Microsoft is bringing the Start Menu back

Millions asked for it, and Microsoft is providing it: the old Start Menu is coming back. Kind of. At its Build conference today, Microsoft announced a new Start Menu that looks like a hybrid of the best of Windows 7 and Windows 8. It's around the same size as the Windows 7 menu, but also features miniature Live Tiles along one side.

Read more at: Microsoft is bringing the Start Menu back | The Verge

 

[gator2013]

I think MS wants to demonstrate a willingness to give customers what they want but in the background I think what they really want is to gradually move to a subscription service for Operating Systems just like some of their other products and other software vendors like the AV/Malware vendors and Malwarebytes who has just recently changed their business model to a subscription service.

Cloud Based OS's

I also think that at some point in the future (may be a while) the full OS will not reside at the local device level but on a Cloud Server which could give individual users a lot of flexibility. I think this is already happening with the big emphasis on Apps where the entire complex program will not reside on the local device.

Things are going to change and I believe that is a certainty, we just don't know how and how fast.

 

[whs]

Windows 8 becomes more and more questionable. Since my goverment recommeds not to use it I really wonder what direction this is going.

In any case, it is probably recommended not to go on the internet with 8 or 8.1 - probably more exposed than using XP. I recommend to use a Linux virtual system or Linux on a stick to deal with the internet. For normal office work without internet and the updates, 8.1 is probably OK.

 

[EMINENT]

I personally don't GAF about the start screen.

As long as devs hurry up and build universal apps, they could have rows of pictures of crap in columns for all I care.

 

[dburne458]

Well I never had Windows 8, I started with 8.1 on a new build back in Dec.
I have it booting to desktop, and most my regular used programs pinned to the taskbar. Initially I really missed the " all programs" menu, but as time goes on I guess I miss it less.
I do occasionally go to the metro apps screen and run some stuff from there as well.

I have gotten used to it fairly well and have been very pleased with my decision to go with 8.1 on my new build.
I admit though, looking forward to some more of the traditional stuff coming back with the upcoming update, namely the X to close option on the metro apps.

 

[caperjack]

I running the update now and it is nice to see the X at the top of the metro apps ,and the shutdown and reboot icon on the start screen ,even if I don't use them very often

 

[Coke Robot]

I think MS wants to demonstrate a willingness to give customers what they want but in the background I think what they really want is to gradually move to a subscription service for Operating Systems just like some of their other products and other software vendors like the AV/Malware vendors and Malwarebytes who has just recently changed their business model to a subscription service.

Cloud Based OS's

I also think that at some point in the future (may be a while) the full OS will not reside at the local device level but on a Cloud Server which could give individual users a lot of flexibility. I think this is already happening with the big emphasis on Apps where the entire complex program will not reside on the local device.

Things are going to change and I believe that is a certainty, we just don't know how and how fast.

A total cloud based OS is too far ahead of the future. We don't even have fiber optic internet service everywhere in the US, let alone decent and fast speeds to begin with. A LOT needs to be done before that can happen.

 

[CountMike]

The upcoming Windows 8.1 update will have a slew of nice-to-have updates that make the operating system better to use with mouse and keyboard. But it will be missing a new Start Menu that Microsoft is promising will some day appear. Why wait, Microsoft? I want it now!

Even before Windows 8 officially shipped in October, 2012 there were countless complaints that the company had killed the Start Menu. Many, many months before the release, testers of various pre-release versions (including me) asked that it be brought back. So it's not as if Microsoft hasn't known for a long time -- well over two years -- that users were demanding that the company restore one of Windows' most useful features.

More

And please make it an option only. I don't want it.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there.

I'm certainly not interested in a Cloud OS - which would probably sneak in the dreaded subscription system by the back door.

Hedging my bets here so :

Using Linux more and More now - you can customize menus etc any which way you choose. The system will take care of nearly everything I want to do. Ms fails to deliver or hoses it up totally then my Linux system will be fine and I can say to Ms - that's it - don't need you any more.


the latest three programs I've managed to find where I don't need Windows any more for now are :

Handbrake Video transcoding program

Calibre e-book management -- WITH the DE-DRM plug in for de-drm'ing Kindle books so I can convert to epub and read in my Sony e-reader

Logitech Media server - streams all my music to hardware over the house

Now all I need now is Photoshop CS6 (don't say the GIMP -- it's good but not a patch on Photoshop) and OFFICE .
(Libre office still isn't OK for me just yet - I'm an EXCEL power user).
WINE apparently runs Photoshop CS6 about 90% -- will test that one out soon.

Ms Office is still the one I will have mega problems doing without - and I'll still need windows for connecting to some corporate IT systems like SAP but running as a VM is fine.

(Example shown on Linux Mint 16 - petra with KDE desktop).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Lievre]

Microsoft Will Soon Bring Back The Start Menu In Windows 8

[h=1]Microsoft Will Soon Bring Back The Start Menu In Windows 8.1[/h]
More on this here

http://techcrunch.com/2014/04/02/microsoft-will-soon-bring-back-the-start-menu-in-windows-8-1/

Lievre

 

[whs]

I think MS wants to demonstrate a willingness to give customers what they want but in the background I think what they really want is to gradually move to a subscription service for Operating Systems just like some of their other products and other software vendors like the AV/Malware vendors and Malwarebytes who has just recently changed their business model to a subscription service.

Cloud Based OS's

I also think that at some point in the future (may be a while) the full OS will not reside at the local device level but on a Cloud Server which could give individual users a lot of flexibility. I think this is already happening with the big emphasis on Apps where the entire complex program will not reside on the local device.

Things are going to change and I believe that is a certainty, we just don't know how and how fast.

A total cloud based OS is too far ahead of the future. We don't even have fiber optic internet service everywhere in the US, let alone decent and fast speeds to begin with. A LOT needs to be done before that can happen.

How about the Chromebooks, don't they work that way.

 

[Britton30]

Microsoft’s New Start Menu Is Just a Mockup

If you’re thinking that the new Start menu that Microsoft unveiled today at the BUILD 2014 developer conference looks really awesome, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it turns out that the company is planning a completely different design for the final version of the feature.

Source

 

[Lebon14]

Microsoft’s New Start Menu Is Just a Mockup

If you’re thinking that the new Start menu that Microsoft unveiled today at the BUILD 2014 developer conference looks really awesome, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it turns out that the company is planning a completely different design for the final version of the feature.

Source

Well, I hope the final menu will look better than the atrocity that was that mockup.

 

[CountMike]

Microsoft’s New Start Menu Is Just a Mockup

If you’re thinking that the new Start menu that Microsoft unveiled today at the BUILD 2014 developer conference looks really awesome, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it turns out that the company is planning a completely different design for the final version of the feature.

Source

Well, I hope the final menu will look better than the atrocity that was that mockup.

90% of applications on my computer are "third party" anyway, what's the problem adding another one if I need it ? There were always programs for changing interface, from Star dock to Rainmetar etc. Than there are a lot of themes, custom fonts, pointers, icons etc. Ad to that programs to make Win7 look like XP and other way around, there's even one that makes XP look like Win8. Most are free too.

 

[eCh]

Sorry but will this new start menu, not keep the old metro UI? with tiles and what not?
Will it just be like the old start menu with a "pop up menu" ?

 

[Wenda]

Sorry but will this new start menu, not keep the old metro UI? with tiles and what not?
Will it just be like the old start menu with a "pop up menu" ?

See this thread here, eCh, it should answer your questions.

http://www.eightforums.com/windows-8-news/43720-microsoft-bringing-start-menu-back.html


Wenda.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
This app probably isn't worth persevering with any more.

Windows 8.1 update 1 can run the shutdown from the Windows button at the bottom left of the screen (right mouse click) and Ms seems to be preparing us for a few updates later on in the year including a CLASSICAL start menu.

The run and Search also are quite useful.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[eCh]

@ wenda - thanks will have a look!

 

[eCh]

Oh thank god it was just a mockup. I didnt like it. In fact im just getting used to the new start menu that is in 8 and 8.1

 

[whs]

I actually like the mock-up. The right side of the Start reminds me my W8P desktop. And there it works well. And hopefully All Programs will be in alphabetical order and not in a gezillion groups like All Apps.

 

[CountMike]

A floating menu would really be nice.