Discussion on:

How to perform four common tasks in Windows Server 2012

I can't confirm this on Server 2012 but on Windows 8 my old favorite of Windows Key + R will give you run as well. I use the run box constantly

especially since there is no start button anymore. I do the same thing on my Windows 8.

On 2012 Server Core I've used also 2 usefull tools: Explorer++ and Notepad++

Windows Server 2012 Charms Bar, really... I am sooo done with Windows.

So is it more efficient to perform these tasks in Server 2012 now? It seems like there's a few more clicks to do the same tasks compared to previous OS versions.

Why on earth did put this IFNAM ["Interface Formerly Known as Metro] on administrators [let alone the regular users]? It's a step backwards. Aside from trying to place a mouse in the corners to get the various hiddeen charms and crap, as Scott Copus mentioned, just about everything requires additional clicking.
Administrators don't need the additional clicks. If they have to disable a users account and it is an emergency, the least amount of clicks are better.
Maybe they'll figure we'll all learn Powershell to makre things a bit faster.

I think their goal is to provide an easy GUI for beginners (since they are removing versions of server include WHS). For experts, MS expects them to use Powershell to configure headless servers. I've always used Winkey+R to open most everything that is commonly used. Given the disabling an account scenario it would probably be easiest if a script was created that accepts commands (enable, disable, add, delete). Basically just create an easier version of what's already provided.

Well, seems like M$ wants the administrators start learning GRAPHIC instead of command prompt, see if you can figure these out by not using the KEYBOARD, when you can monitor your server in Graphic Interface you are level 2 administrators... great !! we once become Level 3 technical support, now using a graphic interface that make us Level 2... how nice was that ? or they want MC-GUI-SE...

For day-to-day server admin we need a sleek & efficient GUI not the metro monstrosity + Powershell. Command line & scripting certainly has it's place but for one-off, uncommon operations a GUI is far faster and can have built-in error checking.

Seriously, most of you sound just like the luddite end users we always complain about... I'll for one will hold judgement until I become completely familiar with the Interface changes and workarounds.

you have to what?... ahh! I see "you need to unbury it from its hiding place" (quoted from article).

As if System Admins had all the time in this world. I would actually like to meet the team that though this through. What nonsense!

One of the reasons we didn't renew SA, why waste money?

If I wanted a Fedora box that I what I would buy. In the world GUI MS thinks we need to move backwards to CLI? As a small business admin, knowning SQL, Power Shell, Cisco CLI and everything else is a nightmare GUI are easy, CLI are not. Is that the point? I get change but wow, its like MS thinks its 1995 when Linux servers didnt have a GUI. I dont get it. this is a small business nightmare. How I can teach an office manager create mailboxes or a new users in Power Shell? Back to Green Screen is not fun.

User interface for which experienced aministrators need to read "How to" tricks for most common tasks is obviously a total failure.
Whoever designed it (and I've heard that it was the same person who designed ribbons in MS Office) should have been fired long ago. Both Windows 8 and Server 2012 are great products, widely improved, but doomed by their tablet-like interface which is just plain stupid for anything else than tablets.