I didn't really want to be involved in this thread, as the arguments tend to be repetitive. But, I became confused by the terms being used. I am not pointing fingers, and do not disagree with one or two of the comments but, to clarify (for me!9 what do the posters mean by "Apps". Do you mean the pure "metro" apps or something else? In this context I will not refer to the OP. Dragon is possibly a separate problem.
If I may take the liberty of a couple of quotes.
Post #4. "My Windows live mail won't work as an app but works fine from the desktop" Could you expand on that., Mike. I have Windows Live Mail pinned in the Metro screen. It works fine from there. Maybe I misunderstand you?? Cant comment on FreeCell. Which one is that, Mike. I would like try it and see if I get the problem.(?)
Post #5 "There seem to be few apps that can be opened from both, and those just do not seem to work as I want on the Win 8 Style UI (IE 10 for example)"
All the "apps" I have installed on my Windows 7 computer, I have now installed on Windows 8 and pinned in the Metro. They are all working 100% from there. 36 of them, mostly little used, but there for test and comment. I agree with your comment on IE10. The Metro style does not suit my way of operating on the web to any degree, so I use the desktop version.
Post #6. "How does MS expect new users to understand that applications installed on the desktop don't work in Metro apps? "
Again, not sure what you mean? As I have just commented, I have not yet found a desktop app that will not open from a pinned item in the Metro.
For that matter, how can I explain to my wife that there are actually 2 versions of IE "
Show her both, and let her decide which she wants as a default.
"If MS gives my blessing to install desktop applications, it has the responsibility to ensure that they work in all areas of the OS. "
Again. Which ones are giving you problems?
Post #7. To be fair, I have tried, well before Windows 8 was even a dream, other Email clients and have rejected them all, for various personal reasons. Outlook Express suited me but, when it was made redundant, I moved on, and liked, Live Mail. One swift tryouy of the Metro mail application did not show me any merit in moving over to it, so I remain with Live mail - works for me. It is a shock that Ms have ignored Pop3 protocol. It must surely have been a total oversight on someone's part. I am totally unaware of how Email systems work in the US, but possibly Pop3 is becoming old hat?
Thinking back, For real newbies, I am sure that, even as long ago as XP or before, after installation it must have been difficult to assess how to get things going, or install third party apps. From that point of view, assuming Windows 8 newbies have had previous experience with earlier OSs, I cannot think of anything simpler than clicking a large icon marked "Desktop", and finding themselves in more familiar surroundings. Yes. at that point, it has been a big mistake of MS not to have the old start menu readily available.
Mikes last sentence would have been an excellent improvement. Similarly, from my own working point of view, I would have been happier, if I was returned to the metro screen after closing an app, as I now use that as my Start menu. I understand that, in the promised large SP next year, this will be an option. I know that it is a simple matter to click the Windows key and be back there - no more of an ordeal than, in Windows 7, clicking the start orb to get back into the start menu, I suppose.