I HATE Windows 8. This is the worst OS ever invented.

You are right for tablets perhaps but definitely not for laptop use without mouse... the charm appears out of no where without any reason and no clue when or when not. The shut down is very hard without a  mouse. You cannot create shortcuts but can see all your programs provided first you return to the clutterted mode, right click and then select. I have no problem with their mail since I use Chrome and I just installed it but I resent having to log on.. I don't want to log on...

The computer is fast, quiet, doesn;t heat up and great... just the interface is a pain... OPTIONS are needed... that's all..

Microsoft needs to give our options back for logging on... that's all. Star8 is great but I still cannnot create shortcuts like I used to...

Microsoft now reminds me of GM and others in the 60;s through the 80's when they designed cars they could rather than what the people wanted... they lost the market and are now coming back realizing their mistake.. Microsoft will have to (unfortunately) travel the same route.

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to give my few points.

1. Microsoft, please listen. If people are having such an issue adjusting to Windows 8, and I have tried to help a few who are, then I suspect that a better way to educate people is needed.  I don't think it is that Windows 8 will not work for people, just they do not know how to use it.  I have read much on the web, watched Microsoft videos, and have not really found a single, easy to follow Web page that adequately introduces people to Windows 8, explaining all that they need to survive it.  I would like to gather a list of good sites to pass on to those who are having basic "getting use to Windows 8" issues, so if anyone has found helpful sites, please post them on this thread.
2. For those who are struggling, I too have been through much pain, but my pain is totally due to my lack of knowledge about how to use Windows 8.  So far of all the issues that I have had have been due to my lack of understanding.  I have only one remaining issue I need to solve, and I believe I corrupted my Windows 8 installation (I cannot get the Apps Store to update apps). 

So please, if you have issues, post the issue and don't vent just yet  (I have vented too, and I apologize to Microsoft and others on this forum for doing so). I expect that most issues can be solved based on the fact that all but one of my issues have been my lack of understanding, not a bug/fault with Windows 8.  Some of the issues we experience will be real faults, so lets give Microsoft and/or hardware vendors a chance to sort out any real issues.

The issue of the Charms appearing even when the mouse is no where near the bottom or top right hand corners, does appear to be a hardware/driver incompatibility as I am not able to reproduce this issue with my Windows 8 installations.  I am sure we will find a number of such hardware/driver/software issues and believe by the time we see Windows 8 SP1 most of not all will be solved.

3. I have not seen many, if anyone other than myself, being concerned about the loss of windowed applications, that is the move away from Windowed applications to the Metro/Modern/UI apps.  I am now using the Metro Mail app for both a personal IMAP and a work Exchange Server email account, neither of which are associated with my Microsoft Live ID, and MAIL works very effectively.  However I really do not like the fact that I cannot use it in a Window, so I have to install a third party email client (Microsoft does give me this choice, I can install and use a third party email client if I want to).
4. As for the Start page instead of the Start Menu, it is not that hard for me to 'Press the Windows Key, click on my app tile, or alternatively, Move my mouse to the bottom left corner, click, then click on my app tile.  This is no more difficult than what I do in Windows 7, Move my mouse to the Start button, click, then click on my application link that I pinned to the Start menu.
5. Counting the steps, I believe there is one more click to shutdown my PC. One more click is not going to turn me off Windows 8.
6. It took me a while to learn how to switch user or to log off, but it is easy once you know how.
7. I added my Microsoft Live ID and was concerned that I could never again log in with a User Account, but in this too I was wrong.  I have not tried to remove my Microsoft Live ID from my Login, can this be done? Any solutions MVPs ?
8. Skype Metro/Modern/UI app is a pain, I too do not want to use my Microsoft Live ID for Skype, and I have not found how to use another account (any solutions MVPs ?). But I did install Skype for the Desktop, so this way I can get back to using Skype in a Window while working on several other Windowed applications, just the way I prefer to work. No loss here.
9. Sadly I really don't think that Microsoft cares about how we like to work in Windows, I am sure they will stick to their "research", maybe we who are frustrated are the 20% in the 80/20 rule. Of course they will listen to "sales figures", so I will be keen to see how well Windows 8 sells, but I am not helping with this as I have purchased three Windows 8 Pro so far ... maybe I should not have done so.
10. I really like the fast, responsive nature of Windows 8, thanks a heap Microsoft for optimizing Windows, you have all done a great job here !
11. How many people have been using Windows 8 on Tablet PCs ?  My eyes are not as good as they were when I was in my teens, and I have found 11.6" screens a bit small and have to use 1366x768 to avoid eye strain. I really would look for a larger screen size. I guess they cannot get much larger than 12" and be easy to carry. A pity these tablets did not come out when I was much younger.   How do people who do not have 20:20 vision find Tablets?  Any comments from person experience would be of interest and help for me.  I have to make purchasing decisions for others.

You said "if it appears to not work correctly" - yet it works correctly for what I have used it for.  What did not 'work correctly' for you?

I know what all the posts in this thread say, and everything the posters had to say. I used a very complicated process we non-phd's in the literary business like to call "reading." Try it, and I bet you too will be able to see what didn't work for me.

Since participation in this thread now appears to require Tape measures, and (unless it surprises us all) no longer has the potential to serve any earthly purpose, I'll be removing my subscription.

I came in here searching for a way to solve the Windows 8 problems, not to call names, posture, and strut around.

J.M.

Shenan, you are completely missing the point... not sure if it is deliberate or just plain ignorance. 

I have been very specific about having no choice as to whether I want to use a log-on or not and as to whether I want to use my Live ID (i.e. hotmail email account) for that. Everythig else is freedom of choice but these have never ever been forced upon us by ANY computer manufacturer before and I bet you that it won't ever happen again either because Microsoft is going to change it--just watch.. like I said.. 1 lawyer is all it takes!

You may call everyone names and try to place them in place but the reality is that while you may be a Microsoft expert in this forum, "we the people" have the power out there to change Microsoft or let them fall... (and that has happened before... just remember that)

As for PhD... given that I have one and you know nothing about me... perhaps the discussion of what PhDs do or do not do shall remain with those of us who have it.

Have a great weekend and enjoy your extra steps of logging on and don't forget who the dictator is, however temporarily so... lol

Cheers!

Yes, you are right. We won't change a complicated operating system of a currently 'designed?' operating system. However, this operating system was NOT 'designed'. It was foisted upon us by idiots that thought they knew better and hoped to get a name for themselves as the next 'Steve Jobs'. The internal wranglings inside Microsoft are apparent to all and no matter what bullshit you put forward is irrelevant. Developers and previous Microsoft supporters are angry at your complete ignorance of our requests for operating system features. The Metro interface is a pathetic attempt to copy Apple. The apps that are available are DIRE and the interface provided is so pathetically designed, it's an irritant (Music apps with no volume control (ffs!) Photo apps with no rotation!) You include desktop app links as Metro (Yes METRO, Your f**k up, not MINE in selecting the name! don't your marketing department research anything?!) Windows 8 has been a marketing disaster from start to finish. Windows RT (Underpowered limited implementation (Not to mention Sinofskys failed demo! Hilarious!)) Windows Surface Pro, (Useless battery life) When are you people at Microsoft going to realise you've been found out? **** Software. **** hardware. Period. Developers left in the lurch as to what is the way forward (.NET)(Silverlight?) Microsoft engineers should be ashamed of themselves to allow the idiot managers within their organisation to dictate policy and allow this to happen. (Bill Gates, you are still Chairman and you let this happen? Shame on you! You idiot!) Windows 8 is SO MUCH a bigger failure than Vista. What a wasted opportunity! (All you had to do was make METRO optional....Simple, You would have had a winner, but no, you decided to force people...people like options , it's human nature, sorry!)

Just so you know - I could care less if Microsoft succeeds or fails.  I have no ties to them.