How to adapt to Metro, made easy.

ubersonic

ubersonic

ubersonic

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Last night a friend and I were chatting in the pub and one topic that came up was why some people seem to fear Metro and use things like Start8, the conversation quickly moved to the things people used the Start menu for and why they are actually easier or just as easy with Metro. Needless to say a list was then made (on a beer-mat, no joke) so to help anybody finding Metro daunting I have replicated it here, hope its of use to anybody :P

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What do you want to do today?

I want to run a program I have pinned to start:
Have it pinned to the taskbar instead, that way you don't even need to open Start/Metro (if you have nothing pinned to the taskbar or worse you shrank the taskbar and brought back the words to make it look like XP/Vista then you were not using 7 properly and one of the reasons 8 seems scary and new is that you never moved on from Vista).

I want to access my documents/pictures/downloads/music:
Middle click the libraries icon on the taskbar, then click the one you want

I want to access My Computer or Control Panel or Devices and Printers or the Run command:
Right click instead of left click in the bottom left (Windows key+X)

I want to run a program that isn't pinned to start:
Assuming the wasn't enough space to pin it to the taskbar, just open Metro (left click bottom left or Windows key) and select the Program. If you can fill the taskbar AND the metro screen with programs to the point you then have to scroll Metro to find the one you want you were proberbly one of the people whos Start>All Programs menu either filled the screen or used scroll bars. If so your best off using the search box to find your program if you know its name just like you were in 7.

I want to lock/log off/sleep/shutdown my computer:
Lock: Just hold the Windows key and press L (its easier than moving the mouse just like it was in 7).

Log Off: Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and select sign out.

Sleep: Move the mouse to the bottom right to make the charm bar appear, then click settings (Or press Windows key + I to open the settings charm) then click Power then Sleep, this is the same amount of clicks as needed in 7 (Start, Arrow, sleep) or less if you use the keyboard shortcut.

Shut Down: Simply stop using the computer as you would normally but press the power button as you move away from the workstation, the computer will then shut itself down as if you had used a command in Windows to do so, this is a cool feature of the ATX design Intel introduced in 1995.
 
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ubersonic said:
Shut Down: Simply stop using the computer as you would normally but press the power button as you move away from the workstation, the computer will then shut itself down as if you had used a command in Windows to do so, this is a cool feature of the ATX design Intel introduced in 1995.
Click to expand...

wha?

Do you mean press the physical power button on the machine?

Great tips by the way. I'm all for learning the shortcuts to make things quicker. I never really used the start menu anyway in W7 so not finding it too much of an issue.
 
feedtheram said:
wha?

Do you mean press the physical power button on the machine?

Great tips by the way. I'm all for learning the shortcuts to make things quicker. I never really used the start menu anyway in W7 so not finding it too much of an issue.
Click to expand...

Yes, press the power button, amazingly this will shut down the PC, it has done for a long time:D
 
hyperst said:
Yes, press the power button, amazingly this will shut down the PC, it has done for a long time:D
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TomMindBlown.gif
 
kitch9 said:
Your windows are still open whilst you are in metro... Metro is just a full screen start button.
Click to expand...
I think he speaketh of having other apps open, such as MS Word. If typing in Word brought up a search function instead of plastering it on the document, that would be really really annoying. :D


If you press the Windows key while in Word (just for example), what functionality does it give you? Will it bring up the Metro search or something else? I haven't installed or played with it yet so I don't know. In Win7, no matter what app you're in, press the Windows key and you're directly in the search bar.
 
SourChipmunk said:
If you press the Windows key while in Word (just for example), what functionality does it give you? Will it bring up the Metro search or something else? I haven't installed or played with it yet so I don't know. In Win7, no matter what app you're in, press the Windows key and you're directly in the search bar.
Click to expand...

This is what I like an dit's very usefull. I use it all of the time and having the app (or multiple apps) still int he foreground without some huge start menu appearing is very handy. If you want more uses from the search function then use Win + F (takes you to metro search).
 
SourChipmunk said:
I think he speaketh of having other apps open, such as MS Word. If typing in Word brought up a search function instead of plastering it on the document, that would be really really annoying. :D


If you press the Windows key while in Word (just for example), what functionality does it give you? Will it bring up the Metro search or something else? I haven't installed or played with it yet so I don't know. In Win7, no matter what app you're in, press the Windows key and you're directly in the search bar.
Click to expand...

Regardless of what app you are in press the win key and your directly in search bar and start screen.
 
Glaucus said:
Regardless of what app you are in press the win key and your directly in search bar and start screen.
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You are not getting it.

With Metro, you cannot have MS word snapped to the right side of the screen, Outlook to the left, and search while being akle to still view both.
 
Yeah, I'm using that. That's my whole point though, Windows 8 (Metro) removes this feature, something which I use often. It's lost unless you use third part apps. I can use Metro and the old style start, I'm still using the old one.
 
MilanoChris said:
You are not getting it.

With Metro, you cannot have MS word snapped to the right side of the screen, Outlook to the left, and search while being akle to still view both.
Click to expand...

I get it fine, I just don't see it as an issue, or the issue is far less than the benefits.

Can you really focus on two things a one and type on two things at one?
There is need to multitasking on same screen. But I can't see searching being one of the.
 
Glaucus said:
There is need to multitasking on same screen. But I can't see searching being one of them.
Click to expand...
It would be if you are searching for keywords in a document that you are working on, especially if it is spelled strangely (like an email address for example). Copy/paste is always an option, but I can see a need for it at times.

So in Metro, pressing the Win key will blow away everything else on the screen?
 
Yes, you get full startscreen, jus start typing and it searches. For most cases it is a better solution. Like all changes things change, it outweighs the one minor downside. If its odd just use copy and paste, I would've anyway as my spelling sucks.
 
When in the search window in metro / tiles can you then drag it and snap it to the side of your desktop?

I haven't got Win 8 open at the min but you can drag most apps to side screen on your desktop so that might be a way around it.
 
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