General Discussion

DainBramaged

(39,191 posts) Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:01 PM Jun 2012

Microsoft's decision of removing Aero from Windows 8 is a blunder

Since Windows Vista, Microsoft has tried to make the interface of the Windows operating system look cleaner, crispier, and pleasant to the eyes. This idea gave birth to Aero which received a warm welcome from everyone. Ultimately, it was further developed in Windows 7 and was one the reasons for the huge success of the operating system. But what about Windows 8?

With Windows 8, Microsoft has decided to take off Aero completely and re-introduce the classic experience. And why have they done this? Just to save the battery power of your device? Is it because Aero consumed more power? This reason sounds good for a tablet user who is always on the move and would want his battery to last much longer. But does it make any sense for the desktop or laptop user? No. Certainly not. Since the desktop PC is always connected to a power source, there is no question why they would not want Aero. Laptop users are generally connected to power sources and I don't think having Aero will dramatically reduce your laptop's battery time.

One more thing that is very odd is that Microsoft kept Aero in the Developer Preview (Pre-Beta), Consumer Preview (Beta) and also in the Release Preview (Release Candidate). Generally, Release Candidate is considered as an almost finished product but in this case a major overhaul is yet to come. If Microsoft were planning to remove Aero, they should have done that right from the very first release so that the users could provide their feedback and can get used to it. Now the new interface will appear directly in final version of Windows 8, leaving no option for the user, rather than to accept the big change.

This could possibly be one of the reasons for the failure of Windows 8. I think Microsoft should remove Aero from Windows RT but give the desktop and laptop users an option to enable it or they should enable it by default.

http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsofts-decision-removing-aero-from-windows-8-blunder-editorial

20 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Microsoft's decision of removing Aero from Windows 8 is a blunder (Original Post) DainBramaged Jun 2012 OP

I have a Windows Vista box and do not even know what Aero is. GObamaGO Jun 2012 #1

I have a desktop ablamj Jun 2012 #2

I guess we are both in the dark then! GObamaGO Jun 2012 #3

As easy as ask and you shll receive (the Google is your friend) DainBramaged Jun 2012 #5

Aero is a graphical overlay of Windows. EOTE Jun 2012 #7

I think you have to have one of the Aero themes enabled for this to work. stevenleser Jun 2012 #11

Well, just Aero itself will need to be enabled. EOTE Jun 2012 #13

It's the user interface jeff47 Jun 2012 #9

Aero was the blunder. randome Jun 2012 #4

You are in the minority DainBramaged Jun 2012 #6

You probably like the ribbon, too, don't you? randome Jun 2012 #10

(sigh) I don't care that you don't care so there, bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt DainBramaged Jun 2012 #16

I really wasn't trying to irk you. randome Jun 2012 #18

I've got Windows 7. rgbecker Jun 2012 #8

If you go into control panel, display, personalization and choose an Aero theme, you stevenleser Jun 2012 #12

I'm with you DavidDvorkin Jun 2012 #20

Interesting. I have been using Windows 7 for over a year ...... oldhippie Jun 2012 #14

Same here. Now I know what it is, I can say it annoys me slightly muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #15

Dos, yum, some of the most elegant little games ever made were made from Dos DainBramaged Jun 2012 #17

Because Microsoft is entering the tablet market Taverner Jun 2012 #19

GObamaGO

(665 posts)

1. I have a Windows Vista box and do not even know what Aero is.

Reply to DainBramaged (Original post)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:04 PM

Jun 2012

ablamj

(333 posts)

2. I have a desktop

Reply to GObamaGO (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:30 PM

Jun 2012

with Windows 7. I've never heard of Aero either.

GObamaGO

(665 posts)

3. I guess we are both in the dark then!

Reply to ablamj (Reply #2)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:38 PM

Jun 2012

Welcome to DU!

DainBramaged

(39,191 posts)

5. As easy as ask and you shll receive (the Google is your friend)

Reply to ablamj (Reply #2)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:45 PM

Jun 2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Aero

EOTE

(13,409 posts)

7. Aero is a graphical overlay of Windows.

Reply to GObamaGO (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:46 PM

Jun 2012

If you're familiar with alt-tab switching, you can get a good view of Aero by holding the Windows key and pressing tab to sort through open Windows. It's much cooler looking and somewhat more helpful than just the standard alt-tab switching.

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

11. I think you have to have one of the Aero themes enabled for this to work.

Reply to EOTE (Reply #7)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:51 PM

Jun 2012

Correct me if I am wrong.

EOTE

(13,409 posts)

13. Well, just Aero itself will need to be enabled.

Reply to stevenleser (Reply #11)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 01:04 PM

Jun 2012

And I believe if you enable one of the Aero themes, Aero turns on automatically. Usually if you install a video card that's Aero capable, Aero is turned on by default, regardless of which theme is selected.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

9. It's the user interface

Reply to GObamaGO (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:48 PM

Jun 2012

The buttons, the windows, how they move, how popup boxes are shown, the start menu and it's organization, the task bar and so on.

randome

(34,845 posts)

4. Aero was the blunder.

Reply to DainBramaged (Original post)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:43 PM

Jun 2012

From a usability standpoint, not being able to see what window you have highlighted is unbelievably bad.

DainBramaged

(39,191 posts)

6. You are in the minority

Reply to randome (Reply #4)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:45 PM

Jun 2012

randome

(34,845 posts)

10. You probably like the ribbon, too, don't you?

Reply to DainBramaged (Reply #6)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:51 PM

Jun 2012

And icons littering all your menus? Icons that have no intrinsic meaning whatsoever? Just splashes of color that subtly distract you from your work?

Microsoft has done a lot of damage to usability standards. If they were truly interested in anything but marketing, they would give users easy options to set their environments the way they want. Instead, you have to go through hoops and mirrors to make your personal computing environment...well, personal.

Most users don't have the time or the know-how to change things so they accept the defaults. And Microsoft does not care. I get it, they're a corporation, they don't HAVE to care. But they don't care.

DainBramaged

(39,191 posts)

16. (sigh) I don't care that you don't care so there, bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt

Reply to randome (Reply #10)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 01:13 PM

Jun 2012

randome

(34,845 posts)

18. I really wasn't trying to irk you.

Reply to DainBramaged (Reply #16)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 01:16 PM

Jun 2012

Just had one of my Microsoft Versus Usability rants growing on me.

Don't get me started on the atrocious things they've done to the taskbar!

rgbecker

(4,831 posts)

8. I've got Windows 7.

Reply to randome (Reply #4)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:47 PM

Jun 2012

Could you tell us what the fuck Aero is? Might make this post more interesting.

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

12. If you go into control panel, display, personalization and choose an Aero theme, you

Reply to rgbecker (Reply #8)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 12:59 PM

Jun 2012

will see it for yourself. It is an enhanced graphical overlay for Windows Vista and Windows 7. If you choose one of those themes, hit windows and tab and alt and tab to scroll through the different windows you have open and you will see some of the many changes this adds.

DavidDvorkin

(19,477 posts)

20. I'm with you

Reply to randome (Reply #4)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 01:49 PM

Jun 2012

I hate it.

oldhippie

(3,249 posts)

14. Interesting. I have been using Windows 7 for over a year ......

Reply to DainBramaged (Original post)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 01:07 PM

Jun 2012

.... and never heard of Aero. Now that I have read the wiki link (thanks) i see what it is.

I have to say that I never really noticed those features and wouldn't miss them if they went away. If it saves power and processor time so much the better.

Then again, I was quite happy with DOS 6.0.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,316 posts)

15. Same here. Now I know what it is, I can say it annoys me slightly

Reply to oldhippie (Reply #14)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 01:11 PM

Jun 2012

since it doesn't give such an obvious indication of which window has the keyboard focus.

DainBramaged

(39,191 posts)

17. Dos, yum, some of the most elegant little games ever made were made from Dos

Reply to oldhippie (Reply #14)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 01:15 PM

Jun 2012

the first three Sim City's. the Microprose games ( I was a beta tester) and on and on, now returned via www.gog.com

Taverner

(55,476 posts)

19. Because Microsoft is entering the tablet market

Reply to DainBramaged (Original post)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 01:22 PM

Jun 2012

Simply put

Your laptop, your desktop - MS and Apple are trying to kill these products

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