Windows 8 Shutdown

Specially designed for computers running Windows 8, Windows 8 Shutdown is a simple-to-use application that gives you the possibility to seamlessly turn off your computer on countdown.
It also offers support for sleep, shutdown and restart, and full shutdown, an operation which takes longer but clear system cache to reset everything. The tool is dedicated to users who want to leave the computer unattended for a longer period but not before scheduling it to power off.

Simple installation and interface

The downloaded package is rapidly unwrapped and with little effort on your behalf. When it comes to the interface, the program has a single, small window that reveals all shutdown options in a list, enabling you to pick from standard or full shutdown, sleep, or shutdown and restart mode, depending on your preferences.

Set the PC shutdown mode and countdown time

Optionally, the PC can be allowed to use force whenever necessary to terminate non-responding programs. As far as the countdown timer goes, you can set the delay to one of the predefined values available, ranging from 1 seconds and 45 minutes to 18 hours and 7 days. The action can be triggered with the click of a button.
Unfortunately, the software application doesn't come bundled with additional features. For instance, it doesn't give you the possibility to set a custom timer or specify a sharp time instead of countdown. On top of that, the control panel cannot be minimized to the taskbar or system tray.

Evaluation and conclusion

PC power actions were successfully executed by the tool in our tests. Needless to say, it had minimal impact on the workstation's performance, using a barely noticeable amount of CPU and RAM.
To wrap it up, Windows 8 Shutdown may not be as feature-rich as other shutdown managers out there, but it's fast and simple to handle, especially by casual users with little experience and patience to explore customization options.