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Comment by Bjartr | Hacker News Reader

I understand it's reasonable to be cynical about Windows, but is it really appropriate here[1] when the changes of note are support for dark mode and multiple undo steps? At least wait for someone to find an actual problem.

[1] When I post this, the only other comments are complaints. The ones that are at least complaining about notepad are complaining that MS had the gall to change notepad without pointing to anything specific.

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I like the feature additions but dislike that there's no visual division between the menu bar and the title bar you can click and drag to manipulate the window. Windows 10 and 11 often make me feel as if I have some disorder of the nervous system as I'm forever clicking just to the side of the interface element I want to use.

Also, Windows 10 removed the window borders so now you have to resize windows by grabbing their shadow. Years later I still regularly misclick.

One of the things I've been rolling around in my mind for a while now is what would a "what's old is new again" reversion to the non-flat/minimalist style look like if done now.

One of the things that strikes me with 4k displays is that there's a lot more pixels to throw around at elaborate designs, along with the skeuomorphic/physical representation of interactivity. I'm thinking back to the winxp era uxstyles skins that while they demonstrated Sturgeon's law, also had a wide range of art and ways to make it approachable for people.

In the case of windows, changing UI approach again would add another layer of strata with inconsistency, but right now MS's approach comes across as resume led design with a new version of windows to launch with their stamp on it

It's probably only a matter of time.

I had a similar thought when I saw Mercedes new infotainment UI [0] -- the dark blue with heavy use of gradients is very reminiscent of vista-era design to my eyes.

[0] https://mediacloud.carbuyer.co.uk/image/private/s--av_nNtkN-...

I think we're all a little nervous after various Edge and Windows updates have either introduced adverts to the UI or even buy-now-pay-later predatory lending. These updates look promising, but MS really should pay attention to the sentiment they're creating around "feature updates" recently.

Notepad had a dark mode (and light mode, and grey mode, and "eye-searing yellow with purple font" mode, if you want) as recently as Windows 7 with the system-wide theme settings, so it's understandable to be sceptical when they bring the dark mode as some sort of a triumph when it's a regression.

Multiple undo steps is noteworthy. I have definitely lost text when I forgot Notepad’s undo limitation.

I know there's a lot of different people with different priorities, but people (as a generalization) are complaining about things still being outdated and not supporting dark mode in Windows 11 while simultaneously (although probably a different set of people) are apparently appalled that Microsoft would dare update a legacy application.

Personally I think the best thing Windows 11 has going for it to stand out from more than just being a nicer coat of paint on Windows 10 is removing as much legacy things as possible and update to "modern" standards given they've already put a hard line in the sand regarding modern CPU compatibility.

> support for dark mode

You mean, a severely bastardized version of functionality that Windows had back in version 3.0?

http://toastytech.com/guis/win30color.png

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