Why Microsoft Has No Designer Team?

Hi, everybody!

Sorry for this silly question, but when I see the great work of Apple (we will only speak in this thread of the OS), I wonder why Microsoft does not have a team of designer (but maybe there IS one! :woot: ).

I imagine that a developer is not a designer, but bridges exist certainly between them : this forum and this community is the proof.

I know that for Microsoft, being in a sort of monopoly in the OS market, there is no challenge in creating a prettier OS.

Then, SERIOUSLY, I'd like to have your opinion on this fact.

Maybe you have a knowledge of how is the Microsoft organization, the departments, who is doing what, etc. That's interesting me!

Just curious!

Thanks a lot and best regards,

Don.

#39880

They have it, and they spend lots of money in GUI research too. However, they use to focus on other things, not the beauty unfortunately.

#39883

They tried to create a "middle of the road" look that most people can live with. And the truth is that most people dont mind Luna. Many people absolutly HATE Aqua, probobly more people hate Aqua than Luna.

#39884

Precisly.

XP isnt made for the tiny minority that dont like luna. Face it, luna is a practical happy style thats perfect for the business or home user.

Apple spend so much on their gui, if only they spent it on buying decent hardware.

But their os is damn perty

#39885

Originally posted by alilm@Jul 12 2003, 06:00 PM

Face it, luna is a practical happy style thats perfect for the business or home user.

say wha..? Business? Dude, the Luna look is soo Fisher Price. Not at all business like.

#39886

though most of you are so obsessed with aqua, luna is good too, dont say ms doesnt care about gui and all, they did included 3 color schemes of luna, where apple only did 2

#39888

I thought Luna was great until I found this site. But I agree with contrasutra, MS just created a middle of the road look, so that most people would not complain about it. Looking at it now, I think it's awful; but some people are satisfied with it.

#39955

i thought it looked cool the first time 1 used it

until...

#39958

Microsoft is focusing on the features and stability of XP and other OS. Mac focuses major on GUI.

#39959

Luna gets a bad rap in the customizing communites because it's a very simple look. Most average users don't care what the comp looks like. They just want it to perform the simple tasks they ask it to do. As for businesses, the majority that I've been exposed to use the classic theme. What is more ugly than that?!

#39962

First of all, thanks for your answers.

I mostly agree with you, and I think that stabilty is one thing important (remember how many times it was necessary to reboot, the blue screen of death, etc).

But I think that Apple has managed to do an OS that is a bit more simple to use than Windows. In fact, I think that the OS should be more intuitive. The work of Woz should be more studied and young people (like you and me) could work on it with new concepts.

The look and design are what enables to achieve the simple use. Look at Bang & Olufsen stuff: personnally, I think that the design is too cold. But it is rather simple to use.

Cheers,

Don.

#39976

most ppl don't have taste. they don't care how their tools look like. they only want send e-mails, write excel documents, print texts and images.

it's similiar to the interestings in art. most ppl don't care how's contemporary art going - it means most ppl don't care how the quality of life is and where are the human from. most ppl don't think about death and life - they only work, buy, work, buy, work like ants.

#39977

Originally posted by sen@Jul 13 2003, 12:26 PM

most ppl don't have taste. they don't care how their tools look like. they only want send e-mails, write excel documents, print texts and images.

it's similiar to the interestings in art. most ppl don't care how's contemporary art going - it means most ppl don't care how the quality of life is and where are the human from. most ppl don't think about death and life - they only work, buy, work, buy, work like ants.

100%

most people use their computers as a tool, not for entertaintment. Another fact is that we love computers, doesn't we? that's why we like to have good looking computers.

#39986

I think the whole most people are ants thing is condescending and elitist. Some people just have other priorities, tastes, etc. than others.

For example when it comes to art some people would rather focus on "real" art than "virtual" art on a computer. There are people who do outdoor recreational activities that don't place them near computers. Those people could also have been working on computers at work and get burned out on them so when they are not at work they don't want to get near a computer.

Some people are just plain lazy to change\fix anything on their computer and then blame microsoft for it (because it's just so easy to do). These people also blame microsoft if a single application crashes.

Notice how I say some, rather than most, or all.

Anyway, I believe the default artwork in XP was outsourced to other design companies.

#40022

I really love the Luna GUI is one of the best, is a really well done style

I love both Luna and Aqua.

#40044

Originally posted by smoke@Jul 13 2003, 04:23 PM

Anyway, I believe the default artwork in XP was outsourced to other design companies.

You're right. They got these people to do the icons

#40062

The "windows for muppets" look that is luna must have done wonders for intrducing new users to windows. I mean, it made both my sets of grandparents go and get PCs sa they thought it looked easier to use! Inspired!

#40126

I must say, that Luna is the crappiest look i have ever seen! Ok, it was good the 1. time i saw it, but after a couple of days, i would puke just thinking about it! Even the Grey look, which is in win2k, is 100 times better, and that is serious <_<

Luna is the crappiest thing made ever! :rant:

#40153

LUNA works for me,(using silver now), doesn't bother me a bit.

besides when i'm using my pc, i hardly look at the interface.

Not saying that OSX wasn't probably the coolest gui out there.

it's just like using a microwave, after you put the stuff in, do you

hang around and say to yourself, "boy, what lovely buttons on this machine"?,

or, wait for the ping sound to get your burrito?

#40386

Oh man, this burrito doesn't taste right... must be because the buttons on my microwave weren't shiny or round enough. :boob_shake:

#40405