Start menu replacements

will1982

Random idiot
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How many of you use a start menu replacement in 8?

If so, what do you use and why do you want a start menu?

Personally, I'm a big fan of Start8, it's insanely customizable and feels like 7.

I hate the start screen,it's so odd..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64 Bit
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    HP envy m6 laptop
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    Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge @ 2.5 GHz
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    The screen res sucks for a display this size...
I use the standard Windows 8 start page. If you give it a chance and use it for a few weeks, you will find it works quite well and you won't want to go back. This has been the case with every person I have convinced to give it an honest shake.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    Logitech MX
I use the standard Windows 8 start page. If you give it a chance and use it for a few weeks, you will find it works quite well and you won't want to go back. This has been the case with every person I have convinced to give it an honest shake.

I got Start8 the instant after I installed Chrome. I've actually only visited the start screen maybe 5 times. Is it really more productive/easy than a menu?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64 Bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP envy m6 laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge @ 2.5 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics Integrated 4000
    Sound Card
    Built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6 " Laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    750 GB @ 5200 RPM
    Keyboard
    Chiclet keyboard
    Internet Speed
    22.3 Mbps (apx. 2.3 MB per second)
    Other Info
    The screen res sucks for a display this size...
Once you have it configured to be useful to you, it is for me. It takes me half a second to open any app I want, just by typing the first couple of letters. And, of course, I use a lot of Metro apps.. so those simply wouldn't work with a menu, at least the tile portion.

I think the real problem is that most people looked at the few apps available at launch, and assumed that apps are incapable of being useful. That is so far from the truth.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
How many of you use a start menu replacement in 8?

If so, what do you use and why do you want a start menu?

Personally, I'm a big fan of Start8, it's insanely customizable and feels like 7.

I hate the start screen,it's so odd..

The only info I have found is on Classic Shell it was down loaded over 60,000 today.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7/8 Mint
    System Manufacturer/Model
    lenovo W530
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    intell i7
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
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    16gb
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    1920x1080
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    512 gb ssd
    Other Info
    Around 13 million employes
Once you have it configured to be useful to you, it is for me. It takes me half a second to open any app I want, just by typing the first couple of letters. And, of course, I use a lot of Metro apps.. so those simply wouldn't work with a menu, at least the tile portion.

I think the real problem is that most people looked at the few apps available at launch, and assumed that apps are incapable of being useful. That is so far from the truth.

Well you have to admit, the app store is like a barren Soviet grocery store
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64 Bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP envy m6 laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge @ 2.5 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics Integrated 4000
    Sound Card
    Built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6 " Laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    750 GB @ 5200 RPM
    Keyboard
    Chiclet keyboard
    Internet Speed
    22.3 Mbps (apx. 2.3 MB per second)
    Other Info
    The screen res sucks for a display this size...

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8 pro x64
    CPU
    Q9300
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    Gigabyte P43 Es3g
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    8 GB of ddr 2
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    spike
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    air
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    wired A4
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    ADSL 8 MB / 1 MB
I think the real problem is that most people looked at the few apps available at launch, and assumed that apps are incapable of being useful. That is so far from the truth.

What apps do you use that are useful? Do you mean for real work or just trivial amusement?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
I must say that I missed the Startmenu at first (during the first two days). But then I totaly forgot anything like that ever existed. Until I logged on at work on Windows XP....

For me Start is working wonderfully! Just start typing the app/ program you are looking for and it shows up! Can't wait until my office is migrating to Windows 8, although I think in that case I might have to wait until 2020 or something like that... :eek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Media Center Edition
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Made
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    Intel Core i5 750
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    6 GB
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    AMD HD 7750
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    Iiyama ProLite B2481HS-B1
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    1x 120 GB SSD Samsung 830;
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    I also own the following Microsoft devices:
    * Surface Pro 2 128 GB
    * Windows Phone HTC 8X
Just start typing the app/ program you are looking for and it shows up!

Click on the start orb, start typing in the search box and the program shows up without leaving the desktop.

Difference is you don't have to find the right bit on the side of the screen without jumping to your next monitor then moving down to start and then going to that pointless full screen jumble!

In the web design world we concentrate a lot on usability, the Modern UI fails on every count on a 26 inch desktop (though it looks OK on my mates phone).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
t0iDD.jpg You don't need it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Other Info
    Surface RT

[Funny sarcastic modus on]

So you are actually saying that because the elder people can't cope with the new Start we, the world, must stop or slow down progression and innovation?

I disagree ==> the elder people are at the END of there lifespan. So is it not logical to stop or slow down the innovation of an entire civilization because they can not keep up with it. That would kill a civilization.
I'd say ==> if they can't keep up with it, then it must be time for them to let go...

[/end of Funny sarcastic modus]

Ontopic ==> I don't think your example is very convincing :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Media Center Edition
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Made
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD HD 7750
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    Iiyama ProLite B2481HS-B1
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    1920x1080
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    1x 120 GB SSD Samsung 830;
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    1x 2 TB HDD Western Digital;
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    I also own the following Microsoft devices:
    * Surface Pro 2 128 GB
    * Windows Phone HTC 8X
I must say that I missed the Startmenu at first (during the first two days). But then I totaly forgot anything like that ever existed. Until I logged on at work on Windows XP....

For me Start is working wonderfully! Just start typing the app/ program you are looking for and it shows up! Can't wait until my office is migrating to Windows 8, although I think in that case I might have to wait until 2020 or something like that... :eek:

Yup, since upgrading to W8, I really don't like Start Menu.
I just miss the Start Button, that can be anticipated by creating a CTRL-ESC VBS that links to Start Screen.
 

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  • OS
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    Google Chrome
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    PC:

    AMD Athlon X4 760K
    8GB DDR3-1866
    AMD Radeon RX 460
    Seagate 500 GB 7200 RPM
How many of you use a start menu replacement in 8?

If so, what do you use and why do you want a start menu?

Personally, I'm a big fan of Start8, it's insanely customizable and feels like 7.

I hate the start screen,it's so odd..
I made a collection of shortcuts, put them in a folder on the desktop called "Apps," and created a tool bar for the apps folder on the task bar. I am trying to use 8 without 3rd party software that modifies the way 8 works. No matter what I would not use 8 versus 7 as a main system.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
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    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
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    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
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    EVGA 570 SC
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    Gateway
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    Dual Boot:
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    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
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    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
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    Cooler Master 932 HAF
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    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
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    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
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    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
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    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Depends what you are doing. Start screen is ok if all you ever want to do is launch an app.

If you want to find/manage lots of files and do anything creative- then I find it is much better to have something which keeps you in the desktop. Some sort of start menu is much better for that - not just for launching programs , but it gives access to control panel, shutdown options, flyout menu to all your drives , etc all in one obvious place. It also has integrated search - press winkey and start typing. It is far more ergonomic than the start screen.

If you only want to post on twit book and consume stuff - and you have the limitations of a small screen touch only device - start screen will be ok there. It might be useful to those with certain disabilities.

MS took the start menu away because they want to force the start screen at you at every opportunity. It is the way MS exhort users into their online services.

Samsung and now HP have their own start menus. That is because they know it is very useful to customers. There are about 3 dozen other start menus available around the net - clearly there is a big demand for them.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

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  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
All true to me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
I'm all for Pokki. It's bloody amazing, and has good features like an option to boot Windows 8 straight to desktop ;D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64 Bit
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    ASRock Z170 Extreme4
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    Coolermaster Masterkeys Pro S
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    Razer Basilisk Ultimate
    Internet Speed
    100/40
    Browser
    Firefox
How many of you use a start menu replacement in 8?

If so, what do you use and why do you want a start menu?

Personally, I'm a big fan of Start8, it's insanely customizable and feels like 7.

I hate the start screen,it's so odd..
I made a collection of shortcuts, put them in a folder on the desktop called "Apps," and created a tool bar for the apps folder on the task bar. I am trying to use 8 without 3rd party software that modifies the way 8 works. No matter what I would not use 8 versus 7 as a main system.

That's actually pretty clever, but nothing can really replicate the start menu.
You can always right-click where the start menu would be to get a neat little thing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 64 Bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP envy m6 laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge @ 2.5 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics Integrated 4000
    Sound Card
    Built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6 " Laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    750 GB @ 5200 RPM
    Keyboard
    Chiclet keyboard
    Internet Speed
    22.3 Mbps (apx. 2.3 MB per second)
    Other Info
    The screen res sucks for a display this size...
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