Why is Windows 8 so unpopular?
Why is Windows 8 so unpopular?
It was the follow-up to Windows Vista, which was already a chaotic experience from the start. The worst operating system Microsoft ever created.
The interface in Windows 10 looks significantly improved over Windows 8.
The fullscreen start menu is built for touchscreens or tablets, not traditional desktops. While it works on desktops, the interface is larger and simpler, but performance lags behind Windows 7—similar to what was seen with Vista.
8/8.1 isn't tied to Vista. You're referring to something else. Vista required a lot of hardware, but overall it wasn't extremely problematic. It performed better than the older 98-style kernels and enhanced upon the design of XP.
They also revisited the video a while back, and it turned out to be quite good. The real issue came from sloppy OEMs who marked XP systems as "Vista ready," even though those older PCs struggled with many applications. It wasn't the OS's fault—it was because they were placed on less capable hardware than intended.
Perhaps the issue stemmed from unrealistic expectations rather than actual performance issues. The misleading animations and additional steps might have made it seem slower than it was. Edit: He used a benchmark of 8.1 instead of 8.
Windows 8/8.1 offered a fullscreen launch but lacked an option to switch back to the Windows 10 interface, complicating navigation for those without touchscreens. Additionally, since January 9, 2018, Windows 8 no longer receives mainstream support, and its extended support ends on January 10, 2023—upgrading to Windows 10 becomes highly recommended.
I think the start menu issue was exaggerated. It didn’t seem that bad compared to what others say it was.