Windows Key (cont)
Thanks for your detailed, and informative, reply.
I still am not, however, convinced by what you are saying. I'm in Win 8 now. I want to get to the start menu: I press the Windows key. I'm there instantly. I want to get back to the desktop. I press the windows key. (Alternately Windows + D). I'm back at the desktop instantly. How could it possibly be faster or simpler?
I don't understand your discussion of moving your laptop. The fastest way to completely pause and restart your machine is to put it to sleep. With a laptop, just close the lid and it goes to sleep, just as it did in Windows 7. Then when you want to restart, just open the lid and (optionally) type in your password. That is exactly the same as on Windows 7. Alternately, just press Windows + L, and walk around with your laptop lid open, then you don't have to sleep and wake, though that takes less that 5 seconds on my machine. As you say, there are options change whether a computer sleeps when you close the lid.
When I am on Ubuntu Unity, I get to the Start screen in exactly the same way I do in Windows 8: I press the Window key.
As for run: just press Windows and click on or type the name of your app. Either way, the app starts running? How could it be faster or simpler? Alternately, just press Windows + R to start the old Run dialog from Windows 7.
Starting the control panel and related features: The simplest way to do most of these tasks is just to press Windows + X. No simple way to describe what that does, but try it: it gets you instant access to the Control Panel, task manager, File Explorer, Search, Disk Managment, Device Manager, Power Options, etc.
I understand that Windows 8 requires that we learn a few new things, and perhaps I'm odd, but I enjoy the change. And since the change is helping me to old tasks in faster, simpler ways, I welcome them. Is there room for improvement: sure. Is it junk: no. It's very good, and pretty much fun.
