Jason, I don't think you realise the benefits of tiles. As someone who has taught people of various ages to use Windows in all its incarnations and even (shudder) OS/X, the tiles are a breath of fresh air.
No more telling them about menus and clicks and double clicks or which tiny static icon represents the application they need, they simply scan the tiles and press the one they need - they may not even need to press it as the live tile may be giving them all the info they need.
The Metro UI is the first serious attempt to create a sophsiticated UI for the majority of people - well the first one that works anyway. The iPad may show that there are people who have limited needs and the Metro UI is just so much better than the hunt and peck through tiny static icons.
WP7 users have known this for a while and now that beautiful UI is going to be seen and used by millions.
I'm now considering porting my million line WPF application to Metro and Windows RT - not to replace it, but to give an easier to use version for the non power users.
This weekend, like over a million other geeks that wanted to be on the bleeding edge of technology, I installed the new Windows 8 Developer Preview, in both the desktop and server editions.
My colleague Zack Whittaker has created a comprehensive screenshot gallery which details the installation experience and a deep-dive through a number of the new features of the OS. However, I thought that it might be a good idea to prepare a screencast to show you what exactly it looks like to actually use Windows 8.
This was no small feat. While I do have a wide range of PC and x86 server hardware at my disposal, I do not have an x86-based touch-capable tablet and I wasn’t issued one because I didn’t go to BUILD.
Also, I didn’t want to disrupt my current lab environment using an on the metal install of what is effectively Alpha-quality code that was likely to blow up in my face while using it.
So I had to fake it — I had to virtualize Windows 8 on the new VMWare Workstation 8 product, which literally just came out this week and as far as I know is the only software product short of Microsoft’s own Hyper-V 3 built into Windows 8 Server that can actually fully virtualize Windows 8 including the hardware acceleration features.
Trust me, I tried VirtualBox 4.1 and Workstation 7.1. It’s a big fail on either. I’ll note that it will install on VirtualBox, but the integration tools/optimized drivers will not work, so I’d avoid it.
I’ve talked a bit about Server 8 already, but now that I’ve seen the new Metro UI, everything is starting to fall into place at least in terms of how I perceive this release. Windows 8 is a “Hybrid” or transitional operating system, a synthesis of legacy compatibility(Win32/Win64, .NET) with a completely parallel, new UI with completely new APIs to go with it. As a hybridized OS, it’s something of a compromise.
- Also Read: Microsoft to Developers — Metro is your Future (Mary-Jo Foley)
The Metro UI definitely takes a while to get used to, particularly when you have to context switch between new WinRT apps and old Win32 and .NET apps running in the legacy Windows 7 interface.
I can definitely agree with Microsoft that Metro is well-suited for tablets, but as a desktop UI I’m not so sure yet. It’s a bit early in the process to pass judgement on the entire paradigm as Microsoft has at least a year to fill in gaps and take in user feedback.
That being said, I can certainly forsee some considerable problems with acceptance in enterprise environments with the new UI, particularly as it relates to context switching between the old and new environments.
I’ve complained in the past before about this sort of thing, particularly during the early beta period for Windows 7, but this is a far more radical pill for users to swallow.
I’m not sure I want to shove the first generation of Metro in front of someone using a desktop PC who has been used to the traditional Windows UI for years, like my parents or your typical office productivity worker.
- Also See: Windows 8 Shortcuts and Secrets (Developer Preview Edition) Gallery
- Also Read: Windows 8, What You Need To Know To Be Productive Now (Ed Bott)
On an ARM-based tablet though, where Win32 and .NET are going to be completely thrown out with the bathwater and there will be completely new apps, that’s going to be a different story altogether.
Have you installed Windows 8 Developer Preview yet? What are your impressions? Talk Back and Let Me Know.
I hope they are not tossing Flash to bring more power to Silverlight... They are obviously not thinking of the end user. 
