Windows 8.1 Gripes

[Raphael]

It forces you to merge nearly all your accounts on a single profile(skype, windows live, windows etc.).

Skype started with that a while ago (while I was still on Windows 7)

There is no start button.

Start8 and Classic shell fix this

Trying to get multiple things going on one screen can be a pain.

Modernmix fixes this (I assume classic shell will as well).

The new Skype is downright horrible and doesn't alert you to new messages very well.

Don't install the metro version it sucks. As does the metro version of dropbox. Go and download the proper desktop version from their respective websites.

Looking for files and programs takes longer than it should.

I've honestly had no issues there.

[Sparko]

Skype started with that a while ago (while I was still on Windows 7)
Start8 and Classic shell fix this
Modernmix fixes this (I assume classic shell will as well).
Don't install the metro version it sucks. As does the metro version of dropbox. Go and download the proper desktop version from their respective websites.
I've honestly had no issues there.

So basically do everything you can to ignore windows 8 and try to make it into Windows 7.

The easy solution? Install Windows 7.

[Epoetker]

So basically do everything you can to ignore windows 8 and try to make it into Windows 7.

The easy solution? Install Windows 7.

Seconded. Installing 10 different add-ons to make your GUI usable is something that you may expect from Linux or other free OS's, but its insulting and annoying when it comes from something you pay hundreds of dollars for. And the fact that these add-ons have to be downloaded and aren't specifically included in the distribution is shameful.

[Bill the Cat]

So basically do everything you can to ignore windows 8 and try to make it into Windows 7.

Correct.

The easy solution? Install Windows 7.

But if you lack that luxury, a few helpful tools can bring back the familiar user experience.