It might be supposedly designed for touch but there are still a ton of keyboard shortcuts: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/windows-8-keyboard-shortcuts/ And I'm sure there's more.
It never really disrupts my workflow (if you'd call it that), as on boot it automatically goes to desktop, opens chrome and steam and then Im sorted. Number 1 on my list of things for them to add is a search all function. I find searching for a program (ctrl-p I think) much faster than finding it, but its annoying and pointless having to switch between search modes. Edit: Although this is another win8 thread, its quite interesting that the tone of each thread has changed for the better since release, which I put down to people actually trying the OS properly for a while.
Now that it seams you have that issue with the touchpad sorted (by the way, the touchpad thing.. is a touch pad feature. It does "Win+C" when you swipe your finger. My touchpad doesn't support this gesture. I suggest to sort the Start Screen this way: Everything is sorted from the most used, at the bottom left corner, and the least used at the far right (or that I have it pined on my task bar). Also, notice how I have groups. And how I have folders.... my folders.. folders I use and need often (something that I could not get from the Start Menu). Also notice how I have quick access to my games, without the need to lunch Steam, or wtv, then go on library, and then run it. My layout follows Microsoft intended design for the desktop, for the Start Screen. Green is the most used. For the entire explanation of the Start Screen, and how it was designed, and the thought process. I encourage everyone to read it. http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/10/11/reflecting-on-your-comments-on-the-start-screen.aspx Aside from that. To quickly access the shut down menu: Win+I Search Settings: Win+W Power user menu (customizable menu): Right-click on the Start Screen button/hot corner, or so Win+X and you use use keyboard direction keys to move up/down. Hope this helps. As said, there is a learning curve.. a bit steep, but it's great once you pass over it.
Been using it for quite some time now and I would say I love the way I work now on my Windows 8... Hopefully you'll get used of it also.. Just give it some time and you'll be ok..
This would be my recommendation as well - looks like you've done it already. $5 (£3) to transform Windows 8 into a OS very similar to Windows 7, worth every cent.
Just so you know there were alternatives to Start8 that were completely free and did exactly the same thing.
Well now you don't get to enjoy the kick ass Weather Metro app where you can see Google map style map of clouds, rain, etc. You also don't get to enjoy unlimited free music streaming out of 30 million+ songs library, form the Music app. Nor direct and easy access to you apps, let alone notification of e-mails, news, etc. And you don't get to use kick-ass free programs like News Bento.
I'm not against people installing Start8 or similar, but I do think everyone should give the modern UI a little time first to see if they can get used to it. I looked back at my first comments on the Windows 8 thread yesterday (from the beta version), and my criticisms were similar to most, finding the transition a little jarring etc. but that soon changed, and now I find using Windows 8 on a desktop computer with KB+Mouse and dual 24" screens a pleasure. I don't think MS has gone far enough with the changes to the desktop. If it was more metrofied, the start screen would fit in better. But preserving program backwards compatibility probably limits them here (all programs are designed to use borders for instance). I did install DisplayFusion the other day. I haven't tried it for a while, and wow it's come along leaps and bounds, the options are amazing. One W8 option I've decided to use it to reduce the size of the Scart screen, so that it only takes up half of one of my monitors (kept it full height), and this could help some with the jarring transition. It'll make even more sense when W8.1 hits with the ability to have smaller tiles. This is what my desktop looks like with displayfusion: So my advice, give W8 a fair chance, including the modern UI stuff. If you still don't like it after a couple of weeks, or if you really cannot stand the 'touch stuff', then install a start menu replacement.
Awesome desktops guys! I've been having a rearrange of mine and I'll be doing it tonight once I get my second U23 set up. Also dull, where did you get the Metro tiles for the lies of Chrome and VLC?
I made them using a program called OblyTile, which allows custom tiles to be made. But I also had to make/edit most of the icons in Photoshop. They consist of 150x150px transparent squares, with the logo sourced from multiple icon packs (eclipse2 was heavily used). Alternatively there's an icon pack on deviantart called Metro UI Icon Set, which combined with OblyTile will get you all the common tiles made. This is what my entire start screen looks like:
Some apps are great yes, but most scale really badly, showing very little info on a 23" screen but with huge font. Also, how did you get unlimited streaming, I looked at the music app but I didn't see the streaming anywhere.
First, you need to sign in by clicking on the sign in button, on the top right corner of your screen, in the Music app. You just enter a Microsoft account (live, hotmail, outlook, etc.). Once you do, you just click on ''All music >" at the top (3rd group), or you can search a music by typing, and select the music and hit play.
You are warned when this happens. You probably hit Space or Enter when the message occurred, which click for you "Restart Now".
It said it would do it in 5mins but I had no option to say no, and then just turned the PC off. I thought I would get 'close these programs before restart' message sort of thing.
