Windows Finally Gets a Shutdown Button

I admit it; amongst all my Linux computers, I still have one remaining Windows box. Until Blizzard takes a hint from Steam, I have to endure the horror of Windows in order to get my weekly raid fix.

Now, being a higher end gaming box and the graphic card being one of those 2 slot varieties, the fans can make a good bit of racket. No problem, I simply moved the system to another room (the cords go through the wall and are still plenty long enough) and viola! Quiet gaming room! All is good, until I finish and want to turn off the system. You see, Windows 7 had this convenient little "Shut Down" button that was easy to get to.

But, last year when I upgraded the system's hardware I (mistakenly) opted to try out the newer version 8 of Windows. Well, Microsoft did a fine job of hiding that shutdown option. It takes no less than 6 clicks and several full screen transitions to get to it using the default UI. When it takes less time to get out of your chair, open the door, walk down a small hallway, open another door, walk over to a humming tower, and depress its power button than it does to do the software equivalent, you know your interface is borked.

But no longer! Microsoft's new Windows 8.1 Update 1 will re-add that missing "Shut Down" option to its (still) metro-tiley start page. And that is progress!