Yes, Windows 8 had significant issues and was widely criticized for its design and functionality.
Yes, Windows 8 had significant issues and was widely criticized for its design and functionality.
I've tested Windows 7, 8.1, and 10. All versions functioned smoothly with no problems. Currently using Windows 10 since certain applications require it (appreciate Adobe).
I used to run Windows 8, but I found it difficult to work with. The installation felt like a complete overhaul of how the system operated. Getting drivers and software set up was tough, and making shortcuts or pinning apps to the start screen seemed overwhelming. After my first setup, I almost gave up and switched back to Windows 7. It wasn’t until Windows 8.1 that things started to make more sense. The new start button didn’t really help much, and even moving further down the screen still let me reach the start option. Navigation felt clunky, and the Charms menu plus the start screen were frustrating. I stopped using PCs for personal use for a while. At work, I only used Windows when necessary. Windows 10 wasn’t appealing at first either, though it did simplify navigation somewhat. A lot of the issues from 8 and 8.1 remained, so I didn’t really test Windows 10 fully until last year. It has improved a lot, but there’s still room for better. Now my Mac days are finished, and my desk now houses a custom-built PC.
This is a silly question. Sales number and market share answers that question. In short, Windows 8 was a panic vision of Microsoft under Steve Ballmer, where the company missed the boat on many products. Products that they had as ideas or different takes (but the CEO had no vision) . When Windows 7 was released, PC sales were going down, and tablets where all the rage. Microsoft thought that desktops and laptops would disappear, and everything would be tablets and smartphones. Considering that Windows was, at the time, the main revenue generating product for the company (as they didn't really diversify... as you know... lack of vision) , they needed something. Windows 8 was the answer... Windows 8 worked fine if you had a Surface product in terms of OS usability, as the OS would be fine for such hybrid device. The interface needed work for laptops and desktops. Now, normally, one would say, "Ok, it needed more time in the oven" for its radical new GUI experience (and Store, and Metro apps platform... ahem) , but Microsoft was so focused on "The future is tablets, we are betting all our eggs in that basket!", that lead the OS not having a Start menu, not even an option... and while, for 8.1, Microsoft even showed a return to the Start menu, and more desktop/laptop focused mode for non-tablets... that never saw the light of day (wont' be surprised if one day we discover that it was Steve Ballmer that blocked that from happening. it's not the first time he did that, making the company miss on a lot of opportunities that their competitor took advantage of and made fortune). I mean it's clear that Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, had no vision. Surface and XBox were just Bill Gates ideas, that he decided to throw in as a bone as a "Bill's pet project"... he expected that it would be a failure. We of course, see that these 2 projects are now full on devisions of Microsoft, bringing serious money to the company. But anyways, off topic. Windows 8! If you pass the Start screen (which can't be denied is the main part of the OS), the OS as a whole, in terms of functionality, was great! A LOT of optimizations was done to allow this bulky OS to run on weak hardware which were a must for a tablet device, and brought many productivities enhancement to Windows. That said, the Start menu, and unfinished UI really overshadowed those. At the time, I didn't mind Windows 8 interface, and enjoyed the OS. But over the years, I realized that this was because I joined the beta program, so changes, even drastic ones were gradually revealed, and gave me this learning curve. Now, I want to clarify, that I am not against any learning curve. I not against new things. I am saying, is that imagine you have a lot of work to be done, and one day to another, you have this new drastic OS change that happens. Sure, maybe when you have free time during the weekend, you can spend time discover it, a fun little adventure, especially if one has an open mind... but when you need to get work done now... it's not fun. So, I don't know what happened during development of Windows 8. No one knows, beside people at MS in the Windows team. But interface changes is a hugely complex (see Windows 10). Takes years of planning, you need to have the foundations and framework built, THEN people can use it to make stuff with it. In this case, it feels like, everything was done at the same time, and prevent time for polishing. And probably Microsoft wanted to stick to a 3 years schedule, it didn't leave any time for any improvements. I mean, if we look at Windows 10. UWP was basically a rework of Metro. The Store, people say that it is awful... Windows 8 Store make Windows 10 Store look like it comes from the heavens in comparison. (If you wonder, apparently (based off rumors) Microsoft will be replacing the Store in Windows 10. The focus before was on Windows 10X which got cancelled, and XBox game console Store. Apparently, the plan is to bring that architecture design to Windows 10. So, we will see... if it still sucks, then I think Microsoft should take XBox team and have them do the work as the team on Windows side that work on its Store clearly can't do it... but we will see. I am being hopeful).
Jensen Harris shared a video explaining his decision to eliminate the startup sound in Windows 8.
8.x was mainly designed for the wrong hardware. It worked flawlessly on touchscreen laptops and tablets but struggled with desktops. It was the peak moment for Windows—I can say that. You were using Windows 7, which was desktop-focused, while you had Windows 8, tailored for laptops. This meant each operating system matched the right device instead of forcing a mixed setup on desktops.
It's been a while since 2014-2015, but using it in 2021 on a secondary laptop works just fine. The interface really appealed to me compared to many others. The animations are smooth and the live tiles added a dynamic feel—at least from my perspective. A few small adjustments could improve the start menu if needed, but I decided to stick with it. In terms of performance, it's noticeably better than Windows 10, though this depends on your setup. Tablets and touchscreens performed well, while desktops depend more on personal preference. Personally, I think Windows 8.1 offers a nice alternative to Cortana while keeping the familiar Windows 7 vibe—with regular updates it stays relevant. Unless you're particularly drawn to its appearance and don't use it daily, I wouldn't see much practical value.