Windows 10 and the Casual User

Windows 10 Needs a Casual User Interface

Individuals that do not use Windows 10 on a regular basis are now challenged to find the icons for the most basic tasks. I had the opportunity to provide “Training” on Windows 10 to a number of casual users this past week. During the training, the following was revealed.

1. The “Windows Logo” in the lower left corner is NOT referred to as the “Windows Logo”. From my experience, this is now merely referred to as “lower left”. When Microsoft removed the “Start” button from the lower left, they have now made it very difficult to provide remote support to people that are not familiar with the Windows Logo. I now need to remember that the “Windows Logo” is merely “Lower Left” when working remotely with individuals that do not use Windows 10 on a regular basis. Suggestion to Microsoft: Provide the ability to rename the Windows Logo to “Start” or something that makes sense to the casual Windows 10 user.
2. Instructing the user to “Restart” or “Shut down” the Windows 10 computer is now challenged for the casual user as well. This has been complicated by the Windows Logo issue. When I am on the phone providing remote support, it is difficult to tell the casual user to click on the “Lower Left” and then describe the “Circle With A Line” in it for the power button. A casual user can’t remember these items on a regular basis. Suggestion to Microsoft: Provide a separate “Power Button” that can be found on the task bar.
3. Training the casual user on the use of the Microsoft Applications is further complicated by the “Tile” naming scheme and hidden scroll bar off of the “Windows Logo”. The casual user does not understand that there is a hidden “elevator” button that appears off of the Windows Logo. The casual user can’t hover on the correct X/Y position between the Menu and the Tiles to find the elevator button. Sugestion to Microsoft: Enhance the color scheme for the elevator button.
4. Invoking Microsoft Word in Windows 10 is an exacerbated problem with the Windows Logo and lack of elevator buttons. Unless a “Regular” user moves the icon off of the “Windows Logo” menu, it is very difficult for the user to find Microsoft Word. Suggestion to Microsoft: Provide an option that returns the Windows 7 interface to Windows 10 for the casual user
5. Prior to using Windows 10, the logon screen that shows the time, does not provide any instruction for the user to “press a key” to be prompted for a password. Suggestion to Microsoft: Provide the ability to customize the logon screen to give the user instructions on what they should do.

Microsoft has an incredibly difficult job to create a user interface that can work for the casual user to the professional user. Casual users are dependent on Microsoft Windows 10 to perform their job function which can occur infrequently and therefore makes it difficult to remember where to click. Providing some customization options would create a quicker support model for the casual user.