Why are people defending Windows 8?

Question

I bought a new laptop a few months ago with Windows 8 installed. At first, I was optimistic because I heard some good things. But when I turned it on, after the initial setup, I realized there was a large advertisement slapped onto my computer screen, I struggled for about 20 mins until realizing that it wasn't an just any advertisement it was the new "metro." Why on earth would I want an over-sized advertisement of Microsoft products on my screen at all? Windows 8 so far seems like Windows 7 with an advertisement screen that they try to force you to use. Couldn't we just have Windows 8 without a navigable ad slapped on the screen?

    Windows 8 is probably wonderful with a smartphone/tablet, but less useful when trying to get real work done. The first time I opened a pdf or picture, before finding better programs to view them with, I get smacked in the face with it, Windows decided that to view pictures or pdfs you need the entire screen to be taken up in a easy-for-touch mode. I guess most people don't need to have multiple windows showing or an ability to access the rest of the computer while viewing, no one edits pictures or does anything remotely useful with pdfs. So I guess that software on a laptop is just fine...

     I've had many other issues relating to app problems and connectivity, but I believe most of those will be fixed soon since it is a new OS. My beef is with the overall design being for a tablet/smartphone not a laptop/desktop.

     And for those who say go back to windows 7:
    I've been really thinking about it, but I'm still hoping they get the bugs and "metro" out. Also I have used the replacement start menu and it stopped working after the recent patch.....(If you have any stable working ones please let me know)

So, My question is how can people defend this deformed abomination of an desktop OS?

I've heard a lot of talk about how it's a good OS because of improvements related to batterylife and  yatta yatta, but never a real reason why the metro and new design are any kind of real use.

? · Accepted Answer

The start screen is an improvement over the start menu. It runs full screen so there's plenty of room to pin all your favorite programs, apps, contacts, web sites, whatever. I don't have to ration the start screen to just my most important programs. For example, I've got 36 items on my start screen. The tiles are nice and large so they're easy to hit no matter if you're using a mouse, touchpad, or a fat finger. 

The apps can take advantage of the live tile feature that turns their tiles into notification areas. So you don't have to open your e-mail program to check for messages. Just switch to the start screen and look at the Mail tile. Want to see the current temperature? Switch to the start screen and glance at the Weather tile. None of the tiles run advertisements though some apps do show advertisements when you run them.

You're free to change the default programs at any time. Would you rather use Adobe Reader to view PDFs? Go to the start screen, type default programs, click the Default Programs tile. Click the set your default programs link. You'll see a list of all the programs on your PC and can choose which program you want to use by default. Click on Adobe Reader then click the set this program by default button. Now all your PDFs will open with Reader.

I'm not a fan of many of the apps so I changed my defaults so media files open in Windows Media Player, Reader opens PDFs, and Photo Gallery from Windows Essentials for pictures. You can also add or remote any tiles from the start screen and rearrange them in whatever order you like. So as you pointed out, no one is being forced to use the start screen apps. They're just the built in defaults. Take'em or leave'em, they're not really worth complaining about since the default programs usually suck anyway.

I do most of my work on the desktop. The start screen is fine for launching desktop programs and searching for stuff I haven't pinned. 

If you haven't used the start search then I suggest giving it a try. While on the start screen type whatever it is you're looking for. The start screen will switch to search mode and search as you type. Just type the name of a program, setting, or file and it'll bring it to you so you don't have to wade though a list of all programs, or dig though the Control Panel for a setting, or drill down folder hierarchies. Though you can still do all those things if you really want. If the first item on the list then all you have to do is press Enter to run it. Most of the time I don't even have to move my finger from the keyboard. Unlike the old start search it runs full screen so there's a ton of room for results.

Speaking of the keyboard, I use it a lot and for more than just entering text. There are a ton of useful commands available from the keyboard so I don't have to remember where any particular program hid its print command or open file dialog. I hit Ctrl + P to print or Ctrl + O to open a file. I find it's much faster than navigating menus. I hit the Windows logo key (Win) to move from the desktop to the start screen. Win + D (show desktop) puts me back on the desktop again from any start screen app or other full screen program.

These shortcuts have been around for years so I didn't have to relearn much about getting around in Windows 8. Alt + Tab to switch between programs, Alt + F4 to close a program, everyone should know how to cut, copy and paste. No matter how the interface changes these shortcuts have only gotten better. Win + X in Windows 8 brings up an admin menu will all the tools you could want. I like it.

Anywho, I like Windows 8 but it really hasn't changed how I've used Windows for the past 5 years. I pin all my favorites to the taskbar, start screen, start menu, whatever, use search for everything else, and use a ton of keyboard shortcuts so I don't have to click all over the place. It works for me.

- Dominic

? · Answer

When I installed Windows 8 it wasn't for the metro/modern UI it was because of the performance enhancements. There have been a lot of things re-written "under the hood" not just visually. I did have a few teething problems at first but being pretty tech savvy I managed to sort them out and have been very happy since. The PC does feel faster under Windows 8 than it was running under Windows 7. You have to expect these problems with any new OS. 

I do agree that for most people the modern UI is pretty redundant and I wish they had made a touch screen and desktop version. Also the usability aspect of it really does suck for new and experienced users alike. While I can see a lot of users being frustrated I think it's unfair to call it an abomination of an OS. Change can sometimes be painful but not always terrible.

Classicshell still works for the start menu, and is free so you can download and use that. Otherwise you can install "Start-is-back" only a few bucks and probably the most realistic of start menu re-creations:

http://startisback.com/#home-tab

http://www.classicshell.net/

-cheers

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Why are people defending Windows 8?

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