Comparing Shutdown In Windows 7 And Windows 8

I've been reading a lot of complaints about shutdown in Windows 8 being too difficult. These people say that they can't find out where to go to shut down their computers. Or they say that it takes too many steps to shut down with Windows 8. Frankly, I don't understand the problem. I do agree that shutdown is different than it was before, so you do have to learn it the first time or two. But it can also be even easier with Windows 8. Let's examine it a bit.


Number of steps it takes to shutdown your computer. This is for you mouse users.

Windows 7:  2 steps

1. Click the Start button to go to the Start Menu.
2. Click the Shut Down button. (or the more arrow to go to restart)
3. Click Restart

Windows 8:  3 steps

1. Click Settings on the Charms bar.
2. Click Power.
3. Click Shut down. (or click Restart)

First of all, you don't have to click Start to shutdown in Windows 8; you just have to go to the Charms bar. And before anyone says that going to the Charms is an extra step, going to the Start button would also then be an extra step.

What do we really see up there in our lists. Actually shutting down takes only two clicks in Windows 7, and it takes three clicks in Windows 8. From all of the complaints I've read, that's not the huge difference I was expecting. If you want to restart your computer then it takes the exact same number of clicks for each operating system.

You can also shut down your computer with each operating system by pushing the physical power button on your computer. It does indeed work that way. Pushing that button sends the shutdown command to Windows. That's one step! Not difficult at all.

So, in the end, I don't see what all the fuss is about. It takes just about the same number of steps to shutdown in either operating system. The only real hurdle is that you have to learn how to do it first. You have to learn how to shutdown in Windows 8, and you also had to learn how to shutdown in Windows 7. Do you remember that far back? I admit that I barely do, but I still had to learn it. And I just showed you how to do it for each operating system, so you should be all set.

I hope all of this educates a few people. Complainers are still going to complain, but this should give you the true answer to the shutdown question. Try it out for yourself and see how many steps you get.