I have had computers since before Windows .
I have run a server.
I have had every single Windows operating system to date .
I have built my own computers too.
Here is the pathetic thing ....
it took me half an hour to figure out how to shut down Windows 8 and another half hour to figure out where they hid notepad lol
Good thing - it does boot faster than Windows 7
Other than a new mail program I have not added anything yet as I am trying to learn the OS to be able to help others that always ask me questions when they end up switching to it but I plan to instal it this week .
Shutting it down is really annoying lol
I have not has PCS as long, but learned a while ago that if i hit Alt and F4 (together) once or twice (or more if not at the desktop), then it will shutdown any present program in the way and bring up the shutdown dialog.
But i always used the free reliable PowerOff utility (http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/system/fwshutdown.html, and Snap files is a reliable source), since the days of W/9x, and it still works.
And i added the Quick Launch to the Task Bar, and also made a shortcut to the Send To folder and place it in it, and then send shortcuts to programs or folders such as the Quick Launch folder to it (right click), and so i can send whatever i want to whatever i put in there.
Plus you notice that i recommended the neat Right Click extender, which (unzip it and run) offers many options, including Shutdown, etc.
Pray and press. If you are thinking, "why doesn't Windows do this, then Google for an answer to for freeware. One time i was considering my keyboard, and thought, i wonder if anyone has turned this into a piano, and so is searched for freeware, turn keyboard into piano, and found KB piano, which was quite versatile. not that i can really play anything of course. And the free version does not work on anything past XP, even in compatibility mode.
If you want to just select a word and hyperlink it, or make paragraphs, etc., italics, get Firefox and use the BBCodeXtra add on. i can give you some scripts, even though i really do not know html.