Navigating nightmare.

[Spaisekraft]

You don't have to. You can create your own grouping by dragging the apps around into new groups. You can even name the groups by ctrl+scroll to get the condensed view and right click on the group and there is a name function.

View attachment 3616

how'd you get google apps in your start screen? Mine won't show shortcuts to urls.

You need to create a start menu shortcut by right clicking on the app and select Create Shortcuts. Or if is an "App" you want to create yourself open the web page in chrome navigate to tools and select create shortcuts from the tools menu.

Oh, thanks! I thought they removed that feature from Chrome lol.

 

[Ex_Brit]

I found a good one ViStart: ViStart Download - Softpedia But warning, it will install a toolbar which can be uninstalled afterwards in the nromal manner.

 

[kado897]

I found a good one ViStart: ViStart Download - Softpedia But warning, it will install a toolbar which can be uninstalled afterwards in the nromal manner.

I tried it but it partly overlays the leftmost icon on the taskbar. The way around that is to create a dummy shortcut and give it a blank icon. Piin that and move it over to the left and that should do it. In the end I dropped it.

 

[davehc]

At first I hated the new UI but after using it for a couple of days I am beginning to like it. I find the speed of Win 8 CP much faster than Win7.

Same here , it's more fast to find an application in the start page than scrolling down the list of program in Windows 7 start menu.

That would be true if one could color code the tiles for the different types of programs. But if you have a lot of programs (and tiles) it becomes a bit messy. I prefer the toolbar where I can make subfolders and organize the programs.

Well. I am getting there, still needs some cleaning up. I have got most of my programs now in folder names that I am used to.

 

[Ex_Brit]

I found a good one ViStart: ViStart Download - Softpedia But warning, it will install a toolbar which can be uninstalled afterwards in the nromal manner.

I tried it but it partly overlays the leftmost icon on the taskbar. The way around that is to create a dummy shortcut and give it a blank icon. Piin that and move it over to the left and that should do it. In the end I dropped it.

Yes, I sort of managed to fix it that way and with activating a Quicklaunch area then moving things around, but what we really need is a hack to restore the old look which I guess is impossible now.

 

[HPDeskjet]

Yeah I honestly have not experienced one scenario where navigating is faster on W7 than W8 once I got used to the UI and learned some of the shortcuts.

Thank you SO MUCH for showing me Win+C and Win+Q lol. I won't use Win+Q quite as much I think, since I always just hit WinKey and then type the name of my program, but Win+C is super helpful.

Win+X also brings up a handy little menu

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I think you don't actually have to EXIT apps --it's like Android -- when you've finished with an app just "slide it out of the way".

For Desktop users I agree this is very Counter intuitive but surely every man and his dog as has least ONE and probably TWO phones so people must be used to this way of working where you almsot never shut down an android app until the whole phone is switched off (which for a lot pf people means NEVER -- loads of peole probably dont even realize phones actually have an "OFF switch".

Remember this OS wasn't designed as a normal desktop OS. When using it imagine you are working on a tablet or android phone.

My main problem with this edition is in the fact a load of people have said that the video output is limited to a fairly low resolution.

I'm still using the developer preview which I think is great --I'm waiting for people to say whether I should "Upgrade"?? or keep the developer preview.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[kado897]

Try it out in VMPlayer and see if you like it. It runs well there. I think it is better than DP.

 

[Night Hawk]

I was a little bit "inventive" on how to go about finding things you don't see like Start>All Programs>Accessories. Rather then relying on the new Metro Start screen I've been manually digging for executables in order to see some pinned to the taskbar and others added into an addon toolbar.



I even went a bit further locating the Restart or reset, Logoff, and Shutdown eve files and created shortcuts! Compatibility on things is still up in the air however. Some programs will obviously need to see newer versions as you would find with any newer version of Windows.

 

[kado897]

Us geeks can get around these problems but will the average Joe or a Corporate IT department want to jump through hoops?

 

[Teerex]

I got the hang of it but every time I miss the 'swipe' and the charms (recent apps, whatever) dissapear in an instant fills me with anger and UI hate. I shudder to think what it must be like using a touchpad, especially not a HQ one.

 

[Ex_Brit]

No we don't.... ;-)

 

[Spaisekraft]

I don't think you need all these workarounds. For instance, a previous poster had to make shortcuts for shutdown, restart, etc. Most people don't realize that you can access those by opening the charms menu (win+c) click settings, and at the bottom click Power for a list of options.

I haven't seen one feature from W7 that isn't duplicated and in many instances improved upon in W8.

 

[mart4494]

Us geeks can get around these problems but will the average Joe or a Corporate IT department want to jump through hoops?

Unless you've got time on your hands to play around then the answer is a no. And as far as corporate is concerned they will simply stick with what they've already got. It costs fortunes to implement new systems, just look at the number of companies still using Win2000 & XP and they cannot see any reason to upgrade for the sake of it when everything is running smoothly. Unless they can see a financial benefit then what is the point. Eventually the novelty of playing around will come to an end but in the meantime hopefully MS will see the light and offer the classic UI option - don't hold your breath though.

 

[SIW2]

I only have (relatively ) few programs running.

I already have a vast number of things pinned to the metro start menu.

It could soon be hundreds.

Not very practical.

I also do geeky things that need to be done from the Full Scale Interface with proper navigation.

It helps to install Vista start menu ( free ),

Then pin a shortcut for that to metro start menu.

Select the shortcut and you go straight into the full scale interface with the Vista start menu open - ready to take you where you want to go.



However, if you only want to do very simple things - then the metro start menu will probably suffice.

 

[SIW2]

Yes absolutely.

Any CEO will ask

"How is changing all our our systems to win 8 going to sell more of my product"

Answer:

It isn't.

Us geeks can get around these problems but will the average Joe or a Corporate IT department want to jump through hoops?

Unless you've got time on your hands to play around then the answer is a no. And as far as corporate is concerned they will simply stick with what they've already got. It costs fortunes to implement new systems, just look at the number of companies still using Win2000 & XP and they cannot see any reason to upgrade for the sake of it when everything is running smoothly. Unless they can see a financial benefit then what is the point. Eventually the novelty of playing around will come to an end but in the meantime hopefully MS will see the light and offer the classic UI option - don't hold your breath though.

 

[SIW2]

I don't think you need all these workarounds. For instance, a previous poster had to make shortcuts for shutdown, restart, etc.

That is because it only requires one click or touch.

Most people don't realize that you can access those by opening the charms menu (win+c) click settings, and at the bottom click Power for a list of options.

Takes more movements and time .

 

[whs]

Us geeks can get around these problems but will the average Joe or a Corporate IT department want to jump through hoops?

Good point Keith. We are on an exciting exploration trip. But people who run their business with a computer will dread to reeducate their personal. That is usually very expensive.

 

[Teerex]

I can share a tip for us with bigger screens - in Ease of Access section in PC Settings - the 'make everything on my screen bigger' option does wonders.

 

[crawfish]

Well. I am getting there, still needs some cleaning up. I have got most of my programs now in folder names that I am used to.

I have to say, you did cover your whole display area with icons.

The "Metro" interface is completely at odds with how I use my computer. I don't see how it is an improvement or even neutral. It seems to be a misguided disaster. I would need to be taught how to use the thing, because I can't figure out how to use it to any advantage. On my Windows 7 system, my taskbar is three rows high and always visible, with the 50 or so programs I use most pinned to it. I've got a dozen folders to the side in a toolbar, six of which are reminiscent of old Program Manager folders, in that they contain links to all my installed programs I want to be able to run from the desktop, the remaining six folders being frequently accessed file folders. Then there's the notification area, with day name, date, and time, email notifications, etc. Pretty much everything I need is on screen all the time, including when I'm using a maximized program, which is most of the time, it takes up an acceptable amount of space, and it's the most productive interface I've used in 30+ years. It took them 14 years, but Microsoft finally got the taskbar right in Windows 7. But now it's no good, and they gotta replace it with something new and worse, just like a sneakers company. The "Metro" thing is a colossal stupid mode that you always have to traverse to get to things. It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. It makes no sense on a desktop computer. I totally don't get it.