Windows 8 Desktop Environment for Linux

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Enthusiasm for Metro / Windows Phone UI

  • Several commenters fondly recall Windows Phone and the Windows 8 “Metro/Modern” design: smooth, fast, consistent, and particularly strong on low‑end hardware.
  • Live tiles, glanceable information, and OS-level features like the Share “charm” are praised as genuinely good ideas, especially on phones and tablets.
  • Some see Metro as a kind of “Bauhaus” moment: flat, typography-driven, minimal chrome, technically and aesthetically disciplined but rejected by the mass market.

Critiques of Windows 8 on Desktops

  • Many remember the Windows 8 desktop as confusing and hostile, especially without touch:
    • Full-screen Start replacing the familiar menu was jarring.
    • Low information density and wasted space on large monitors.
    • Shutdown and system actions were hidden behind awkward gestures.
  • Complaints center on forcing a touch-first interface onto keyboard/mouse setups instead of adapting per input mode.
  • Some say they immediately installed third-party Start menu replacements and then “forgot” they were on Windows 8.

Mobile vs Desktop Paradigms and Touchscreens

  • Strong disagreement over “mobile-izing” desktop UIs: some view it as a major regression, others note GNOME/KDE are finding reasonable compromises.
  • Opinions on touchscreens in laptops diverge:
    • Some users rely heavily on touch/pen for scrolling, focus, zoom and drawing.
    • Others dislike fingerprints, find touch slower than trackpads, or see it as unnecessary for a “portable desktop.”

Why Windows Phone Failed (as Discussed)

  • Blame is split between:
    • Microsoft/Nokia: repeated breaking changes (WinCE → WP7 → WP8 → 8.1 → WM10), abandoned upgrade promises, higher specs for WP8, poor WM10 rollout, devs forced to redo apps repeatedly.
    • Ecosystem pressure: lack of official Google apps (YouTube, Maps, G Suite), carrier disinterest, and awkward retailer relationships.
  • Some argue pre-announcing that WP7 devices wouldn’t upgrade to WP8 poisoned retailer and customer trust.

Reactions to the Linux Win8 DE Project

  • Interest for tablets, phones, or nostalgia; some want similar efforts for Windows 7/95/98-style environments.
  • Skepticism that a hobby Linux DE can match Windows 8’s UX polish; several note visual inconsistencies and “uncanny valley” cloning.
  • Choice of Qt/C++ is both praised (performance, maturity) and criticized (safety compared to Rust/TypeScript).
  • Broader reflection that high-quality UI polish is extremely labor-intensive, and most Linux desktops still struggle with consistent, refined design.