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[FSLink]

What do you mean? They are asking how to switch from Metro to desktop mode, correct?

And in addition to that, is there any way to set desktop mode as the default on startup?

Outside of 3rd party programs (Stardock's Start8 does this), no, there is no way to make it desktop mode on default.


I've used Windows 8 for awhile now and yeah, Metro seems awful for the business consumer, but outside of that, it works pretty well for home use. You have simplified "apps" for those people who like it, and for those who don't, it's really no effort to click the Desktop app and get to basically Windows 7 + slight enhancements. The app store is currently pretty barren, kinda obvious they rushed it, but I'm sure it'd get better in time. Also, the extremely fasat boot time with Windows 8 with my Solid State drive is well worth the upgrade to me in my book, lol.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

It's obvious that the desktop became a second class citizen in Windows 8. I don't support that, so I will definitely be skipping the OS.

 

[BocoDragon]

By the way... Everyone's saying "it's only for tablets/touch" etc etc.

But there's another utility: Metro is awesome when you have your PC hooked up to a large HDTV display.

If you are using a PC as "the 4th console", hooked up to a TV, Metro and it's apps are ideal. It's the desktop environment that is wonky on a big screen.

 

[kruis]

Forcing yourself to use metro apps on a desktop probably would be a terrible computing experience. I'm not sure why he didn't just do what seemingly every other desktop Windows 8 user does -- ignores Metro for the most part, continue using the desktop and the same apps they always used in Windows 7 for email, media, gaming, instant messaging etc. Metro apps aren't forced on you.

If you're not going to be using any Metro functionality or you intend to avoid it as much as possible, you might as well skip Windows 8 entirely. The few benefits aren't worth the aggravation of using this Frankenstein OS.

 

[Sentenza]

You're Being Lied To: Windows 8 Isn't Bad For Gaming

Yeah, *that* is a terrible article.

 

[kruis]

By the way... Everyone's saying "it's only for tablets/touch" etc etc.

But there's another utility: Metro is awesome when you have your PC hooked up to a large HDTV display.

If you are using a PC as "the 4th console", hooked up to a TV, Metro and it's apps are ideal. It's the desktop environment that is wonky on a big screen.

Pfff ... Steam will have a TV mode in the very near future.

 

[Gemüsepizza]

Those buttons look sort of awful, though.

That's from a netbook, here is a screenshot with "normal" resolution from another thread:

I think it looks quite nice.

 

[Quadrangulum]

I don't even care if the complaints about Windows 8 are exaggerations. I've never been as satisfied with my OS as I am now with Windows 7.

 

[Gattsu25]

Those buttons look sort of awful, though.

Yeah, it's like the start screen on chrome only uglier and less functional.

 

[Rebel Leader]

I don't even care if the complaints about Windows 8 are exaggerations. I've never been as satisfied with my OS as I am now with Windows 7.

Windows 7 reminds me of how windows XP felt and responded

 

[BocoDragon]

Pfff ... Steam will have a TV mode in the very near future.

And how are you gonna navigate to steam? Doubling clicking on tiny icons from 10 feet away? Metro is better for launching applications from far away. The Steam TV interface will only compliment it.

I'm curious, is this how you felt about Vista too? Because Vista isn't worth wiping my ass with.

No, Vista was bad. Because it had driver issues, crashes.

Win 8 is incredibly solid... Even if you just use desktop. It's also got desktop improvements like better mass file movement/copying.

 

[Satchel]

I'm surprised Microsoft didn't just "Metro up" the traditional desktop in a similar way to how they Metro'd Hotmail.

Save full blown Metro for Windows Phone and Tablets.

 

[InaudibleWhispa]

If you're not going to be using any Metro functionality or you intend to avoid it as much as possible, you might as well skip Windows 8 entirely. The few benefits aren't worth the aggravation of using this Frankenstein OS.

That's very true, whether the speed benefits and the other tweaks and additions are worth upgrading is going to depend on the person and the price available to them. I'm just saying that it's easy to not use Metro for anything other than program launching (i.e. a start menu replacement) and still spend 99.9% of your day in the desktop like you do in Windows 7. Most people won't feel the need to upgrade. I won't upgrade. But when I buy a new PC that comes with the OS, I certainly won't feel the need to uninstall and downgrade.

 

[Uno Venova]

If you're not going to be using any Metro functionality or you intend to avoid it as much as possible, you might as well skip Windows 8 entirely. The few benefits aren't worth the aggravation of using this Frankenstein OS.

Yes exactly, the new task manager is nice, and a faster boot time is okay but win7 already boots up pretty fast, those don't cancel out the drawbacks like the loss of a start menu at all.

 

[Brazil]

That's from a netbook, here is a screenshot with "normal" resolution from another thread:



I think it looks quite nice.

Yeah, that doesn't look so bad.

 

[Gemüsepizza]

If you're not going to be using any Metro functionality or you intend to avoid it as much as possible, you might as well skip Windows 8 entirely. The few benefits aren't worth the aggravation of using this Frankenstein OS.

Windows 8 has some other features beside Metro, like faster boot time and easy-to-use encryption with Pro, better task manager and a few others. I would not buy W8 at full price, but 15 euro for an upgrade or a free version via MSDNAA or when buying a new PC/laptop seems like a good deal.

 

[Rlan]

I've been using Windows 8 for some months now, between the two preview types, and love the new start menu. I use Gmail anyway instead of my local mailbox anyhow.

The main issue I've had is that the right side charms are a pain to get to because of my dual screen setup, but most Metro apps appears to be implementing a "Start writing, instant search" mentality for Desktops, so that's fine.

 

[Shambles]

It's so cool to hate on what's cool to hate.

 

[Exuro]

Pfff ... Steam will have a TV mode in the very near future.

Yeah, and it'll have both kbm and gamepad support. Potentiall much better than using Metro imo.

And how are you gonna navigate to steam? Doubling clicking on tiny icons from 10 feet away? Metro is better for launching applications from far away. The Steam TV interface will only compliment it.

What are you talking about tiny icons? Heck, Steam already has grid mode that can make your icons bigger than what Metro has currently anyways.

And clicking? lol I'm going to use a controller.

 

[Gattsu25]

And how are you gonna navigate to steam? Doubling clicking on tiny icons from 10 feet away? Metro is better for launching applications from far away. The Steam TV interface will only compliment it

By setting steam to run in Big Picture Mode and then having steam start at startup?

 

[br0ken_shad0w]

By the way... Everyone's saying "it's only for tablets/touch" etc etc.

But there's another utility: Metro is awesome when you have your PC hooked up to a large HDTV display.

If you are using a PC as "the 4th console", hooked up to a TV, Metro and it's apps are ideal. It's the desktop environment that is wonky on a big screen.

Metro doesn't have gamepad support and can't be opened on the secondary display (only defaults to primary). Boo!

 

[SapientWolf]

And how are you gonna navigate to steam? Doubling clicking on tiny icons from 10 feet away? Metro is better for launching applications from far away. The Steam TV interface will only compliment it.

Typing the app name into the convenient start menu with a wireless keyboard.

 

[Wuthering_Heights]

I wonder if Windows 8 will take the crown from Vita as the worst product launch of 2012.

 

[Tellaerin]

I think it's fine.

People just don't like change.

If you started on this... Or you were more open-minded to change, it would be seen as a fine OS.

Tell me what these changes actually improve, and I might concede the point.

Most things can change for the better, but change for its own sake - particularly when those changes make things more awkward to use - is hard to justify. I'm not seeing how this interface makes anything better for the average desktop user, and it actually seems to make a whole lot of things worse.

 

[Smash88]

There were benchmarks for Windows 8 vs. Windows 7 in which they are pretty much equal in terms of gaming, and everything else.

The only thing Windows 8 is good at is boot times and shut off times, but that becomes moot when you use an SSD.

So really W8 has nothing going for it. Looks like I'm waiting for Windows 9.

Also bringing in TABLET functionality to the Desktop/PC is the most idiotic thing I've ever seen.

 

[injurai]

It's so cool to hate on what's cool to hate.

People don't like when change trumps familiarity. Microsoft gutted tried and true features like the start menu in win8. I think its justified why people feel this way.

 

[Ingueferroque]

I was amazed at the lengths I had to go through to make Dark Souls work with GFWL when installing it on a fresh system. Ludicrous.

 

[Nekofrog]

Pfff ... Steam will have a TV mode in the very near future.

TV mode for steam was announced YEARS ago and we haven't heard ANYTHING about it since.

Very near future? No.

 

[Haunted]

Windows 8 comes out in just under two months - it’ll be available from October 16th. You should not buy it.

Don't worry, I won't. It's clearly designed for tablets, but not optimal for kb/m use. I think pretty much every account I've read, regardless whether the ultimate verdict was savagely negative, mildly annoyed, or paid for by Microsoft, has noted that.

I'd definitely install Windows 8 if I had a touchscreen monitor. I don't, so I won't.

 

[Xyphie]

It's pretty unfortunate how much FUD Windows 8 is receiving from the tech media, much like Vista (which was better than XP in every possible way if you had anything but a crappy low spec OEM computer). No doubt we'll see an exodus of people downgrading to Win7 for no rational reason when they buy a computer with Win8 pre-installed.

I've been using the RTM release on my desktop since it went up on DreamSpark and I don't see how it's anything but a Windows 7 with a few extra features (better multiple monitor support for example) if that's what you want it to be. I have a total of 0 WinRT applications pinned to my Start screen. The only thing I use it for is search and for applications which I can't justify pinning to the regular taskbar because I use them irregularly. I never used the Start menu with Windows 7 because I hated digging through the menus.

 

[lexi]

As it stands, windows 8 fails as a business, enterprise-grade desktop OS. Its totally fine for home users and the like, but I cannot comprehend why Microsoft think their MILLIONS of legacy and enterprise users would want anything to do with that avant garde UI.

(A UI that I think works great on phones and tablets btw)

 

[Exuro]

TV mode for steam was announced YEARS ago and we haven't heard ANYTHING about it since.

Very near future? No.

They announced the beta for september and even showed off some pics, so yes.

 

[Woo-Fu]

That's from a netbook, here is a screenshot with "normal" resolution from another thread:



I think it looks quite nice.

I think it looks like something designed by Fisher Price for toddlers.

 

[kvn]

Brilliant.

 

[Gattsu25]

TV mode for steam was announced YEARS ago and we haven't heard ANYTHING about it since.

Very near future? No.

Go to gametrailers.com and catch up.

The month is currently August and the year is 2012.

Just thought you should know.

 

[Divvy]

Yay another FUD article

 

[BocoDragon]

You can find posts by me raging against the loss of a start button months ago.

As someone who has used the Win 8 release preview for months now, I can say: I was wrong.

It makes just as much sense to have a big full screen app launcher (Metro) when you want to run something, rather than a tiny Start menu with an annoying series of nested folders you have to hunt and peck through to find your apps. Metro is more like the Win 7 taskbar model, where you pin things you want to it. Who needs to pick through all the clutter that came along with installing applications (uninstallers, readmes, etc?) just show me a big grid of applications and I'm more productive in launching what I want.

And as far as launching it without a button: putting the mouse in the lower left corner accomplishes the same thing without cluttering up the taskbar. Or the Windows key on the keyboard, which has been given an actual use after 15 years by bringing up/hiding the Metro screen.

 

[Haunted]

That's very true, whether the speed benefits and the other tweaks and additions are worth upgrading is going to depend on the person and the price available to them. I'm just saying that it's easy to not use Metro for anything other than program launching (i.e. a start menu replacement) and still spend 99.9% of your day in the desktop like you do in Windows 7. Most people won't feel the need to upgrade. I won't upgrade. But when I buy a new PC that comes with the OS, I certainly won't feel the need to uninstall and downgrade.

Very true.

That said, I'll probably save 80 Euros or so by buying a new PC without an OS installed and use my Windows 7 disc instead.

TV mode for steam was announced YEARS ago and we haven't heard ANYTHING about it since.

Very near future? No.

Good news!

 

[Gemüsepizza]

I think it looks like something designed by Fisher Price for toddlers.

You can change the theme/colors.

 

[Zeal]

I have never uninstalled a Windows OS, but 8 was so terrible that I literally had to format the drive to get all of its garbage out from being mixed in over Win7.

I don't see how you go from a wonderfully solid and simple OS like 7 to something that's even hard to use for a touchscreen. The entire Metro design is an abomination.

 

[Windu]

all of my games work in windows 8, all of my applications work in windows 8, i can search like I have since Vista to find stuff that is not a shortcut on the desktop or not pinned to the taskbar. I honestly do not use 8 any different than 7. And i feel sorry for anyone that used the start menu for anything other than search.

Windows 8 to me is basically Windows 7 with more functionality.

 

[R3TRO]

Hmm...Been ok for me, just had to get used to it.

 

[PaulLFC]

Is the ideal alternative to boot to Windows 8, switch to desktop mode, and then run the legacy applications? (assuming that's possible, I haven't used Windows 8 yet)

The "smart" answer would be "use Windows 7", but yeah, your solution is what I'd do if I had to use Windows 8. I'd also install Classic Shell to get the start button and Windows 7 start menu back.

The quote in the OP about Metro being great for touchscreens but pointless for mouse and keyboard is exactly how I feel, and why I don't like being forced to use it. The desktop worked absolutely fine - there was no need to stop using it, and indeed it is still in Windows 8, just with Metro clumsily glued on top holding a sign pleading "look at me!". For me, Metro on desktop is an irritation that shouldn't be there. I don't see what Metro "fixes" that was wrong with the desktop - all I see is an attempt to standardise the UI across Microsoft products, when I can't think of a single reason it needs to be done. The desktop worked fine, was universally known amongst PC users and didn't have any issues that Metro has fixed, from what I could see. It's just needless, and an irritating annoyance when trying to use a PC with an OS that's designed for mouse and keyboard.

 

[Durante]

Am I the only one who actually liked Aero Glass and is annoyed by the downgrade in window style?

 

[Shaheed79]

Every other OS MS makes almost seems like a test to see how many people they can get to vouch for a poorly integrated GUI. Back when Vista came out many forum regulars swore by it.

The biggest advantage Windows has is its familiarity by its users. Take away the familiarity and even more people will jump on the macbook bandwagon. Windows 8 should be a refined version of 7 with a decent firewall and malware and virus protection built into every version.

 

[Osiris]

Here's a few tips for those like me who are sticking with Windows 7, but want a few of Win 8's benefits.

For better Multi-monitor support: UltraMon
Adds "Move to Monitor" widget to the normal Minimize/Maximize/Close widget to easily move windows between various monitors, also adds the same option to right-clicking the program in the task bar, it additionally changes Windows 7's taskbar so that each monitor has it's own taskbar, and apps will minimize to its monitors taskbar, similar to Win 8


For a better Task Manager: Process Explorer
Fully replaces the default taskman.exe and provides a much greater level of information and control over your running processes.

And as far as launching it without a button: putting the mouse in the lower left corner accomplishes the same thing without cluttering up the taskbar.

Unless of course you happen to have a triple monitor set-up, in which case putting the mouse in the lower left corner (or any corner for that matter) can become a major irritation unless you're willing to slow your 1000dpi mouse to slow-as-molasses speed.

 

[BocoDragon]

What are you talking about tiny icons? Heck, Steam already has grid mode that can make your icons bigger than what Metro has currently anyways.

But how'd you get into Steam in the first place? .. Double click a shortcut, or click a quick launch button? In any case you had to do something on a desktop, which is awkward for a big screen display.

So Steam's making a big picture mode? Great. It'll go perfectly with the big picture mode on Windows 8: the Metro interface.

Metro is useful to launch steam. Its also good if you want to leave steam and launch something else. And all the Win 8 apps are ideal on a big panel display too.

 

[Mr. F]

Windows 8 is alright, I haven't had any glaring issues with it so far. I'm mostly ignoring the Metro interface, but as far as launching applications goes it's just as easy as I've been used to in Mountain Lion with Alfred (windows key + start typing).

 

[Uno Venova]

Am I the only one who actually liked Aero Glass and is annoyed by the downgrade in window style?

I like it too and it looks more cohesive. The look of Win8 is isn't good, it's flat but still has metro elements when minimizing and starting apps. It especially looks worse after seeing all the metro mockups people did that looked 10 times better.

 

[thepotatoman]

Yeah I still look forward to using it with something like an HP Touchsmart. Laptops aren't very portable when you have to plug a mouse into them and an iPad is just limited compared to an open windows os. But even on my laptop i split my screen up with 2-3 windows all the time, especially for work related stuff, and Metro doesn't really do that.

But having it installed for a month on a machine with no touch screen really taught me how much worse the windows 8 interface is. And its not just because the buttons are bigger. Things are hidden behind so many weird menu options that make no sense. Even when you learn where things are it doesn't feel intuitive because having you're having to jump into a full screen version of what used to be a small window in order to do a lot of thing.

I did like how a right click on the lower left of the screen brought up a list of common advanced features like command prompt and disk manager. But that also shows how randomly everything is hidden.