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>> Second, if I need something that isn't there, I hit
>>the Windows key then start typing the name of what I want. When it comes up in search, I select it (often it's the first item and I just hit Enter). If I'm on the start screen and want to get back to the desktop, I hit windows+D. It's become second nature and I've found typing in the name of the program to find it is easier and faster than navigating a hierarchical list of items. But again, how you work may differ from how I work.
>
>Do you realize how funny that is, how "retro", not metro? You now have to type the name of the application you want ? Wow, that's progress vs. just clicking an icon or finding it in a logical menu structure.

I'm using Launchy for a number of years now, even a few years before the Vista (where this "type your search" was revealed to users of the Windowses), and it's saved me a lot of time by now, and probably at least one mouse. In Launchy I just type few characters of the name of the file I want (and it's not indexing all of my tens of thousands of files for this, only the file specs defined per folder, in folders I configure) and these don't even have to be the first characters. It's got a very intelligent MRU/MFU (most frequently used) list handler, so it learns my habits and the stuff I use most frequently comes up with least keypresses. I only need to vaguely remember the name of the file.

Let's face it - to find something in a menu, you not only have to know the name of the thing, but actually need to know how it's called this year (so "add/remove programs" is now "programs and features"; "printers" is "devices and printers", "display" is still where it was, but doesn't cover screen saver, theme, color scheme, screen savior etc - that's under "personalization" etc etc). Even software is not consistently arranged in the menu - I've seen Office's shortcuts at the root of it, or under a submenu; when in a submenu, the software is listed by manufacturer's name, not by what it does. Back in the day when I was still using the system menu, some pieces that I use monthly or more rarely take me a couple of minutes to find next time - manufacturers' names weren't telling me anything, and sometimes it took me at least five times to remember who makes what. Just while writing this I looked at the system menu and found something I couldn't remember what it was, so I uninstalled it.

To click on an icon? Where, on my desktop? I'd have to close a bunch of windows first, and I need those windows open, that's where I work, that's why I have the computer, to get things done on it. It's like having to place a bookmark in each book you have open on your table, and close them all and move them off the table, if you wanted to open one more. And then I'd have to open each window (book) again just to be able to continue. I have no icons at all.