5 Reasons to Learn Windows 8, Despite the Fact We Hate It

So you purchased a new computer or upgraded your operating system and, low and behold, you see a screen full of funky squares and rectangles with various icons which someone thought would be user “friendlier” than the old way. 

“But we like the old way,” You say, “and wait a minute. How do I get in this thing? Where is the start button?” Surprise! There isn’t one in this new “Metro” style user interface.  Despite your current anxiety, you fumble through trying desperately to figure things out.  It takes some getting used to, yes it does.  

Then you hear there is a new Windows in the works and you think, “I’m saved!” Guess what? The next Windows version is jumping straight from 8.1 to 10, but features of Windows 8 are not going away they are being integrated into the 10. 

Don’t worry; you will get a start button and other great features.  So despite the fact we all want Windows 8 to go away, the fact remains in its entirety or in its parts it plans to stick around.  So let’s make the best of it.  Here are 5 reasons to learn Windows 8:

1. Gone but Never Forgotten—For Windows 10, the integration of live tiles and apps that were new in Windows 8 are a couple of the features that will be integrated in the new OS.  The Windows 8 start screen actually does have some cool features, so new is not necessarily always bad and if pieces are going to remain maybe we should learn how they work.
2. 59 Million Devices running Windows 8—that’s right, 59 Million.  There are potentially 59 million users scratching their heads wondering, “What’s this Windows 8 mess and what have you done with my start button?”  Sounds like a teaching moment.  Learning Windows 8 could benefit the masses, well, maybe some of the 59 million anyway.
3. New is Bad! Or is It?—Windows 8 may just be an OS that is ahead of its time. If the net share results have any say, and you may think that I’m crazy, but it has actually gone up since last year.  So either people are settling, or they have learned how to use it and discovered how awesome it is.  See for yourself the stats don’t lie: 
4. It’s Easier to Learn than You Think—unfortunately the integration of a dual purpose desktop didn’t work out too good.  It’s a tablet and a PC—how convenient—not.  But that doesn’t mean you should not learn Windows 8.  There are some who believe that Windows 8 has a lot to offer, but was really designed for touch.  The live tiles are great on a tablet; not so much on a PC.  Still, according to an article in InformationWeek, there is only a moderate learning curve and most people should be able to pick up basic navigation in 10 minutes.
5. Windows 8 is not All Bad—According to an article on PC Magazine’s website, Windows 8 is not all bad.  It does have some very appealing features: faster start-up, access to skydrive, apps and better security than its predecessors.