What was your initial reaction to Windows 8?

[Gnieus]

Remember back at D9, where Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8 for the first time? I think it was Steven Sinofsky and Julie Larson-Green who presented the whole presentation. They revealed the new tablet UI that was rumoured to be in development, and everyone was amazed.

But what we're your initial reactions? I just can't seem to think people automatically thought that Windows 8 wasn't going to be popular among desktop users. I remember seeing it and thinking "wow, I can't wait for Windows 8". The only time I thought it was a hassle to use was when the Developer Preview launched in September, since in that build the Start Screen wasn't really optimized for the mouse and keyboard.

In fact, Windows 8 made me change the way I use my desktop. I used to have a 22" standard LCD monitor, but since September of 2011, when Microsoft released the Developer Preview, I purchased myself a 23" touch screen monitor... Which was to be used on my gaming machine. Yes, gaming machine.

For me, Windows 8 has always been something positive in my eyes, however I feel as if for the most part, initial reactions were good, but then people had a proper feel for it and were scared away by the removal of the start button and other old goodies.

[firey]

"This is retarded, where is the start button, why is this a tablet UI on a desktop?"

I still feel this way.

[Detection]

When it first started leaking, and there was screens of Metro UI, I was excited for people to work out how to enable it

When the dev preview arrived, I turned into Jekyll and Hyde, one minute I thought it was genius, the next I hated it more than anything I had hated before

Consumer Preview, Jekyll and Hyde again

Release Preview, Jekyll and Hyde again

RTM, Jekyll and Hyde and then just hate after trying to run it full time

[sagum]

But what we're your initial reactions? I just can't seem to think people automatically thought that Windows 8 wasn't going to be popular among desktop users. I remember seeing it and thinking "wow, I can't wait for Windows 8".

That was about right for most people. Then Microsoft removed the start menu. It was about then when they ****ed a lot of users off. It's understandable why Microsoft have done it. They needed people to get in on the idea of apps for Windows for their ecosystem they've created to fight off the likes of Apple and Google's Marketplaces/stores on the mobile platforms.

Unfortunately for Microsoft they're using their desktop users as a quick way to enforce and create a user-base.

I personally do like Windows 8, even with the forced (and somewhat broken app ecosystem/setup we have). All the under the hood tweaks make it so much faster.

My first impressions of Windows 8 was a bit weird since I didn't see a reason why we needed a new version after Windows 7, and Microsoft as always trying to hide what the final look was going to be meant it was always going to up in the air with the final design, and its proved it self with the removal of the start menu but no way to remove the rest of the classic desktop system.

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

"This is retarded, where is the start button, why is this a tablet UI on a desktop?"

I still feel this way.

Pretty much this.

[Gnieus]

"This is retarded, where is the start button, why is this a tablet UI on a desktop?"

I still feel this way.

The start button was still present in it's official reveal. It was removed in early 2012.

[firey]

The start button was still present in it's official reveal. It was removed in early 2012.

Initial Reveal... it was concept, it wasn't fact..my first reaction was when the concept started to become reality.

[hckngrtfakt]

at first i was like

"Oooooh clean ... wait ..... how do i get to the desktop UGHHHH .... Ohh,... i see, ....... wait, where's the start button ... how do i access hard drives, where are the programs ..... aghhhhhh WTF !!!#$^#&!!"

but then i was like

"ah, this is not so bad, .... i'll just pin this here, this one here, and this one here ..... home screen,... remove panel,... DONE ..... ahhhh sweeeeeeeet"

[argonite]

I remember being really excited for Windows 8. I wanted to play with the Start Screen. It had all these flashy fly-ins and big hit targets and just felt refreshing.

Then I installed the DP on my laptop and it was stuttering all over the place. The lack of proper driver support at the time kinda soured my experience.

I now use Windows 8 full time, and to be fair, I kinda feel like how i did when I had Windows 7: it's an operating system, I don't feel anything for it. The differences between each Windows version eventually become transparent over time to the average user like me.

[Buttus]

my initial reaction when i first used it was 'Why can't i scroll down?!?'

then it went downhill from there

[Brandon H Supervisor]

my only thought was "it's different .."

then once the CP came out i preceded to poke around and figure out where everything moved to etc.

i now like it enough to look past what i don't like about it for all the other improvements made :)

yes I have Start8 installed, but I quite often still use the Start Screen depending on what i'm doing at the time

[MorganX]

• This is going to be cool. About time they refreshed the UI, about time it worked on tablets.
  
• Dual Personality sucks.
  
• Some of these applets are cool, sometimes.
  
• Weird bugs, especially after installing some Win32 app. Little nagging things.
  
• Search sucks.
  
• Video app is weak.
  
• Music app is horrendous.
  
• Search is abhorrent.
  
• It's fast.
  
• Office 2013 is sweet on this and the Surface RT.
  
• Whoever made the Music app should be destroyed.
  
• Modern UI Search should be destroyed.
  
• Start8 is great! I'm much happier and Search is useable again without File Explorer. Navigating from Start Menu, yes!
  
• Native UASP support, Windows 8 all the way.
  
• At least it has Windows Media Player Classic to sync a Windows Phone 8.
  
• Music and Search suck. Something is wrong at Microsoft.
  
• I like my Surface RT, just wish I had more apps and could sync with Desktop.
  
• Can't wait to get Digital Storm Bolt running Windows 8 with an OCZ Vector SSD and almost double all my USB 3.0 storage performance with native UASP drivers.
  

Windows 8 is alright.

[Orange Battery]

Looks nice.

OMG Im moving my mouse way too much.

Now why cant I add a shutdown button to the Start Page

God my Start page is looking messy

I wish these metro apps were a bit more detailed.

Why does it keep jumping from my desktop to metro

Stick with it

My 23 inch screen is being wasted

How long until Blue?

Thats pretty much what went through my head during the first week. I just find Win 8 to be a step back on my desktop, Im sure it would be cool on a tablet, but Im not planning on getting a tablet so this is a desktop users view. Im not going to install Start8 but I do need somewhere to put all my options that used to be in the Start Menu because its too much on the Start page.

[John S. Veteran]

Plain, boring, so glad I don't have to use it. Ugh I wonder how long before they upgrade at work--usually lags a couple years.

[Dashel]

Win8 is a lot of things but plain and boring? And that's coming from OS X. You gotta explain that one.

[John S. Veteran]

Win8 is a lot of things but plain and boring? And that's coming from OS X. You gotta explain that one.

I thought it was self-explanitory. Looks to me like something made for a child.

[xendrome]

The start button was still present in it's official reveal. It was removed in early 2012.

Start button is still there.... move mouse to bottom left corner, left click.... or right click for advanced options

[Dashel]

Normally things that are plain and boring are made for adults, not kids. ;)

Don't be difficult xeno, clearly 'visible' was impled.

[Gnieus]

Start button is still there.... move mouse to bottom left corner, left click.... or right click for advanced options

The 'button' or 'orb' is gone, however the functionality still exists, in the corner.

[Astra.Xtreme]

Microsoft, up until Win8, was very choice-friendly with the UI, so when they released 8 and wanted to herd everybody in one direction, it got my immediate disapproval. I'm not opposed to change, but when the change is a large burden (imo), I want nothing of it.

If we had an option to turn on/off the start button and the Modern UI, Win8 would be an insanely good OS.

Start8 makes things better, but at that point, what's the point in trying to make it look and feel like 7 when I could just run 7 natively?

Win8 just seems like the bast*rd child of a tablet and PC one-night-stand.

[Guest]

Mine was holy crap, I love that!

I'm thinking of the very old purple preview, where the colours looked very refined and the scheme worked great. The concept was fantastic but in the end, for me, it never lived up to what they promised.

Due to a lack of decent apps.

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

"This is retarded, where is the start button, why is this a tablet UI on a desktop?"

I still feel this way.

Is it fun living in the past?

A lot of people don't seem to realise you can section off your shortcuts and label them. Here's a section of mine:

[Empyrean Glow]

My initial thought; Microsoft is making a mistake, and that 'Metro' on desktops and laptops is a solution looking for a problem.

[Empyrean Glow]

Is it fun living in the past?

A lot of people don't seem to realise you can section off your shortcuts and label them. Here's a section of mine:

And...that still looks like crap. The fact that you can sort tiles into groupings with labels does nothing to dispute his statement.

I really like Windows 8. The underlying core operating system is great. The 'Modern' UI is a 'Hollywood Squares' pastel abortion, more annoying and disruptive than it is useful.

[simonlang]

i thought it was **** from day 1 but then it didnt affect me that much since i dont use windows anymore.