the mass market never used the old start menu, they used desktop short cuts. We are in the minority, this is why Apple devices sell by the metric fucktonne, they just work and with no nonsense.

11:14 - arqueturus: btw what's your feeling on Windows 8?
11:14 - P: I wouldn't listen to me
11:14 - P: I think everyone's talking bollocks
11:14 - arqueturus: haha
11:14 - P: my experience on Win8 is twofold
11:15 - arqueturus: I'm asking you because I expect a balanced opinion rather than the knee jerk reactions that are rampant
11:15 - arqueturus: so, pony up
11:15 - P: a) for an avergae non-power user it's amazing.  Everything is on screen when you sign in, you get your email/calendar/updates right on the metro desktop.  It's a slightl tie-in to Microsoft services, but there's nothing stopping google & co from changing that, and the average joe just doesn't care.  It's an OS I could give to my grandad and he'd get it
11:16 - P: if you already use/are familiar with Windows Phone 7+, the metro bit is just like that but on your PC
11:16 - arqueturus: I have windows 8 btw
11:16 - arqueturus: I also think everyone is talking bollocks
11:16 - P: for power users: the desktop is still there and works exactly like it used to, so there's nothing you're losing.  It's a lot faster and more resource efficient than Win7 and you can do anything you used to do in it
11:17 - P: the ONE change you get is that your start menu isn't a menu, it's a screen
11:17 - P: but if you're a power Win7 user then you use the keyboard, and you pres Start and type the name of a program
11:17 - P: and that still works in Win8
11:17 - P: the Win8 store is locked down and that is a Good Thing for the same reason that it's a Good Thing that Apple vet apps for the iPad: it stops my grandad installing shit
11:17 - P: but I can still put anything I like on my desktop
11:18 - P: and yes, it's possibly a little over-restrictive right now, but I'd rather they started like that and loosened up than let all the crap in straight away
11:18 - P: Personally from what I've seen (I used the CTPs and the RTM demo) I think it's great
11:18 - P: Intend to upgrade ASAP
11:18 - arqueturus: i have it
11:19 - P: how're you finding it?
11:19 - arqueturus: fine
11:19 - arqueturus: but then, I barely use the start menu
11:19 - arqueturus: in general
11:19 - P: even if you do, it's not that different IMO
11:19 - arqueturus: nah
11:19 - P: just people getting their knickers in a twist
11:19 - P: and personally I think MS have done a great job of making something that works on all form factors
11:20 - P: I've been fine on it w/Mouse & keys
11:20 - P: and on a touchscreen it's ace
11:20 - P: so i just don't get the complaints
11:20 - arqueturus: there are some things they should have altered, for instance hotspots are a bit feckless on none touch screen
11:20 - arqueturus: i upgraded my pc a month or so back
11:20 - P: you've got the instant-response of a mobile OS (the resume-from-standby time is amazing!) and the power of everything else
11:20 - P: by the end of 2013, they'll have the same OS on mobiles as you have on your PC
11:20 - P: that can't be a bad thing

you're all power users

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(Yeah that was something I read way before it came out. But still, the salient bit is that the old UI is there as an entirely discrete and separate option)