Monday, October 29, 2012

New myth: Windows 8 has a steep learning curve

In an article about the new Windows 8, David Pogue, of the New York Times, (Windows, Revamped and Split in 2) tries to convey the idea that Windows 8 is actually two operating systems into one: Desktop Windows and Windows Tiles (I don't want to repeat here the silly name he made up). "Individually, they are excellent — but you can’t use them individually", argues Pogue, but, yes, you can use both in the same computer, there's nothing 'schizophrenic' about that. And then the already widespread myth that Windows 8 has a steep learning curve:  "The Windows 8 learning curve resembles Mount Everest." Even the average Joe, without even having seen Windows 8 "already knows" that, thanks to the rumor mill fed also by those who you may think know better. For Pogue the perfect situation would have been keeping the two operating systems  separate, leaving the Windows Tiles in a tablet with a touch screen and the Windows 8 traditional desktop on mouse and keyboard PCs, and "the good work Microsoft did on both of these individual operating systems would shine", he concludes. At least Pogue is able to see the good in Windows without the blinders of a Mac user or a Linux user. His "Windows 8 Cheat Sheet" is a good reference for using the new operating system with the mouse and keyboard, and ironically enough, shows that it's not that difficult.

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