Comment by bobsy | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bobsy | Hacker News Reader

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What do you love about it exactly?

I find that shutting it down and even putting it on standby requires too many actions.

Metro app's don't fit in with the desktop version, they should run as a desktop app. Running a metro app breaks the Windows key which instead of bouncing you between desktop and the start screen will bounce you between the metro app and start screen..

Multiple monitors. Windows 8 corners become iffy on the join between monitors. (Why not just remove these hover areas?) The start screen seems to randomly choose a monitor to appear in. For some reason my right monitor doesn't have the clock. On the desktop, both monitors have my application icons at the bottom yet the program opens on the last monitor it was opened on instead of the monitor in which you press the button.

I love the start screen. I think its so much better than the Windows 7 start button. I think Windows8 is alright in the same way Vista was alright. It was better than XP but had a bunch of annoyances. I can see why people like Windows 8 but I can't see why anyone would say they love it.

For the Start screen - it opens on the monitor you last did something in "metro" on. For example, if you opened the Charms bar (Win+C or hot corner), and open "Settings," Start will now open on that monitor. You can always force the Start screen to open on your monitor of choice by opening the Charms bar on that monitor and clicking on "Start" or by using the lower left hot corner. However, there's no way (to my knowledge) of doing this with the Windows key alone.

For the taskbar issue, you can change that. Right-click on the taskbar, choose "Properties." Under "Show taskbar buttons on:" select another option. I personally prefer "Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open." But to each his own.

Good luck!

Full disclosure: I am a Microsoft employee.

> Good luck!

Says it all, doesn't it?

Your comment says more about HN commenters than his says about Windows.

> You can always force the Start screen to open on your monitor of choice by opening the Charms bar on that monitor and clicking on "Start" or by using the lower left hot corner.

I wouldn't call that "force". It's more like "constantly remind".

*Correction: As noted by another user, Win+Page Up and Page Down can be used to change the monitor on which the Start screen appears. Apologies for any confusion - I forgot about this hotkey.

I find that shutting it down and even putting it on standby requires too many actions.

Which is what finally got me to start using the power button, which is still just one action.

That kind of defeats the purpose of having software controls. You can as well unplug the whole thing or remove the battery violently on a laptop and claim "it's still as straightforward as before!".

How do you interact with software? With keys/buttons. Think of power button as another key. Microsoft conditioned all of us to never ever touch that power button, but it is all right now. I promise.

The power button is a software control. It generates an interrupt, and the operating system shuts down the computer. For all purposes, the exact same deal as if you hit the software power button.

I know what you mean, but a button is a physical control nonetheless. You are just playing with words :)

How is it different from a key on a keyboard, or a mouse button on a mouse?

Not exactly. When you consider the legacy Desktop also as an app, the behavior is consistent. Windows key just swaps between the start screen and the current app.

Start screen appears on the last monitor you launched the modern app or charms.

For switching Start screen between multiple monitors, try Windows + PageUp (or Windows + PageDown).

You can change the taskbar settings. Right click on taskbar -> properties -> Taskbar where window is open (under show taskbar buttons on).

> I find that shutting it down and even putting it on standby requires too many actions.

Make sure no windows have focus (i.e., click on the background) and hit ALT+F4. This also works in vmconnect and remote desktop windows, where hitting the corners is near impossible.

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