Windows 8.1 To Let You Shut Down Directly From Start Screen

[drescherjm]

Why are you assuming that everyone would automatically know this?

When I first installed windows 8 I had to google to find out how to power off the machine and its not like I am a novice. I have been primarily a windows programmer (secondary windows and linux system admin) for over 15 years.

 

[heatlesssun]

What else would it do?

There is an option to go to All Apps instead of the Start Screen by default. In All Apps there is now an option to sort by name, date installed, category and most used apps and that applies to Metro apps and desktop apps, that's actually useful. Still full screen but with the ability to use the desktop background and the background for the Start Screen/App Screen it does fit a little better on a desktop and most novice users shouldn't have too many problems finding things, there are now cues for Start and a arrow for switching between All Apps and the Start Screen.

That comes as no surprise.

Come as a surprise to me because when I type "System Info" in Windows 8 search "System Information" is listed in the Apps results.

 

[Qinsp]

...

Yeah you did.


That comes as no surprise.

No, two test systems are parked. The production machine (32-bit) seldom gets used because the techs have a choice of 4 Win7-equipped machines and one Win8. It only gets used when we are really busy, and they don't like it, and I get to hear them bitch "Why did you put that on it??"

You don't find it absurd that when you do a search for system information, Win8 responds with 0 results?

I'm sitting at an XP Legacy machine this minute (app software requirement), and I just typed in system information and get 15 hits, and one is the msinfo32 command.

No shit. XP is smarter than 8. It knows more. If you ask 8 what it's system info is, it doesn't know. Well at least it doesn't know when asked directly.

 

[Qinsp]

..
Come as a surprise to me because when I type "System Info" in Windows 8 search "System Information" is listed in the Apps results.

Nope.

 

[chameleoneel]

When I first installed windows 8 I had to google to find out how to power off the machine and its not like I am a novice. I have been primarily a windows programmer (secondary windows and linux system admin) for over 15 years.

and see, that's where a lot of misguided hate for Windows 8 comes from.

The windows interface has been the same for 20 years. So people assume they know how to use W8.

But it isn't the same. It's not even similar. it is new. You have to learn how to use it! It's not difficult to use, you just have to learn. Once people understand this, they are typically much more agreeable and open minded about using W8.

*note, this was not an attack toward you.

 

[wonderfield]

"That comes as no surprise" means "that does not surprise me". It does not surprise me that Windows Help returns no results: Help has always had inadequate or conflicting coverage.

Come as a surprise to me because when I type "System Info" in Windows 8 search "System Information" is listed in the Apps results.

I suggest you re-read the post I quoted.

 

[Qinsp]

Mouse to right bottom corner.
Search
Type System Info or System Information.

Tell me what is on your screen. Just language packs and a log file.

This is the Win8 CMM controller that nobody wants to use.

 

[Qinsp]

Here's how you get it.
Start Screen
WinKey + Q
Scroll if necessary to right.
Right-Click My Computer
or go through Control Panel Performance.

 

[nutzo]

Yes, and we hate poor design. The start screen takes up the whole damn screen and yet is less functional than the old start menu. Users shouldn't have to hunt around for basic commands strewn across two different interfaces (charms and start screen). Desktop users should have to dick around with 'swipe' interfaces at all. There's no reason they couldn't have made 8 work great on both tablets and traditional PCs, they just didn't bother to put the necessary time and talent into it. I'm not sure why they rushed, my best guess is that they were hoping to populate their app store... that worked out real well. I would also argue that while 'flat' UI's may be the fad right now aero glass was a much nicer looking UI than the ugly flat box interface they've got going on now.

The bad UI just exacerbates the fact that Windows 8 doesn't really provide anything new or compelling to encourage people to upgrade from 7. There's nothing 'fine tuned' about it, the performance differences are negligible. Metro apps are worthless. They're forcing you to buy 8 Pro + pay an additional $10 to use Windows Media Center, despite the fact that it is unchanged from Vista or 7 and was a standard Vista/7 Home Premium feature... Why upgrade? Integrated Hyper-V? You can say that their target is new tablet devices, but nobody seems to want $500+ Windows tablets and so far they haven't been competitive at the low end.

Between Windows 8 disaster and the Xbox One fiasco you get the sense that Microsoft is in trouble. The company needs better leadership and direction at the top.

What he said

 

[Qinsp]

and see, that's where a lot of misguided hate for Windows 8 comes from.

The windows interface has been the same for 20 years. So people assume they know how to use W8.

But it isn't the same. It's not even similar. it is new. You have to learn how to use it! It's not difficult to use, you just have to learn. Once people understand this, they are typically much more agreeable and open minded about using W8.

*note, this was not an attack toward you.

If it takes 2 hours for a tech to adapt (come up to full speed) to Win8, that is $160 here.
I can buy a Win7 seat for less, and pocket the change, and skip the delay.

However, if there was a speed advantage, compatibility advantage, or time saving feature added, Win8 would great.

When software is used to save time (=money) you have justify it.

 

[Low Roller]

It's hilarious that the best selling Windows 8 app is Start8. 8.1 won't go near as far as Start8 in terms restoring features that weren't broken.

Speaking of Start8, it will be interesting to see if that app will continue to function as it currently does with 8.1.

 

[Saabjock]

Hell!
Start8 'fixed' this for me months ago.
Nothing new here.

 

[heatlesssun]

Nope.

"That comes as no surprise" means "that does not surprise me". It does not surprise me that Windows Help returns no results: Help has always had inadequate or conflicting coverage.


I suggest you re-read the post I quoted.

This is all I was saying:

 

[GoldenTiger]

Funny stuff.

Out of 5 people who we put in front of a Win8 machine ...

EVERY one of them ended up having to ask me how to reboot it.

That's 100%, but a small sample.

I had to do a web search to find out where system info was. Win8 Help does not know. See for yourself. It hasn't a clue.

Fascinating, because you just type "system" into the start screen and that's one of the first results under the "settings" area .

 

[chockomonkey]

This is all I was saying:

So much wasted screen real estate.

It's like they took queues from the Skyrim UI developer.

 

[DiabloRojo]

˙dılɟ ɐuuoƃ ɯ,I 'uǝǝɹɔs ʇɹɐʇs ǝɥʇ oʇ noʎ sǝʞɐʇ ,,uoʇʇnq ʇɹɐʇS,, ǝɥʇ ɟI

˙ʎlʇɔɐxǝ sʇɥƃnoɥʇ ʎW

There ya go!

 

[GoldenTiger]

There ya go!

ROFL, well done.

 

[DogChainX]

Why are you assuming that everyone would automatically know this?
I have end users to support that have a hard time finding the power button, yet they are suppose to understand/remember how to swip the right side of the screen to turn off thier system?

I also assume you haven't tried to do this swipe remotely, especially when you're 2 levels deep into remote desktop.

+1

An employee asked if I could help him find a decent deal on a laptop. Found a really nice 17" Dell scratch/dent for dirt cheap, but it came with Windows 8. I was so tired of answering questions about Windows 8 that after a week I told him to install Classic Shell or return the laptop and find something with Windows 7 on it.

If I have to answer dozens of questions about tasks that were simple in Windows 7, there's no way I'm installing Windows 8 EVER in my business.

New software/hardware is great...but sometimes it can be a huge step backwards. Microsoft really missed the boat on Windows 8.

 

[nutzo]

I was actually just wondering this last night.

Does rdp detect the swipe motions and bring up the correct menus in Win8 when remoted in?

In my case it's server 2012, which has the same inteface as Windows 8, and it doesn't work most the time.

Maybe it's because I'm remoting into a 2008 server, then remoting into a 2012 server, and then trying to control some Hyper-V servers

 

[nutzo]

and see, that's where a lot of misguided hate for Windows 8 comes from.

The windows interface has been the same for 20 years. So people assume they know how to use W8.

But it isn't the same. It's not even similar. it is new. You have to learn how to use it! It's not difficult to use, you just have to learn. Once people understand this, they are typically much more agreeable and open minded about using W8.

*note, this was not an attack toward you.

So you would have no problem if you had to re-learn how to drive a car because the manufacture decided to start using pedals to steer and a hand rotary control for the gas?

 

[Qinsp]

Fascinating, because you just type "system" into the start screen and that's one of the first results under the "settings" area .

Nope.

I don't care what's on your screen. I know what's on my screen.

Whatever is on your screen has no effect on any other machine. If yours works, it does not change the behavior of other machines.

Upgrade Win-8 32-bit Pro install over the top of Win7-32 Pro. QC5000, Video Capture, Acrobat Pro Extended, and Office are the only apps

 

[soulman901]

If Microsoft hasn't gotten the message, NO. I want my desktop with my Start Button and Original Start Menu.
People I know directly hate this OS because of the Start Screen.
Microsoft needs to stop trying to act like Apple and then some. I do not want a phone interface for a Computer.
Here's to hoping that Steve Ballmer gets shit canned because of this.

 

[heatlesssun]

So much wasted screen real estate.

It's like they took queues from the Skyrim UI developer.

This has been addressed:

However I believe that Search will be the most controversial thing in 8.1 particularly for those that don't like Metro. Expanded search results now work as a dedicated Metro app and can be setup to do both local and Bing based web searches. Some people are going to love it because of how extensive and well integrated it is into things. Do a search on a singer and you get results that link directly into Xbox music.

However with the ability to resize Metro apps and run them on separate monitors, even some Metro opponents might like this. But the problem is that it does seem to force the use of a Metro app and Microsoft did seem to work on lessening the interaction with Metro in 8.1 with some of the options like boot to desktop. I wonder if there will be an option to bypass the "Search Hero". But still, it's a very slick search system.

 

[mope54]

Mouse to right bottom corner.
Search
Type System Info or System Information.

Tell me what is on your screen. Just language packs and a log file.

This is the Win8 CMM controller that nobody wants to use.

seriously, the lack of technical "skill" of some people on this "tech" site is baffling

 

[chockomonkey]

Here's to hoping that Steve Ballmer gets shit canned because of this.

That's not how it works.

If anything, he'll get a bonus.

 

[chockomonkey]

This has been addressed:

However I believe that Search will be the most controversial thing in 8.1 particularly for those that don't like Metro. Expanded search results now work as a dedicated Metro app and can be setup to do both local and Bing based web searches. Some people are going to love it because of how extensive and well integrated it is into things. Do a search on a singer and you get results that link directly into Xbox music.

However with the ability to resize Metro apps and run them on separate monitors, even some Metro opponents might like this. But the problem is that it does seem to force the use of a Metro app and Microsoft did seem to work on lessening the interaction with Metro in 8.1 with some of the options like boot to desktop. I wonder if there will be an option to bypass the "Search Hero". But still, it's a very slick search system.

What do you do to get the mini search thing instead of the start screen? (i guess they call it a search charm or something?)I did a quick google and the words "swipe," "click," and "tap" were present. Should be all keyboard since you're about to be typing...

 

[schizrade]

Shutdown button? dafuq? People use those?

shutdown /r /t 0

 

[GotNoRice]

But it isn't the same. It's not even similar. it is new. You have to learn how to use it! It's not difficult to use, you just have to learn. Once people understand this, they are typically much more agreeable and open minded about using W8.

Most people buy a computer to use as a tool. They aren't looking to "Re-learn" anything, anymore than someone who buys a new car wants to have to re-learn how to drive. Windows 8 would be like using a touch-screen on your dash to drive instead of a steering wheel.

There are a lot of things in life that have not only stayed the same, but stayed the same for over a hundred years. Things don't need to constantly change "just because", or to fulfull someone's hipster quota.

 

[chockomonkey]

seriously, the lack of technical "skill" of some people on this "tech" site is baffling

It's not about lack of "tech skill"

It's about efficiency. You're about to search, you search by typing. The mouse should not be involved.

Start button > enter keywords

 

[heatlesssun]

If Microsoft hasn't gotten the message, NO. I want my desktop with my Start Button and Original Start Menu.
People I know directly hate this OS because of the Start Screen.
Microsoft needs to stop trying to act like Apple and then some. I do not want a phone interface for a Computer.
Here's to hoping that Steve Ballmer gets shit canned because of this.

I don't think that people hated it so much as there were discoverability issues with it. The Start Button can now be set to brining up Apps by default. It's full screen but it's easy to navigate even for keyboard and mouse users and the sorting options are useful. While it's not the old menu, I don't think most people are going to have much of a problem with it. It simply becomes a full screen app launcher if it's configured to go to Apps by default.

 

[schizrade]

Shutdown button? dafuq? People use those?

shutdown /r /t 0

Sorry that was a reboot.

shutdown /s /t 0

 

[heatlesssun]

What do you do to get the mini search thing instead of the start screen? (i guess they call it a search charm or something?)I did a quick google and the words "swipe," "click," and "tap" were present. Should be all keyboard since you're about to be typing...

Sorry I should have been clearer, this is from the Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview. This search bar can be activated using Windows Key+S or from the Search Charm directly. If you hit the Windows key you go to Apps or the Start Screen depending on how it's configured but when you start typing you get search bar.

 

[dandirk]

If Start8 is the top selling app, that says everything right there.

Right, wrong or indifferent it shows MS did not properly implement their new UI. Whether it be ease of use, training etc.

 

[mope54]

It's not about lack of "tech skill"

It's about efficiency. You're about to search, you search by typing. The mouse should not be involved.

Start button > enter keywords

so the funny thing about this is that the way you said you want to do it involves clicking on the start button (*using a mouse*) whereas me, heatlesssun, Golden Tiger, et al just use the windows button + W (or Q or F depending on what you want to search) to search settings.

 

[Geforcepat]

*Golf Clap*

 

[GotNoRice]

so the funny thing about this is that the way you said you want to do it involves clicking on the start button (*using a mouse*) whereas me, heatlesssun, Golden Tiger, et al just use the windows button + W (or Q or F depending on what you want to search) to search settings.

Pat yourself on the back more?

 

[rudy]

wow -- so we should feel grateful for getting a feature back that's been around for 20 years? this is some shit EA would pull.

Not exactly 20 years ago was before XP and XP has a horrible shut down, you have that stupid confirmations, do you really want to shut down, log off, or whatever? That was probably my favority part about moving from xp to vista.

 

[Spidey329]

I recently installed Win8 on a VM session. It's all we thought it would be. I will say it is very lean and optimized. I'm not sure I like the "squareness" of it compared to the glass-effect of Aero. Oh, and I pulled my hair out until I installed start8.

The advantages of the start-menu for desktop are very apparent. They use this same metro interface on the Server 2012 gui. It's annoying.

To launch an admin tool ..
- Hover mouse over bottom corner
- Click "Start Screen" button
- Look for tool, not there .. click administrative tools
- Browse that and click what you want.

Old way:
- Click Start Button
- Hover over Control Panel > Administrative Tools >
- Click the tool you want.

Real improvement in user functionality. Want to reboot?

- Hover over upper right corner
- Click settings
- Click Power
- Click Shutdown/Restart

 

[Spidey329]

The advantages of the start-menu for desktop are very apparent.

So there's no confusion, I mean the Win7 (traditional windows) start menu here.

 

[ir0nw0lf]

Windows 8.1, aka Windows 8 SBE (Start Button Edition)