So for those of you that don't know I'm a pretty big ms guy.  But that doesn't mean I love everything they come up with.  I've been very underwhelmed by their mobile performance, as present by me typing this on my iPhone.  But with windows 8 I was hoping to be surprised, sadly I have not. I purchased a new desktop and laptop for work purposes two weeks ago both came with windows 8 installed.  Neither is a touchscreen and for work purposes touch is for lack of a better word, silly.  

When working with an operating system the first two thing that comes to mind are functionality and intuitiveness.  

In terms of functionality windows 8 seems like a step backwards, you expect the normal problems with new drivers for your older equipment but the inability sometime to even get to step 1 of setting up your printer is just plain stupid.  It shouldn't be complicated to get from point a to point b when setting up your system and windows 8 seems to excel at not only keeping you from step to step it makes it hard just to find where to start.  

Also with functionality the dumbed down version of programs in apps is mind boggling.  Why does Internet explorer lose functions in app mode? And why does it look different than if I load it from the desktop? Are these really things they missed in q&a?  I've seen a few reviews that discuss how the start screen is the future, well let me say the future sucks.  I really would like to meet the guy that ran the before market testing, did he kick anyone out that said "hey how do I shut this thing off"?  Or "I'd like to see what I have on my hard drive"?  Operating systems should be simple to the user and complex in its background.  I know the guy behind the development was pushed out for being a complete ass monkey but I can't believe his ego allowed this thing to hit store shelves.  I'm sure in time I will adapt but adaptation should feel like I'm progressing not accepting something that just isn't as good as its predecessor.

I agree. Windows 8 is poorly designed for Desktops. It's very clunky. (As in it takes to much to get from Point A to Point B.)

I agree with you. It seems you have to do more to get to the same place as you would on Win 7.

I thought progress was about making things quicker and easier. . at least where OSes are concerned.

Some good ideas but ...

I have been using Windows since school and I think it is a good idea to skip a release. Windows 95 good, Windows 2000 bad, Windows XP awesome, Windows Vista not so good, Windows 7 brilliant, Windows 8 ...

I disagree. For the most part I like windows 8 on my Laptop. Is it perfect? Absolutely not! But neither was windows 7, or any other Operating system. I think its an extremely lean and mean operating system. My computer boots up much faster than it did under windows 7. There are a few things that they omitted in windows 8 that I wish they had brought back from windows 7 but every operating system wins some and loses others. Overall with some tweaking I think windows 8 could definitively win over windows 7

hmmm seems you're not using the same OS I am using.... I have yet to find someone go faster with same spec on a win 7 to do the same task..... yeah it gets a little use to.... but it's like coming from a left driver seat on an automatic car to a right driver seat on a manual.....

closing apps.... easy just slide them down from top top bottom.... and touch for work is not silly... I scroll with touch a lot... I click a lot with touch.... cause by the time I reach for the mouse put the pointer where I want and click I could have reached for the clicking area on the screen with my finger..... way faster....

while I agree that there is no real incentive to move from win 7 to win 8 if you have a basic desktop or laptop.... saying it is slower to do the same task on win 8 than 7 is just a lack of will to try..... since many people successfully proved that to be wrong...... than again I always thought as great as win 7 was that it was an old-fashioned unpractical OS in a modern world.... a beat like a steam engine maybe a good one but still an old tech...

well I guess some of you guys will need to adapt.... other will go to the competition.... that's how things work.... but I'm pretty pleased about the future MS is building a lot more than what the competition as to offer so far.....

windows 8 for desktops is very bad

I fully disagree with you on everything you said but whatever...

I'm more interested in why you don't like Windows Phone. I know you can just say "no apps" and sound like you have a legitimate reason, but I'm curious if it's actually a functionality thing.

My windows 8 experience: Great

Transition is never easy. Win 8 nailed it for tablets and phones. Desktops will get the proper version next one.

The big complaint is the start button. There are ways to get that back using 3rd party software and people interested in that are doing it.