I have had some issues with Windows 8, see my earlier blog at
http://www.tekmate.co.nz/2014/01/thanks-windows-my-brain-hurts.html.
Apart from my installation experiences I have not been a happy Windows 8 and 8.1 user. I am a desktop user with a mouse and a clean, non-touch, screen. My new laptop was chosen without a touch screen as I can't see using a touch screen on a laptop is a good idea, messy and hard on the arms. Don't get me wrong I love my Android Tablet, Windows smartphone and Kindle - all devices with touch screens that wouldn't really work without them.
Using Windows 8 and the 8.1 update, I found that the Tile interface and the Desktop interface were too divergent to make my user experience a good one. trying to get from the Desktop to the Tiled Apps, and then back again was just too ugly taking multiple mouse clicks in places that didn't seem natural; and turning the machine off is so complicated that the power switch looks very appealing.
So when I read about the update to the update I couldn't wait to try it. Well, I upgraded to the update yesterday evening and had my first play on it today. You know what - this thing is now useable for me. I can see everything I am running at all times - I can switch environments like a pro. So now I am happy using the laptop.
So if you are an unhappy Windows 8 user I recommend that you upgrade to 8.1 (you have to do this yourself). Once you are there then the magic update will be downloaded and installed along with all the other MS patches.
