If you put your computer into hibernation, the next time you turn it on, you'll get all your windows and programs open just the way they were before the shutdown.
Windows Explorer does not have menu displayed by default like you were used to in previous versions. To activate and keep it permanently visible follow this tutorial.
If you leave your computer running on a 24/7 basis you might be interested in determining the amount of uptime that has accumulated since the last reboot.
If you need, besides major accounts, an extra account with limited access to data, you can add Windows 8 Guest account. The process is almost the same as in Windows 7.
