Do you agree the Windows 8.1 Start Button is a Joke?

[bassfisher6522]

It's really a stupid thing. An offense to most users intelligence !

Couldn't have said it any better!!!!

 

[jimbo45]

World War Two British Army slang term for one of their mates who's been killed.

Appropriate, because that's what my USB3 drivers did.to my W8.1 install.


Wenda.

Hi there

I've done a bit more testing now on W8.1 (this time om PHYSICAL machines rather than running as a VM).

USB3 on an ACER laptop seems OK. Ran install from ISO (TechNet download). Installed FRESH (I think in any case you can't do an upgrade using the ISO anyway).

USB3 though on a desktop is broken -- that's if you are using a PCI-e express card for the USB3 functionality --in fact these cards are WORSE than useless as their speed is NOTHING like genuine USB3 --you are actually better off just plugging your USB3 device into a USB2 slot.

I don't have a desktop type computer with Native USB3 slots -- I probably won't get round to ever having one as I won't in the foreseeable future (if ever) feel the need to buy a DESKTOP type of machine. Laptops are a different story as with a decent docking station and large external monitors there's nothing a desktop can do for me that a laptop won't do -- and I'm not a gamer either.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Nemix]

I like the actual button icon itself and the animation that goes with it when hover the mouse over the button but other than that it's just a button to get back to the Start Screen.

Start8 is still the way to go if you want a full fledged Windows 8.1 Start Menu, I'm hoping Start8 implements an option to keep Windows 8.1's default button icon and animation with future updates; the Start button in Start8 is actually bigger and has no animation.

 

[lehnerus2000]

If you look through the astronomical number of complaints, regarding the menu, 70% refer to the "Start button". I have even remarked on this several time in earlier posts.
What users really wanted was a return to the old menu style. This evil gnome has given back what they asked for - the start button.

Just like a genie in the old fairy tales.
Be careful what you wish for, because that is what you will get.

 

[caperjack]

World War Two British Army slang term for one of their mates who's been killed.

Appropriate, because that's what my USB3 drivers did.to my W8.1 install.


Wenda.

interesting ,my ancestors immigrated to Canada from Britain ,early 1800 or earlier even ,i think .thank you

 

[KarterJK]

I like the actual button icon itself and the animation that goes with it when hover the mouse over the button but other than that it's just a button to get back to the Start Screen.

Start8 is still the way to go if you want a full fledged Windows 8.1 Start Menu, I'm hoping Start8 implements an option to keep Windows 8.1's default button icon and animation with future updates; the Start button in Start8 is actually bigger and has no animation.

Stardock already has the Start8 beta version for 8.1, I believe Decor8, Modern Mix and Windows Blinds also have beta versions out.

I tried the Start8 and it does indeed work the same, unfortunately, 1/2 of my software would not install on 8.1 (Net.framework or required version problems) though they worked perfect on 8.0 so I abandon the whole 8.1 mess.

personally, I think 8.1 made Windows 8 worse, not better and I absolutely hate the Apps Store what a disaster.

 

[davehc]

I'm trying out Modernmix 1.05, and it seems to work 100%. But I read on the Modermix forums that some are having bad experiences when mixing Apps with desktop applications.

 

[WindowsStar]

It adds exactly 2 features. There is a button to click on instead of just going to the corner and clicking on the small tile that appears. Right-click adds exactly one feature, an easy way to shutdown/reboot.

It does not provide the nice compact well organized Start Menu of Windows 7 and previous versions of Windows. Fortunately Classic Shell and others still provide full featured start buttons/menus.

Yup, I was hoping for a Windows 7 Start button so Windows 8.1 would be a desktop option for many of us. Hoping MS will change this in the GOLD version. -WS

 

[WindowsStar]

The first thing that bothered me when installing the W8.1 preview from the ISO is that you either give them your e-mail address or you can't finish the installation. With W8 you could skip this step and use a local account. The start button they give you adds no value. What is the difference whether you click on a start button that takes you to the modern desktop or you drag your mouse into the lower left corner and click to get to the same place? I installed W8.1 on a spare HD and fooled around with for an hour or so. The smaller tiles are a nice feature but other than that it doesn't do a thing for people that want the traditional desktop.

Just enter a fake email address and then it will offer to let you make a local account. -WS

 

[Atomic77]

Windows 8.1 the best OS ever made !!!!!

 

[CountMike]

Windows 8.1 the best OS ever made !!!!!

Just wait till you get W10 !!
I just reread all posts on this topic and seen many play different tune after a while when get more familiar with W8/8.1.
I would also like to thank all the whiners in the world for helping MS bring Windows 10 (and get rid of Balmer). So thank you whiners but not very much.

 

[nt62]

Windows 8.1 the best OS ever made !!!!!

Just wait till you get W10 !!
I just reread all posts on this topic and seen many play different tune after a while when get more familiar with W8/8.1.
I would also like to thank all the whiners in the world for helping MS bring Windows 10 (and get rid of Balmer). So thank you whiners but not very much.

No, the button is not a joke because user feedback demanded it!
It is the singular most important point of reference for many feedbackers.

As far as 8.1 - it seems to be just more stuff added by user feedback or complaints.
And 8.1.1 is even more stuff added by feedback!
Pin to all apps - that's a good one :huh: - new highlights no start screen immersive search results!

What about that touch centric metro desktop hybrid 10 button? Sub categories and sub nests are great
No menu scrolling there

No one needs to scroll thru a toolbar


Since 8.0 is a total flop, my preference is to use the flop.

 

[dperecky]

Have a dual-boot laptop with Windows 7/8. No touch-screen. On it, I almost never booted to Windows 8. The navigation seemed forced. And the Metro interface was intimidating... in that the apps are apparently disorganized. Compared to Windows 7, they just seemed strewn all over the place.

Enter the tablet with the touch-screen. Has Windows 8.1 pre-installed on it. Now, with the touch of a button, it's like taking a full-color vacation into essentially another OS. The Metro interface is still way too disorganized, but it's not so intimidating, because there is a Windows button on the side that navigates me to the left, where the desktop panel is- if I want to get back to it quickly. With a touch-screen, I can swipe left and something happens. I can swipe right, and something else happens. When I'm in a Metro app, I can swipe down or up, and usually things happen there as well. All these swipe gestures were actually painful when using a mouse on a non-touch-screen laptop. This includes the Start button.

Hope I answered your question.

 

[CountMike]

Have a dual-boot laptop with Windows 7/8. No touch-screen. On it, I almost never booted to Windows 8. The navigation seemed forced. And the Metro interface was intimidating... in that the apps are apparently disorganized. Compared to Windows 7, they just seemed strewn all over the place.

Enter the tablet with the touch-screen. Has Windows 8.1 pre-installed on it. Now, with the touch of a button, it's like taking a full-color vacation into essentially another OS. The Metro interface is still way too disorganized, but it's not so intimidating, because there is a Windows button on the side that navigates me to the left, where the desktop panel is- if I want to get back to it quickly. With a touch-screen, I can swipe left and something happens. I can swipe right, and something else happens. When I'm in a Metro app, I can swipe down or up, and usually things happen there as well. All these swipe gestures were actually painful when using a mouse on a non-touch-screen laptop. This includes the Start button.

Hope I answered your question.

You didn't set 8.1 to work properly with non touch, gestures are not needed to work with the mouse.

 

[dperecky]

You didn't set 8.1 to work properly with non touch, gestures are not needed to work with the mouse.

ok. Didn't know that those could be changed/configured(?) Because you're right... gestures do not work at all with a mouse. It was hard to move the mouse into the left / right corners and sides to simulate gestures.

Is that what you mean?

This is probably (I'm guessing here) one big reason why Win8 was so unpopular when it first came out.

 

[CountMike]

8.1 has usual minimize, maximize and close in top right corner in APPs as well as in desktop programs. If you drag up or double click on title bar it maximizes and dragging window left or right glues it to that side of screen. To start an APP or program you click on it icon just like any desktop program. Everything can be done usual way. If you like start menu like in Win 7, there are few programs like 8start that can provide it.

 

[XweAponX]

Ha! How old is this thread? Bfhaha! I'm intrigued with Windows 10, but I want to wait until there is an actual release, I don't wanna use the preview version.

 

[CountMike]

Ha! How old is this thread? Bfhaha! I'm intrigued with Windows 10, but I want to wait until there is an actual release, I don't wanna use the preview version.

Most are using it as secondary system, dual boot or in VM, learning experience. This way I don't get too surprised when it goes final.

 

[TechnoMage]

Windows 8.1 Pro is my everyday OS now, but only with the "Classic Shell" installed.

I'm also testing Windows 10 on multiple platforms (PC's) and the attempt by MS to give us back the Start Button is really pretty lame.
It's a far cry from the old "Metro" screen, but still lacking.

It's workable if you're familiar with all the previous OS's, but for a total Nube, with NO training, it would be a disaster.

I can just see my first install of a new PC, running Windows 10, as it is today. My customer will look at me and say something like "you've gotta be kidding me".....then I'll say, "Hey, I can fix that", and then I'll install The Classic Shell and set up their desktop to look just like their old Windows XP or Win-7 PC. My customer will be happy and I'll take my money and go home, knowing that I've got one more happy customer.

Maybe Geeks, Nerds and Windows aficionados can use the Metro setup, but real PC users the world over hate it.
A friend who works in a big box store tells me that over 30% of the PC's that they sell with Windows 8 or 8.1 on them, come back because people can't figure out what to do with them. That's so WRONG, in so many ways.

It's like Chevy putting out a new model, with NO steering wheel, or foot pedals....nothing but a joy stick. They might sell a few to gamers, but the average driver would pass on that model. Eh?

 

[JohnTravolski]

This will sound weird, but even though I've been using Windows since Windows 98, I've never made use of the start menu. Although I don't like Windows 8's version of it either, I really don't care. However, I still use the Windows Start Key on the keyboard quite often. Win + L, Win +R, and Win + Arrows I use all of the time.