In reply to a post by RobertoS:

I assume that those programs act similarly to Internet Explorer. As I said earlier, there are two options- the normal one being what I use with its shortcut in the taskbar as usual. Along with Command Prompt; Thunderbird; Word (Metro version ); WordPad; Resource/Performance monitor and Firefox.

I don't think I've tried to install normal Word.

Most of the things I use are "conventional" Windows Programs, which cause no bother.

I have downloaded a game, which had to be a Metro-Apps, & I hate the problems it causes. I've looked at some of the available (i.e. those supplied with Win8) Metro-Apps & they give the same problems - hence I avoid them as being "too-much-like-hard-work"!

Certainly Win8 does appear to be faster (both in start-up & running) but the "Change-for-Change-sake" does not impress me & slows me down!

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

The one thing you do need to do is set the desktop mode to use the desktop version of IE, if that's what you use. If you aren't careful the intuitive "Quick start" button in the taskbar goes to the messy Metro version.

And do similar things for file associations. Last version I used switched to Metro for picture viewing which was ugly.

Windowed metro?

so it sounds like maybe instead of making the desktop a secondary feature alongside metro its going to be the other way round? If so this could possibly save their desktop market. As windows 8 was a disaster in my book.

The worrying thing now tho is the rapid releases, personally I dont think 1 year development time and major releases every 2 or so years is a good thing. The fact microsoft like a child tantrum cutoff various windows 7 web pages redirecting them to marketing windows 8 and stopped making service packs so short into it's life still has me deciding if I will buy another windows operating system again. Windows 8 owners the same will happen to you guys when windows 9 is released, microsoft will pretend windows 8 didnt exist, redirecting windows 8 pages to windows 9 and so on.

Sadly I think they will just try and fix the cosmetic stuff, the removal of the windows backup tool, dumbing down of the desktop etc. I think will all still be problems in windows 9, they will probably just make a windows 8.2 which has desktop as the focus again and market it as windows 9.

its not simply about it been different, its about it been harder to use with a mouse or touchpad. Most tasks in windows 8 require more mouse movements and clicks. Its simply less efficient. I dont care how pretty the start screen is, I care how efficent it is. Not to mention tools like task manager are dumbed down and not so useful as older variants.

In reply to a post by Chrysalis:

Windowed metro?

Well, ModernMix has been doing that for a while now - thanks Brad

he is in a world of his own

I have never heard of one single business who considers a UI change as a good thing. At the very least a certiantly employees would be disrupted temporarily whilst adapting.

I don't think you understand the reasons behind Win 8 tbh.

people are reistant for good reason.

Some people in the tech field, especially journalists tend to consider change as innovating, progression etc.

However the truth is change is often just a developer trying to justify his/her job. If they change nothing then they no longer have a job. I think interfaces for mouse control have peaked, and new software is regressing not improving in that regard, but changes happen as developers need to show they doing something and software companies need to say "look we changed this" so people will get excited and buy the software.

What apple showed with the iphone is that hype and novelty sells products.

also touch screen products seem to attract people who have never got on too well with pc's. My dad eg. although he owns a pc has never got used to using a mouse well, yet he loves swiping and so on with touch screens. Touch screens UI's have a lower technical entry level so more people can use such devices. This in turn increases potential market size.

Personally I think windows has had its peak, windows 9 might be an improvement over windows 8 but I would be surprised if its as good as XP and windows 7.

In reply to a post by Chrysalis:

Not to mention tools like task manager are dumbed down and not so useful as older variants.

You can get most of it in the Performance and Resource monitor that has a link to. In a way, better, as the analyses are grouped instead of being a long line across the page that you have to select in the View option.

You don't get the single all-embracing line, I agree, but processes not using the facility you are examining don't appear. Which is good.

One measure of the goodness of an operating system is how well it runs apps. In fact, to me this is the best measure. I've seen nothing to suggest Windows 8 runs apps any worse than Win 7. I've seen many indications that it runs apps better than Win 7. I expect this to continue with Win 9.