Operating system developers design their programs to offer a simple interface for the end-user. While this principle of simplicity can lead to a number of improvements, it can also encroach on the sense of control granted to the users, specifically power users. While average users are satisfied with a system running free of problems, power users aren’t satisfied until they’ve tweaked the settings and enabled/disabled functionalities to their liking. Aside from simplicity, power users also expect customizability and a sense of control from their operating systems. In the case of the new “Metro Apps” for Windows 8, developers sacrificed control for simplicity. As stated in the article, the decision to suspend apps instead of closing them in Windows 8 “save[s] system resources, but once a user switches back it’s almost instantly there again.” However, by removing the ability to close apps, the developers implicitly assume that users intend to revisit every app they’ve opened in that session. This annoys a number of power users because the system allocates a lifetime of resources to an app that he/she will only open once. In order to restore the lost sense of control, Windows Developers should allow users to manually close apps when they’re finished, or leave them open if they intend to revisit them.
Windows 8 has already shown the potential to surpass its predecessors in performance (see Lifehacker – Windows 8 Speed Tests) and the new touch-friendly interface which incorporates the metro apps secures it a place in the growing tablet market. By finding a good balance between simplicity and control, Microsoft can earn back the trust of users that it lost during the Vista years.
NOTE: It is possible to manually close metro apps in Windows 8. It requires the user to terminate the process (the software equivalent of unplugging a computer). This can be done by pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL, selecting "Task Manager," right-clicking the name of the app you wish to close and choosing "End Task."
This article was written for BYU CS404, for the current events assignment due Sept. 27th.
As much as I'd personally like to have control over my computer as much as possible, I understand that most Windows users don't. Otherwise, they'd have become Linux users.
ReplyDeleteOr, you can close them by right-clicking them in the fast-switcher pane and clicking close ...
ReplyDelete