Welcome to Windows EightForums, ekessler43.
Windows 8 is the worst OS it has ever been my misfortune to be forced to use.
Yes, Windows 8 seems to be a-love-it-or-hate-it type of OS. More so than past OS transitions. Much more of a learning curve for sure. Others and I are enjoying the experience, though. In fact, if one looks up the poll threads on this forum one will see that most like it. Of course most of us are partial here for we joined the forum for support to learn the OS. I wouldn't think most would stick around and waste time on something they didn't like. At least I wouldn't.
Your system specs doesn't reveal what model your Dell PC is. Is it new? Did 8 come preloaded on it? Just wondering why you stated that you're "forced" to use it.
BTW, that's one of the strongest negative opening sentences of an OP I've seen in a while. That "lays it on the line" as they say. There's no doubt you conveyed that you don't like 8 or at least your experience with it thus far.
First, I keep getting these inane popups asking me to install all kinds of programs I don't want or need.
As davehc asked > What popups? Inane? I would say most on here have never heard of this before. The only time I ever got a popup to install MS software was when upon attempting to install an MS program it states I need another MS program that accomidates it, such as .NET Frameworks, Silverlight, etc. Flash Player and Reader would be common non MS ones. If your PC be new, would it be Dell crapware popups? Please specify.
Second, there seems to be no easy way to get back to the desktop without individually minimizing each open app.
Well, how did you accomplish that in past OSs? I can think of many > WinKey/D being one since I'm big on shortcut keying. Holding Alt key then tapping Tab key has been around for awhile. Configuring the Desktop "Peek" in Taskbar Properties, then mouse pointer upper right corner to peek, and left mouse click for Desktop has been around also (Snip inserted below). There's a Desktop tile on the Start Screen. Press WinKey > type "desktop" > Enter key gets one there. I would imagine if one was desperate one could create a Desktop shortcut on the good 'ole Taskbar as well.
Third, what did MS do to the Start button. They got rid of this very useful utility for reasons known only to their stupid engineering minds (and BTW, I am an EE by training).
I'll assume that EE is for Electrical Engineering as xunile has stated. If that be true, you must be a great engineer to outsmart one of the biggest software companies on the planet. Because they got rid of it + you found it useful = they are stupid? Here's why they got rid of it > Less and less users were using it as time went on:
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-8-news/2886-designing-start-screen.html.
Plus they needed a launching platform for touch UI, which is an input method that seems to becoming very popular. This platform works just as well with mouse and keyboard.
Fourth, shutting off the computer takes a technical expertise that would make most people want to migrate immediately to Apple products if they weren't so expensive.
Yes, items are in different places since the Start Orb/Menu is gone. The introduction of the Charms Bar (WinKey/C or mouse pointer to the right upper/lower hot corner) > Settings > Power is one of the biggest changes from past OSs. Again, created for touch, and yet again, works just as well with mouse (and keyboard) as djsigma explained above.
There are, of course, the traditional means and shortcut of shutting down as some have mentioned here. I use the good 'ole Alt/F4 > Enter (then choose option) on a blank Desktop most of the time.
Like I stated earlier, there is a bigger learning curve to 8. It may be only for the few that are persistant at learning. From the stats I read only 20% will want to do so.
Fifth, even though I am using the version of IE that came with the computer, IE will not hold my personal home page. My ISP is Verizon/Yahoo.
Any OS or program that I have ever installed is not perfect by any means. Have you? Obviously there's a minor problem with your system or there's something in settings that's configured wrong. As an Engineer I'm sure you know Murphy's law that "if anything that can go wrong it will". Computers have a dbl whammy > hardware and software.
e.g. Just yesterday I went to use a shortcut for a site in my Favorites that I use quite a lot, but it wasn't there. After performing a quick search in Windows File Explorer, I found that it simply dissapeared. I thought that strange. Perhaps I deleted it by mistake? I didn't dwell in the problem, for I simply added it again. No big deal if the problem doesn't continue.
Is it a persistant problem you have with your home page?
I could go on, but that's enough complaining for starters.
Lol! Thank the gods because most of us that have been members here for awhile have heard it all, believe you me. I think davehc just stated it best, especially in his point #3.
Edit: Oops! Forgot the snip...
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