Leaked Windows 9 screenshots show a work still in progress

Internet Explorer 12 is claimed to feature a new Chrome-like look.

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[xWidget]

While I like the flat UI elements, I think this might be going too far. I can't tell how big any of these buttons are and if I weren't familiar with the general interface it might take me far too long to realize those are even buttons...

 

[TIMMAH!]

Get rid of the damn tiles for the desktop interface! The tiles are annoying and just take up too much screen real estate. Just let me order my program launchers in a top-down list.

 

[Chikahiro]

I'm looking forward to the preview. I'm debating getting a SSD and just doing a complete, total wipe of my computer to go with it...

I love Windows 8, but realize I'm in the minority.

 

[McDeath]

Interesting.

I hope it's polished when they release it. I tolerate Windows 8 at work, but much prefer Windows 7 for my personal devices even though I own an 8 license.

If Windows 9 is nice enough to use, I would upgrade (oh, and I hope the flat design trend dies, too).

 

[Pyros]

Yay start button! It looks like it even has a power button on it.

 

[McDeath]

Chikahiro[/url]":1gu2n95e]I'm looking forward to the preview. I'm debating getting a SSD and just doing a complete, total wipe of my computer to go with it...

I love Windows 8, but realize I'm in the minority.

If you're using a standard hard drive, DO NOT debate getting an SSD. Just get one. Night and day difference-- easily the best advancement in computing in recent years.

 

[Viking ZX]

Egh, that is UGLY! I can understand and enjoy minimalism in certain things, but on most UIs using it these days I find it distastefully bland and horrid to look at. I like the soft curves and smooth look of my current OS, the transparent window bars, and the sharpness to the colors.

This? This looks bad. Minimalism gone wrong. Flat colors that remind me of the DOS days. Sharp edges. All crisp, sterile starkness.

This is minimalism for a desktop. Or this. Or crud, even this.. I know each of these is a far more developed desktop, but even so, there is an aesthetic there that's pleasing.

This build is just not appealing at all.

Edit: Fixed tag.

 

[xWidget]

Viking ZX[/url]":1d6etfby]Egh, that is UGLY! I can understand and enjoy minimalism in certain things, but on most UIs using it these days I find it distastefully bland and horrid to look at. I like the soft curves and smooth look of my current OS, the transparent window bars, and the sharpness to the colors.

This? This looks bad. Minimalism gone wrong. Flat colors that remind me of the DOS days. Sharp edges. All crisp, sterile starkness.

This is minimalism for a desktop. Or this. Or crud, even this.. I know each of these is a far more developed desktop, but even so, there is an aesthetic there that's pleasing.

This build is just not appealing at all.

Edit: Fixed tag.

Those aren't actually functional though, they basically look like screensavers. I like Windows 8 with a couple tweaks (start menu replacement and white text theme mod so you can use black backgrounds.) One of my roommates is in love with OpenBox but I don't think I could stand to use anything that makes you minimize windows to open new ones by right-clicking the desktop. Here's mine for reference if you care.

 

[DOOManiac]

I like the new look. Hell, I even like the way tiles look on the start menu. I hope full blown tablets still get a start screen though - it really is better for those devices.

I just hope that when you are using the keyboard, the Shut Down button is easy to use. It's ridiculous w/ Windows 8.1, and that's what is keeping me from upgrading to Windows 7. (I love me my Win, left, enter)

 

[coachmark2]

xWidget[/url]":30l65fi3]

Viking ZX[/url]":30l65fi3]Egh, that is UGLY! I can understand and enjoy minimalism in certain things, but on most UIs using it these days I find it distastefully bland and horrid to look at. I like the soft curves and smooth look of my current OS, the transparent window bars, and the sharpness to the colors.

This? This looks bad. Minimalism gone wrong. Flat colors that remind me of the DOS days. Sharp edges. All crisp, sterile starkness.

This is minimalism for a desktop. Or this. Or crud, even this.. I know each of these is a far more developed desktop, but even so, there is an aesthetic there that's pleasing.

This build is just not appealing at all.

Edit: Fixed tag.

Those aren't actually functional though, they basically look like screensavers. I like Windows 8 with a couple tweaks (start menu replacement and white text theme mod so you can use black backgrounds.) One of my roommates is in love with OpenBox but I don't think I could stand to use anything that makes you minimize windows to open new ones by right-clicking the desktop. Here's mine for reference if you care.

Would you mind sharing which particular mod you used to do white text on black background? I would really like to change mine to that and I'm quite surprised that the option to do so isn't included by default

 

[Tom Brokaw]

DOOManiac[/url]":2tv6dvau]I like the new look. Hell, I even like the way tiles look on the start menu. I hope full blown tablets still get a start screen though - it really is better for those devices.

I just hope that when you are using the keyboard, the Shut Down button is easy to use. It's ridiculous w/ Windows 8.1, and that's what is keeping me from upgrading to Windows 7. (I love me my Win, left, enter)

Assuming you mean the other left, I'm right there with you on keyboard shutdown.

I hate the flat look though. I love Win7's Aero interface - shiny and transparent.

I think both flat and shiny have their challenges when it comes to the UI; shiny can be distracting and busy whereas flat means buttons may not be recognized. Maybe skinning will be allowed this go 'round.

I am looking forward to the tech preview, though. Picked up a cheap hard drive on Craigslist to install it on to check it out.

 

[Mitlov]

I've given up caring whether they use the 2D Metro-style aesthetic or the 3D Win7-style aesthetic, but dammit, they need to choose one or the other and be done with it. Having a Metro start menu and old-school 3D icons in File Explorer juxtaposed against each other just looks really, really bad.

 

[loombot]

Hopefully they add two or three more Settings/Control Panel areas...

 

[kylector]

Chikahiro[/url]":1qv3epv5]I'm looking forward to the preview. I'm debating getting a SSD and just doing a complete, total wipe of my computer to go with it...

I love Windows 8, but realize I'm in the minority.

I also like Win8. Once 8.1 came out, all my complaints went away. The dashboard is still weird, but it's perfectly functional. I will probably upgrade to 9 shortly after it releases (and day 1 bugs get patched). Looking forward to it.

Don't debate the SSD, just get it. They are the best way to spend money on upgrades, nowadays.

 

[RndNum123]

xWidget[/url]":935ub55a]

Viking ZX[/url]":935ub55a]Egh, that is UGLY! I can understand and enjoy minimalism in certain things, but on most UIs using it these days I find it distastefully bland and horrid to look at. I like the soft curves and smooth look of my current OS, the transparent window bars, and the sharpness to the colors.

This? This looks bad. Minimalism gone wrong. Flat colors that remind me of the DOS days. Sharp edges. All crisp, sterile starkness.

This is minimalism for a desktop. Or this. Or crud, even this.. I know each of these is a far more developed desktop, but even so, there is an aesthetic there that's pleasing.

This build is just not appealing at all.

Edit: Fixed tag.

Those aren't actually functional though, they basically look like screensavers. I like Windows 8 with a couple tweaks (start menu replacement and white text theme mod so you can use black backgrounds.) One of my roommates is in love with OpenBox but I don't think I could stand to use anything that makes you minimize windows to open new ones by right-clicking the desktop. Here's mine for reference if you care.

Sure you picked the right image/link?

 

[sonolumi]

I'm eagerly awaiting the Tech Preview. I trialled Win 8 and 8.1 and whilst the Metro interface and Charm bar were a nuisance on my Desktop, there was also a lot to like.

If Threshold improves upon the best of 8/8.1 and corrals the Metro apps into a window when I need them, then I'm looking at five devices right here ready to make the switch from 7 to 9.

The hopefully lean system requirements mean I can breathe extra life into a pair of old laptops. That's especially good since I was more or less ready to scrap an otherwise decent XP netbook, now sitting idle on the shelf, that had given good service prior to the end of XP support.

 

[xWidget]

coachmark2[/url]":30g6qmie]

xWidget[/url]":30g6qmie]

Viking ZX[/url]":30g6qmie]Egh, that is UGLY! I can understand and enjoy minimalism in certain things, but on most UIs using it these days I find it distastefully bland and horrid to look at. I like the soft curves and smooth look of my current OS, the transparent window bars, and the sharpness to the colors.

This? This looks bad. Minimalism gone wrong. Flat colors that remind me of the DOS days. Sharp edges. All crisp, sterile starkness.

This is minimalism for a desktop. Or this. Or crud, even this.. I know each of these is a far more developed desktop, but even so, there is an aesthetic there that's pleasing.

This build is just not appealing at all.

Edit: Fixed tag.

Those aren't actually functional though, they basically look like screensavers. I like Windows 8 with a couple tweaks (start menu replacement and white text theme mod so you can use black backgrounds.) One of my roommates is in love with OpenBox but I don't think I could stand to use anything that makes you minimize windows to open new ones by right-clicking the desktop. Here's mine for reference if you care.

Would you mind sharing which particular mod you used to do white text on black background? I would really like to change mine to that and I'm quite surprised that the option to do so isn't included by default

You have to patch your Uxtheme and then run a custom theme, in my case the stock one but with white text. Back in Win7 this wasn't an issue because part of Aero was that window titles had a sort of white glow behind them, but now it's just flat black on black with some funny aliasing depending on how your ClearType is set up.

Edit:

RndNum123[/url]":30g6qmie]
Sure you picked the right image/link?

I meant for it to just show how it's actually productive unlike the linked screenshots, sorry if that wasn't clear.

 

[Joriarty]

Why do Microsoft persist with forcing a touch-optimized interface upon keyboard and mouse users?

I do not want a touchscreen for my desktop setup. Ever. Because sitting down with my arms outstretched, prodding at my dual monitors like a zombie, is not my idea of a good user experience.

As long as Microsoft persist with this horrible merger of desktop and touch interfaces, neither party is going to have a good experience. I understand that Surface has its niche, and Metro is a good way to navigate with the Surface. But for the love of all that is holy, please do not force a single pixel of that interface upon users who use a traditional keyboard and mouse.

I'm a Linux / Mac user, but I am scared that some day even Apple and Linux developers will begin to lose their way. (GNOME 3 looks horrible...)

 

[Chikahiro]

McDeath[/url]":369lzzs1]

Chikahiro[/url]":369lzzs1]I'm looking forward to the preview. I'm debating getting a SSD and just doing a complete, total wipe of my computer to go with it...

I love Windows 8, but realize I'm in the minority.

If you're using a standard hard drive, DO NOT debate getting an SSD. Just get one. Night and day difference-- easily the best advancement in computing in recent years.

Just a matter of deciding when to take the dive. I don't want to sidegrade, so it'll be at least $200 for me to beat out my old 230g hdd with a MX100, nevermind something nicer. Think my mobo is SATAII as well.

 

[JPan]

Looks like hell. If they had put all that effort into making Windows7 nicer it would be an awesome operating system. And metro is a cool touchscreen os. But merging them together in a hideous Frankenstein os is just so Microsoft.

 

[Tom Brokaw]

xWidget[/url]"gksqjls]

Viking ZX[/url]"gksqjls]Egh, that is UGLY! I can understand and enjoy minimalism in certain things, but on most UIs using it these days I find it distastefully bland and horrid to look at. I like the soft curves and smooth look of my current OS, the transparent window bars, and the sharpness to the colors.

This? This looks bad. Minimalism gone wrong. Flat colors that remind me of the DOS days. Sharp edges. All crisp, sterile starkness.

This is minimalism for a desktop. Or this. Or crud, even this.. I know each of these is a far more developed desktop, but even so, there is an aesthetic there that's pleasing.

This build is just not appealing at all.

Edit: Fixed tag.

Those aren't actually functional though, they basically look like screensavers. I like Windows 8 with a couple tweaks (start menu replacement and white text theme mod so you can use black backgrounds.) One of my roommates is in love with OpenBox but I don't think I could stand to use anything that makes you minimize windows to open new ones by right-clicking the desktop. Here's mine for reference if you care.

You may have some personal information on the far right there.

Everytime I've tried to go light text on dark background in Windows, there's always some damn thing where the background is either expected to be white or is set to white, so it looks totally crappy or the text is invisible. I'd also be curious as to how you made this work.

 

[althaz]

DOOManiac[/url]":21zhvcpb]I like the new look. Hell, I even like the way tiles look on the start menu. I hope full blown tablets still get a start screen though - it really is better for those devices.

I just hope that when you are using the keyboard, the Shut Down button is easy to use. It's ridiculous w/ Windows 8.1, and that's what is keeping me from upgrading to Windows 7. (I love me my Win, left, enter)

If you are using the keyboard to shut down, why not use Alt-F4?

 

[cadence]

This looks ugly. I really don't know where they are going with their recent desktop looks. It seems like Microsoft has some sort of identity issue. Or a mid-life crisis of some sort. It seems like they are trying too hard to be "hip" or something. The effect is similar to what you feel when your parents trying to act "cool". It's awkward, confusing and uncomfortable.

 

[Jedakiah]

Viking ZX[/url]":2hluoqby]Egh, that is UGLY! I can understand and enjoy minimalism in certain things, but on most UIs using it these days I find it distastefully bland and horrid to look at. I like the soft curves and smooth look of my current OS, the transparent window bars, and the sharpness to the colors.

This? This looks bad. Minimalism gone wrong. Flat colors that remind me of the DOS days. Sharp edges. All crisp, sterile starkness.

This is minimalism for a desktop. Or this. Or crud, even this.. I know each of these is a far more developed desktop, but even so, there is an aesthetic there that's pleasing.

This build is just not appealing at all.

Edit: Fixed tag.

With the possible exception of the first one, none of those are minimalist. And they are all kind of bad UI design. It spreads things around and makes you actually have to search to ensure you are seeing all the functionality. Worse still, an enormous percentage of the population suffers from visual impariments that would make these incredible eye-strains, worsened by the variety of contrasts and colors that screens display.

Minimalism is not about aesthetics. That is the reason why so many people hate it. True minimalism is the notion that you should take away absolutely everything that does not serve a purpose, and then arrange what remains logically and in an appealing manner as possible. The goal is to make things easier to use and more discoverable by removing distractions and placing functionality first. Thus, in minimalist design making things look good is completely secondary to functionality. Arguably, things like removing borders from buttons or any other distinguishing marks of clickable elements is not minimal design, it is not even good design. It is all done on the belief that things will look more appealing.

Though, on occasion even a minimalist design will be focused on beauty. For instance in a screensaver of desktop, part of the function of these might be provide the user with visual beauty. To make something that they interact with often fresh and rewarding.

It looks like you do not necessarily like minimalist design. You might be more of an advocate of aesthetic design.

 

[jdale]

xWidget[/url]":1ehib0ju]While I like the flat UI elements, I think this might be going too far. I can't tell how big any of these buttons are and if I weren't familiar with the general interface it might take me far too long to realize those are even buttons...

There's a general move towards typography as design, and completely uncued text links in place of buttons. I think it's a very bad idea, for the reason you mention. I have overlooked functions on my phone (Windows Phone) exactly because I couldn't tell they were links. In some cases I even tried clicking them but got no response for whatever reason (maybe even fat fingers) which really threw me off.

Having all the text be the same color, same font, and often the same size also removes all the visual cues you use as visual landmarks. Flat, two-color buttons and icons only contribute to this.

In short, I think the war on skeumorphism has gone too far. I don't need fake notepads and leather stitching, but I do want buttons with visible borders. I'd settle for a choice of themes, some of which make the borders visible and some of which do not.

 

[JButler]

Looks good to me. Microsoft, don't worry about loud nitpickers and whiners, just tighten up some loose ends and push it out cheap/free ASAP so everyone can start using it.

Oh, do put a better tutorial video/animation for first time users next time. I think a lot of complaints wouldn't have happened at all or quickly muted by other users if the tutorial was more effective to more people. I think they took the notion of "if you have to explain, you've already lost" too far last time.

 

[Chikahiro]

Oh, and while probably a pipe dream? I wish Microsoft would really explain how to use it. The new stuff, the cool stuff, the stuff that's been in there forever but most people don't use.

I mean, wow, I stopped using the program menu once I could type the name of the app in. That's been in since Vista, and most people seem to keep navigating the maze of expanding menu folders or covering 50% of their desktop in icons

And by most people, I mean "average computer users who are functional illiterates." Windows is capable of a FAR better user experience once the user has a little knowledge under their belts. Same with OSX, really. And Android. And virtually all computing that tends to come in contact with consumers. Its almost a shame all the work that gets done but goes unappreciated by the typical user.

 

[potato44819]

Chikahiro[/url]":2c55y9oo]I'm looking forward to the preview. I'm debating getting a SSD and just doing a complete, total wipe of my computer to go with it...

I love Windows 8, but realize I'm in the minority.

Get the SSD. Your computing velocity will go beyond plaid.

 

[goglen]

TIMMAH![/url]":qp5mrp9t]Get rid of the damn tiles for the desktop interface! The tiles are annoying and just take up too much screen real estate. Just let me order my program launchers in a top-down list.

This! Seriously, at least let people CHOOSE. Microsoft's newer products are wasting more and more real-estate.

Though our company still runs Office 2010, they just upgraded to Lync 2013. The new Lync loses about 30% of its screen to stupid blank areas (think: bezels). The contacts are spread out so far, and when you do 1:1 chat, it now insists on putting the picture next to each message, and the name above it - even though the person you're chatting with is named in the big blank area on the top WITH their picture.

No option to turn off inline pictures! In conference calls, I used to be able to see about 30 participants on the left, now maybe 20.

Staying with Win7 as I like tight, concise O/S areas, not big blank tiles!

 

[Static and Noise]

Personally, I really hope there's a Classic Theme setting, and a Small Icons setting in Windows 9, like in 7 and Vista. Also:

"and while some parts of the operating system do look flat and Metro-esque, others remain lumpy and 3D."

I'll take lumpy and 3d any day over 4 colour screen Metro-style design. Then again, I was born in the early 70s, so the 70s/early 80s flat design with almost no colour has NO appeal to me. It just looks dated by about 35-40 years. It feels a bit like I am looking like a Space Invaders or Missile Command arcade.

 

[RonAFGreve]

This must be the ugliest desktop I've ever seen. The only reasonable looking thing is the recycle bin. Maybe they should drag the rest of the design to it.

 

[Jackass JoeJoe]

Fisher Price color makes it's triumphant return, since they forgot it was done in WinXP.

Flat goes against everything they state to do in UI design for Windows. If Win9 doesn't work like a Desktop OS, I'll skip it just like I did Win8.

 

[Solomonoff's Secret]

Hot damn that's ugly. Windows 9 Fisher Price Edition.

 

[JGoat]

I like metro apps just being windows, that's handy. That start menu looks ridiculous, I hope that's optional and I can keep it similar to win8.1.

 

[mrsilver]

Modern Major General Thanatos[/url]":3pm1hk77]

Chikahiro[/url]":3pm1hk77]I'm looking forward to the preview. I'm debating getting a SSD and just doing a complete, total wipe of my computer to go with it...

I love Windows 8, but realize I'm in the minority.

Get the SSD. Your computing velocity will go beyond plaid.

To be honest it depends on how much he likes backing up everything, reinstalling his operating system, reinstalling and reconfiguring his apps and migrating back his data. Oh and dealing with the 1001 Windows updates and associated reboots that come with them.

If that isn't an issue, buy one now. If it is, wait until the preview and then install a fresh copy on that.

 

[heartburnkid]

I'm not sure I like the look, but at least they're thinking about how to integrate their design language with an actual desktop environment rather than "Hey, let's throw this shitty half-baked tablet interface on top of the desktop because we're afraid of iPads!" That alone is a vast improvement over Windows 8.

 

[RoKphish]

Looks like I'll be staying with Windows 7.

If I wanted to use my cellphone, I'd pick it up and use it.

 

[chbrules]

This reminds me of the "playschool interface" from Win XP. I think it's time to just go to Ubuntu for me. I've been on the edge long enough. I'm not an Apple person, and Windows is great under the hood, but under the hood is not what I deal with day-to-day. I do web dev, gaming, and media. At this point, Windows is dying on all fronts and there is little to hold me back. I've been a linux server admin, and I use centos for all my servers, so what am I waiting for?

 

[LordDaMan]

cadence[/url]":1wkj6p2r]This looks ugly. I really don't know where they are going with their recent desktop looks. It seems like Microsoft has some sort of identity issue. Or a mid-life crisis of some sort. It seems like they are trying too hard to be "hip" or something. The effect is similar to what you feel when your parents trying to act "cool". It's awkward, confusing and uncomfortable.

This is alpha level software. Microsoft doesn't even nail down the look until the later beta versions.