My logic behind Microsoft's controversial decision: Removal of Start

Arpan

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Hello Guys,
There has been serious, heated debates and disappoint among users over Microsoft's controversial decision to remove the start button. But I though find some logics behind this, here they are:

1) Start button has been replaced by Start Screen, as simple as that, whether you like it or not.

2) It doesn't make sense to have both since start screen is the replacement of start menu. So, in windows 8, wherever you wander in your computer, when you press the windows logo key on your keyboard, you come right into the start screen. Whereas, in windows 7 pressing the windows key opens the start menu.

3) In the middle of any program, if you don't look at the screen and press the windows logo key on your keyboard and type: notepad and and hit enter, you will get the same result in Windows 8 as in Windows 7. You have notepad in your screen in both windows 7 and 8. Isn't it right? Don't believe? Try and see !!

4) Why do you need the start button? Pin applications? Search Apps? Open Settings? Open control panel?
Couple the charms bar with the start screen and you have all that!!
You have option for pinning more, infact unlimited number of application in start screen than start menu !!

5) And undoubtedly, the main obvious reason: Microsoft wants users to use metro UI

What do you think? Share your perspective ;)
 
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This has been discussed so many times already.

The answer is simple :

MS removed the start menu to force users to use metro UI.

The start menu is vastly better for those using the desktop UI - they do not want to go back to the start screen at all - ever - period.

MS has made many people very angry by taking away choices and forcing things on them .

Very bad idea .

They are trying to buy back users affections by offering a giveaway price for the upgrade deal.

They had to do that because they made win8 very unpopular.
 

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So you actually know the spelled out name of /every/ application and utility item etc on your computer to type them in on the metro screen huh?

That would make you some kind of savant. NO ONE knows the exact spelling of even the first few letters of 95% of what's installed on a typical windows box.

Why not just replace the metro screen with a console? It's about as friendly in that department.

I can't tell you how much I HATE that stupid comment every one of the 50 times someone it has brought it up.

And this is coming from a 30 year career software engineer that works with the console EVERY DAY.

It is the most user hostile way to run a computer there is for 99% of the computer using population.

So congrats Metro for that!

One thing the start menu has that is missing /completely/ is a list of ALL installed programs (and neatly categorized, at least on install) for when you need to search for and find that ONE program you use maybe once a year. What now? Don't know the name, you have to search the damn program files folder by hand? Pull up IE and search the Internet for someone that knows the executable file name?

Metro is FAIL on so many levels it's not even funny.
 

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Microsoft has conducted many polls sighting that for most users start menu isnt the end all of end all.

Microsoft is not forcing anything on you, don't like win 8 then don't buy it, no one is holding a gun to your head.

Pricing structure was set many months ago to compete with the way Apple does things, not to win back buyers.
 

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So you actually know the spelled out name of /every/ application and utility item etc on your computer to type them in on the metro screen huh?
I completely agree with you that I don't know the exact name of every program. But that was not the point I was making. I wanted to say that the start screen replaces start menu and there is no point of having both of them. And if you typed ntpad in windows 7 start menu will you get notepad in the results? NO
The search utility remains same in both the versions though windows 8 gives you faster results and predictions.

My question is, why we used the start menus in previous versions of windows?
If you want to see all the programs installed in your system, just right click on the start screen and you get an option of all apps.

This is better than windows 7's "all programs" option because you didn't get a full view of all applications and you had to scroll down to see. For example: Microsoft office.

In the previous start menus you had to click start button>all programs> scroll down>microsoft office folder> any office application you want to use

While in windows 8:
Windows logo key>right click> all apps> any application you want to use


Even xp's start menu was better than 7's. You got a full view of all the menus and sub menus.
 

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I don't see MS setting this price to compete against Apple. They have never done that in the past.

The know that without a low price, this release is destined to be a slow seller. With a low price, they will drag a bunch of people in who are saying, "Well, it's priced low enough, how much can I lose". Once they see Metro and learn to deal with it, those questions will be fully answered.
 

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Microsoft is not forcing anything on you, don't like win 8 then don't buy it, no one is holding a gun to your head.

Pricing structure was set many months ago to compete with the way Apple does things, not to win back buyers.
Yes, tcman50 you have hit the nail on the head. The exact point.
 

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This has been discussed so many times already.

The answer is simple :

MS removed the start menu to force users to use metro UI.

The start menu is vastly better for those using the desktop UI - they do not want to go back to the start screen at all - ever - period.

MS has made many people very angry by taking away choices and forcing things on them .

Very bad idea .

They are trying to buy back users affections by offering a giveaway price for the upgrade deal.

They had to do that because they made win8 very unpopular.
That's kind of a cynical view to it....
 

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Well, from my experience seeing how people use Windows, it also comes down to the fact that the start menu was being used less and less. Their usage data shows that it was used mostly for Computer, some Libraries, and Control Panel and using the search bar instead of navigating through folders as a lot of folders becomes cumbersome. Also, the new UI feature of Windows 7, the Taskbar, effectively nailed the coffin for it. If you can pin you most used programs to it, and have a few used programs in the MFU list of the start menu, or even use the Desktop, why have the menu at all? Many here are desktop users and actually trim the bush of what is the start menu so it's neat and tidy. I do it all the time with every install of Windows 7 I do, it's tedious, but worth it in the end. But finding out that a good chunk of those people of whom I've installed 7 on their PCs that they don't really use the start menu, that they use what I've pinned to the Taskbar or they pin to the Taskbar and use it for a few things; that sucked. All that time for little gain. The new Start Screen is geared for the consumer crowd to better view their installed apps and content.

Also, it's the underpinning of the new Microsoft "Trifecta." It's a metro designed Windows with a metro designed Windows Phone with a metro designed UI for the Xbox where all three devices are built to work with one another and go hand in hand with another. That couldn't happen with Windows 7, Windows Phone, and the preview Xbox Dashboard UI. It just couldn't. What they're offering now is a unified, fluid user experience where devices work better together.
 

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I completely agree with coke robot.
At least I am not missing the start menu much in windows 8
 

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Microsoft has conducted many polls sighting that for most users start menu isnt the end all of end all.

If you truly believe that, I may have a sweet deal for you on some beach front property.
 

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Dear Coke Robot, I wish you would desist from using the term "Trifecta". :sarc:

I'd prefer the ugly triplets.:roflmao:

It is inappropriate because it refers to three winners, and the trio of Microsoft products that you refer to are possibly one winner (Xbox), a non-starter (not even at the starting gate yet for Windows 8) and an also-ran (Windows Phone).

In a year's time, once the race is running, you may be able to bet on a "Trifecta" for Microsoft, but I think you'd still lose your stake.
 

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Microsoft has conducted many polls sighting that for most users start menu isnt the end all of end all.

If you truly believe that, I may have a sweet deal for you on some beach front property.

I've heard other Microsoft "polls" indicate Media Center is used by 6% of the Windows base. I don't know which is funnier, that ludicrous claim, or suspending disbelief long enough to laugh at Microsoft's response, "Kill it! Kill it with fire!"
 

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Well, from my experience seeing how people use Windows, it also comes down to the fact that the start menu was being used less and less.
That is what they say. However, seems tons of people are complaining about it..so that seems odd. In addition, I work in a corporate environment where nearly everybody uses their Start menu. Lots of power users utilize quick launch and other tricks, but the majority of just average users tend to use either the start menu to launch an app or they create a shortcut on their desktop (but they use the Start menu to find that application in the first place). These are the same type of people who use the Network icon to browse network shares instead of hitting the start menu and typing \\servername.


What they're offering now is a unified, fluid user experience where devices work better together.
Their hope is that everything works better together. Having a unified interface can certainly make things more consistent for people, but with the differences in devices and how people use them, one common interface may not be the best. For example, with desktop computers and such today without touch screen interfaces, I question the value of the Metro interface. Sure, it's consistent with the phone and the game console......but having a full screen application isn't ideal to many computer users.
 

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I bet there will be hacks to disable Metro, and then just install classic shell and you get an older version of the start menu that works, at least.
 

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I bet there will be hacks to disable Metro, and then just install classic shell and you get an older version of the start menu that works, at least.

There might be, but why would anyone buy windows 8 and do that? You already have windows 7 for that. I mean, you want a door in your house, then would you build a window first and then modify it to be a door, or would you just build a door in the first place? Windows 8 is for people who WANT to use Metro or are WILLING to do something new.
 

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I bet there will be hacks to disable Metro, and then just install classic shell and you get an older version of the start menu that works, at least.

There might be, but why would anyone buy windows 8 and do that? You already have windows 7 for that. I mean, you want a door in your house, then would you build a window first and then modify it to be a door, or would you just build a door in the first place? Windows 8 is for people who WANT to use Metro or are WILLING to do something new.
The reason is because a Windows 8 upgrade is $39.99 and a little bit of hacking, you could have a faster version of Windows 7 for only $39.99. I'm going to buy the upgrade and keep it as as a spare OS for a ystem thatr may need it. I can decide if I want to disable Metro when I need it.
 

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Thanks for the thread, Arpan.

I'd like to offer up a toast to "Bye-bye Start Button/Start Menu and hello to Metro Start Screen!" :party:

A much more efficient, eye-appealing means to organize, navigate, and get info at a glance via live tiles.

At boot, Walla! Then thereafter, windows key and walla! My device and the world at a glance all in one nifty spot. :)

Also, it WILL be a trifecta!

2-a-roo for now..........
 

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You are absolutely right, Tony :thumbup:
 

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