> told them to try and close Internet Explorer and shut down the computer

I've found Windows 8 actually works quite well if you use the keyboard exclusively for navigation.

- The Metro "start menu" (that's really all it is) works great if you use it mostly by searching (press Windows key, type, arrow keys, enter to launch.)

- The Win+X accelerator menu has made me faster maintenance tasks than I ever was in W7.

- Your puzzle: focus the Desktop; press Alt+F4. (This has always worked, if you're curious.)

I think this might be why people within Microsoft don't "feel the pain" of Windows 8: it works great with a tablet, or with a keyboard... just not with a mouse.