Randy, you raise a good & well-put point.
I for one will admit to making my Win8 Desktop so it works nicely for me.
Quick Launch, yes but, I've always used, liked & wanted QL. For me, QL in Windows8, isn't compensating for anything; it's just something I've always found handy & appealing & will continue to use as long as it's available to me.
Yes, I chose to have the Power button on Desktop, w/out having to do anything to get to it.
I use Desktop Toolbar which, also, has always been available & just as useful now (in 8) as ever.
Yes, I prefer an Applications folder on my Taskbar/on my Desktop... not, cus I hate the Start screen, not cus I can't figure out how to use it but, because, w/ the Apps folder I can stay @ Desktop & work from there. I just can't see bothering going to Start.
And, I still say, Windows8 is a lot more than the "Metro" parts. I don't have or see much interest in the Win8 Start screen, making it hard for me to get upset by it or over it. Hardly ever visit it, doesn't trouble me or get in my way, @ all.
I do see Randy's point, though. Especially if the Start screen is left out of the equation... 1st of all it works fine w/out Touch... & on the surface, that leaves, basically a Desktop, like always w/ a few navigation things that are unfamiliar & not a big deal to learn. Under the surface, there's a lot of 'goodies'. The benefits of these can be seen in practice. Do they mean much to the average user, maybe not. I notice & it's impressive... will 'they' care?, hard to say. There is a lot of tech enhancements that are solely aimed @ & because of Enterprise & business can appreciate such things.
I will keep feeling that ppl are so busy trying to swim through or even stay afloat in that "Metro UI', those so very "troubled waters" of it & I keep wondering why & worrying they aren't seeing the REST of the whole, big, picture that is Windows8.
It is true about market shares & the goal of having an OS good for both Mobile Devices and PCs & laptops. I do not agree that whilst building an OS for PDAs, it renders it no good for Desktops. Nor does it suffer w/out Touch... mouse& keyboard does fine.
I will say & not as a matter of being in denial or feeling there is anything to defend... there is a difference, I believe, between doing a couple things on Desktop to make things individually efficient & convenient and adding things to go retro, trying to make it something it's not.
Actually, as I told Microsoft a couple of days ago, when we were talking on the phone, initially on a non-related matter... MS has possibly hurt themselves or the adoption of Win8 by making ppl think they have to cope w/ this "New Metro UI". Some will think it's neat & cool, many will be scared off or turned off by it and miss all the value there may be in this OS. A big deal over a screen that I'm either removing tiles from it or occasionally doing a search on it... beyond that it gets damned little time, attention or concern from me.
Time will tell how Windows8 is received by the general public and biz, this fall & in several months following the final release.
I have heard/seen a lot from both ends of the spectrum. But, until it's a no choice thing in a new machine, it will be interesting to see if, all the hype about "Metro UI" creates excitement or does sales harm. There's a lot more than "Metro UI" to Windows8.
How that is perceived by the majority, remains to be seen.
Regards,
Drew