Windows 8 for people who hate the Metro UI

Trillionaire

Thanks Lum.

Most of this thread was way over my head - but not StartIsBack. Windows 8 was seriously getting on my nerves! so I've succumbed and downloaded StartIsBack.

When I'm using my pc I just want things to be simple. I mean !!!!!! are all those tiles about? Jeez! When I turn on my pc I want to go straight to my 'desktop'. Is that too much to ask? I think not.

Windows 8 makes me feel tense.:( Thankfully my laptop is Windows 7.

Anyhow, this post was just to say 'THANKS Lum'.

Lum

Glad it's helping. I'd say that items 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8, in that order, are the most important for making Win8 play nice on a non-touch system.

I should probably re-jig the post so the critical ones are at the top and the more niche and technical ones are further down.

Don't forget to right click your new start menu, properties, modern UI and untick everything except "enable top screen edge (snap)"

grumpycrab

I'm pushing Windows8 on my clients. Many of them would have prefered to stick with XP but I prefer to use the latest stuff (provided its reliable). So ClassicShell has been a default install and to avoid the howls of protest when Metro fullscreen apps run I'm also installing Stardock's ModernMix
http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/

Ok its $5 to buy (30-day trial) but doesn't prevent you from checking the new apps out. You never know, there might be something useful in there...

elektra

Microsoft prepares U-turn on Windows 8

ChiefGrasscutter

Its behind a paywall - but you can register freely and do not have to provide your CCard - and can then access a number of articles free/month - after than you will be re-directed to the pay up part of the FT site

Basically MS say there are going to be major changes - but not what they will be.
Sounds like Win8 RIP

grumpycrab

elektra wrote: »

Microsoft prepares U-turn on Windows 8

Whilst the arrogance of Microsoft is of no surprise to me, the Windows8 take-up figures (at the post-discount price) should be a clear signal that a change is needed. How much of a change will be made to delineate the 2 interfaces remains to be seen.
PS. I don't like Ft.com

elektra

Sorry about providing a link that is behind a paywall( It wasn't when I posted).
Bizarrely I read the article this morning after hearing a snippet on the tv news, yet I have never registered with the FT.

a different link to aricle http://www.cnbc.com/id/100713593

KxMx

Been using Windows 8 for a while. And I don't see why people are getting their knickers in a twist.

I don't think it's a great leap forward in terms of OS's, and if Microsoft wanted a touch screen interface they should have released it onto tablet/touch devices not PC's.

That said, once you get the main navigation, become more familiar with where things are and get short cut tricks down, it really is a piece of cake. And the "For Dummies" book was a great investment. I spend 90% of the time on desktop view anyway.

For example once the UI comes up I simply hit the desktop button and I am there- no need to get mad that it doesn't come up 25 seconds earlier.

I went from XP so it was a real shock to my system but with some use I began to be okay with it.

There are some things I think should go, and others that I feel could be easier to do, but overall as an OS I have no major quibbles with it.

I think people focus too much on the Metro interface; once you leave that alone what you do have is a decent OS.

Lum

Or in my case, once you get rid of Metro it's a decent OS

My biggest issue with it is I have issues with my wrists and tendons and navigating Metro vs the start menu is a lot more mousing around that I could do without. I'm also no-longer young enough to remember the exact name of everything I might want to launch via the method of pressing the Win key and starting typing.

slinga

I've installed StartIsBack but still get the W8 stuff if the cursor descends into a screen corner.

Can I stop this.
Thanks.