Comments on: Ending a Windows tradition http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/ All the stuff about Microsoft and technology you haven't read anywhere else. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:02:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: atw http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-59947 atw Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:36:41 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-59947 And this is a good thing? The Folder-file metaphor has been with us from the beginning, and it didn't come from computer-land, but from office organization bureacracy-land, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Vista appears to be replacing the metaphor of opening drawers and files and folders to find things that are organized in a rational way with a giant Junkpile that one accesses with Magic Search Word typed in a blank box. "Windows" originally succeeded over DOS because it replaced command-line incantations with a menuing system that allows users to organize things and find things without remembering all the magic words, or the precise name of a file. Search is important but MS seems to be losing its mind here with the threat of Google looming, and I predict it won't be good for them in the long run. And this is a good thing? The Folder-file metaphor has been with us from the beginning, and it didn’t come from computer-land, but from office organization bureacracy-land, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Vista appears to be replacing the metaphor of opening drawers and files and folders to find things that are organized in a rational way with a giant Junkpile that one accesses with Magic Search Word typed in a blank box. “Windows” originally succeeded over DOS because it replaced command-line incantations with a menuing system that allows users to organize things and find things without remembering all the magic words, or the precise name of a file. Search is important but MS seems to be losing its mind here with the threat of Google looming, and I predict it won’t be good for them in the long run.

]]> By: Insight into Vista’s Start menu search at istartedsomething http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-9700 Insight into Vista’s Start menu search at istartedsomething Mon, 11 Dec 2006 07:49:42 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-9700 [...] Windows Vista’s Start menu search is a godsend. Even though the only thing that has changed is the introduction of a search box, it revolutionizes the way people will use the Start menu. But I’ve always wondered, how does the results get ranked? I’ve found the results I’m looking for is nearly always selected, if not a few arrow clicks away. [...] [...] Windows Vista’s Start menu search is a godsend. Even though the only thing that has changed is the introduction of a search box, it revolutionizes the way people will use the Start menu. But I’ve always wondered, how does the results get ranked? I’ve found the results I’m looking for is nearly always selected, if not a few arrow clicks away. [...]

]]> By: Gonz http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2366 Gonz Tue, 03 Oct 2006 15:43:01 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2366 Hi! how can i get that new windows black theme??? bye Gonz Hi!
how can i get that new windows black theme???

bye
Gonz

]]> By: Rajo http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2310 Rajo Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:38:55 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2310 NON-Cascaded Start menu of Vista has one undeniable advantage - it doesn't require users to hunt precisely through endless sublevels of tiny menus. It saves users' desperation when they accidentally click away from a submenu, avoiding the need of starting "the hunt" again. It requires one or two additional clicks (note that submenus tend to expand automatically in Vista), but is MUCH easier to aim the desired item. NON-Cascaded Start menu of Vista has one undeniable advantage – it doesn’t require users to hunt precisely through endless sublevels of tiny menus. It saves users’ desperation when they accidentally click away from a submenu, avoiding the need of starting “the hunt” again. It requires one or two additional clicks (note that submenus tend to expand automatically in Vista), but is MUCH easier to aim the desired item.

]]> By: Comrade Ghorkov http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2302 Comrade Ghorkov Mon, 02 Oct 2006 13:59:44 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2302 David Burela, just tell the user to press Ctrl+Esc or the WinKey, like how you use WinKey+PrntScren to get the System control panel up when the user isn't knowledgeable enough to get to it the long way. David Burela, just tell the user to press Ctrl+Esc or the WinKey, like how you use WinKey+PrntScren to get the System control panel up when the user isn’t knowledgeable enough to get to it the long way.

]]> By: David Burela http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2295 David Burela Mon, 02 Oct 2006 12:19:39 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2295 Well now that i come to think about it, i used to explain to people how to open things by saying "go start, programs" etc. now its "go 'shiny jewlely thing' -> programs" although i guess you COULD go jewly thing type ahead nero but what if you don't know the exact name of their app, and they HAVE to go through the start menu system!!! But its not the start menu system anymore AGHHH tech support issues for new computer users are going to be hard from here on.. Well now that i come to think about it, i used to explain to people how to open things by saying “go start, programs” etc. now its
“go ‘shiny jewlely thing’ -> programs”

although i guess you COULD go jewly thing type ahead nero
but what if you don’t know the exact name of their app, and they HAVE to go through the start menu system!!!
But its not the start menu system anymore
AGHHH tech support issues for new computer users are going to be hard from here on..

]]> By: Winston http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2271 Winston Mon, 02 Oct 2006 01:16:50 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2271 Perhaps you might want to suggest what's the best alternative to a start menu which simultaneously supports legacy and is "usable". I think MS has done an excellent job at getting rid of the cascading menus for All Programs, and an extra click, is it really going to eat your life? You can always hit the start key on your keyboard and then use accelerated shortcut keys to navigate your way around. I don't get it, FreeLaunchBar also requires a click, or you can probably assign a shortcut key, but hey that's the same as the start panel? And what happens when your launch bar gets a billion shortcuts in it, it'll be just as hell trying to find your app. Perhaps you might want to suggest what’s the best alternative to a start menu which simultaneously supports legacy and is “usable”. I think MS has done an excellent job at getting rid of the cascading menus for All Programs, and an extra click, is it really going to eat your life? You can always hit the start key on your keyboard and then use accelerated shortcut keys to navigate your way around. I don’t get it, FreeLaunchBar also requires a click, or you can probably assign a shortcut key, but hey that’s the same as the start panel? And what happens when your launch bar gets a billion shortcuts in it, it’ll be just as hell trying to find your app.

]]> By: Comrade Ghorkov http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2245 Comrade Ghorkov Sun, 01 Oct 2006 16:34:11 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2245 The start-menu concept is flawed /anyway/, since it adds an additional click (and expensive miliseconds) to do anything. There are dozens of start-menu alternatives, from the excessibly aesthetic (and imo, unusuable) to the utilitarian. I feel a decent start-menu/panel replacement shouldn't require any clicks to open, should have no delays, must be clearly labelled, and be aesthetic. Until we see the wonderful new UI I've been hearing about in Windows Vienna, I recommend you check out FreeLaunchBar. The start-menu concept is flawed /anyway/, since it adds an additional click (and expensive miliseconds) to do anything.

There are dozens of start-menu alternatives, from the excessibly aesthetic (and imo, unusuable) to the utilitarian. I feel a decent start-menu/panel replacement shouldn’t require any clicks to open, should have no delays, must be clearly labelled, and be aesthetic.

Until we see the wonderful new UI I’ve been hearing about in Windows Vienna, I recommend you check out FreeLaunchBar.

]]> By: Jason Cox http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2244 Jason Cox Sun, 01 Oct 2006 16:10:24 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2244 You can also make Run appear on the Start Menu by checking a box under the 'Customize Start Menu' form. You can also make Run appear on the Start Menu by checking a box under the ‘Customize Start Menu’ form.

]]> By: Winston http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2241 Winston Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:36:30 +0000 http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061001/ending-windows-tradition/#comment-2241 Oh man, you've got like over 20 "Start" in your post haha, it's getting annoying :p Oh man, you’ve got like over 20 “Start” in your post haha, it’s getting annoying :p

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