Removing Start for Windows 8 was the right thing to do

Like them or loathe them, Metro-style apps are here to stay, so let's stop agonising over the lack of a Start button — here are the very good reasons why it makes sense to get rid of it.

Read more at source:
Removing Start for Windows 8 was the right thing to do | ZDNet



For those that can't live without the Start Menu, see:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8528-start-menu-restore-windows-8-a.html

 

[Arpan]

Re: "Search command box for regedit". Sorry didn't make this clear. If I type "regedit" into "Search programs and files" box in Start Menu and hit Enter on keyboard it opens Registry. Ditto for commands like "sfc /scannow', "msconfig", etc.

Hi Mustang

I'm not sure if you are aware of this, just letting you know - when you are on the start screen, if you type the commands you mentioned above and hit enter, you get the same result.

 

[Mustang]

Hi Mustang

I'm not sure if you are aware of this, just letting you know - when you are on the start screen, if you type the commands you mentioned above and hit enter, you get the same result.

Hi Arpan,

Yes, I was aware of that, but thanks anyway for input. I'm buying W8 Pro 64bit OEM with disk tomorrow. Main reason is to get improved kernel and general OS improvements. And though I'll be using hack to restore Orb Start Menu, will also have access to Start Screen. So I'm going to play around a bit and try some of the other access methods suggested by RobR.

I am familiar with tile/touch screen via my Sony Ericsson Experia Android mobile phone, so that should give me a head start.

Cheers M

 

[R0bR]

Re: "Search command box for regedit". Sorry didn't make this clear. If I type "regedit" into "Search programs and files" box in Start Menu and hit Enter on keyboard it opens Registry. Ditto for commands like "sfc /scannow', "msconfig", etc.

Yes, I launch all that stuff through search including most of the control panel stuff. For any command line stuff I have a Console window snapped to the bottom corner of my desktop that when being used is 90% opaque but inactive drops to nearly transparent. I use the command line quite a bit so it's always on my desktop but don't like for it to be 100% visible when I'm not using it. And yes the transparency of it works with W8 also.

 

[Mustang]

@R0br. Thanks for that info Rob. Cheers M. :thumb:

 

[Panoid]

I hardly ever used the Start button in Windows 7. The new Start screen in Windows 8 is more convenient.

 

[Fredledingue]

Removing the Start Menu won't make lose a single sale to MS (hacks are available and half of the users will use them) yet it was per-se an incredibly stupid move.

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I cost them nothing to leave it (as it cost very little for Start8 and similar hacks to be released within days) and they could have let it as an option.

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Yes, we used the Start Menu only once or twice per year (if any) but it will be exactely the same with Metro when poeple will finaly realize that it's not efficient in regard to using the Desktop. The Desktop is much more efficient than the Start Menu (that's why it was little used) but it's also a million times more efficient than the Metro Start Screen, and that's why the latter will be little used too. Seriousely, I don't see the point in opening a full screen Start Screen to open a program if you have the shortcut on the Desktop.

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That's why I think MS went over the top with Metro. Calling it the future of computing was prematurate to say the least. And very arrogant.

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About search:

The bonus of the search charm is that it does predictive matching. If you want to open Notepad up quickly, for example, you tap open the charm, start typing 'N-O' and it will display matching apps, whether these are desktop or Metro-style apps.

PLease define Quickely - LOL -.

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The author forgets that this was already the case with the search function in 7. It's like the "Now you can open IE in full screen" argument. Nothing new or extraordinary.

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Now let's try it with a software you rarely use and forgot how it's called exactely... Good luck!

 

[eridesktop]

at first i very confused using windows 8 without start menu, but by the time i really enjoy it..

 

[Cymbal Man Freq]

I'm more concerned with sorting through 300 programs on the Start Menu. There's no way I'm going to be typing program names to find a program. I've gotta scroll a menu with my mouse to find programs. I've gotta track down that Start Menu hack before I consider installing Windows 8 Pro on a laptop or desktop.

 

[AmigaRoots]

Windows 8 has many improvements, it's not just Metro. So, it makes perfect sense disabling Metro and the "why use 8 like 7?" argument is weak. I actually liked and used the Metro screen at first, however, the constant switching between Metro and Desktop is annoying to my eyes and frankly a bit ridiculous, like a 2-in-1 OS. Almost every program I use (and launch from the Metro screen) will again revert to Desktop mode. When Microsoft provides everything (including Windows Explorer) for Metro and gets rid of Desktop completely, it could make sense. As it is... Classic Shell and eye-sanity for me.