# Windows 8 is the worst piece of shit I've ever used in my life. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 22, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464 "2013-09-22T20:47:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/221 "2013-10-15T19:49:54Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > I’m thinking about how you would use this, given that you have a button to maximize the window, why would you want to have that action happen when you drag it into some particular position? > > What’s the gain? What’s the gain in having a menu option for copy/paste AND a right-click menu AND a keyboard shortcut? There are nearly always multiple ways of doing stuff - you get to choose the one you prefer. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/222 "2013-10-15T20:14:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > What’s the gain in having a menu option for copy/paste AND a right-click menu AND a keyboard shortcut? There are nearly always multiple ways of doing stuff - you get to choose the one you prefer. That’s a different scenario that doesn’t answer the question in this case. When right-click was added, it didn’t subtract from existing functionality. In the case of maximizing the window due to placement, it is now interfering with the normal operation of window movements. Given that there was already a mouse/window header based method to maximize, the question remains, what is the gain to removing existing functionality and replacing it with a new “feature” that already exists in almost equivalent form (mouse movements, etc.)? Sure, people have different likes and dislikes, but that doesn’t make every change on equal footing to every other change. Some are neutral, some are great for the majority, some are poor for the majority, etc. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/223 "2013-10-15T20:37:06Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > That’s a different scenario that doesn’t answer the question in this case. > > When right-click was added, it didn’t subtract from existing functionality. In the case of maximizing the window due to placement, it is now interfering with the normal operation of window movements. > > Given that there was already a mouse/window header based method to maximize, the question remains, what is the gain to removing existing functionality and replacing it with a new “feature” that already exists in almost equivalent form (mouse movements, etc.)? > > Sure, people have different likes and dislikes, but that doesn’t make every change on equal footing to every other change. Some are neutral, some are great for the majority, some are poor for the majority, etc. I don’t think it removed any existing functionality (you can still maximize with the same button). You ask what is the gain…I’ll give you one simple example: With the new wide-format monitors it is often handy to have two windows side by side. I can grab one, drag it to the right side and it takes up the right-half of the screen. I can now do the left side with a different window and I quickly have the two windows side-by-side. I find it very handy. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/224 "2013-10-15T20:49:13Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I don’t think it removed any existing functionality (you can still maximize with the same button). It removed the functionality that I could move the window wherever I want without having the size suddenly change, so yes something was definitely lost. > [@](#): > > You ask what is the gain…I’ll give you one simple example: With the new wide-format monitors it is often handy to have two windows side by side. I can grab one, drag it to the right side and it takes up the right-half of the screen. I can now do the left side with a different window and I quickly have the two windows side-by-side. I find it very handy. Meaning that it automatically resizes to be 1/2 the screen once you place it on the left or the right? I can see the value of your example. What about full screen when moving to the top? That one I’m scratching my head over. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/225 "2013-10-15T20:54:14Z")
Since we’re on the subject of W8 and that’s what my newest laptop has, can someone explain why I can’t sign into Skype with a different User ID than the one I’m using to sign into the computer itself? ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/226 "2013-10-15T21:09:05Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > It removed the functionality that I could move the window wherever I want without having the size suddenly change, so yes something was definitely lost. How much time have you spent complaining vs. just turning the feature off? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/227 "2013-10-15T21:19:25Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > What about full screen when moving to the top? That one I’m scratching my head over. Yes, if you move your mouse all the way to the top, it will expand to full-screen. But if you move it all the way to the top minus a few pixels it will not maximize. I find that once I understood these new ways of controlling the window, they are extremely useful. Particularly when you have multiple monitors. So much quicker to throw them around with the new system. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/228 "2013-10-15T21:46:11Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Yes, if you move your mouse all the way to the top, it will expand to full-screen. But if you move it all the way to the top minus a few pixels it will not maximize. I find that once I understood these new ways of controlling the window, they are extremely useful. Particularly when you have multiple monitors. So much quicker to throw them around with the new system. I’m not sure I’m seeing an answer to the question. I understand your previous example regarding positioning on the side, I’m asking what is the purpose of maximizing when the screen is placed at the top? What is the gain to doing that instead of clicking the maximize box? When is it useful? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/229 "2013-10-15T21:48:11Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > How much time have you spent complaining vs. just turning the feature off? The discussion here isn’t about time, it’s about design decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/230 "2013-10-15T21:49:40Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > That’s a different scenario that doesn’t answer the question in this case. > > When right-click was added, it didn’t subtract from existing functionality. In the case of maximizing the window due to placement, it is now interfering with the normal operation of window movements. > > Given that there was already a mouse/window header based method to maximize, the question remains, what is the gain to removing existing functionality and replacing it with a new “feature” that already exists in almost equivalent form (mouse movements, etc.)? > > Sure, people have different likes and dislikes, but that doesn’t make every change on equal footing to every other change. Some are neutral, some are great for the majority, some are poor for the majority, etc. One little checkbox in the control panel turns off automatic window arrangement - and for those of us who find it useful, it can stay on. Is this a problem? ---
**Author:** ![Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hero_From_Sector_7G)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/231 "2013-10-15T22:15:30Z")
Wow. I love the modern window management features. I have a widescreen monitor. The click-and-drag-a-window to the side and have it auto fit half the screen is awesome. I open my web browser, drag it to the left. I open a powerpoint, drag it to the right. I have two windows perfectly sized and making optimal use of my desktop. In a single motion I can grab an internet tab, brush it up a few pixels, and pow, it takes up the whole screen. Just because you might not have a use for the feature doesn’t mean it is useful. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/232 "2013-10-15T22:30:10Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > I’m not sure I’m seeing an answer to the question. I understand your previous example regarding positioning on the side, I’m asking what is the purpose of maximizing when the screen is placed at the top? > > What is the gain to doing that instead of clicking the maximize box? When is it useful? When I want to move a window to a different monitor and maximise in one motion. Like _every_ other feature people have complained about here, it’s trivial to turn off. If you don’t want an OS you have to customise to your taste, don’t use Windows. This particular complaint is extra stupid, as it’s not a new feature, it’s a feature that has no downsides (as long as you’re capable of moving a mouse with some degree of precision - indeed, this feature partly exists to help those who _can’t_), and has proven so popular that a 3rd party version was developed for XP (see the HowTo Geek article linked earlier). ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/233 "2013-10-15T22:31:26Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > One little checkbox in the control panel turns off automatic window arrangement - and for those of us who find it useful, it can stay on. Is this a problem? If you can find the damn checkbox, it would have been nice to have been given the option to disable it the first time I stumbled on the feature. Or at least being told what is what was called so I could search for it. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/234 "2013-10-15T22:39:22Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > One little checkbox in the control panel turns off automatic window arrangement - and for those of us who find it useful, it can stay on. Is this a problem? Turning it off isn’t the question, the question is “under what conditions is this a useful feature?” ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/235 "2013-10-15T22:46:10Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Turning it off isn’t the question, the question is “under what conditions is this a useful feature?” Post 232, first sentence. I tried to explain it as well with my multiple-monitors talk but Steophan gets it down a little more succinctly. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/236 "2013-10-15T22:57:43Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Post 232, first sentence. I tried to explain it as well with my multiple-monitors talk but Steophan gets it down a little more succinctly. Yes, I see it now that I re-read your post, didn’t catch it the first time, thanks. So, if you have multiple monitors and you hit maximize button, then it only takes up one monitor, whereas moving to the top maximizes across both? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/237 "2013-10-15T23:13:07Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Yes, I see it now that I re-read your post, didn’t catch it the first time, thanks. > > So, if you have multiple monitors and you hit maximize button, then it only takes up one monitor, whereas moving to the top maximizes across both? No. If I have a window maximized on one screen and want it maximized on a different screen, I grab the window and move over to the top of the other screen and let go with the mouse. One click, swipe over and release. Done. If you only have one monitor, the utility isn’t there. However, I find the actual maximize button less useful. If I want to maximize, I find simply double-clicking the title bar to be faster and require less mouse precision. You can also do most of these things using strictly the keyboard. Cat -\> lots of ways to skin. Find your favorite. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/238 "2013-10-15T23:18:41Z")
BTW, I’m wondering if you’ve used OSX and found their implementation of the “maximize” button (we’ll call it the green button) useful? _duck and run for cover_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/239 "2013-10-16T00:15:53Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > No. If I have a window maximized on one screen and want it maximized on a different screen, I grab the window and move over to the top of the other screen and let go with the mouse. One click, swipe over and release. Done. > > If you only have one monitor, the utility isn’t there. However, I find the actual maximize button less useful. If I want to maximize, I find simply double-clicking the title bar to be faster and require less mouse precision. Ok. The situation I’ve run into is when I have a window sized how I want it (e.g. 1/4 screen) and move it over to the top of the other monitor, suddenly it maximizes to cover both monitors. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464/240 "2013-10-16T00:18:37Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > When I want to move a window to a different monitor and maximise in one motion. > > Like _every_ other feature people have complained about here, it’s trivial to turn off. If you don’t want an OS you have to customise to your taste, don’t use Windows. This particular complaint is extra stupid, as it’s not a new feature, **it’s a feature that has no downsides** (as long as you’re capable of moving a mouse with some degree of precision - indeed, this feature partly exists to help those who _can’t_), and has proven so popular that a 3rd party version was developed for XP (see the HowTo Geek article linked earlier). Emphasis added. It has downsides. When you’re working with 3+ windows you might want to place one informative window above another. But if you come too close to the border - Ca-POW! You’ve just covered up the other window. There are times when you have too many windows to usefully place them side by side. I had to figure out the pros and cons on my own. It took me months before tuning this feature properly (i.e. to the off position). Actually, IIRC for a while I was under the misapprehension that I had to turn off Aero to get the windows to stop flying in every direction. A bummer as the “Display windows when hovering the mouse over the programs in the taskbar” feature is useful, especially given Win7’s tendency to consolidate windows within the same program. Not so necessary in XP. What the world needs is a company like Norton before it was purchased by Symantec. They would be skeptical about the decisions made in Redmond and offer advice and utilities to deal with them. The Annoyances group has some of this feel, but they create very little software. They also don’t provide very good comparisons: they assume all new features are useless which while admittedly is a close approximation to the truth, isn’t pinpoint accurate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-is-the-worst-piece-of-shit-ive-ever-used-in-my-life/669464.md?page=13)