If you read my post the other day and decided to test-drive Windows 8 by setting up a dual-boot configuration, you've probably encountered the same conundrum as every other user: How the heck do you shut down your PC?
In pretty much every version of Windows prior to this one, you'd click Start, then Shut Down.
Windows 8 notoriously lacks a Start button, so obviously the old rules don't apply here. More on that in a moment; in the meantime, here's how to shut down Windows 8:
1. Mouse over the little gadget in the lower right corner of the screen. (You can also move your mouse cursor to the upper left corner; same result. Or, you can press Windows-C on your keyboard.)
2. In the slide-out menu (known as the Charms Bar) that appears, click Settings.
3. Click the Power button, and then click your desired action: Sleep, Shut down, or Update and restart.
So, there you have it. In Windows 8, it requires four actions to shut down your PC: hover, click, click, and click.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's always been something of a joke that shutting down your PC required a click of the Start button. Now the joke has turned downright cruel, with Microsoft seemingly going out of its way to hide one of the most basic computing options. In. The. Settings. Menu.
Shutting down a PC is not a setting. It should not require three clicks. Windows 8 arrives with a bunch of cool-looking tiles in its Start screen; how hard would it have been to add a Power tile?
The unfortunate reality here is that Windows 8 doesn't work as a desktop operating system. On a tablet, it's pretty sweet. But I have a feeling I'll be sticking with Windows 7 for a long time to come.
Check back Friday when I'll teach you how to create a Windows 8 shut-down shortcut that works with just one click.
Contributing Editor Rick Broida writes about business and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the PC World Community Forums. Sign up to have the Hassle-Free PC newsletter e-mailed to you each week.
Comments
nate said: or you can just press the on off sithch
Nick Jackson said: I just push the power button on my computer Or close the lid to hibernate
Matt Egan said: Were always pretty honoured that anyone would take the time to comment Heres the thing Microsoft is trying to get into the mobiletablet game and Intel - Microsofts partner - is trying to kick start the moribund laptop and PC market To this end Windows 8 is in some respects a radical departure aimed at creating a whole new raft of tablets laptops all-in-ones and all points in between Get ready for some interesting designs The whole Modern UI looks totally different and benefits from touchscreen etc But the secret good news for regular desktop and laptop users is that Windows 8 is a much more subtle development of Windows 7 very useable with mouse and keyboard and different from Windows 7 only in a subtle change of look and a few different key sequences such as the one addressed by this feature Incidentally Microsoft maintains that the new standby mode uses less power than closing down and booting up which is why shutting down is a little harder to doIm not in the business of selling Windows But I would say that for 25 Windows 8 has made my PC faster and given me access to the Modern UI interface which is making me keen to get a tablet and use apps across both devices And finally I never got Windows 8 until I took the plunge and made it my primary OSIve put a few more thoughts here httpwwwpcadvisorcoukopi And for full disclosure I was gifted Windows 8 by Microsoft
Robin Window said: Hi MattWell honoured to get a reply from the editorNo I havent tried it yet but being a sucker for latest innovations I shall probably buy it if it is sold for a reasonable amount on launch which by all accounts it will be until JanuaryWould rather wait for the final release in hope all funnies will have been ironed out by thenHave no intention of losing Windows 7 but hope to run it as a second boot option if I am able just to try itI certainly wont be buying a touch screen so it will be used with a mouseI get enough finger marks on my phoneFrom what I have seen so far can not really agree with you that its better looking but I always have an open mind
paulkebab said: Never really noticed before but hibernating or sleeping Win7 requires4 steps too- hover click hover click shutdown needs one less step If I had a one-click shutdown I wouldnt be showing it to my partner
Matt Egan said: Have you used it Robin I ask because I have been using it on my desktop PC for a month now and I have to say my expectations have been confounded Windows 8 is to a large extent a quicker better looking version of Windows 7 with the Start menu replaced by the Modern UI Start screen 99 of the time it works in much the same way as Windows 7 with the addition of the Modern UI environment for apps etc
Robin Window said: Well Jason I think Microsoft are doing a pretty good job of alienating itself from the general public all by itselfWindows 8 is basically a tablet or phone system and no discussions or argument is going to alter that
jason oakes said: you people will just not be happy untill you wipe microsoft of the face of the planet
Illusive Man said: Youre an idiot