I can't speak for everyone, but the vast majority of people (forum posters) I have seen complain about W8 either 1)  have made statements clearly indicating they haven't used it at all or 2) haven't learned how to perform a certain task in W8 and thus improperly criticize it...there also have been scathing reviews of W8 that make completely inaccurate statements about W8 functionality, giving many people a false sense of understanding when they discuss W8 without actually using it...

I can understand and respect why someone from a more "production perspective" may not like W8, but judging by the statements many W8 haters have made in this thread and others, most of the critics that really irk me are not coming from that perspective....

That someone doesn't like W8 doesn't bother me, but it is without a doubt quite prevalent to see criticism for W8 coming from people who truly don't know what they are talking about...in essence, there a few legitimate gripes amidst a sea of ignorant complaining....

I really hope so... I will be happy with advances I can actually use. I am a Windows user through the years... not a "whiner". I used Win 7 beta for a year and a half before the gold code was released and there was a real sense of fun about it. I have never used a better system. It wasn't like, Oh I will get used to these changes, or I will learn to like it... I instantly loved it. I tried Win 8 beta and instantly hated it. Every time I get the opportunity to use its gold code I hate it even more. I'll admit 7 is a tough act to follow, but it should not be a step backward or something I don't enjoy using.

With a minor few exceptions, you being one of them, most of the people bitching here do fall in to the category of "afraid" or "not tried it properly".

(as was stated in #136)

Oh, on a side note. You can pin a folder to the start screen. The traditional start menu is located at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. I just navigated to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\, right clicked on the programs folder and chose pin to start.

You can't organize your Metro apps into folders ala iOS.

Why would you want to?  I find grouping them on the start screen perfectly acceptable since having them in 'folders' would just necessitate an extra click/tap and we're all about eliminating that.

That was me.  Because you were talking about all the extra steps...which aren't necessary.  I'm confused now...not sure how that trivializes anything.

I mean I know I'm an ass and all and it is yet another example of hidden yet learnable functionality, but I think that's pretty valid.  It's exactly the same method you search in Win7.

Oh, good show.

Relearning 'functionality'....now that's definitely going to assist productivity....

My main issue behind the whole direction MS has taken with 8 is that after all these generations of MS OS the 'change' is now revolutionary, not evolutionary....and it is ALL at the expense of the computer user in deference to the idiot trinket users of phones and pad interfaces.

Why couldn't the toy-users be made to learn a real OS interface rather than the converse?

The reality of LEGITIMATE complaint re the revolutionary change is plain and evident and hasn't been seen in such vehement diatribe before in any other rendition of a MS OS.

Microsoft has simply said 'fuck you, deal with it' to all its current [and future] customers.  That's fine...they're allowed to.  Just don't classify all who disagree with the process as 'ignorant complainers'.  Just because someones opinion doesn't match YOUR interpretation of reality doesn't make them ignorant.  They may actually have a firmer grip on reality than you.

Once upon a time some clever-dick had the notion of using aircraft-style sticks in a car in place of the conventional steeringwheel.   That went well.

Not every new idea is a good idea.

one more tap. i think that's better than one or more swipes.  

maybe they can't do folders beacuse of the live tiles, who knows ...

That's just it though.......evolution in technology is good and all but sometimes it takes revolution within technology to effect real change once one 'evolutionary path' has been maximized.  Win 7 may very well be the 'best' start-button driven OS there ever was.  While there were only desktop computers, and integration with phones (tablets were just a gleam in the nerd's eye) was just for the hardcore nerds to show off, evolving the start-button platform not only made sense, it was the only sound business decision.  Now that integration, cloud-computing, and presence detection are not only the buzzwords of the day an OS revolution is exactly what the doctor ordered!   This tech revolution is telling us (gently.......or not!..hehe) that the 'start-button'  (and its antiquated desktop OS) isn't going to cut it moving forward.  So........in keeping with 'evolution'.......we users must also evolve.......or get left behind.

EDIT:

At this point, I would put forward that more than any other 'choice', the average person is being tasked with choosing an eco-system, not an OS or even hardware platform.  When choosing an eco-system I believe most average people will choose based on 'integration' between devices.  Seems to me that's where MS's focus has gone.......can't really fault them imo......

Which is exactly what people said with Vista, and yet here we are...with 7 likely being the most popular OS in their history.

Really, this conversation goes in circles...around and around and around and around and we've probably said what there is to say.

It was probably the same conversation people had when XP was the new thing, and the same conversation people had when 95 was the new thing, and I don't know.  I try not to remember that far back.

Anyway, since this conversation does go in circles I feel like I've wasted enough of my life with it.  Time to go do something awesome.

No, Vista wasn't Revolutionary...it was definitely evolutionary.  Its only failing was it was released half-baked.  Win 7 is simply Vista with the correct lead-time.

It wasn't, which is exactly my point.

Re the_Monk's edit....yes, MS decided it was the current Windows users themselves who would be the ones required to bend to their [new] direction.

Integration and commonality at ALL costs.

I would disagree with you, since they replaced the graphics system, the sound system, the networking code, and pretty much everything.

Sure, the UI was evolutionary and a giant convoluted mess with tens of ways to do pretty much anything, the rest?  I don't agree.

http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-is-the-new-xp-7000006095/

So what happened to Windows XP? How did its reputation improve after those early scornful reactions?

Mostly, it was time that did all the healing. As consumers picked up new PCs running Windows XP, they got used to the interface. Microsoft released a series of service packs that fixed bugs and (notably with SP2) improved the generally woeful security of the initial release. People got used to the bright colors of the "Fisher-Price interface," and eventually it didn't seem so garish.

But I'm not here, so I won't disagree with you.  

I don't know, I think XP is still neck and neck with 7 according to usage statistics.

The 'scornful reactions' to XP were to the childish Fisher-Price look easily overcome with WB, etc., not with its mechanics.

Arguably each subsequent rendition of the MS OS became easier to work with, not holding your testicles in one hand and slapping you with the other until you submit....

It being the choices of the greater 'connected world' influencing their future tech plans, I don't believe it matters who or what is required to bend.  The 'world' wants "integration and commonality".......one way or another the world is [going to be] getting what it wants.  Again, one can't exactly blame MS for changing with the world.....