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Comment by blattimwind | Hacker News Reader

> Now my screen is the very picture of elegance and sophistication.

Is it? Windows 10 looks like installing a custom skin on Windows XP went wrong and now you're stuck with "Windows Classic (Flat)" set up for weird colors.

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Thank you. I feel like the world is taking crazy pills. Windows 7 was gorgeous. Windows 8 was a mess but at least the were trying to do something bold with consistency with their Windows Phone Look and Feel.

Then Windows 10 shipped and I thought I got some pre alpha developer build accidentally, and it just... Never updated.

I've heard iOS be criticized for being overly flat these days but I just got an iPad and found the clickable areas at least visually pleasant, if a bit hidden. Windows 10 is undiscoverable AND ugly.

Windows 3's design was a first shot.

Windows 95 was extremely polished and well done.

Windows XP was a response to PCs becoming mainstream and figuring what the everyman wanted was more flair and fashion.

Windows 7 was a response to desktop Linux (Compiz et al.) capturing people's imaginations.

Windows 8 was a response to iOS while trying to avoid Apple's skeuomorphism patents (fortunately).

Windows 10 was realizing that none of that really mattered, they already have all the users anyway, so they just need long-term UI stability now.

I hope Compiz et al didn't inspire anyone, the low point of linux UIs (and that is saying plenty!).

Thankfully Microsoft showed restraint. Windows Vista got a GPU accelerated 3D workspace but the only real showcase for it was the very gimmicky and useless win+tab feature.

For me the savior of Linux is the niche tiling window managers.

Personally I'd go back to the Windows 95 era and use that as a starting point for a new, consistent, predictable, ergonomic, universal, and aesthetic GUI framework. I don't think any of what we have today is the ideal.

Take a look at this iOS critique https://uxcritique.tumblr.com/

To me Windows XP’s look & feel was among the best. Except for the fat Window title bar.

XP was playschool. Eww. Windows 2k was great however.

Maybe I just don't remember enough about Windows 8, but how is Windows 10 that much worse, in your opinion? I feel like it's the exact same as 8 sans the Metro Start section and a few minor (in my opinion) UI tweaks.

Oh goodness, now I can't unsee it.

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