Windows 8 Is a Desktop Disaster


Recommended Posts

Start8 to the rescue:

Hot corners are one of the bad things designed on win8 indeed, if they were configurable it would have been better (even as a hidden setting) but no, we have to literally disable them :D

I really do not want to start using third party tools, but this mess is not very fun while working.

Windows 8 requires the use of third party tools just to make it seem kinda 'normal'.

  • Like 2

Trying to activate the charms bar on a dual monitor setup also isn't very fun. I know windows 8 has keyboard shortcuts out the ass. Like Windows key +C displays the charms bar. Which is great for someone who knows their ass from a hole in the ground. But what about the average user? They barely know control + c copies.

I have been running Windows 8 for over a year now on a desktop and have become use to it. But now I cant decied on what to install. Apps from the store on the metro side or native apps. For instanse there is the skype version for desktop and there is a version in the metro side. . . which do i use or keep. Also there is another anoying thing with Chrome, Chrome has a sandboxed version in metro and the desktop is completly seperate. Even if operating at the same time. . . its wasting reasources and also anoying.

There is always linux.

I have been running Windows 8 for over a year now on a desktop and have become use to it. But now I cant decied on what to install. Apps from the store on the metro side or native apps. For instanse there is the skype version for desktop and there is a version in the metro side. . . which do i use or keep. Also there is another anoying thing with Chrome, Chrome has a sandboxed version in metro and the desktop is completly seperate. Even if operating at the same time. . . its wasting reasources and also anoying.

There is always linux.

If that were the case I would require 3rd party tools to change things the way you have to work in a 'normal' manner and I don't have any installed.

Hmm...

I work very differently from you, believe me. ;)

I work very differently from you, believe me. ;)

Very likely. I've been working on PC's and doing IT, networking, and QA testing and such for about 15 years professionally...so I tend to use my PC in multiple ways doing about 30 things at once.

For this scenario it works awesome. :)

Well, I go back to my Sinclair ZX80, all those many moons ago, I recall it was difficult to use, but once you got the hang of loading code from tape, it was a breeze, and I suspect it will be the same for Win8, people just adjust, eventually I guess. But at nearly 50 years of age now, and through many iterations of the Windows OS along the years, I'd rather have my ZX80 back in my lap today. :)

Well, I go back to my Sinclair ZX80, all those many moons ago, I recall it was difficult to use, but once you got the hang of loading code from tape, it was a breeze, and I suspect it will be the same for Win8, people just adjust, eventually I guess. But at nearly 50 years of age now, and through many iterations of the Windows OS along the years, I'd rather have my ZX80 back in my lap today. :)

I remember my mom was telling me about having to put things on punch card, and work from that. I can't imagine trying to work with that...it would drive me nuts...well maybe not if I lived back then...but having lived in the here and now? Yeah...crazy making.

My point though was that sometimes we get set in our ways. I know even at just over 30 I have certain ways in which I'm set...but with technology you have to keep moving. It changes...and if you don't like change, you don't like technology. ;)

My point though was that sometimes we get set in our ways. I know even at just over 30 I have certain ways in which I'm set...but with technology you have to keep moving. It changes...and if you don't like change, you don't like technology. ;)

Hey I love 'change', its what keeps the human race progressing. Technology moves that fast now, that its really hard to keep up with it all, but that's good, else, we would stand still, and that's not good.

I think Windows 8 made a leap too far in progressing though. Too much at the one time, as in 'change'. Yes, by all means move forward and do away with the old style. But why not 'introduce' the new, instead of forcing such a 'drastic' change on the end user?

Windows 8 could have easily included what was before, i.e start menu, whatever etc, and still introduced the end user to the new Start screen/features at the same time, then pending feedback from the end user, these old features could have then been removed in the next iteration of Windows?

This would have made users 'warm' more to Windows 8, and give them an insight as to what was coming in the future, rather than the way MS have chosen to do so.

Well that's what they did actually.

The glaring this is the omission of the start button. The start screen however is just a new version of the start menu. The first thing you see is the personalized side of things (like in XP, Vista, and 7 with your most frequently used programs) and then you click on All Apps, and poof there's everything that the old start menu had.

All the old stuff is still there, just presented in a new way. They left the desktop there, and compatibility with all your old drivers and programs. They made sure it was incremental...but still a big enough change in order to move forward.

A lot of people seem to think that things are gone. The only thing that is gone is the graphic for the start button...and the old start menu look. In it's place you now have a 'start corner' if you will...and a full screen start menu with more options and better customization. :)

Well that's what they did actually.

The glaring this is the omission of the start button. The start screen however is just a new version of the start menu. The first thing you see is the personalized side of things (like in XP, Vista, and 7 with your most frequently used programs) and then you click on All Apps, and poof there's everything that the old start menu had.

All the old stuff is still there, just presented in a new way. They left the desktop there, and compatibility with all your old drivers and programs. They made sure it was incremental...but still a big enough change in order to move forward.

A lot of people seem to think that things are gone. The only thing that is gone is the graphic for the start button...and the old start menu look. In it's place you now have a 'start corner' if you will...and a full screen start menu with more options and better customization. :)

I'm not saying your wrong at all, but I just think a 'gradual' progression may have been better?, but hey, that's me, and I don't really care for the start button anyway lol, I use a variety of OS's in my environment, so I'm unaffected really :)

feeling political? miss your start button? start a petition on care2 about it! Lawlz.

I really have nothing to say about that stupid comment, sorry.

Mathworks could have simply built a launcher program to do what they've done in the start menu there.

That type of handling for their products is just lazy.

Yes, they should replace it with a Modern UI/Metro interface with lots of fancy effects, and super large tiles which show equation results. :laugh:

What MathWorks have done is great. It's called "keeping things organized", and compact. Everyone who uses MathWorks will learn that "Start" menu off by heart, and won't have to waste time scrolling across a full-screen tiled menu to access its many options.

Yes, they should replace it with a Modern UI/Metro interface with lots of fancy effects, and super large tiles which show equation results. :laugh:

What MathWorks have done is great. It's called "keeping things organized", and compact. Everyone who uses MathWorks will learn that "Start" menu off by heart, and won't have to waste time scrolling across a full-screen tiled menu to access its many options.

I said a launcher. I never said anything about Metro.

I used to use a ton of programs where instead of 50 start menu entries they had a single entry. It would pull up a launcher with all the programs selectable inside.

I said a launcher. I never said anything about Metro.

I used to use a ton of programs where instead of 50 start menu entries they had a single entry. It would pull up a launcher with all the programs selectable inside.

Sorry about that - I misunderstood. I presume by launcher, you mean something like Backstage in Office 2010:

800px-Office_2010_Backstage.png

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • Because of the EU (a good thing) newer android devices been getting 5 years worth of security patches. Except some Motorola which found the loop hole, and offer ZERO updates. In addition, Google for years have been making where it can patch some stuff by updating the core Google Play Store itself.  As echoed earlier,  you take the security risk in to your own hand beyond supported.
    • Win11Debloat 06.11.2026 by Razvan Serea Win11Debloat is a lightweight, easy to use PowerShell script that allows you to quickly declutter and customize your Windows experience. It can remove pre-installed bloatware apps, disable telemetry, remove intrusive interface elements and much more. The script also includes many features that system administrators and power users will enjoy. Such as a powerful command-line interface, support for Windows Audit mode and the option to make changes to other Windows users. All changes made by Win11Debloat can be easily reversed, and most removed apps can be restored via the Microsoft Store. A full guide on how to undo the changes is available here. Win11Debloat features: Below is an overview of the key features and functionality offered by Win11Debloat. Please refer to the wiki for more information about the default settings preset. Remove a wide variety of preinstalled apps. Click here for more info. Disable telemetry, diagnostic data, activity history, app-launch tracking & targeted ads. Disable tips, tricks, suggestions & ads across Windows. Disable Windows location services & app location access. Disable Find My Device location tracking. Disable 'Windows Spotlight' and tips & tricks on the lock screen. Disable 'Windows Spotlight' desktop background option. Disable ads, suggestions and the MSN news feed in Microsoft Edge. Hide Microsoft 365 ads on the Settings 'Home' page, or hide the 'Home' page entirely. Disable & remove Microsoft Copilot. Disable Windows Recall. Disable Click to Do, AI text & image analysis tool. Prevent AI service (WSAIFabricSvc) from starting automatically. Disable AI Features in Edge. Disable AI Features in Paint. Disable AI Features in Notepad. Disable the Drag Tray for sharing & moving files. Restore the old Windows 10 style context menu. Turn off Enhance Pointer Precision, also known as mouse acceleration. Disable the Sticky Keys keyboard shortcut. Disable Storage Sense automatic disk cleanup. Disable fast start-up to ensure a full shutdown. ...and more. Once you’ve downloaded the Win11Debloat file (Get.ps1), just follow these quick steps: Locate the Get.ps1 script file. Right-click the file and select Run with PowerShell from the context menu. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), select Yes to grant the script the necessary administrative permissions. Win11Debloat 06.11.2026 fixes: Fix lock screen spotlight option being disabled when disabling the start recommended section by @Raphire in #619 Fix log message formatting by @Raphire Note The -RemoveCommApps and -RemoveW11Outlook command-line parameters for uninstalling a few specific apps have been removed with this release. If you previously relied on these parameters, please see this wiki page for alternative methods of removing these apps. Download: Win11Debloat 06.11.2026 | Open Source View: Win11Debloat Home Page | Screenshots 1| 2 Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Yes for me, I installed 'old calculator' (Windows 7 calculator) in its place since it is more useful to me. I think paint is the only one I left installed
  • Recent Achievements

    • Rookie
      restore went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Very Popular
      AndrewSteel earned a badge
      Very Popular
    • Veteran
      Taliseian went up a rank
      Veteran
    • One Month Later
      Clizby earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      Timaximus earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      511
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      162
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      154
    4. 4
      ATLien_0
      82
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      79
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!