Reader Responses:

For the record I don’t hate Windows 8

I really love what’s underneath Windows 8 with the WinRT services, their async approach and simplification of the overall roadmap of functionality is really quite exciting and even a bit of genius..

With the User Interface, I just want to see Microsoft catapult above the competition. I still believe that they can do this (after all this is only and Developer preview release).. Things in the past have made some radical changes from preview to beta in the past..

Why am I complaining ?? Why don’t I just shut-up and give it a chance ? Honestly Microsoft is in first place on the desktop with market share. I don’t want to see this just because Microsoft is changing the accommodations for touch on phones tablets and all-in-ones.. There are a lot of benefits to be had, but they can exist without nullifying or pissing off the old desktop units that are always going to be legacy keyboard and mouse devices.

Why ?

As of August 2011, Windows has approximately 82.58% of the market share of the client operating systems according to Usage share of operating systems

Don’t mess with happy users, and give them a reason to feel safe upgrading (unlike they did with Vista, Microsoft can’t afford this)..

We don’t have to sacrifice function for form. There can be a happy compromise, but honestly will people doing office in an administrative office ever be using METRO even as companion apps ?

Why Am I advocating, it’s not my company or my product..
I love the Windows platform, it’s sometimes like a marriage where you aren’t happy but you work through things.. I just want things to be better and happier for all concerned.. I am passionate about people having great experiences with it..

Dissent on Experience
It’s very important to have an independent voice in everything we do. I fully admit that I do not have all of the answers. I think giving voice to things we think need change helps us to grow. It’s not constructive when it’s shut down or becomes unbalanced. The Microsoft I know is full of passionate people who will argue the merits on anything but also know how to chose their battles wisely.. You know what they also listen and see when you are trying to help them make a better product. So why do I advocate like I do for users and enterprise ? It benefits you (the user) and it also benefits Microsoft with a  win-win product.  I read some of Jobs autobiography and what tactics he would use to silence critics. Microsoft with Windows doesn’t do this. This is why they end up winning as much as they do. They listen to customers.. We are all very lucky as Windows users that they do this. Otherwise we’d live in a world of closed- off options..

-Don