Most Windows 8 users never launch Metro/Modern UI apps

[hankchill]

I haven't touched a single Metro app.

I only use Windows 8 because of it's speed, UEFI windows boot manager, and DX11.

Windows 8 with Start8 made it what it should have been; gets rid of all the Metro/Charms and crap. It's more of a Windows 7 2.0

Plus I got it for $14

 

[Fishaman P]

How is this news? It's just common sense.

 

[iFish]

I use Windows 8 on all my Windows machines and I'm a huge fan of it.
Also I do use the Modern UI occasionally. But I really only use Windows for a C# environment via Visual Studio so maybe I'm biased.
But I really do like the modern UI.

 

[BrightNeko]

Is windows 8 really all that bad? I do things on PC plenty, games, shows, what ever. I've been on windows 7 for awhile, how much of a step down is 8? can I not play MKVs or use media player classic? is using my PSP full screen no going o happen anymore? or is installing stuff a plain pain?

 

[nl255]

Is windows 8 really all that bad? I do things on PC plenty, games, shows, what ever. I've been on windows 7 for awhile, how much of a step down is 8? can I not play MKVs or use media player classic? is using my PSP full screen no going o happen anymore? or is installing stuff a plain pain?

That depends. You can't play MKVs or use media player classic in Metro/Modern mode. As for how far of a step down it is, if you use things like start8/classic start menu to stay in desktop mode then it isn't a step down at all though do you really want to have to pay $50 for Object Desktop just to make it work more or less like 7. However, if you stick mostly to Metro/Modern (and treat the desktop as a legacy mode that should be avoided as much as possible) like you are supposed to then it is a huge step down. You can't even choose your own wallpaper image and can't really multitask at all. Not to mention the only browser allowed is IE without any addons or plugins so forget about essentials like adblock. Think Windows 1.0.

 

[RchUncleSkeleton]

Metro is counter-intuitive, if you want to boot any programs/applications you need to switch to another screen or keep shortcuts on the desktop. I shouldn't have to go to a completely new screen to launch an application and I refuse to accept that as standard practice. I still use XP on my personal computer but my buddy uses 8 and every time I use his PC I am annoyed.

 

[googlebot]

I use linux on ALL machines and I have at least 5 years. There is nothing you can't do in linux what can be done in windows exclusively.

 

[mysticwaterfall]

Win 8.1 is now officially bringing back the start button and boot todesktop, preatty much exactly like start 8 works.
http://m.ign.com/articles/2013/05/30/start-button-officially-returning-with-windows-81

As for the topic, I dual boot 7/8 atm. I can't say I use any metro apps, but I do use the start screen as a launcher and the charms bar occasionly.

 

[Magnus87]

Windows 3.1

9X

Windows XP

Windows Vista

Windows7

Windows 8

Windows 8.1 (Aka Winblue)

 

[Engert]

The gay metro screen is not being used?
Shocking !

 

[mechadylan]

Win 8.1 is now officially bringing back the start button and boot todesktop, preatty much exactly like start 8 works.
http://m.ign.com/articles/2013/05/30/start-button-officially-returning-with-windows-81

The boot to desktop will be nice, but this new "Start" button seems like a placebo. I think everyone here knows what the "Start" button (as well as the Window key on the keyboard) used to do on pre OS8. When Microsoft removed the "Start" button, they didn't remove the Window key from the keyboards. The Window key in 8 can be used to bring up Metro and desktop (I've been using "Window+M" to show desktop since about XP and still works on 8.) So now they are proposing to bring back the "Start" button that we have been clamoring for, yet it will do exactly what the Window key in 8 does now?!?!?! I don't think Microsoft is stupid enough misinterpret all of this no "Start" button hubub; but I also don't think they are stupid enough to reincorporate the functionality of the once mighty "Start" button anytime soon into Windows 8.

tl;dr @Microsoft, when we said we missed the "Start" button, we didn't mean its physical presence on the desktop; we meant its functionality.

 

[YayMii]

/snip
tl;dr @Microsoft, when we said we missed the "Start" button, we didn't mean its physical presence on the desktop; we meant its functionality.

The Start button brings up the Start screen...they stopped using the term "Metro" before Windows 8 came out. And exactly what functionality did they remove? It's practically the same thing as the pre-Windows 8 start menu, except it's full screen, has more room for pinnable programs, and requires 1 more click to access non-pinned programs.

 

[mechadylan]

The Start button brings up the Start screen...they stopped using the term "Metro" before Windows 8 came out. And exactly what functionality did they remove? It's practically the same thing as the pre-Windows 8 start menu, except it's full screen, has more room for pinnable programs, and requires 1 more click to access non-pinned programs.

I see what you're saying, and you're correct. Personally, I like Windows 8 even though I've only been using it consistently for the last few weeks. Perhaps, "functionality" was the wrong word as I was merely channeling the thoughts and opinions of some of my fellow co-workers that are lost at times without the pre-8 "layout/form" of the Start window.

 

[gokujr1000]

I don't use the Metro apps because they're usually inconvenient. They cover the entire screen and due to the fact that they don't run via the desktop you can't really work around it as well as you could if it was in a window. I just go straight to the Desktop.

 

[Seraph]

There is really nothing wrong with the Metro "design" other than the fact it is meant for touch enabled devices. It looks sleek and smooth, and seems to be very responsive. A huge problem is, that it really only provides a decent experience with touch enabled devices. And another huge problem is, that the apps just suck (at least with the stock Microsoft ones). They are just so barebones and unintuitive. Why can't I view more info about this mp3 I have or why can't I jump to a page number in the pdf viewer!?

I have no problem with the start menu and apps taking the full screen (depending on what they are) as the time it takes to change focus is probably not that different from me hitting the button/area to switch back to the desktop. The boot to desktop really should have been a given though.

 

[chartube12]

Metro mode was created so you can click off the desktop. And you can. Technically the desktop is still loaded at all times, it being displayed is switched to off. Saving very tiny amount of resources.

I think for windows 8.5 or Windows 9, they will actually make the desktop turned off completely when you run an app or game in "metro" mode. Freeing up a decent amount of cpu and gpu resources for the app or game you're running.

To me it would make a certain amount of sense to have the desktop and related features turned off when running full screen apps. More resources available the better.

I think of it this way, the start screen is really an app tray and the desktop a tray for your most used apps. I treated the start pretty much the same way pre-windows 8. Even in android you can it set the gui is shut down when running an app.

 

[nl255]

I use Windows 8 on all my Windows machines and I'm a huge fan of it.
Also I do use the Modern UI occasionally. But I really only use Windows for a C# environment via Visual Studio so maybe I'm biased.
But I really do like the modern UI.

Even though you have to pay a hundred bucks a year to run software that hasn't yet been approved by Microsoft? Oh, and desktop mode will be gone in Windows 9 and it will be Metro (and their app store, just like iOS) only unless you jailbreak your desktop.

 

[iFish]

Even though you have to pay a hundred bucks a year to run software that hasn't yet been approved by Microsoft? Oh, and desktop mode will be gone in Windows 9 and it will be Metro (and their app store, just like iOS) only unless you jailbreak your desktop.

You're retarded if you think WIndows 9 will drop the standard desktop.
You're crazy if you think Microsoft can afford to do that. They can't, that future won't be here anytime soon

 

[smf]

Even though you have to pay a hundred bucks a year to run software that hasn't yet been approved by Microsoft? Oh, and desktop mode will be gone in Windows 9 and it will be Metro (and their app store, just like iOS) only unless you jailbreak your desktop.

If it's gone you won't be able to jail break it.

I barely used the start menu on windows 7, I used to pin all the apps I use to the task bar. Windows 8 works pretty much the same way, but is quicker and looks nicer.

I can't wait for the start button to come back and for everyone to realise that they aren't getting the start menu back.

 

[nl255]

If it's gone you won't be able to jail break it.

I barely used the start menu on windows 7, I used to pin all the apps I use to the task bar. Windows 8 works pretty much the same way, but is quicker and looks nicer.

I can't wait for the start button to come back and for everyone to realise that they aren't getting the start menu back.

As long as it doesn't require restricted boot on x86 you will always be able to jailbreak it via a bootkit/bootloader hack.