I basically MUST learn it. I must learn to love this OS and understand it if I am going to stay current on Microsoft products. Windows 8 is not going to die, and even if it fails completely in the enterprise, it (or some form of it) will soon be all that is available from Microsoft. Oh, and did I mention that the Server also has this awful Metro/Desktop personality? TBH, the server version of this setup works just fine. All of the tiles are useful and most of them take you to the desktop UI anyway. There are no superfluous News and Bing and Store tiles. No useless weather tiles and Games tiles. Even the colors are more subdued.
I like that you have found a way to get the Start button and menu back. But that setup is not what is going to be delivered from Dell or HP or Acer or Asus, and needing to be deployed in the enterprise within 4 hours. Im getting to know the swipe actions like you have mastered, and they are pretty cool when you can use them as intended.
I have only given it three days and I am twitchy about this OS because of my previous mouse/keyboard experience with it. This time, I have the setup that Microsoft intends for this OS to be used. And unmodified? Its clunky and non-intuitive and if deployed on a desktop in our company, would be a productivity nightmare. I need to know this operating system well enough to train people on it, hence my new computer. I have to say, I absolutely LOVE the form factor. Its like a huge tablet, but it has no batteries so you cant use it like that. But, it can lie almost completely flat.
. The hardware is beautiful. But I can easily get my Start Menu and the Start button by blowing away Windows 8 and installing Windows 7!
. Seriously though, I really need to understand this operating system. You seem to be pleased with it, and I hope I have the same experience as you did! Right now Im not seeing it.