Is Windows 7 too user friendly?

This question has been bouncing around my mind for ages, and I finally thought it was time to say it. I think that Windows 7 is too user friendly, the look of it makes me seem that Microsoft dumbed it down for the end user. I use both Windows Vista and Windows 7, and I think they're both great, but Windows Vista's look and feel seems right for me. Plus Vista can do all of the things 7 can do since they are both supported by major hardware/software. What do you think?

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asked Nov 22 '11 at 09:31

DJ Scooby Doo
9.5k●232●279●379

edited Nov 22 '11 at 21:21

Yes, both of these screenshots are mine :)

(Nov 22 '11 at 21:21) DJ Scooby Doo

You have a terribly ordinary Windows 7 desktop even after the fact that you are a geek.

(Nov 23 '11 at 12:30) xedric14

I should've included this, I only use this Windows 7 partition for one thing, and that is to go to TinyChat and broadcast music. I have used Windows 7 as my main system, but always for some reason go back to Vista.

(Nov 23 '11 at 12:42) DJ Scooby Doo

it appears true seeing the app installed in windows 7 compare to vista., you see my friend it's all about familiarity and "home" environment. some people cannot live in a vista system (like me and my other mates) and some can only live in windows XP. worse of all some can only live in Windows / Mac machines.

it doesn't matter really, because like what I am telling you What is good for one person is not the concern of Microsoft, they won't earn from that. but what concerns most of their client will always be their priority. it's business after all.

so even if a much better technology platform whatever exist, they won't use it, not until Most people will buy it (at least according to what they think)

(Nov 23 '11 at 12:59) xedric14

13 Answers:

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Windows is one of the most user friendly OS but it still requires basic reading skills and a willingness to read.

If you know someone who has ever done tech support for a large company, you will see that most issues are due to people not interested in reading, or expecting that when any little message box or anything else comes up that a giant button that knows exactly what they want and fills the screen so that it is all there is to click on.

Unless a computer is made that can work simply by reading your mind, an OS will never become user friendly enough for most people.

answered Nov 22 '11 at 15:09

Razor512
15.6k●34●80●242

edited Nov 22 '11 at 15:10

I do Tech Support around the tri-state and they all use Windows. An OS user-friendly enough I think is iOS, it's closed and it's really simple to use.

(Nov 22 '11 at 21:24) DJ Scooby Doo

Basically by your philosophy you are saying that Vista is better than 7? LOL WUT!?!?!? o.O

Had to get the troll out of me really quickly. Anyways, you can customize Windows 7 to look like Vista if you so please. Like Chris said, 7 is a service pack for Vista, and a good one!!!

answered Nov 22 '11 at 15:33

JordanV
4.1k●62●82●124

edited Nov 22 '11 at 15:41

Link me that video please? Gracias!

(Nov 22 '11 at 21:25) DJ Scooby Doo

Here is Chris' rant against Vista.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-BduFs0xwo&feature=plcp&context=C2ce20UDOEgsToPDskL-2xpcOKM31EvT7IJql0mt

(Nov 30 '11 at 01:00) JordanV

And how would you want 7 to look like Vista? In what way? You can change the taskbar to look like Vista. You can have a System Monitor on your Desktop as well.

(Nov 30 '11 at 01:06) JordanV

I don't really want my Vista to look like 7, in fact, thats what I love about Vista! It's a mix between XP and 7.

(Nov 30 '11 at 16:30) DJ Scooby Doo

i meant in what way would you want 7 to resemble Vista?

(Dec 02 '11 at 01:59) JordanV

To make it look completely like vista.

(Dec 02 '11 at 17:43) DJ Scooby Doo

showing 5 of 6 show all

I'm not sure there's such a thing as "too user-friendly", but maybe something can be user-friendly in the wrong ways. I don't use Windows 7 much but when I do I get the feeling that they took the old Windows and tried really hard to throw in some new user-friendly features. I don't get that feeling as much with Mac OS X Lion. The features added in Lion are ones that really changed and improved my workflow (e.g. Mission Control, fullscreen apps, more touch gestures, etc.). I just feel like Windows 7 is kind of the same old Windows with some convenient UI add-ons. They're nice, but they don't really change the way I operate in most cases. I do love the window snapping feature though. I use BetterTouchTool on my Mac that enables that feature.

But that's just my 2 cents, I could be wrong. Again, I don't use Windows 7 on a daily basis.

answered Nov 22 '11 at 15:50

sfrancis928
2.6k●33●44●79

edited Nov 22 '11 at 15:54

Agreed, best comment I seen out of the bunch.

(Nov 22 '11 at 21:27) DJ Scooby Doo

Well in today's society, apparently dumbing things down without saying "You click this to do this." is what people want, so I don't think they made it too user friendly. Honestly, they could do even more for that.

answered Nov 22 '11 at 13:59

HerpDerp
2.1k●15●21●48

Well what about the people who love to tweak settings? I mean do we really need a big button on the taskbar?

(Nov 22 '11 at 21:22) DJ Scooby Doo

a businessman wouldn't care for that small number of people you know. they'd care for what the majority wanted. if the majority are pleased, then the bank accounts of these businessman will be pleased too. :))

(Nov 23 '11 at 12:34) xedric14

But sometimes you really don't need simplicity. I agree, some people have their own tastes, and my taste is I want to dig around, get down and dirty with hard customization, but that's just me.

(Nov 23 '11 at 12:48) DJ Scooby Doo

yep its just you. and they won't earn billions from you. hahah reality bites man.

(Nov 23 '11 at 13:01) xedric14

yes it is. and for one good reason: Marketing a.k.a more consumers and to target those consumers who never knew technical know-hows with computers. would that technique earn them money? - Billions of 'em.

answered Nov 23 '11 at 12:32

xedric14
941●71●77●90

The taskbar, for me, looks like Microsoft is taking a page from Apple's dock.

(Nov 23 '11 at 12:49) DJ Scooby Doo

it's never a patented idea and will only remain to be an "Opinion" unless there is legal proof of microsoft being a "copy-cat"

the OS isn't all the asset of MS. it's also their number of clients and marketing strategy. Like your Bath soap. its fragrance, effectivity etc. isn't all that's in concern, it's also the advertising, popularity, etc etc that makes it a product that's famous to all.

(Nov 23 '11 at 13:04) xedric14

Waiiiiit, did you just say that Windows isn't an asset to Microsoft? Then what is keeping MS afloat? Windows Phone?

(Nov 25 '11 at 23:06) DJ Scooby Doo

@DJ scooby Doo I agree, it's like someone saying iPhone is not an asset to apple

(Nov 25 '11 at 23:10) timonline

you got me wrong dude. the OS is an asset, it's their main "Menu" (analogy of a restaurant) but what makes that "restaurant" popular isn't just the food they offer. There are a lot of other factors such as advertising, etc.

that being said, Microsoft is a Giant in the business because they were "first" to popularize the product and people are used-to using them.

(Nov 26 '11 at 03:37) xedric14

Ok, I agree with you there, but still, Microsoft just started advertising with Windows 7, and Apple has been advertising for years. What makes Microsoft famous is the bread and butter, Microsoft Windows.

(Nov 26 '11 at 14:17) DJ Scooby Doo

showing 5 of 6 show all

1	All windows versions are as easy to use as each other in my opinion, maybe Windows XP/2000 was easier than Vista/7. answered Dec 03 '11 at 09:41 Louis Jenvey 591●6●9●19

1	They are similar enough for me to look past the small differences. However, is Windows 8 too user friendly would be a much greater question. answered Dec 04 '11 at 14:16 KylePolansky 2.0k●4●8●39

You still use Windows Vista as your main OS? Just wondering, I also like Vista, always have.

answered May 18 '12 at 18:30

BlastGangg
31●5●6●10

Nah, I bounce around between XP/Vista/7/8 on this trusty Dell Latitude D620. I like Vista sure, but if only Vista has stereo mix drivers for my Dell out of the box, I'd sure use it as my primary.

All of the computers in my home are now on 7, except my laptop, it's on 8 (Consumer Preview).

(May 18 '12 at 18:33) DJ Scooby Doo

I'm not sure I really understand why you would think that Win7 is "too dumbed down" if it does everything you want it to?

Isn't that the point of Microsoft products? To make things super-simple so the "average user" doesn't get confused?

answered May 18 '12 at 19:15

AlanStryder
2.0k●8●20●42

My point is that 7 looks really simple to use, and yeah I see your point, but when it's too easy it makes me feel... not useful.

(May 18 '12 at 19:22) DJ Scooby Doo

You know it's strange but I actually find Windows Vista and Win7 more difficult to use than XP and XP more difficult to use than Win2000. Perhaps it's what I got used to in the more classic versions of Windows. Win2000 was NT emulating 95 and 98 functionality.

I just found that in the later MS releases it took more steps to get to what I wanted than in previous versions, and for me that made finding things more difficult. At least in XP I was able to choose "Classic Mode" for most things, but that option disappeared with Vista.

(May 18 '12 at 23:46) AlanStryder

I agree, Windows is moving away from that classic mode we all love and enjoy. I mean I'd do classic mode on everything I have but I like Aero so much, like aero snap and aero peek, I can't take it away.

(May 19 '12 at 00:21) DJ Scooby Doo

No it's not. I work with people on a daily basis that still don't know how to maximize a screen! I agree with you on customizing so maybe that's where the other versions of 7 come in, Pro, Ultimate?

Since Windows is a consumer OS maybe your needs will be best met by an OS designed by the community for the community. Ubuntu :)

answered May 19 '12 at 00:43

IamTechCrazy
4.6k●73●98●144

Well yeah, I like Windows sure, not going to fully switch to a different OS just because of one OS, I will try Ubuntu again, but for right now all of my programs (I think) are Windows only.

(May 19 '12 at 08:18) DJ Scooby Doo

I can't let this one go. I'm sorry but I have to disagree with your reference to Ubuntu as a distro for the community by the community. That is what Ubuntu used to be, like 2+ years ago, but it is no longer. Ubuntu is Canonical giving its users an OS that they may like, but to hell with those that do not want a paradigm change!

I'll admit that this is a bit of a personal rant but if you really want an OS is that is user-friendly and developed by people that listen to its community, to give a product that they actually want, go to Linux Mint. They have developed their own DE (Cinnamon), as their users were not satisfied with either Gnome 3 or Unity. And that is no small achievement. Yes Cinnamon is only a shell but Mint is much smaller than Canonical and have created something that is so much better for the desktop than Unity (also a shell) will ever be.

sorry

/rant

(May 20 '12 at 00:36) AlanStryder

Cool. I'll check it out today. Good looking out @AlanStryder.

(May 21 '12 at 08:14) DJ Scooby Doo

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