[sliverstorm]

Assuming you are on a desktop or laptop computer, hit the "Desktop" tile and proceed to use Windows 8 exactly the same way you always used Windows 7. For all practical purposes, on a desktop the "tile" menu just replaces the start menu.

[lutusp]

> For all practical purposes, on a desktop the "tile" menu just replaces the start menu.

Yes, except that with the old "Start" menu, because it was hierarchical and because each item was much smaller, you could pack a lot more information into it than you can with a screen of tiles.

As things are unfolding, it seems we'll have both a tile display and a hierarchical tree behind the old "Start" button or some equivalent.

[numo16]

There actually is still a hierarchical tree in the start screen, it just defaults to your customizable pinned apps start screen. Right-click the start screen and hit the All Apps button in the lower corner for the traditional folder structure of the start menu (in smaller tile form, of course).

[sliverstorm]

I never said it was better.