Desktop in Windows RT - why the hate?

Posted by mrxlqt on September 2, 2012 12:54 pm 30

I apologize for making another post about desktop in windows RT. It has been a hotly debated topic recently, and I can't help but join in. After reading numerous comments supporting each side (desktop should be there and desktop should not be there), I hope to make my post as comprehensive as possible to address all concerns regarding the thing known as the desktop in windows RT.

To start, let me state my side: I believe that desktop in Windows RT should be there.

Now, to give my reasons why I think the desktop should be there in Windows RT:

1) There are functionality in desktop that are NOT present in metro. These include:

  • 2 or more windows/apps opened at the same time
  • windows explorer + drag n drop
  • aero snapping (50-50 split)
  • more than 1 instance of an app running (i.e. 2 word documents opened)

2) The desktop is needed to run Office 2013 apps, as well as the windows explorer and control panel and

other things.

Now, onto the arguments people gave as to why desktop is NOT needed:

1) Desktop is not meant for touch

So what? You can always use a keyboard and mouse in desktop. That's what it's optimized for anyway.

2) Desktop is only there for office, explorer and control panel. Why not just have metro versions of those?

It's hard to port all of those to metro. Plus, making them metro means they would have a redesigned UI, losing familiarity. Remember, these are apps that are familiar to windows so changing their UI will affect many people. Also, MS just couldn't port them in time. Until all are ported to metro, including desktop features I listed above, then desktop is needed.

3) Why put the crappy non-touch friendly desktop there in the first place if their metro counterparts are not ready? Wouldn't it be better to not put desktop at all?

No. MS is marketing Windows RT as a work+play device. That means, Office RT and Windows explorer etc. Have to be there. Without Office (and desktop) it would be another iPad competitor with nothing to differentiate it. Since metro Office is not yet ready, then the next best thing is to add desktop for office (and explorer).

4) It's impossible to avoid desktop in Windows RT. It would've been fine if we could ignore it 100%.

This is the only acceptable complaint. However, it seems exaggerated. Why would you go to the desktop anyway?

  • Office apps - you would most likely use a keyboard and mouse. MS never told you to write an essay using your fingers only. Putting a touch-mode is just to lessen the whiners. At the end of the day, it was still built for keyboard and mouse. So in this case, desktop is not horrible because you have kbm.
  • Control Panel - There are very few settings in the control panel that an average person would want to change. Furthermore, I assume you wouldn't be going to the control panel everyday. It's most likely some one-time setup or occasional setting changes. I know it still sucks, but at least it's minimal.
  • File management - Again, average people don't care about this. And if you're going to manage your files, you wouldn't do it while standing in a train, now would you? You will probably be in "work mode" when you manage files, and thus most likely have a kbm plugged in. Again, it is indeed an annoyance, but very minimal and won't affect average users.

In the end, the time you spend on a desktop is minimal (if at all). Fine, give it a small minus points for throwing you in there when you go to control panel. But don't make it seem like people would be thrown there repeatedly and get stuck there.

For those that think the desktop should not be there for the sole reason that it is not touch-friendly (even though it's useful), try to think for a moment. Apple has just given you a mindset that a tablet should be a touch-only device. It doesn't have to be that way. Attach a kbm and use it as it was intended to be used.

Finally, I suspect average users will only see the desktop when they use office apps. Control panel? Even average windows desktop/laptop users don't go there. Same goes for file management, especially for Metro apps.

So to go the title of the post - why the hate? Because you get thrown there for the RARE time you open control panel or windows explorer? Or because you get thrown there when you open an office app and use it with a keyboard and mouse?