A proposal for the supporters of the new Start Screen

ADRz

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A number of participants here support the idea of the Metro-style new Start Screen. I have a suggestion for all of these supporters. If you are so convinced that this Metro-style Start Screen is so aesthetically pleasing and such a superior way of working, please petition Microsoft to make it optional. If you are right, a majority of users will enable it. Since I am certain that you are steadfast in your convictions, you would not mind supporting such a notion. Am I right?
 

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i like it all but the shutdown. i think it should be put back on the start menu.


scrooge
 

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lol, yeah the first time I tried to shut down Windows 8 it ended being a WTF moment. If the metro UI doesn't end up being optional you'll be hard pressed to ever get me to pony up for Windows 8.
 

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lol, yeah the first time I tried to shut down Windows 8 it ended being a WTF moment. If the metro UI doesn't end up being optional you'll be hard pressed to ever get me to pony up for Windows 8.

Microsoft would not make it optional, not without intense pressure. The whole idea of the Start Screen, a totally unnecessary element is to "condition" users to the Metro-Style interfaces so that these users find the Microsoft products in tablets and phones more appealing. This is the reason that it is there. It has not a functional utility, its pure reason for existence is marketing.

My guess is that if it is optional, only a small minority of users would ever choose to install it.

However, this strategy may backfire on Microsoft. It would be hard to justify asking for $150 for a license of Win8 on the desktop when the equivalent license in tablets would be in $10 range. So, you unless they sell a gazillion of tablets, they are done. This is why it is such a huge gamble for them and this is why they would make it optional only under extreme pressure.
 

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Never having run it on anything with a touch screen, I don't know if it is easier to use on such a device, or even desirable. I would think though that if you had an option to turn Metro off and go back to the Windows 7 start menu. People that were going to buy Windows 7 for a desktop PC with no touch, may opt for Windows 8 instead. Assuming the difference in price isn't that big. If I was going to be forced into the Metro UI I would pick Windows 7 and not windows 8. I think they could conceivably sell more copies of Windows 8 if they gave you the option to switch the Metro UI on or off.
 

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lol, yeah the first time I tried to shut down Windows 8 it ended being a WTF moment. If the metro UI doesn't end up being optional you'll be hard pressed to ever get me to pony up for Windows 8.

Microsoft would not make it optional, not without intense pressure. The whole idea of the Start Screen, a totally unnecessary element is to "condition" users to the Metro-Style interfaces so that these users find the Microsoft products in tablets and phones more appealing. This is the reason that it is there. It has not a functional utility, its pure reason for existence is marketing.

My guess is that if it is optional, only a small minority of users would ever choose to install it.

However, this strategy may backfire on Microsoft. It would be hard to justify asking for $150 for a license of Win8 on the desktop when the equivalent license in tablets would be in $10 range. So, you unless they sell a gazillion of tablets, they are done. This is why it is such a huge gamble for them and this is why they would make it optional only under extreme pressure.

You think that .... but as I mentioned in your other thread, Microsoft released notes to why they decided on the Metro Style UI. It wasn't about Selling Tablets, Touch Screens, phones or apps. Those are a bi-product of their general research. Most people (they had a figure around 70%+) click off icons on their desktops. A huge number of those use the same exact programs everyday ..... it was natural that they would try and streamline this.

I have in another thread disclosed what changes I would like to see made, but I love the general idea of a Metro UI. Until we see the Beta, we are all fighting over nothing. At that point, we will be able to decide has Microsoft tried to improve it to be PC friendly.
 

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like it all but the shutdown. i think it should be put back on the start menu.

Got to agree with this... The shutdown is a must have thing :)
 

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Hm, I wonder if all the negative feedback about having to click "START" to shut down windows inspired this change? :zip:
 

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Never having run it on anything with a touch screen, I don't know if it is easier to use on such a device, or even desirable. I would think though that if you had an option to turn Metro off and go back to the Windows 7 start menu. People that were going to buy Windows 7 for a desktop PC with no touch, may opt for Windows 8 instead. Assuming the difference in price isn't that big. If I was going to be forced into the Metro UI I would pick Windows 7 and not windows 8. I think they could conceivably sell more copies of Windows 8 if they gave you the option to switch the Metro UI on or off.

I think that you would be "forced" to run the Metro-style Start Screen, or stay with Win7. The Metro-style Start Screen contributes absolutely nothing to the computing experience. But it is really essential for Microsoft.

Microsoft wants to condition users to the Metro Interface. Some clever marketer in Microsoft has decided that this is the best way to steer users to Microsoft smartphones and tablets. Without conditioning the users at the desktop, there is no desire by the average user to "go Metro". Personally, I find Metro unattractive and rather "retro". It reminds me of front ends circa 1980's.

Microsoft also wants to make money from its app store, just announced. So, without the Start Screen, there is no money coming from the app store!!! It is as simple as that.

Thus, the Start Screen is (a) a Marketing Device and (b) a Money-making proposition. Because Microsoft wants to have the opportunity of selling these $1.99 - $4.99 apps to tens of millions of users, it has gone ahead and deleted access to hundreds (or even thousands) of desktop gadgets (that were doing much of the same thing and did not cost a penny).

The hunger for money is such that we are now have a useless overlay running "full screen apps" in a windowing OS!!!!

Expect Microsoft to really downgrade as much as possible the Win7 experience. Expect that from now on, several updates to be available only to Win8 users (any upgrades to Windows Essentials for example). The gadgets are gone, certain user routines in applications have been deleted and I believe that certain versions of MS programs would be only for Win8. You will pushed to Win8 kicking and screaming.
 

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120 years ago, we had to stop using carriages for cars .... and there were probably a lot of naysayers there also. You may not want to evolved, but I am quite excited to start using Windows in a more efficient manner (by my other thread, I think this is still far from perfect, but with a few tweaks could be rather close.) The new screen shots of being able to group and label groups looks amazing.

I think that you would be "forced" to run the Metro-style Start Screen, or stay with Win7. The Metro-style Start Screen contributes absolutely nothing to the computing experience. But it is really essential for Microsoft.

Microsoft wants to condition users to the Metro Interface. Some clever marketer in Microsoft has decided that this is the best way to steer users to Microsoft smartphones and tablets. Without conditioning the users at the desktop, there is no desire by the average user to "go Metro". Personally, I find Metro unattractive and rather "retro". It reminds me of front ends circa 1980's.

Microsoft also wants to make money from its app store, just announced. So, without the Start Screen, there is no money coming from the app store!!! It is as simple as that.

As from my above post, I think you are quite wrong. You make it sound like this evolution started here. In XP, we are were given the ability to put apps in the task bar as well as the Start Bar, this evolved in Vista and Further in 7. Giving more room for "priority apps" isn't a new thing, one that Microsoft has been doing there homework on and realizing how much people use. Windows 8 just gives is a more organized way to get to those apps quicker.

Thus, the Start Screen is (a) a Marketing Device and (b) a Money-making proposition. Because Microsoft wants to have the opportunity of selling these $1.99 - $4.99 apps to tens of millions of users, it has gone ahead and deleted access to hundreds (or even thousands) of desktop gadgets (that were doing much of the same thing and did not cost a penny).

I will say for the first time, I do agree with you. This is another way for them to make money, but you are taking it quite too far. They are forcing us just as much to buy apps as they have done to buy Office! It will be up to you, you want a cooler weather app .... your choice to but it.

I am still trying to figure out why you are even on this forum, if you hate the operating system so much. Not looking for a fight, just never understand haters on a forum ......
 

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120 years ago, we had to stop using carriages for cars .... and there were probably a lot of naysayers there also. You may not want to evolved, but I am quite excited to start using Windows in a more efficient manner (by my other thread, I think this is still far from perfect, but with a few tweaks could be rather close.) The new screen shots of being able to group and label groups looks amazing.
This is our basic disagreement. I just do not think that it is efficient. I believe that it inefficient and regressive. Why would anybody want to run full-screen apps in a windowing system? Why have a layer on top of the desktop and dumb it down to provide a marketing advantage? Is this what the future of computing is?

I am far more in the "bleeding edge" of software than you are, I am sure. I am all for progress. The problem is how one defines progress. And the "Start Screen" is not progress, it is anything bad. We need to make the computers smarter to use, we need to have them do more, not less. We have increased the resolution of our screens to be able to display rich information and now we are regressing to low resolution, lego-style simplicities of the Metro-style Start Screen just because Microsoft needs to make more money and sell tablets.

I think that you would be "forced" to run the Metro-style Start Screen, or stay with Win7. The Metro-style Start Screen contributes absolutely nothing to the computing experience. But it is really essential for Microsoft.

Microsoft wants to condition users to the Metro Interface. Some clever marketer in Microsoft has decided that this is the best way to steer users to Microsoft smartphones and tablets. Without conditioning the users at the desktop, there is no desire by the average user to "go Metro". Personally, I find Metro unattractive and rather "retro". It reminds me of front ends circa 1980's.

Microsoft also wants to make money from its app store, just announced. So, without the Start Screen, there is no money coming from the app store!!! It is as simple as that.

As from my above post, I think you are quite wrong. You make it sound like this evolution started here. In XP, we are were given the ability to put apps in the task bar as well as the Start Bar, this evolved in Vista and Further in 7. Giving more room for "priority apps" isn't a new thing, one that Microsoft has been doing there homework on and realizing how much people use. Windows 8 just gives is a more organized way to get to those apps quicker.

Thus, the Start Screen is (a) a Marketing Device and (b) a Money-making proposition. Because Microsoft wants to have the opportunity of selling these $1.99 - $4.99 apps to tens of millions of users, it has gone ahead and deleted access to hundreds (or even thousands) of desktop gadgets (that were doing much of the same thing and did not cost a penny).

I will say for the first time, I do agree with you. This is another way for them to make money, but you are taking it quite too far. They are forcing us just as much to buy apps as they have done to buy Office! It will be up to you, you want a cooler weather app .... your choice to but it.

I am still trying to figure out why you are even on this forum, if you hate the operating system so much. Not looking for a fight, just never understand haters on a forum ......

First of all, I am glad that you agree with me. But making money by "denuding" the old OS, killing the desktop gadgets so that there is no alternative, and forcing users to use an totally unnecessary layer just to make more money seems wrong to me.

I am in this forum because I care for Windows, this is absolutely true. I think that users who object to where Microsoft is taking this OS should raise their voices. I have little doubt that the same debate went (or is still going) on within Microsoft. The marketers and the totally hapless Steve Balmer won. If you do not like where this whole thing is going, speak. If you think that this is progress, I am dumbfounded. But it takes all kinds...
 

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I am far more in the "bleeding edge" of software than you are, I am sure.

I love the arrogance, two people fighting over how cutting edge they are running a Windows 8 Developer's Preview ..... lol
 
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Well, hate to break unfortunate news to you, but research done by Microsoft and science have a better argument than you can pose. The Start Screen is rather more efficient than the start menu, it only matters if the user knows how to take full advantage of it. But if you want, DOS is still a good, sturdy system to use... :)
 

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Well, hate to break unfortunate news to you, but research done by Microsoft and science have a better argument than you can pose. The Start Screen is rather more efficient than the start menu, it only matters if the user knows how to take full advantage of it. But if you want, DOS is still a good, sturdy system to use... :)

Quite the contrary. The Start Screen maybe more efficient if you have a couple of programs, but it is not only inefficient but absolutely bizarre in systems with a decent amount of applications. Your Start Screen is then populated by untold number of grey boxes with no sense of organization or desirable grouping. In fact, on a large monitor, this is more than weird. One would have hardly expected a modern OS to behave in this manner. I think that it would be embarrassing for Microsoft.

Now, for you continuous denigration of those that do not embrace the Start Screen as MS-DOS holdouts, I have only one thing to say. MS-DOS groupies would find a lot to like in the Start Screen because it is nothing more than a brain-dead task switcher resembling many DOS shells of the pre-Windows era.
 

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Let me see if I understand your first post.
You want the people that like the Metro Start screen to ask MS to make it optional, is this correct?

Uhm, I think the people that don't like it are more likely to ask MS to make it optional.
Although I do think they should make it optional, if they don't it will be ok with me.

Just try using it for more than a few minutes, all the things you say it doesn't do, it actually does do.
The live feeding app icons are the same as gadgets, developers will make them better than gadgets.
You can group the icons and put them wherever you want.
You can change the background color, you can have a picture as the background, MS or developers may come up with even better options.

All it is, is a customizable interface like Stardock apps or Rainmeter, it does need some fine tuning, but it is just a Developers preview.
You can hopefully make it look like a Win7 desktop full of random app icons, we'll see when beta comes out.
 

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Hi guys, you lost me here.

In Win8 you hit start and settings and you see on the right of your screen the power button. So????

For me it is ok as is. Anyway i always want the latest tech...so always want the latest hardware or software.


Jeff
 

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