Opening doors and Windows

If you keep up with me on various social networking sites, you'll know I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Windows 8. I feel like it has a clunky, schizophrenic UI / UX that makes it nearly impossible for PEOPLE to use. Notice I'm not specifying the "average folk". I mean PEOPLE. Everyone from seasoned computing veterans to computer newbies have a hard time navigating Windows 8.

The majority of this difficulty, I won't lie, comes from the UI and UX choices made by Microsoft. There's a lot that I would have done differently and that fact should not be swept under the rug.

However, accepting the inevitability of a launched OS, a new problem manifests in the form of inadequate instruction. Windows 8, as complicated as it is, CAN BE LEARNED! I managed to get comfortable with it in a few days of playing around with it (or as comfortable as I could possibly get). I had to TEACH MYSELF all of the navigation tricks. The only instruction given was a very vague screen on first boot:

Sorry bro, but that's just not going to cut it. 

Even with Windows 8.1, which did a LOT to fix usability issues that launched with 8.0, still has the same terrible tutorial. This is simply far too vague to be useful, especially to users familiar with the old way things worked. 

Instead, Microsoft should have included a more in depth tutorial, similar to what Ubuntu presents to users during the install procedure. 

The Ubuntu procedure gives a number of very informative screens laying out important OS details while the OS itself installs. 

I propose that Microsoft goes one step further and provides an interactive tutorial during the first boot procedure. As it stands, the user is presented with a very boring screen that says things like "we're getting things set up. Hang tight". I applaud their use of a casual tone, but this is wasted Time and space. It would be a great time to give users the option to learn more about their new OS while they wait. Demonstrate how to use things like the charms bar, the multitasking menu, desktop mode, the people app, and other things users might open often. Even a quick demonstration might ease the transition and stop some of the rage at usability of the new system. 

It's obvious Windows 8 was the result of a lot of usability research on Microsoft's part but they now see that it doesn't always translate to how things will be used in real life. Especially with people who are VERY set in the way things used to be. They need to be eased in to new things. Since the time for easing is long gone, this is a great compromise. 

I think Windows 8.1 has potential that Windows 8 lacked. I think it's a massive step in the right direction and with the inclusion of a few things, it could really shine with people. After all, it's PEOPLE who are their customers, and people very rarely fit a pre-determined mold. They can, however, be taught to adapt.