have his father take a run at Windows 8. It’s an interesting video because it gives us a glimpse into the impression that Windows 8 makes on the slightly older generation. Sean describes it this way:
I consider my father pretty representative of middle-class Americans older than 50 who don’t pay attention to what the tech press cares or says. He uses his desktop computer for e-mail, watching videos, and general web browsing. As much as I have prodded him to upgrade to Windows 7, he has stayed with Windows XP. He’s almost always been averse to change, and based on the conversation below, he doesn’t seem that thrilled with Windows 8.The video is a little long but very instructive. Toward the end of the video Mr. Ludwig gives his very candid opinion about Windows 8 including the fact that he feels younger people would have an easier time with the new Operating System. You can see it below… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSPHZzOzv-Q]]>
This is the least offensive video of “My dad’s reaction to Windows 8” I have seen.
The concern I have with these “Here dad, poof, here is Windows 8.. annnnndd go!” videos is this is NOT how we learn something new. Yes, Windows 8 is new.
If the son had said “dad, here is Windows 8. The changes are x, y, z. Here is how you do a, b, c” that would be more realistic.
If a dad sits his son in the front seat of a new car and says “here son, here is a new car. Try driving it… poof… annnnnnd go!” that would be silly. No, you would explain to your son how the new car works; what changes there are from the previous car; etc.
Windows 8 will have a (IMO simple/quick) learning curve of the new changes.
For example: Dad, to get back to start, simply x, y, z. Easy, huh?
Just my opinion.
i’m pretty sure that if somebody would have shown him some basics he would love w8 because he (and so many other people around the world like him) want to get what he wants and nothing else. that means this minimalism from microsoft is exactly the thing what is made for persons like him. nothing distracts. there are just the things one needs.
but for sure he has to learn how to use it (e.g.: just the things with the corners); i am sure that this little learning won’t take much time because it really is what microsoft calls intuitive.
windows didn’t change that much since more than 15 years, so i think that is not so often like he said 😀 … but for sure everybody has to decide for oneselve wheter he likes w8 or not. but i think microsoft is going the right way with w8.
Interesting. My parents start programs through shortcuts on desktop – it’s about just six icons (computer, web browser, accouting software, word, excel, outlook). They don’t need start menu (they just know they can find a shut down button there). That’s all they need. With W8 I think nothing would change for them. They just would have to learn where to find shut down button.
They wouldn’t have to use metro at all.
If i wanted them to use metro, I would find metro equivalents of these six programs (metro file explorer (which will be plenty to choose in store), metro web browser (IE), accouting soft. (the only non metro exception – they would use the desktop version, which they are used to), metro word, metro excel, metro mail app).
They would just click icons not in desktop, but in metro, so it would be almost the same.
Only thing they would have to learn would be how to close an app, how to go to start, how to switch between apps, and how to do things like saving mail attachement to file explorer.
These I would show them once and I think they would remember it.
So they would use either desktop only or metro only.
If they couldn’t get used to metro they could use just desktop (nothing would change for them).