I dont see my desktop much either, but the entire windows system itself I consider the desktop. So consider eg. is a desktop version of IE and a metro version of IE, they 2 different types of code bases.

Fair enough. I use the dock if I've managed to get one app completely hidden behind another, but I'm happier using a desktop.

I never used a Sinclair C5 either...

In reply to a post by billford:

Each to their own.

Exactly, and exactly the opposite attitude of the mobile/touch fanatics.

In reply to a post by billford:

Invented in 1963 at the Stanford Research Institute, and first commercialised by Apple

I think not.

http://www.logitech.com/lang/pdf/logitech_most_impor...

In reply to a post by camieabz:

I think not.

http://www.logitech.com/lang/pdf/logitech_most_impor...

Designed for use with graphics and network workstations

See my reply to Batboy's similar post.

Adding the start button back might be a "u-turn" but its not a major one

The start button was abolished with Vista..... At least Mr Balmar told us it was at the time and hailed this as a great change the removed the inconsistency of the start menu being the place you used to close down the machine. He never explained the inconsistency of a bubble saying 'Start' appearing when you hovered the pointer over it, though.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Taking my iPhone as an example, there's no mouse but a keyboard appears when required.

wow, magic !

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Maybe someone could explain this fervour for a desktop?

Many people think it's a place to store things so they can find them, sadly. By "things" I include folders full of documents, photos, etc.

They learn the folly of this when the desktop gets deleted or corrupted with a user profile.

In reply to a post by AEP:

The only other major consumer OS retailer (Apple) would kill for sales figures like those of Windows 8.

But Apple aren't an OS retailer, they only bundle their OS with high margin hardware.

If we had to buy hardware and then specify an operating system - OS/X, Win7, Win8, Linux etc etc - I feel the market would be somewhat different.

If you want to get in the car now and buy a sub £700 laptop it's going to be Windows 8, isn't it ? Not really a choice, let alone an informed one.