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That's almost my precise 'argument' about tablets. Not that I have an argument against them.
But they're entirely content consumption devices and I think you've hit the nail on the head about these "cell phone writ large" UIs.
I'd like to see the results of someone TRYING to develop an effective IDE in a modern ui style. I sure as hell wouldn't PAY for such a POS though.
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For phones and tablets the Modern UI makes sense. Small real estate, no keyboard, and a low-precision pointing device (your finger) means that detail navigation takes lots of gestures. That encourages apps with low navigation requirements, aka content consumption. The only data entry required is that needed for search.
For the laptop/desktop, I don't think that's the case. Lots of real estate, a keyboard for text entry, and a precision pointing device (mouse/trackball) lend themselves to concise navigation through dense detail and heavy data entry.
The end point is, I think there's room for both approaches. I'm not sure it's necessary to force the Modern UI on the desktop to ensure a commonality that isn't appropriate. I'll wait and see how Windows 8.1 is on my wife's laptop (I'm still running Win7), and see if there are any improvements.mikepwilson wrote: I'd like to see the results of someone TRYING to develop an effective IDE in a modern ui style.
Given some of the bizarre decisions made by the VS2012+ UI team (ALL CAPS menus, fer goshsakes) you may get your wish.
Software Zen: delete this;
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But they're entirely content consumption devices
Perhaps I am being unnecessarily pedantic here, but this really isn't true. They are predominantly content-consumption devices, certainly, but it is entirely possible to create a variety of type of images, edited videos and even music with a tablet, and people are doing this.
That said, the degree of flexibility currently possible with touch interfaces does limit what can be achieved, and I don't really see how that can change significantly. Anyone really serious about creating any of these media will continue to use a traditional desktop for the foreseeable future.
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Maybe voice in conjunction with mouse and touchscreen. Voice will be distracting to others in proximity. Until we get to thought control of an interface...
Larry Hobbyist
modified 28-Oct-13 22:19pm.
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Taking the keyboard away from the user seems to greatly limit the options on how they'll F^&& up the software.
So, it does have its place, after-all. I had originally planned on simply having their thumbs cut off.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Do not underestimate the user 
Anyway, failure points are the responsibility of the developer, never the user's fault.
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You haven't met some of our users...  
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I know users, and "worst" than users are good testers.
And in my current company I met the "worst" ever:
the Good Product Owner that tests and knows what she's doing.
And after all this, still the fault points (at least undocumented and unacceptable ones) in software, are the responsibility of the developers 
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I always thought it would be fun to provide additional user feedback on entering stupid data ( "." in text fields is a user favourite here, even when its not a required field) with a mild electric shock mechanism in a keyboard, but I guess that could be done with either a touchscreen or keyboard.
"If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough."
Alan Kay.
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Until there's a metro app that's more than a web scrape then the UI is still questionable.
Where's the utility or creation apps? The CD/DVD burners, mp3 rippers, photo/movie editors, text editors?
Even with VS2013 the templates are really only variations of the same theme, take some other data and display it.
Same for iOS v OSx, though there its more understandable as Apple have never tried to make iOS do something it cant.
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If the user is Creator / Developer, then the traditional Desktop UI is a must, no alternatives, no excuses.
But if the user is Consumer, then it's OK to bring the dumb-down version of Desktop UI.
In other words, They both have their places.
i.e.
When I am at work, I don't use the Metro side of Windows 8.1 at all.
But when I am at home, I like the clean Metro interface, for surfing, reading emails, watching movies etc.
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This is the right way to put it.
It's not a matter of time to get used to it, it's actually the type of usage that is completely different.
They both have their place and like you said, even by the same person.
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I also need more than 1 application at once at home. So still don't see good use for Metro aside from tablets or phones...
I have a Surface Pro at home for ocasionally watching movies, listening to some music and surfing the web, where I like the Metro Interface. I even like Internet Explorer more than Chrome as far as the Metro Implementation is concerned...
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I haven't used it yet with multiple monitors. How does this work on Windows 8?
Are you able to run different applications in metro on those monitors? Or is it just for Desktop use again? (How about the Taskbar? Does it finally extend to the other monitors?)
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Actually the one I pointed out is using multiple apps on a single screen in a split view.
But I also use Windows 8 on dual 24" monitors. And it works great.
- Yes, I can run different Metro Apps on different monitors.
- Yes, the taskbar extends to the other monitor in a Desktop mode.
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Hm. Looks like they want to introduce Windows 8.1 next year at work.  So it seems I have to get comfortable with the thought
Nice to hear they at least managed to add some useful features.
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I Couldn't have said better... vote up
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Rutvik Dave wrote: If the user is Creator / Developer, then the traditional Desktop UI is a must, no alternatives, no excuses.
Hmmm that's the major user area meant to have Desktop UI.
Rutvik Dave wrote: But if the user is Consumer, then it's OK to bring the dumb-down version of Desktop UI.
Rutvik Dave wrote: When I am at work, I don't use the Metro side of Windows 8.1 at all.
But when I am at home, I like the clean Metro interface, for surfing, reading emails, watching movies etc.
Having both at work and home though I am not yet fully adapted to Metro UI. Still somewhat uncomfortable. 
Believe Yourself™
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Traditional desktop UI, Desktop computer and a mouse is the best combination where as the new UI with touch screens will be the future of Windows.
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Ravimal Bandara wrote: will be the future of Windows.
No company or product that ignored the customers and reality ever had much of a future.
Sent from my BatComputer via HAL 9000 and M5
modified 29-Oct-13 19:22pm.
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Quote: the new UI with touch screens will be the future of Windows.
If so, then the future of Windows itself would be in doubt.
I can see Windows 7 being around for as long as people can persuade MS to support it - or until WIndows 9, 10 or 11 comes along in a few years with a "new" paradigm - which is actually the old desktop idea brought back but with different style borders and colours. I am looking forward to upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 11!
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
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They both have their places and the desktop UI is the PC so option 2 and 3 are sort of the same!
Thankfully I work in an organisation that moves like frozen treacle and will not need to deal with this issue for the next few years!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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