In previous posts on Microsoft"s official Windows 8 blog site, the company has discussed a number of topics related to the development of its next PC operating system. Those topics included Windows 8"s new Metro user interface, its support for ISO disc images and VHD files and the new "ribbon" UI for its Explorer file system, among others. In the latest post on the blog, Microsoft"s Steven Sinofsky goes in a different direction. This time he writes about how Microsoft is handling feedback from the general public concerning what has been revealed so far about Windows 8.
Sinofsky writes, "We knew talking about Windows 8 would be different than talking about Windows 7. Whereas Windows 7 was about returning to roots, Windows 8 is about maintaining those roots while moving forward in a big and new way. Moving in a new direction always brings engineering challenges as well as challenges in just talking about what we’ve done." The company has already received lots of comments from people about the operating system"s new user interface. Sinofsky writes that discussing the new UI by just looking at static images "misses the point". He adds, "Very much like zooming in too far with a microscope, the big picture is lost. It also surfaces the least actionable sorts of feedback to wade through of the “love it” / “hate it” variety. Even with short videos we have not found the right way to put context around the overall experience. Given enough focus, light, and magnification, anything can become important and the subject of a big debate. We certainly contributed to that."
The types of responses that Sinofsky has received from the public concerning Windows 8 has, as one might expect, varied widely. He says, "I’ve certainly received my share of extremely warm messages telling me to ignore "those trolls and fanboys" and "what you’re saying resonates." Those are nice to read in the face of an equal number of messages telling me how poor a job we’re doing. We also receive a great many very specific questions and suggestions." He concludes this blog post by saying, "I just want to reiterate that we are actively participating. Believe me, this blog is the “talk of the town” here in Redmond. :-) We look forward to the continued exchanges – the good feedback, the critique, and the constructive comments. It helps us deliver to you all a product that meets our stated goal of Windows, reimagined."