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I have been running Windows 8 (RTM version) on my laptop for two weeks (as I am a MSDN subscriber, thanks to BizSpark). The Metro interface is cute but after a

I have been running Windows 8 (RTM version) on my laptop for two weeks (as I am a MSDN subscriber, thanks to BizSpark). The Metro interface is cute but after a while, I am completely back to the Desktop environment. To my surprise, it is exactly like Windows 7, minus the start menu. I even wonder whether this is because I upgraded from Windows 7? So I would say, if you are worried that it'll destroy your Windows experience as you know it, don't. It's still there. Really still there, with some minor improvements (e.g. task menu). If I didn't get this for free, I would have felt cheated (as in, this is just an UI skin over my existing Windows 7). What I miss the most is the start menu, and I guess I'll download some start-menu app to replace that. I don't use my laptop as a tablet so I can't comment on the Metro interface, other than that it's fluid (like the Windows Phone). I don't see there is any chance I'd buy the Surface RT though... The App Store is very limiting at this point. But then, I am not their RT audience.

barrkel 14y ago
For Start Menu, I've been getting along well with http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ - but I use it in Windows 7 too.
- jeswin 14y ago
  Isn't it easier to use the keyboard (eg: Start + 'Exce.. + Enter) to launch apps, than go to the mouse? Most ubuntu users had a similar transition, when they moved from gnome to unity. It isn't that bad; or even at all.
  - HardyLeung 14y ago
    Yes now I can getting use to this. I agree this is not bad way to start.
  - barrkel 14y ago
    If my hand is on the keyboard, it's easier to use the terminal. (Classic shell still has the search feature. But often I launch apps before remembering their name - I'm a big user of apropos to recall commands. I remember locations. May be a difference in cognitive style.)
- aik 14y ago
  You use this in Windows 7? Mind if I ask why? I find the Win7 start menu super useful, just for the fact that I can pin very common apps on the first menu, and see recent items, and have the search. Very very rarely do I go into the "Programs".
  - barrkel 14y ago
    See my cousin reply (child of a sibling to your post).
Stratoscope 14y ago
> The Metro interface is cute but after a while, I am completely back to the Desktop environment. To my surprise, it is exactly like Windows 7, minus the start menu. I even wonder whether this is because I upgraded from Windows 7? It's not because you upgraded from Windows 7; a vanilla Windows 8 installation has the same desktop too. In particular if you use the Windows 7 Start menu with the keyboard - typing in a name to search for it - that works much the same in the Windows 8 start screen. Some useful keyboard shortcuts: * Windows+W to go directly to the Settings * Windows+F to go directly to Files in the new start screen * Windows+X to get a quick popup menu of power user tools * Windows+I to open a panel of quick settings If you want something more like the Windows 7 Start menu, try Start8: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ I've been trying it out a bit and am not sure whether I prefer it or the Metro start screen. I very much like the lack of animation in Start8 - that was the main thing I missed from Windows 7. One other subtle thing I miss from Windows 7 is that shortcuts to apps like Notepad will start multiple instances of the app. For some unfathomable reason, the Windows 8 start screen always goes to the first instance of the app if you try to start Notepad or the like multiple times. That would be OK but I can't find any way to override it and easily start multiple instances. Start8 brings back the old behavior here.
- HardyLeung 14y ago
  > One other subtle thing I miss from Windows 7 is that shortcuts to apps like Notepad will start multiple instances of the app. For some unfathomable reason, the Windows 8 start screen always goes to the first instance of the app if you try to start Notepad or the like multiple times. That would be OK but I can't find any way to override it and easily start multiple instances. Start8 brings back the old behavior here. You can do that by right clicking the icon on the bottom taskbar and click the app to start. It did drive me crazy until I figured this out.
  - gman99 14y ago
    Does middle click not work? It does in Win7 (and Ubuntu/Unity too) and I'd be very surprised if they removed that feature

barrkel 14y ago

For Start Menu, I've been getting along well with http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ - but I use it in Windows 7 too.

jeswin 14y ago
Isn't it easier to use the keyboard (eg: Start + 'Exce.. + Enter) to launch apps, than go to the mouse? Most ubuntu users had a similar transition, when they moved from gnome to unity. It isn't that bad; or even at all.
- HardyLeung 14y ago
  Yes now I can getting use to this. I agree this is not bad way to start.
- barrkel 14y ago
  If my hand is on the keyboard, it's easier to use the terminal. (Classic shell still has the search feature. But often I launch apps before remembering their name - I'm a big user of apropos to recall commands. I remember locations. May be a difference in cognitive style.)
aik 14y ago
You use this in Windows 7? Mind if I ask why? I find the Win7 start menu super useful, just for the fact that I can pin very common apps on the first menu, and see recent items, and have the search. Very very rarely do I go into the "Programs".
- barrkel 14y ago
  See my cousin reply (child of a sibling to your post).

Stratoscope 14y ago

> The Metro interface is cute but after a while, I am completely back to the Desktop environment. To my surprise, it is exactly like Windows 7, minus the start menu. I even wonder whether this is because I upgraded from Windows 7? It's not because you upgraded from Windows 7; a vanilla Windows 8 installation has the same desktop too. In particular if you use the Windows 7 Start menu with the keyboard - typing in a name to search for it - that works much the same in the Windows 8 start screen. Some useful keyboard shortcuts: * Windows+W to go directly to the Settings * Windows+F to go directly to Files in the new start screen * Windows+X to get a quick popup menu of power user tools * Windows+I to open a panel of quick settings If you want something more like the Windows 7 Start menu, try Start8: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ I've been trying it out a bit and am not sure whether I prefer it or the Metro start screen. I very much like the lack of animation in Start8 - that was the main thing I missed from Windows 7. One other subtle thing I miss from Windows 7 is that shortcuts to apps like Notepad will start multiple instances of the app. For some unfathomable reason, the Windows 8 start screen always goes to the first instance of the app if you try to start Notepad or the like multiple times. That would be OK but I can't find any way to override it and easily start multiple instances. Start8 brings back the old behavior here.

HardyLeung 14y ago
> One other subtle thing I miss from Windows 7 is that shortcuts to apps like Notepad will start multiple instances of the app. For some unfathomable reason, the Windows 8 start screen always goes to the first instance of the app if you try to start Notepad or the like multiple times. That would be OK but I can't find any way to override it and easily start multiple instances. Start8 brings back the old behavior here. You can do that by right clicking the icon on the bottom taskbar and click the app to start. It did drive me crazy until I figured this out.
- gman99 14y ago
  Does middle click not work? It does in Win7 (and Ubuntu/Unity too) and I'd be very surprised if they removed that feature