Windows 8.1 first look: Finally, Windows the way you want

With Windows 8.1 Microsoft finally recognizes that a big portion of the world actively dislikes the new "Modern" interface and Start screen, and lets people downplay it, bypass it, or make it work the way they like. It doesn't solve the basic problem of Windows 8 having dueling interfaces -- one for touch and tablets, and another for the desktop and mouse and keyboard -- but it gives desktop fans enough options to make the operating system much better to use.
Big changes include the ability to go directly to the desktop when you sign in, and a whole host of Start screen customizations that make it more useful for those who primarily use the desktop. There's also now a not-particularly useful Start button that doesn't come close to having the features offered by the old school Start button you've come to love in earlier Windows versions.
If you're like me, what you care about most about is the go-to-desktop option, and changes that make the Start screen easier to use. You would expect that you'd get to those changes from the Start screen somewhere...but if you expected that, you'd be wrong. Instead, head to the desktop, right-click the taskbar and select Properties to get to the Taskbar and Navigation properties screen. There's a new tab here called Navigation. This is essentially command central for the new features for customizing the Start screen and booting to the desktop. It's got two sections: Core navigation and Start screen.

The bottom line
Windows 8.1 is far more configurable than Windows 8, and those who primarily use the desktop will be especially pleased to be able to go directly to it when they sign in. Also useful are the new features for customizing the Start screen, particularly for using it as an app launcher. This new version of Windows 8 isn't perfect, but this newfound power to tweak and customize makes it a far better operating system than the one that shipped.
Note: I'll have a more in-depth look at Windows 8.1 on Computerworld in several days.

Windows 8.1 first look: Finally, Windows the way you want it | Computerworld Blogs

 

[Lee]

Win 8 (and 8.1) were designed solely with touch screens, tablets, and phones in mind, and totally blew off the desktop user. The changes are vast and mostly unnecessary.

Windows 8 was not solely designed to work with just phones and tablets; it was designed to work across all devices. Not really sure where folks get this information from, albeit it is not true.

But, then all it takes is just one someone saying an untruth, thus making it true. . .

 

[Hopachi]

I wonder if it'll be back in RTM.

The Win7 File Recovery won't be back because it's considered obsolete (I mean deprecated) and they were planning to remove it after 8.0.

 

[jeffrys]

Overhere in Belgium the minority is Always right....

So i am in favor for Win 8 (too lazy to install 8.1 right now).

So i guess i am right. Hahaha

Jeff

 

[startas]

It is normal human behavior to resist or dislike change... years from now we'll be using Windows12 and complaining that it's nothing like our beloved Windows11.

I dont think so, changes must be when we need it, not when there is nothing else to do, so just lets make mind-raping changes. We always need to have a stable and solid rock to stand on - now we are forced to stand on windows 7, this mobile/desktop mix isnt that rock. But of course, changes will always be here, because no one is going to stop it. Well, at least there is no easy way to tell them, that we dont need changes, it would require, again, world war 3.

 

[besb]

The way I want Win 8

I had my initial say here.http://www.eightforums.com/general-...l-opinions-windows-8-1-preview-release-4.html

I then spotted this thread and decided to post an image I created and posted one year ago of my own idea of what I wanted in the next iteration of 8. Obviously metro now= live-tiles .
the start screen and apps run in windows on the desktop in resizeable windows and more importantly in my case can be located on either of my 1920x1200 screens. I wonder if desktop users find it it a reasonable suggestion.

At least we can now boot direct to the desktop but I do not like the joke start button
besb

 

[njnitehawk]

I like the new 8.1

 

[bgraae]

OK, I still have the same questions. I love 7. I need to be able to boot up directly to the desktop I currently have. I need a start button that will give me all the abilities my current one has. I want to be able to go to current programs, change them, and delete them. I need to be able to go to computers to see what is on the disk and to manipulate the programs. I don't see that in 8.1. Why don't they listen to the users that need the functions of 7, not the functions of the social media groupies.

 

[Rickkins]

OK, I still have the same questions. I love 7. I need to be able to boot up directly to the desktop I currently have. I need a start button that will give me all the abilities my current one has. I want to be able to go to current programs, change them, and delete them. I need to be able to go to computers to see what is on the disk and to manipulate the programs. I don't see that in 8.1. Why don't they listen to the users that need the functions of 7, not the functions of the social media groupies.

You can use Classic Shell to achieve the things you desire....

 

[goodintentions]

OK, I still have the same questions. I love 7. I need to be able to boot up directly to the desktop I currently have. I need a start button that will give me all the abilities my current one has. I want to be able to go to current programs, change them, and delete them. I need to be able to go to computers to see what is on the disk and to manipulate the programs. I don't see that in 8.1. Why don't they listen to the users that need the functions of 7, not the functions of the social media groupies.

Why not stay with 7 if all you want 8 to be is 7?

 

[Edwin]

OK, I still have the same questions. I love 7. I need to be able to boot up directly to the desktop I currently have. I need a start button that will give me all the abilities my current one has. I want to be able to go to current programs, change them, and delete them. I need to be able to go to computers to see what is on the disk and to manipulate the programs. I don't see that in 8.1. Why don't they listen to the users that need the functions of 7, not the functions of the social media groupies.

All the functions you speak of are working for me here; boot straight to desktop: Task Bar properties>navigation tab.

 

[bgraae]

I don't want to have to use a third party program. I am planning to stay with 7, until Microsoft decides to listen to the millions of users. Especially users that aren't social media groupies but rather want a stable system that functions in the work place, like 7. Perhaps it will take 8.2, 8.3, etc, eventually they will come around, and give us our desk top and start button back. But, why is it always like pulling teeth!

 

[acr731]

I don't want to have to use a third party program. I am planning to stay with 7, until Microsoft decides to listen to the millions of users. Especially users that aren't social media groupies but rather want a stable system that functions in the work place, like 7. Perhaps it will take 8.2, 8.3, etc, eventually they will come around, and give us our desk top and start button back. But, why is it always like pulling teeth!

That's one of the things I dislike about Win 8/8.1. Is it really that difficult to add the option to switch to a desktop with Win 7 functionality and appearance for those that prefer that look? If they did that one little thing I would switch to Win 8, and I assume many others would do the same. Why are they being buttheads and refusing to put it in Win 8 and 8.1?

 

[TerryE]

Add me to that list. It's not what I want, it's marginally better in some areas.

I concur. While it's an improvement, and I hope to see even more improvements in the final version, it isn't enough to lure me away from Windows 7.

 

[brummyfan]

OK, I still have the same questions. I love 7. I need to be able to boot up directly to the desktop I currently have. I need a start button that will give me all the abilities my current one has. I want to be able to go to current programs, change them, and delete them. I need to be able to go to computers to see what is on the disk and to manipulate the programs. I don't see that in 8.1. Why don't they listen to the users that need the functions of 7, not the functions of the social media groupies.

Move the cursor to the left bottom of the screen(or the Start button), right click and from the menu you could perform most of the functions you mentioned.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4503-power-user-tasks-menu-open-windows-8-a.html

 

[bgraae]

Terry, I fully agree. I will stay with 7, until they truly listen and don't true to "improve" with a patch quilt approach.

 

[Mystere]

One more time people. It's not going to happen.

Do you know why it's not going to happen? Because Microsoft has "end of lifed" the desktop as we know it. It's going away. Windows 8 was the death knell. All future releases of windows will make the traditional desktop less and less relevant and less and less functional. Win32 apps will still be supported for a long time to come, but the desktop itself will not be.

Metro will become the desktop.

Now, before you get yourselves in a tizzy, that doesn't mean the Metro we have today will be the desktop. Metro will continue to evolve and add functionality. At some point in the future when Metro is able to do all the duties of the desktop, the traditional desktop will be shut off permanently. This is the direction that Windows is going, and nothing is going to stop that at this point. Microsoft has invested billions into this already, and will invest billions more.

Either you get on board, or you're just going to be frustrated for all eternity.

The reason for this? Because Metro apps can run on any platform. Win32 apps cannot. Metro apps can be ARM based, or x86 based, or x64 based, or Itanium based, or any other processor and memory architecture they want. It can run on phones, or tablets, or desktops, or giant NOC systems with 100 foot screens. There are too many technical advantages for Microsoft in this. Servers are going ARM based, for instance... particularly in the blade market.

This is not just a case of pretty pictures and arbitrary UI choices. There are thousands of technical reasons for these changes and more importantly, there's lots of MONEY behind these changes. These changes will make Microsoft TRILLIONS of dollars over the next 25 years. Staying on Win32 on x86 will not, and will eventually put them out to pasture. They are NOT going back.

If you actually want to be an active part of the future of Windows, complaining about change will not get you there. I would suggest that you instead concentrate on ways to make Metro work for you, and suggestions on how to improve the Metro side of things to meet your needs. That's far more constructive than repeatedly complaining about something that is 100% guaranteed to never happen.

 

[labeeman]

At the rate Window 8 is being adopted it will be an eternity before that happens. That is if M$ still is around.

Operating system market share

 

[Lee]

One more time people. It's not going to happen.

Do you know why it's not going to happen? Because Microsoft has "end of lifed" the desktop as we know it. It's going away. Windows 8 was the death knell. All future releases of windows will make the traditional desktop less and less relevant and less and less functional. Win32 apps will still be supported for a long time to come, but the desktop itself will not be.

Metro will become the desktop.

Now, before you get yourselves in a tizzy, that doesn't mean the Metro we have today will be the desktop. Metro will continue to evolve and add functionality. At some point in the future when Metro is able to do all the duties of the desktop, the traditional desktop will be shut off permanently. This is the direction that Windows is going, and nothing is going to stop that at this point. Microsoft has invested billions into this already, and will invest billions more.

Either you get on board, or you're just going to be frustrated for all eternity.

The reason for this? Because Metro apps can run on any platform. Win32 apps cannot. Metro apps can be ARM based, or x86 based, or x64 based, or Itanium based, or any other processor and memory architecture they want. It can run on phones, or tablets, or desktops, or giant NOC systems with 100 foot screens. There are too many technical advantages for Microsoft in this. Servers are going ARM based, for instance... particularly in the blade market.

This is not just a case of pretty pictures and arbitrary UI choices. There are thousands of technical reasons for these changes and more importantly, there's lots of MONEY behind these changes. These changes will make Microsoft TRILLIONS of dollars over the next 25 years. Staying on Win32 on x86 will not, and will eventually put them out to pasture. They are NOT going back.

If you actually want to be an active part of the future of Windows, complaining about change will not get you there. I would suggest that you instead concentrate on ways to make Metro work for you, and suggestions on how to improve the Metro side of things to meet your needs. That's far more constructive than repeatedly complaining about something that is 100% guaranteed to never happen.

. . .can I get an Amen. . .

 

[goodintentions]

One more time people. It's not going to happen.

Do you know why it's not going to happen? Because Microsoft has "end of lifed" the desktop as we know it. It's going away. Windows 8 was the death knell. All future releases of windows will make the traditional desktop less and less relevant and less and less functional. Win32 apps will still be supported for a long time to come, but the desktop itself will not be.

Metro will become the desktop.

Now, before you get yourselves in a tizzy, that doesn't mean the Metro we have today will be the desktop. Metro will continue to evolve and add functionality. At some point in the future when Metro is able to do all the duties of the desktop, the traditional desktop will be shut off permanently. This is the direction that Windows is going, and nothing is going to stop that at this point. Microsoft has invested billions into this already, and will invest billions more.

Either you get on board, or you're just going to be frustrated for all eternity.

The reason for this? Because Metro apps can run on any platform. Win32 apps cannot. Metro apps can be ARM based, or x86 based, or x64 based, or Itanium based, or any other processor and memory architecture they want. It can run on phones, or tablets, or desktops, or giant NOC systems with 100 foot screens. There are too many technical advantages for Microsoft in this. Servers are going ARM based, for instance... particularly in the blade market.

This is not just a case of pretty pictures and arbitrary UI choices. There are thousands of technical reasons for these changes and more importantly, there's lots of MONEY behind these changes. These changes will make Microsoft TRILLIONS of dollars over the next 25 years. Staying on Win32 on x86 will not, and will eventually put them out to pasture. They are NOT going back.

If you actually want to be an active part of the future of Windows, complaining about change will not get you there. I would suggest that you instead concentrate on ways to make Metro work for you, and suggestions on how to improve the Metro side of things to meet your needs. That's far more constructive than repeatedly complaining about something that is 100% guaranteed to never happen.

Hm... while I'm not disputing your prediction, I'm a bit scared. The desktop has been around long enough for there to be millions of apps specifically written for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm contributing to metro as we speak. Working like a dog to get an app ready for publication.

Having said that, metro sure is a lot closer to lcars than the desktop. My childhood dream is becoming reality.

 

[McRuff]

I know this is Microsoft's dream, but we are not going to give up without a fight. My prediction is their dream will more then likely turn into a nightmare.

Not all of us are Quislings.