No - The problem lies in the fact they tried to create a "One size fits all" solution and failed at creating a usable desktop OS. Windows 8 is fine on a phone, it's the desktop that's the problem.
(before anyone jumps down my throat, yes you can mod Windows 8 so it's more usable in a desktop environment but that's not the point)
>for the most part 8.1 is 7 with a fullscreen start menu.
And missing the non-full screen start menu. I hate going back to metro interface to launch an app, now I have to create shortcuts on the desktop. I used to simply type an app name in windows 7's launcher.
> I used to simply type an app name in windows 7's launcher
Why don't you still do that? That global search has only gotten smarter, it's definitely not been removed. You press the windows key, type 3 letters, hit enter and your app is running before your eyes even register the start screen having briefly appeared and gone. I couldn't imagine going back to desktop shortcuts -- I haven't had to move my hands off the keyboard to launch a program in 7 years.
I do, but it switches me to the metro interface with a color change. Also it pulls metro apps first and only 2 apps then its like 2 settings apps and the 2 documents, but I want all apps.
If there are 4 programs that match my search, it shows 4 programs before any documents or other results. If a color change is that bothersome, you can use Win+S to open the search panel on the desktop. You can also uninstall the Metro apps you're not using and don't want to see in search results. They uninstall in one click.
"Sky" should have return both skypes, not just first 2 search results. Also how do you start desktop internet explorer? The search returns the metro one.
I hit Win, type "ie" (short for iexplore.exe) and press enter. It only starts the metro version if it's set as your default browser.
You've made some pretty bold color choices, that would be distracting. Set your background to be your desktop wallpaper. Then the start screen just looks like an overlay, rather than a context switch.
If you don't like the color change switching into the Start Page, there's a setting that uses a dimmed version of your desktop background as the Start Page's background too. It sounds trivial, but makes a big impact on how jarring the switch between them is. At this point, I usually just Win + type instead of Win + S because the Start Page just seems like an overlay over the desktop for me now with that one setting change. Similar to the Launchpad feature that OS X added a few versions ago.
(before anyone jumps down my throat, yes you can mod Windows 8 so it's more usable in a desktop environment but that's not the point)