MIT Professor: Windows 8 is Xmas Gift for Someone You Hate
Disruptive change is rarely welcomed with unison cheers.
More than likely, Microsoft was very well aware that the Windows 8 UI would be very divisive and would require a massive change in the way a user interface is perceived and what it is supposed to do in various ways.
Following what seemed to be a reasonable balance between positive and negative reviews in the media, there is a noticeable uptick in negative commenting on Windows 8, some of which lack the type of balance we typically need to make a purchase decisions, but the type of commenting that clearly influences our perception of what Windows 8 is and what it is not.
An blog post that caught our attention was published by MIT computer science professor Philip Greenspun, who suggested Windows 8 as a gift for people you hate. It is one of the least flattering opinions of the operating system published to date, comparing the UI of the operating system to a "dog's breakfast." His conclusion is that "Microsoft has had since October 2008 to study Android" and "since June 2007 to study iPhone", but "they did not figure out what is good about the standard tablet operating systems."
Greenspun also chastised media for given Windows 8 positive reviews: "My theory is that journalists love anything new, different, and complicated. Windows 8 is all of those things." The only positive note was given to "some of the supplied apps", which "are wonderful".
Case in point: I just bought a Creative wp-350 Bluetooth Headset. I have not been able to use the headset mic under 7, no matter how much I tried, the BT stack just doesn't activate the function and "Recording devices" does not show the BT hardware. So the VoIP functions were a bust. Win 8 just does that seamlessly and with no headaches. As of yet, I haven't found any show stoppers in 8 - that doesn't mean I'm not searching.
And for the record he tested it out on a high end desktop which he states at the end of his anger filled rant.
While I could probably get used to and maybe even like Windows 8 I see no reason whatsoever to try it out. Only thing good I've heard about it is the faster boot but .... I rarely boot into Windows anyway and I can get a SSD to fast boot into both Windows and Linux.
Which is generally true, especially of you.
But i think criticizing Win 8 on tablets is a bit unfair, though i'll have to read his post.
There were a few things that he seemed to have misunderstood, which have been adressed in the comments below.
Wolfgang seems to be butt-hurt about his closing comments, but unfortunately for Wolfgang, what the prof. says is true.
- "this is too complicated to handle". he said.
Its different but its still good. So live with it.
Most ppl are so boring they cant even accept a slight change in their lives.
No? "Merry Christmas, Mr Ballmer"...
iOS and Android do the same thing and what is the size of thoe OS'? Less than a 1GB!
I guess the code must be very inneficient, as everything from MS.
He mentioned both Android and iOS, maybe he's a Fandroid or neither ...