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I've been using it for a week now and I still feel pretty much lost.

I miss the start menu! All I did there is used the search and click My Computer but I keep going to the corner of the screen searching for it.

Metro is ..idk, not for me. Why the apps takes a few seconds to load? Sure, every application we use takes a few seconds to load but with metro the stupid splash screen stops me from doing any thing else. It's like metro takes me to a completely other place in windows with its full screen etc' and i don't like it. Makes me feel disconnected.

How much time it took you to adjust to windows 8?

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Or just ignore Metro apps and continue to use your desktop like you used to.

if you approach the start screen as purely a replacement for the start menu, I find the experience is nigh on identical >.<

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I miss the start menu! All I did there is used the search and click My Computer but I keep going to the corner of the screen searching for it.

So go to that corner of the screen (bottem left) and left click.. viola Start Menu!

Or EVEN BETTER go to the bottom left corner and right click File Explorer and Search are right there.

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Is there a free start menu out there? all tough I don't like the idea installing a 3rd party app just for that.

Just to make things clear, I'm not bashing windows 8 (yet)

Just wanted to know if i'm the only one feeling that those tiles are pure hype and will die sometime soon on pcs.

Why would i want to open something full screen (unless its a movie \ picture\ game) when i'm on my computer. I don't get it.

I dunno about others but my metro apps open up quick, the only wait I have is for when it's like my weather app that is refreshing the data but that's it. Unless an app is connecting to some service on the backend it opens right away for me.

I dunno about others but my metro apps open up quick, the only wait I have is for when it's like my weather app that is refreshing the data but that's it. Unless an app is connecting to some service on the backend it opens right away for me.

Some of them open up quick here also, but even those got that 1 sec splash screen that i need to stare at like it's an iphone app. Feels stupid. I want to open an app and continue reading something on the web.

http://startisback.com/#download-tab

Seems free for personal use.

Start8 is free for personal use I think or might have changed recently?

Both give a 30 trial but are not free

If you're looking for a free replacement for the Start Button, I'd recommend ClassicShell. I haven't had any problems with it when I use Windows 8 (which is maybe once an hour a week... I still will go into Windows 7 as that's where all my work is really done.)

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

Talkes a bit to get used too but start8 is only 4.99. could always get that and set it up to take you straight to the desktop, instead of the start screen....I myself, have to problem adjusting, I just get irritated bc I wanna keep the tiles from moving so I can, set it up how I want. Anywho, If that doesn't do it for you, just go back and install windows 7

Upgraded Win 8 Pro on 2 computers (my laptop [Lenovo G560] and my wife's desktop [low end eMachine, 4 years old]). And after using it for 1 week, I must say:

1. My wife loves it!!! She loves the Metro UI. Even in her machine, it was much snappier than W7. She seems to be enjoying computing more than before.

2. I missed start menu for first 4 days, but now, I have become used to W8 setting. I spend most of my time in the desktop mode, but I occasionally enjoy start screen options. Also, even in my G560, W8 is indeed much faster than W7. I don't do gaming, but use MS Word most of the time.

3. Also, I love "OneNote" app on start screen more than the one that came with Office 2010. I do some of my work on OneNote and it is an excellent app!

In sum, for me, yes, I do miss Start Menu, but overall experience of Windows 8 clearly outweighs the few negatives. I like the fact that my wife enjoys it... :)

Upgraded Win 8 Pro on 2 computers (my laptop [Lenovo G560] and my wife's desktop [low end eMachine, 4 years old]). And after using it for 1 week, I must say:

1. My wife loves it!!! She loves the Metro UI. Even in her machine, it was much snappier than W7. She seems to be enjoying computing more than before.

2. I missed start menu for first 4 days, but now, I have become used to W8 setting. I spend most of my time in the desktop mode, but I occasionally enjoy start screen options. Also, even in my G560, W8 is indeed much faster than W7. I don't do gaming, but use MS Word most of the time.

3. Also, I love "OneNote" app on start screen more than the one that came with Office 2010. I do some of my work on OneNote and it is an excellent app!

In sum, for me, yes, I do miss Start Menu, but overall experience of Windows 8 clearly outweighs the few negatives. I like the fact that my wife enjoys it... :)

Funny you should say that, I'm backing up my wife laptop as we speak write and planning on installing there Win8 later today. Hope she'll like it as much as your wife :) .

I've used 8 a couple times. I am still not used to it, I feel like it doesn't know what it is.. I am sent to desktop, then metro, then back again just for a couple simple tasks (ie: Windows Update). Like you.. 8 is just not for me.

Even though they have a new start screen, I still don't see the reason why they had to remove / Hide the "Start Button", that's just stupid. Unless you are on a tablet, and then it makes total sense..........I see what I did there!

I just used Start8 with all hot corners disabled and I now have a super slick more responsive Windows 7, I could grumble but since MS have the offer on to upgrade for silly money I couldn't complain about having to spend $4.99 for Start8.

I'm not going to go into the Modern UI debate, but I didn't buy a ?2K+ PC to play with crappy apps that my Smartphone does better.

  • Like 3

I've used 8 a couple times. I am still not used to it, I feel like it doesn't know what it is.. I am sent to desktop, then metro, then back again just for a couple simple tasks (ie: Windows Update). Like you.. 8 is just not for me.

That's what I don't understand, Microsoft.

Why not give users who shelled out their own hard-earned money for Windows 8, a choice -- Metro or the 'classic' Start button ?

'Different' is not always better.

I personally would have preferred the ability to place tiles on the desktop like widgets (as seen in the Omnimo rainmeter skin) but i'm fairly used to the start screen now. It's fast for me, and the search does what it needs to do. It doesn't bother me, and i quite enjoy the ability to pin various apps to the side of my screen, like a constant twitter update or xbox music and such.

While I do understand that it could be for compatibility reason, the fact that you have "Settings" in Metro and still have a full "Control Pannel" in Desktop is confusing. Some things you can do in one place, some not.... So that back and forth thing is getting old fast. File explorer in Metro? Nope, need to go to the Desktop for that. Metro IE can't play nice with a Web site, well, switch to Desktop IE10 (or use another browser, I know!).

Can't customize the look and feel of Metro! Simple thing as wallpaper, Nope.... You need Decor8 for that (or something similar).

Full screen Metro apps, what a waste of space.... And that 30%/70% split screen, well, not good enough for me.

Add to the fact that all Metro apps are so basic, some slow to load, low on feature push the use of Desktop apps. But I do find the new Microsoft games to be quite nice. But the store is still very limited.

I could go on like that, so... No, I'm not adjusting very well to Win8...!!! I prefer Win7 or OSX.

What about, hey Microsoft, I'm used to something since 199?, can I have a choice??

Given the choice, most people would just skip straight past "Modern UI" which is exactly what MS didn't want to happen, so they pretty much had to do it the way they did. It's a bit sneaky sure, but I totally understand why they've done it.

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