroll for more. And under some of them there are small texts for you to read....I mean really how practical is that anyways? You're literally ON the page where the app shortcuts are, do you really want more clutter?

I hardly and in fact I don't consider larger or smaller tiles to be a "custom" option. I mean, iOS and android lets you move icons across screens and around...because it is the way it should be. You don't buy a car and brag that it can go in a straight line...

Again, with these feature packed phones you want the most efficient way to deliver information. Hell android and iOS could have done that, gone with icons that can change in size, giving users additional information right below the name or something but ask yourself this....how is that in any way making your life easier? You've already found the location of the app you want, and chances are to do anything such as reply to a message...you'd have to click on that icon anyways so would it not be better to follow what iOS and Android have done and simply create a hub on information that the user can access all at once, in an uncluttered fashion?

Lastly, ask yourself this. What is the most efficient way of displaying a bunch of what is essentially shortcuts all in one place. Is it with small thumbnail images, or with big blocks of colors that you have to scroll through all the time? What is faster and easier on the eyes? Smaller squares or large/medium/small squares all over the screen?

I'm surprised MS has not targeted seniors/mentally challenged. "Look, finally a computer with BIG BIG icons that will not leave you lost!!!"
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylon View Post

Again, with these feature packed phones you want the most efficient way to deliver information. Hell android and iOS could have done that, gone with icons that can change in size, giving users additional information right below the name or something but ask yourself this....how is that in any way making your life easier? You've already found the location of the app you want, and chances are to do anything such as reply to a message...you'd have to click on that icon anyways so would it not be better to follow what iOS and Android have done and simply create a hub on information that the user can access all at once, in an uncluttered fashion?

Lastly, ask yourself this. What is the most efficient way of displaying a bunch of what is essentially shortcuts all in one place. Is it with small thumbnail images, or with big blocks of colors that you have to scroll through all the time? What is faster and easier on the eyes? Smaller squares or large/medium/small squares all over the screen?
I think you and I both prefer smaller icons so we can fit more on the screen. Like I said, that is why in 8.1 they are bringing the new "small" tile size:



With this, every icon on your start screen can be small if you want. OR if you like the "widget" approach of Android, you can make some tiles bigger (like e-mail, weather, calendar) so that you don't have to open them to get information.

I agree that a notification center would be nice - people have asked for one, and it sounds like MS is listening: http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/8/4408798/windows-phone-notification-center-screenshots-leak-rumor

If it's coming to Windows Phone, chances are it will make it to Windows RT.
 
#9 ·
I think part of the problem is when people see Windows and especially associated with Microsoft they expect it to be windows, x86. Therefore they have much higher expectations.

When you pick up an android tablet, you know this is not going to replace your much more powerful laptop/desktop so you expect less of it...

As for the picture posted by Microsis,

I don't understand why anyone would want their icons that size, I mean look the Music icon, and Twitter and IE. Not to mention, you have a lovely beautiful background...and you can't even enjoy it because every single icon is enclosed in a colored tile. Again, this is PERFECT for people with eye problems, the elderly, the mentally challenged. Is that what MS thinks of the majority of its users?

This is all my personal opinion of course. Leave it to MS to try and reinvent the wheel, simply because they want something different.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Microsis View Post

So you have an issue with the design. Fair enough, but my question to you is: aren't the tiles just icons in different sizes that can optionally display extra information? As of 8.1, there will be 4 tile sizes: Small (icon-sized), medium, double-wide and large. Icons exist everywhere: Android, iOS and Windows, etc. Yet it seems Win RT gives you the most customization for them, no?
I guess you missed the part I made bold. We can talk separately about the lacking app ecosystem, but my question is about the operating system itself.
No, I didn't miss it, but you can't ask that question, then require people to leave out the thing that is the biggest problem with it.

RT is Windows 8, which, while its desktop version is heavily disputed, it's pretty nice on a tablet. But again, if you plan on using it just to check email and read E-books, it's great.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Purger View Post

No, I didn't miss it, but you can't ask that question, then require people to leave out the thing that is the biggest problem with it.
Why not? This thread is about the operating system.

The UI, multitasking/window management, search, customizability, stability, performance, etc. are the things I'm curious to hear people's opinions on.

The app ecosystem is really more about the industry's support, which I'm not asking about.
 
#13 ·
Honestly I havent used Windows RT enough to comment on it as an operating system (Its Win8 but only Metro?) but as a platform (Surface RT) I find it lacking. MS has been way too strict with enforcing what kind of hardware Windows RT will run on. Sure the hardware is great, but but that drives cost up to the point where the cheapest Surface RT tablets are the same price as the most expensive Android Tablets. MS has made a difficult niche for themselves, they are more expensive than Android Tablets cheaper than iPads but Windows Store is still very immature compared to Google Play or The App Store.

MS should open up Windows RT to a huge number of SoC manufacturers, and let them configure the devices as needed. There should be 7" e-readers, TV set-top devices, ect- based on Windows RT. I'm still not sure that would be enough to help them compete with Android tablets but it might help. Let's face it - Surface Pro (x86) is the real competition for iPad.
 
#15 ·
1) Microsoft owns it.
2) I don't need another OS that isn't compatible with the majority of the apps out there and there are next to no apps for that OS.
3) Under powered hardware.

Number 1 is good enough reason for me, but I'd figure I'd give other good reasons just to show that I'm not totally biased.
 
#16 ·
One big problem I have with Windows RT is that its future is exceedingly uncertain.

MS has a lot of OSes in play right now With Windows 8, Phone, and RT. RT is caught in the middle between 8 and Phone. It doesn't serve ANYTHING that the isn't fulfilled by one of the other two. It was originally created in order have the battery life advantages of ARM, but the newest Atoms have shriveled that gap to nothing. This means that RT literally doesn't have a reason to exist.

On top of that, its sales numbers suck. Microsoft's incredibly poor marketing have left people confused about the differences between 8 and RT, which hasn't helped.

So, I look for support for RT to die completely roughly around or before Windows 9. Which means you'll be left with a useless device that you can't even install your own OS on.

OOooooooooooOOooOOOoo, I'll take 2 please.
rolleyes.gif
 
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