Really?  Garbage eh?  Hyper-V support (for the Pro versions) out of the box, a command-prompt and powershell that still work as usual.  Hmm.....yeah that sounds like it would be garbage in the IT world!

/sarcasm

"using computer" =/= Experienced  Computer user

My mother has been using computers for the last 50+ years (she was weened as an IBM Operator), but she will be the first to tell you she is not an "experienced computer user".

I am computer programmer by my profession, though i do not work anymore in this field. However, i would classify myself as an advance computer user for sure. It happens also that i like new Win8. I always strove to use mouse as little as possible, and have been using various software to have everything available though keyboard (not to mention countless programs replacing standard MS operations). I do not even use icons on desktop. As such, i love Win8' speed, and also i find it very unjust to compare it to WinME and vista, which both were simply either not working or working terribly slow. Win8 is stable, so it is a different story. What i have thought so far, is that it is middle-use users who would not like Win8 - due to the fact, that they are used to traditional interface (and did not yet move past behind it). Power users, as i humbly qualify myself, would not care much about metro, which is easy to live without, but would appreciate greatly speed and performance of a system. 

Jafo:

following your line of reasoning, if it is really by GUI that system is judged, and the fact that the very next generation likes this kind of GUI, perhaps the Win8 will pass into history as groundbreaking and revolutionary MS system  

Second, i thought we are talking on Elemental-website, did not know elemental is about win-modifications.

Third, paradoxically, Win8 made me buy the only software from Stardock i am actually using, namely Start8  

You know we can debate this until we all are blue in the face. In the end nothing we say will change someone else's opinion.

Jafo there are some things you need to consider. In a few years Windows 7 will be obsolete. In another few years after that Microsoft will drop support for Windows 7. You will be forced to upgrade. Windows 9 and Windows 10 will continue to look like Windows 8, except they will probably lock people into a Microsoft app market. The days of the old Start menu are gone.

So complain all you like. Either upgrade or get left behind.

As for Stardock not having a version of Windowblinds for Windows 8 I am sure they are working on it. It will be out in due time probably. I will also venture to say that Microsoft may come out with it's own theme engine and charge people through the app store for new themes. Maybe Windowblinds gets the boot, who knows?

I still think that was a mistake along with not using a vBullentin based forum setup.

People are only still using XP because Microsoft is still supporting XP. After support is killed off people will move up to Windows 7 or Windows 8.

Microsoft can't force you to upgrade, that's true. But you will have to due to your work and your job here.

And I will not be using XP for too much longer.

Again, no.  My 'work' only requires net access, email and a word processor.  Any Win can do that sufficiently.  My 'job' here is only bettered by a knowledge/use of current SD products...and currently that includes 8.  But it's not required.

Note.... I may be here full-time but I also have a full-time Architecture practise ...and THERE I have successfully avoided the total use of anything Autodesk.  In computing terms I am still using a slide-rule.

Too many current Architects are utterly dependent on CAD and have not a creative thought/expression of their own.  Their output is graphically dead and lifeless as is their Architecture.

Well use what you like I guess. I still say roll with the pack or get left behind.

It's possibly 'abandonware' by now....it was 1998 ....

I still have it...but it'll be reg'd to me.  Perhaps I should load it in an old 98 system and see if it still keeps nasties out...

There was a later release called 'Maildefense' and another whose name I forget....something like 'vaccine' or similar.

http://archive.org/details/tucows_195397_Achilles_Shield 

Managed to track it down.

It's heuristic so doen't need AV signatures...

His name wouldn't be Wayne, would it?  Yeah, when I was Living in Tassie, a former neighbour of mine [named Wayne] refused point blank to upgrade to XP, much less Vista at the time.  More to the point, he never used any AV or anti-malware products, yet amazingly he never got caught with any nasties.  Yup, one strange guy when it came to computers, but a really good bloke who'd do what he could to help people.

I once installed an OS [XP] went online to do the usual updates and was hit within 20 seconds.

Last 'issue' was checking a dl link on these forums and my AV went ballistic over it  'trojan activity' ...that was less than 24 hours ago.

Good luck to those without 'protection'...but that's why there are so many bastard children in this world...