I don't use Windows 8.1 myself yet, but my brother does. Have you tried 
Windows Live Mail? It's a free download from Microsoft. It's not a Metro 
app. This is what my brother uses, and I think it works the same for him 
in windows 8.1 that it did in Windows 7.

On 02/09/2014 12:04 PM, Ana G wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I've been using my Windows 8.1 computer full-time for about a month now,
> and things are good over all. I'm still having some keyboard issues with
> Windows Mail, which is a metro app. I'm able to send and receive my
> teaching mail this way, and though working with Windows Mail is much,
> much more efficient than working with the Outlook Web App, it's got its
> quirks. for example, when I want to attach a file, which I do
> frequently, I can't use first-letter navigation to find the file in a
> list view, I need to down- or up-arrow through a grid view. Anyway,
> while trying to figure out whether the grid view could be turned into a
> list view, I came across a really useful article on how to change the
> metro screen to an app view. It's got other good tips, so I've included
> the link at the end.
>
> About changing the metro tiles to an app list, I've also pasted those
> instructions because I think I'm having trouble with the first step:
> right clicking on the taskbar. When I move there, I'm not finding the
> options described in the article. With Jaws, focus tends to move to an
> app, but even when I manage to deselect the app with the left mouse
> simulation key or when I use NVDA to get there, the options that come up
> are different (i.e., I find a Taskbar tab, not a Navigation tab). I've
> not sure if I'm misunderstanding the instructions or not doing something
> right with the screen reader.
>
> I'm using Windows 8.1 and the current versions of Jaws and NVDA.
>
> Here's an excerpt from the article with the instructions:
>
> It can be difficult to find the app you need from the Windows 8 Start
> screen, because tiles take up so much of the screen. There is, however,
> a way to
> turn the Start screen into a useful app launcher. On the desktop
> right-click the taskbar and select 'Properties', then click the
> 'Navigation' tab. In the
> Start screen section, tick the box next to 'Show the apps view
> automatically when I go to Start'. From now on, when you go to the Start
> screen you'll see
> a list of all your apps rather than those big tiles.
>
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/10427857/7-hidden-features-in-Microsoft-Windows-8.1.html
>
>
> thanks for any help.
>
> Ciao
>
>
>     VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
> Archived on the World Wide Web at
>     http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
>     Signoff: [log in to unmask]
>     Subscribe: [log in to unmask]

-- 
Christopher (CJ)
chaltain at Gmail


    VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
    http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
    Signoff: [log in to unmask]
    Subscribe: [log in to unmask]