Ed Bott thinks that the changes in Windows 7 (he's reviewing the beta) are worthwhile, but notes that people moving directly from XP will have to relearn a bunch of stuff:

Yes, there's a learning curve. And if you insist on using those techniques you learned back in the last millennium with software that was designed differently, you will be frustrated. But I believe that an open-minded XP user who actually takes a few minutes to learn how the new UI works will be more productive very quickly. The secret is breaking old habits and developing new ones.

I understand the problem - every time we make a change to the system browser or the inspectors in Cincom Smalltalk, long time users complain - even when the changes are pretty clearly an improvement. People get used to what they use, and change is hard. For Microsoft, you have to multiply that by a huge number (the installed base of XP) - and then factor in the opposition PR that will paint change as a problem.

I think Microsoft's biggest challenge with Windows 7 will be taking control of the usability meme. Apple grabbed that for Vista, and MS never got it back. They can't let that happen to them again.

Now Listening to: Hideaway by Ivy from: Long Distance

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