Microsoft Really Doesn't Know How to Design a User Interface

Microsoft has been working on Windows 8 for a while now. So far, it looks like it may feature some radical design changes, and may be come more usable for tablets. But, other than that, it appears to be unappealing in every way. 

Take, for example, the reworked design for the Explorer (that's the program that lets you view your files) that you can see above. Microsoft thinks that it's more refined, easier to use, and more streamlined. Meanwhile, employees at Apple, Mac users, and many users familiar with user interface design just threw up in their mouths a little. It's not just that the design is ugly, but the fact that it hogs up a huge amount of screen space. That's space that could be used for the content users actually want to see, their files. What's the use of having a 15 inch laptop screen, if Microsoft only lets you use 11 inches?

Unfortunately, and even by Microsoft's own research, it's a horrible waste of space, and an absolutely lousy user interface. As you can see from the photo below, those buttons are rarely used. This picture was compiled from data from Microsoft's own research, proving that band at the top of Microsoft Office programs is not only ugly and obtrusive, but also, entirely useless. 

Is it surprising that Microsoft wants to place that terrible, ugly bar on every Explorer window? They really aren't the masters of good design. Thank you for reminding me why I switched to Mac OS. 

via CultOfMac