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Windows 8 turns shutting down your PC into a convoluted process

Summary: Just one example of how inefficient the Metro user interface is.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

Think Microsoft has done a good job of making the Metro UI in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview easy to use with a mouse and keyboard? Just take a look at how many steps it takes to do something as simple as shut down or reset a PC.

Here are the steps.

First, you take the mouse to the lower-right corner and wait for the on-screen menu tab to appear before clicking on Settings.

Next click on the Power button.

Then you finally get to click on Shut Down or Reset.

This is just one example of how inefficient the Windows 8 Consumer Preview user interface is, compared to the Classic interface where you can accomplish the same thing with two clicks.

Come on Microsoft, are you seriously expecting people to figure this stuff out on their own? And what is it with having to go through so many clicks and mouse movements to get to something as basic as shut down or restart?

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Topics: Windows, CXO, Hardware, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Software, IT Employment

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149 comments
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  • Well, there is an easier way

    Log off (click on the user on the upper right corner and choose log-off), and when the Windows 8 initial screen is showed, drag it up. Then you get the on/off button.
    las_joh
    Reply Vote

    • Disappointed in A.K.H.

      You would think a hardware guy would be able to find the power button. Maybe a hardware guy shouldn't try to review an O.S. that is clearly so difficult to use.

      Seriously, with all the amazing things to love about Windows 8 which is designed for today's modern hardware, and this is what you choose to write about? I don't disagree that they could make it easier to find, but I don't ever power off my devices. I don't power off my iPad, nor my iPod, nor my iPhone, nor my Android phone, nor my Windows 7 Phone, nor my laptop, not even my desktop. I certainly don't power down my media center or my server.

      Why does the shutdown or "reset" (he really means restart [face palm]) need to be that accessible?

      I'm tired of all the stupid blog posts by these self proclaimed "experts". It is flat out embarrassing. If you want to suggest improvements, that is one thing, but to just poo poo everything, well, that is lame and unprofessional.

      That said, if shutdown is the feature that you must use, and for this writer, that might be the best feature for him to use, then I suggest that Microsoft adds another "charm" (don't love that term, but whatever) just below settings dedicated for power on/off functions. There, now that is constructive feedback.

      Here, write an article like this:

      8 improvements to make Windows 8 a Win-ner.

      sheesh.
      gomigomijunk
      Reply 1 Vote

      • Thank you...

        Well said...this bozo has no business in this business. Absolutely despise this d-bag!
        bsquarednc
        Reply Vote

      • Disappointed

        you are right too, much of nonsense blog post and articles. MS trying to revamp the OS and these writers calling themselves as expert writing an article for shutdown button. this is just a junk article and these shouldnt be approved in first place to be posted as an article in this site.
        happy_tech
        Reply Vote

      • Power conservation

        Your electricity company must LOVE you!

        Mother nature and future generations probably not so happy...
        jan bLinQue
        Reply 1 Vote

      • @bLinQue

        Silly
        gomigomijunk
        Reply Vote

      • Wow!

        @gomigomijunk You don't shutdown your PC hardly ever so you actually believe that its a trivial feature to have an intuitive way to do so? Placing the shutdown options under "Settings" is absolutely boneheaded, utterly indefensible. Although I'm quite certain I could likely have found one of the methods to shutdown WIn8 before reading this article I'm quite certain my clients are going to find this to be problematic and I'm certainly not going to defend MS on this or any of the other undoubtedly boneheaded moves they will surely make.

        I support the end users who are, admittedly, pretty thickheaded but MS has long been out of touch with their users. I know plenty of users who, unlike gomigomijunk, will want to restart/shutdown their computers. They are absolutely going to hate this. Of course they'll still use windows no doubt. Vendor lock in, collaboration issues, and a plain unwillingness to learn a new way of doing things will enure that they will continue to suck at MS teat and grumble incessantly to me about how sour the milk is for many years to come.
        techadmin.cc@...
        Reply Vote

    • Even easier way

      Press the power button or disconnect the power source.
      Fast and efficient.
      dheerajnagpal
      Reply Vote

  • so it is 3 clicks now,

    Rather than the 2 clicks before

    You could also just use the power button.
    grayknight-22253692004129760887070084760051
    Reply 1 Vote

  • I admit I was stumped

    I couldn't initially find the Shutdown. So I tried CTRL+ALT+DEL and chose from there. But intuitive it isn't....
    bmgoodman
    Reply Vote

    • Re: I admit I was stumped

      Same here, I rarely turn off my PC on weekends but I eventually realized I can do it by clicking on my account icon at the top right of the screen. But I still believe MS needs to make it accessible in fewer steps and at the same time I recognize that this is a BETA so we feed MS our suggestions to help improve the final product instead of moaning about it. If we make suggestions now and they don't implement then for the final; then we can cry and moan.
      NPGMBR
      Reply 2 Votes

  • Trying to reduce need to shutdown

    Part of the reason is probably that they are trying to deemphasize the computer shutdown. The computer should wake instantly and if resources are better managed (so there is less need to shut down/restart due to memory leaks or similar issues) then there is no reason to shut down a windows 8 computer. I think they are going for a similar sleep/wake experience that an iPad has, which rarely requires a complete shutdown.
    captainj
    Reply Vote

    • I don't want my computer on all the time

      So that's a stupid point on Microsoft's part.

      Amazing how Microsoft can [b]screw up[/b] something as simple as shutting down your computer. I suppose Ctrl+Alt+Del doesn't work anymore. Yes? No?

      Wow...
      ScorpioBlack
      Reply Vote

      • So true

        Tablet - okay for standby.
        Notebook - off unless I am using, especially for travel.
        Desktop - off unless have a need for it to be on.

        I am not looking for tablet power features in a desktop or notebook.

        It is amazing how much all the little stand by devices consume collectively.
        rhonin
        Reply Vote

    • aaahh but

      from past experience you need to shutdown and reboot windows OS's for various reasons, i.e. to try and keep them running, to preempt a hangup, install software etc etc and to keep loverock davidson occupied in his basement
      deaf_e_kate
      Reply Vote

      • excellent points

        [i]" ... you need to shutdown and reboot windows OS's for various reasons. "[/i]

        Not least when a series of critical Windows Updates completes with the prompt to reboot after the installation's complete.

        ... but to be fair, [i]captainj[/i] is working under duress in Redmond, you aren't.
        thx-1138_
        Reply Vote

    • The need to shutdown still exists

      While better managing resources, improving wake time, etc. to reduce power consumption is fine, I don't see why you would make it difficult to do via the OS. Besides, there is still a need to shut down occasionally - like to add/replace/upgrade hardware.
      Heck if I Know
      Reply Vote

  • Windows 8 turns shutting down your PC into a convoluted process

    Its a consumer preview, this shutdown process may very well change. No need to get so hung up on it. Also agree with the above poster, they may be trying to focus less on shutting down the PC.
    Loverock Davidson-
    Reply Vote

    • This should not have been flagged

      He's right.
      John L. Ries
      Reply Vote

    • It won't change unless people complain about it.

      [quote]this shutdown process may very well change. No need to get so hung up on it[/quote]
      It's called "feedback". What would you say if people complained about this [i]after[/i] Windows 8 reached RTM instead? That they should have said something earlier, perhaps?

      As for de-emphasising shutting down, frankly, that's the user's decision rather than MS's. And "yes", I [b]do[/b] resent the constant red stand-by light on my TV's cable box.
      Zogg
      Reply Vote
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