Posted August 20th, 2003 @ 07:11pm by Erik J. Barzeski
It's amazing, but some UIs keep getting better and better (and faster and faster) and some keep getting worse and worse. Look at some of those screenshots! What the hell is going on? It's tough to tell what you can click on, what does what, anything. It's horrible! I'm not exactly objective, but can someone tell me how anyone can use that crap?
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Posted 20 Aug 2003 at 8:10pm #
That's awful. Apple keeps refining OS X (except for brushed metal, but that's another story), while Microsoft keeps making Windows worse.
OS X's use of colour is clean, but Microsoft uses it too much. I cant stand the Fisher Price look.
I hope Microsoft screws this one up badly.
Posted 20 Aug 2003 at 10:22pm #
Eh...it may not be great, but it's better than the mish-mash that is Windows XP. Definitely a lot cleaner. Maybe not better, but definitely cleaner...
Posted 21 Aug 2003 at 1:09am #
Is that really supposed to be a good UI? What are they thinking? Its just so... immature looking, as if it is still a work in progress (as, IMHO, Windows has been since the start). I'll take Aqua please!
Posted 21 Aug 2003 at 3:30am #
Ryan, yes, it looks like it's still a work in progress -- since it is still a work in progress. Microsoft have stated that Aero isn't ready to be shown to the public yet (those are leaked screenshots). It might turn out to be usable, but not nearly as refined as Aqua (especially 10.3's Aqua), of course.
Remember, Aqua looked pretty horrible with its 50 % opacity dropdown menus, old NeXT style icons, poorly laid out controls and ugly Dock tiles back in DP3. And yet, DP3 was much closer to a final release than the build of Longhorn that those screenshots are from.
Do keep in mind that Longhorn isn't slated to ship until 2005.
Posted 21 Aug 2003 at 12:05pm #
Like all other MS attempts at a usable, intuitive UI, I just don't think this is it. Lauri, I remember DP3 well, and yes, it did look scary. Even if this is still in progress, I don't think all that much of its core layout and look is going to change. Like Erik said "It's tough to tell what you can clickon, what does what, anything." When you think that 95% of the market uses this, its no wonder people can't figure out computers.
Posted 21 Aug 2003 at 5:17pm #
I'm no lover of MS, but I'm going to err on the side of caution here with Lauri, and wait until it comes out before passing judgement. Not that that will stop MS from touting it as the next greatest thing from now till it does actually ship. Anyone remember Windows 95? 🙂
Posted 22 Aug 2003 at 6:18pm #
"The problem with Microsoft is they have no taste. They have absolutely no taste." -- Steve Jobs (years ago)