W8 initial impressions

We just got our first W8 machine... a laptop... and have a 2nd one coming. So it's time for me to learn something about this new (to me) OS. I'm hardly new to Windows... coming from DOS/OS2 Warp/Win3.x/Win95/Win98/Win2k/WinXP/Vista/W7 and have been a member of the SevenForums for a good while.

I got linked here after searching for ways to close apps (how unintuitive can that be?) other than finding the hand at the top center and dragging it to the bottom of the screen. I guess that works great with a touchscreen device, but it totally sucks on a conventional PC/laptop with a mouse. Fortunately, alt-F4 works... but that is not as nice as having an X button at the top right corner of the app.

I just got through reading this thread for starters:
http://www.eightforums.com/general-...-confirmed-default-boot-directly-desktop.html
An interesting discussion.

Being brand new to W8, I have yet to understand the point of the Metro interface. The first thing that struck me was why can't I click on the Mail tile and setup email as I desire? It wants me to create a MS account. Why do I need to do this and why would I want to create this account? All I want to do is setup email for an end user.

So I just bypassed the Metro interface, went to the desktop and installed the apps and tools that I normally install on a new system. Maybe I'll eventually get it, but the Metro IF just seems to get in my way... admittedly because it was thrown at me with no intro at all... so I really don't know how to put it to work for me.

I'll stop here as I don't mean this to be an exhaustive initial impression first post... but just the first couple of things that stood out to me.

1) what is the purpose of the MS account and why do I need to setup a MS account to use the Metro IF?
2) what purpose does the Metro IF serve on a conventional laptop/desktop PC vs having gadgets/widgets?

Hi there
Wait and see for the 8.1 upgrade --this will make the whole experience far better on a laptop / desktop. Don't base your W8 experience on the current release level as the new preview 8.1 will be out in about 3 weeks --may even be earlier out "in the wild".

They should show dynamically changing events --for example you could have news / market data applications which show continuously updating real time news events or market prices etc -- a bit like the old "Gadgets" were. Currently the metro apps are basically just Cr@plets but they will improve - especially now that you can have them concurrently with standard desktop applications.

The initial set of Metro stuff was basically from Ms -- but they certainly did a HORRIBLE job on the default set from Windows install. You won't need an Ms account once more of these apps are available. I certainly avoid all that stuff too.

Cheers
jimbo

Hello speedlever, and welcome to the very heart of the debate. You'll find here two sharply divided camps, one pro metro, and one anti metro.

Get yourself classic shell and enjoy 8 as it should be.

Thanks for the info jimbo. My first brush with W8 was helping a colleague set up his new W8 laptop a few days ago. So I had a brief preliminary look at W8 before I got the new W8 laptop for my son. I have at least 2 more laptops to set up. The sooner I learn my way around, the better.

It would be nice if there was an intro to W8/Metro and how it is intended to be setup/used on a laptop/desktop PC. Maybe that would explain the need for a MS account. But that Mail tile is useless to me right now. I have learned what I need to know to do what I need to do. I am unconvinced that I know what I need to know to use W8 as it was intended.

I found this guide that may eliminate the issue altogether.
How to banish Metro from your Windows 8 PC forever | PCWorld

I don't want to toss Metro in ignorance before understanding if there's any benefit/purpose for me or my users. I am one of the few who actually like to read the instructions (normally) before trying to make a new gadget work. But nothing comes with new PCs/laptops these days.

Rickkins said:

Hello speedlever, and welcome to the very heart of the debate. You'll find here two sharply divided camps, one pro metro, and one anti metro.

Get yourself classic shell and enjoy 8 as it should be.

Click to expand...

Thanks Rickkins. I don't think I'm in either camp, other than being put off by the new interface with no intro to it or how it should be used. There was no choice in OS when I ordered the new laptops (else I would have stayed with W7). I'm not opposed to learning something new, but sadly, it doesn't get any easier as you get older.

The new laptops are for a couple of kids (teenagers) to use for school work... and also for an elderly person to replace an aging WinXP laptop. For better or worse, I get to be the tech help.

Classic Shell is another option I've bookmarked should we decide to opt out of Metro. But I'd like to give it a chance to sink in before make a decision on keeping it or not. Maybe W8.1 will help in that regard.

Good plan. I did try it on myself, but ditched it after a few days.

I believe you're over thinking it.

Besides Metro UI, there is very little difference from Windows 7 besides performance, driver updates and security behind the scenes.

It took me about 45 minutes and a couple of Google searches before I felt comfortable navigating the few aesthetic changes.