Windows 8 and the winkey

[gizzard]

1.  Windows 8 is awful.. the new UI makes doing anything with the mouse impossible
2.  Its hard to get a new computer without Windows 8 (at least mainstream consumer)
3.  Never thought i would say this, but thank god for the winkey.  All of my mouse commands have been replaced by winkey shortcuts

IT IS THE NEXT COMING OF THE WINKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[daerid]

I would strongly disagree about the mouse comment. I use it quite a bit with Windows 8 and find that it's incredibly useful.

[engicoder]

Maybe one day when Microsoft comes to their senses (fires Ballmer) they will roll an update that allows Windows 8 to be configured to boot straight to desktop and returns the start menu. In desktop mode, Windows 8 has some nice improvements over 7.

[daerid]

I don't understand all this love for the start menu. I've always thought it was a clunky, inefficient paradigm.

[absyrd]

Maybe one day when Microsoft comes to their senses (fires Ballmer) they will roll an update that allows Windows 8 to be configured to boot straight to desktop and returns the start menu. In desktop mode, Windows 8 has some nice improvements over 7.

They really should do this. Many people, especially older generation(s), are having trouble adjusting. I've gotten calls from family members and friends who all bought into this win8 touchscreen/laptop business (ie a few got the Lenovo YOGA) and they are miserable trying to get work done and seeking a solution.

[bardomudo]

I'm using Windows 8 since start and I actually love it.

Im 99% of the time in the regular desktop and in the few times I have to enter the Metro UI, I kinda like how it feels. I don't use Win8 apps, though.

[Saturn]

I don't understand all this love for the start menu. I've always thought it was a clunky, inefficient paradigm.

It is, kind of.  It's like having a button that says "Go", a single UI feature through which a huge variety of completely unrelated tasks can be carried out.  It's lazy design.  But people are familiar with it.

I mostly avoided the start menu in windows until they added the search into it, which turned the clumsy menu into an efficient, enhanced version of run command.  I love that feature.

[daerid]

I mostly avoided the start menu in windows until they added the search into it, which turned the clumsy menu into an efficient, enhanced version of run command.  I love that feature.

Me too, which is why I'm so confused by all the Win 8 hate. You use the EXACT same keyboard strokes: Hit WinKey, start typing, (possibly use arrows to select), hit enter.

They really should do this. Many people, especially older generation(s), are having trouble adjusting. I've gotten calls from family members and friends who all bought into this win8 touchscreen/laptop business (ie a few got the Lenovo YOGA) and they are miserable trying to get work done and seeking a solution.

I'd argue those people should just put Windows 7 on to their machines. People stuck with XP for years after Vista came out, and were happy. But all of a sudden Windows 8 came out and rather than sticking with 7, which is a rock solid OS, they scream bloody murder?

People are weird...

[Mountain Man]

Maybe one day when Microsoft comes to their senses (fires Ballmer) they will roll an update that allows Windows 8 to be configured to boot straight to desktop and returns the start menu. In desktop mode, Windows 8 has some nice improvements over 7.

In the meantime, there's Start8.

[engicoder]

I mostly avoided the start menu in windows until they added the search into it, which turned the clumsy menu into an efficient, enhanced version of run command.  I love that feature.

I really wish they had integrated that functionality into the run window so that when you hit Windows + R it brought up a window with a text box and as you typed it searched for and displayed matches.

They sort of did this with the Windows 8 search box (Windows + Q), but it doesn't include any file search and the jarring switch from desktop to metro and back is annoying.

[Tracer]

Have to say I love Windows 8. After upgrading my home machine I had work get me an upgrade as well. I like the new UI and mouse hotspots. Everything works well and the OS feels much faster.

[HolidaySHRIMP]

I've been using windows 8 daily for about 6 months in enterprise setting. I love it. I crippled the UI to look like windows 95 again. I don't use the pin feature. I created a folder called quick launch and added it back to the start menu just like had to be do e for windows 7 users who missed their quick launch. Boot times are fluid with an ssd. Lock screen is beautiful. I use windows+r shortcuts for almost everything. Need to start something rare that you never use? Hit windows and start to type it and hit enter. Windows then type updates and hit enter. It'll start downloading the updates right away. I type over 100wpm and use cmd prompt still and windows+r shortcuts so really not much has changed for me. YMMV

[HolidaySHRIMP]

I mostly avoided the start menu in windows until they added the search into it, which turned the clumsy menu into an efficient, enhanced version of run command.  I love that feature.

I really wish they had integrated that functionality into the run window so that when you hit Windows + R it brought up a window with a text box and as you typed it searched for and displayed matches.

They sort of did this with the Windows 8 search box (Windows + Q), but it doesn't include any file search and the jarring switch from desktop to metro and back is annoying.

They made it one keystroke shorter now. Just hit windows and start typing.