The supposed PC desktop on Win8 (as opposed to the Tablet type that is the default) provides a "search" box for programs but this pre-supposes you know the name of the program. This is not as user -friendly as a drop down list(s) and it reminds me of the HUD thing in Ubuntu 12.04. Why put a Tablet layout on a PC?
As an aside, $40 is too much for an O/S. You buy the O/S then you buy their software that will only work on their platform, seems like a convenient arrangement to me.

Roy.