Fixing Windows 8 | Hacker News Reader

Fixing Windows 8

jay-machalani.squarespace.com

25 pointsevo_914 comments

Thank you very much guys! Microsoft actually got in touch with me and I am going to Seattle for a day or two in the coming weeks to meet the design team.

I'm actually impressed. I've got an eternal skepticism of basically every "Fix Windows 8" thing that I've ever seen, but yours is pretty much the first that doesn't boil down to "re-release Windows XP" and actually focuses improving Metro's and Desktop's individual strengths/weaknesses.

I'd actually not even entirely hate that incarnation of a returning start menu, which is hard to believe at this point. Good job.

It'd be really interesting to read how your meetings go.

e.g. what MS was interested in, what did MS rule out because of other concerns, how did MS built upon/refined the ideas, etc.

Basically, I talked with Albert Shum the Director of UX of Windows Phone that is now in charge of Windows and Xbox too. He told me that he has been working on the Desktop but most importantly, at a unification of the three designs (W, WP, X) and that I would be great in the new central design team as a problem solver.

You don't have to wait for Microsoft to fix Windows 8. There's already a free program, Classic Shell[1], which implements the Start menu and a normal desktop. It feels pretty much like Windows 7, and you never need to use the new UI at all. I haven't played with it that much since I'm still running Windows 7, but I installed it for a friend, who finds it very usable.

[1] http://www.classicshell.net

I like it. I am a Windows 8 fan (don't yell at me) I like it but I realize there are warts. I think the ideas this dude has fix a lot of them. I give it a thumbs up. I hope MS takes a close look.

Reasonable, fairly small changes (visually), and makes it more unified.

I'm impressed. Often I see these things over-designed so they look great but only if you have ginormous fantastic photos of all your underwear-model friends. This could work for everyone.

This guy knows what the true Win8 have: Visible and Fast application switch. I mean that, when you open a Modern application, you cannot find any visible way to switch between them. My opinion is to make the task bar always visible, and show store apps on it.

I was really looking forward to a post with step-by-step instructions on actually fixing this NOW! But, alas I appreciate what you envisage.

LOL, me too.

I hate Windows 8 and refused to switch to it. I would actually consider it given his changes. MS - Hire this guy.

Ok, if Windows 8 were like how this dude wrote about it, I'd be using win8 right now. Period.

Absolutely brilliant. I hope Microsoft reads his blog.

HOLY CRAP This guy single handily fixed Win8.

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