Start button to re-appear in Windows Blue (From W7 Forum)

Microsoft may be moving toward bringing back the Start Button and allowing users to boot straight to the desktop with its coming Windows 8.1 release later this year.

Source:
Microsoft's Windows 8 Plan B(lue): Bring back the Start button, boot to desktop | ZDNet

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Of course if people want to use Metro and on a tablet there could be a case for it -- but what happens if you get a nice powerful Quad or even Octal processor in a tablet -- single tasking would be a total waste of the processor) there's no reason why they shouldn't have that option if they want to -- however there's nothing wrong in giving users who work on the desktop with classical type windows applications a CHOICE.

OK you can by all sorts of shenanigans get Windows to work reasonably comfortably if you are a Desktop user but one shouldn't have to go through that exercise -- and for non touch screens Endless scrolling to get to an application is a real Royal Pain in the ..you know where.

Even with touch on a mobile phone scrolling a lot of tiles is no fun either -- I'm sure as people install more and more apps on their phones / tablets the current scrolling system will become unwieldy too.

Well if the rumours are true -- that "The Sinner hath repenteth" then W8 deserves to be given "another go" by the masses. If one can get past the Bonkers start scheme there is actually a lot of good stuff in the Windows OS so IMO it deserves to be able to be given a new lease of life.

The current latest leaked build (9369) as I've posted previously has a sort of "Semi functioning" Start button - although it's on the start screen rather than the desktop so I'm hoping this is just the start of something a lot better.

And don't forget this piece of leaked code which shows that at least Ms is thinking of enabling boot to the Desktop again.

Screenshot enc.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[pparks1]

Me too, I liked Aero, just looks better. I don't understand why they took it out, i'e never heard of any problems related to it. WinAero has a program that adds transparency, but it's too much.

To preserve battery life on the phones and tablets...that's what I seem to recall reading.

 

[Coke Robot]

Interesting. Though it matters little to me, there are those that would jump on the chance to see the Start Bottom back. The only thing I would be interested in is the return of Aero (sorry just like the looks of Aero).

Though if Microsoft does bring it back won't that upset developers who have made a good deal of money from the sales of third party Start Bottoms. . .

Me too, I liked Aero, just looks better. I don't understand why they took it out, i'e never heard of any problems related to it. WinAero has a program that adds transparency, but it's too much.

There are technical reasons (of which I really don't think are the main reasons why) but I honestly believe it's purely because Aero transparency and UI design is the COMPLETE antithesis to the flatter, modern metro design of everything else in Windows 8. There is a lesser focus on the window chrome (really there is no such thing in the modern metro UI) but there is on the Desktop. This clashes design wise. Hence, this is also why Office 2013 looks the way it does, it's designed in the metro form and not the Aero form like 2010 was and ESPECIALLY 2007.

 

[Soundtweaker]

Start button will be there but no start menu. Start button is just a shortcut to the Start Screen. Boot to desktop will only be on pro and enterprise versions of Win8

 

[SIW2]

That is good way to antagonise the prospective purchasers.

 

[vrosa]

Start button will be there but no start menu. Start button is just a shortcut to the Start Screen.

So it's nothing

:shock:

Boot to desktop will only be on pro and enterprise versions of Windows 8

Anyway a scheduled task can load explorer.exe @ startup

 

[Coke Robot]

There is a kiosk mode in Windows 8, basically like putting shortcut of a program in the Startup folder, so at login an app opens. That is what is new in the latest leaked build.

Three leaks already.... geez!

I want to see Storage Spaces improvements.

 

[legacy7955]

Ah, I don't mind being a "right fighter"!

FINALLY MICROSOFT IS DOING WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS...

A CHOICE BETWEEN WHICH DEFAULT THEY WANT WHEN BOOTING.


I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN MS FORCED CONSUMERS BOOT TO METRO.

NOW IT IS A WIN WIN SITUATION AS FOLKS LIKE MYSELF CAN NOW USE A DEFAULT SETTING THAT ALLOWS US TO BOOT DIRECTLY TO DESKTOP.

I hope that Sinofsky doesn't get to keep that Golden Parachute he walked alway with! The guy has done SERIOUS long lasting damage to the company. Through his utter arrogance.

Touch is a gimmick for the PC and laptop use and always will be. Not to mention that the PC and laptop will be around for a long time to come. The tablet is just not efficient enough ergonomically to make productivity practical and as easy. There is NO practical substitute for the good old tactile keyboard.

Hand gestures? Another fun thing to play with.

It's feels good to be right.

The customer is ALWAYS right.

 

[davehc]

I have no intention of arguing, regarding the contents of your very emphatic post, legacy7955.
But, many , and I mean MANY, people were involved in the final release of windows 8, right up from the numerous Beta testers and partners with prior access.
At the end of the line, it was Sinofsky's job to present it. As a long standing and respected employee, he could hardly, at the eleventh hour, stand openly in front of the media and abuse it. We mortals who live outside those Microsoft inner circles, will never know the true story, but, one thing anyone with any common-sense can see, is that one man, however high his position may be, in an establishment, could not possibly make , alone, such a (computer wise) momentous decision overnight.
But, he was, in any case, nearing retirement and had one last use for Microsoft. That was to be used, in retrospect, and only if needed, as a scapegoat.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
The man at the top even if he doesn't even KNOW what's happening lower down the organisation MUST carry the can --that's what he's paid for.

Actually could you ever imagine the late Steve Jobs allowing a product to go out of the door at Apple if he didn't like it -- and he apparently fought some ferocious battles in his time over there.

What probably happened was in the case of Ms -- purely 100% speculation - as I've never been inside the "Inner Sanctum" at Ms -- was there were two roughly equal opposing camps --and those with the loudest voices and who were the best Politicians overruled the other who were probably more the technical people -- often happens in large organisations where those who are skilled at the Politics get on faster in the organisation than the technicians (who actually MAKE the stuff that brings the money in).

Might not be right but unfortunately it's the way of the world.

BTW I think in the case of Cokies signature he should change it to "A PERSON is only as smart as the COMPUTER he is using".. !!

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Ray8]

I never have understood the need for these massive 'signatures'.

 

[Brink]

UPDATE:

http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...t-button-may-not-offer-actual-start-menu.html

 

[Lazure]

I just want my Aero back.

 

[SIW2]

I don't think MS will let you have that in windows .

Try Linux for transparency.

Several good ones for newbies like me - Mint Mate or Cinnamon or the flashier Mint KDE may surprise you.

New features in Linux Mint 14 KDE - Linux Mint

 

[Nemix]

I just want my Aero back.

I second that, they had it in the preview of Windows 8 but removed it from retail.

Aero Glass.

 

[Corelogik]

I actually like most of the under the hood stuff and the flattening of the ui in Windows 8. I just can't stand the Metro crap. My list for things to be done to "fix" Windows 8 and return it to preeminent status.

Keep in mind, these are only for desktop/laptop's. Tablets can keep the metro and be welcome to it, it makes sense on that form factor.

1. Make all “Metro” apps window-able, tile-able, re-sizable and run-able on both the start screen AND the desktop.
2. Include a minimize, maximize and close button on ALL “Metro” apps. Make these buttons, clickable with a mouse and touchable with a finger. Make them have the default button behavior from Windows widgets have had since Windows 3.1.
3. Unified control panel. Place all controls for all options for the whole system in ONE control panel, simply have a “Metro” and a “Legacy” link to it.
4. Make Windows detect on install or boot whether touch-enabled hardware exists on the system. If so, give the option to start with the Metro start screen or the desktop. If no touch hardware is found, default to the desktop.
5. Return the start MENU, and boot to desktop (boot to desktop would be optional as per #4).
6. Include links to all “Metro” style apps on the start menu, perhaps in its own folder.
7. Remove all “hot corners & edges” from the system. Alternatively, make hot corners and edges definable, allow users to say what action happens at each corner/edge.
8. Reinstate “aero snap” on start screen and desktop.
9. Reinstate basic windows search using win + f, from desktop or start screen.
10. Reinstate DVD playback by default and at no additional fee in all versions of Windows 8.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

3 of your points aren't really serious issues IMO.

point 9) Windows + F works fine from desktop.

if you are already on the start screen just start typing - search comes up immediately anything is found.

Windows +X on the desktop also throws up a nice little menu.

point 10) Commercial DVD playing was never an option in Windows anyway -- you used to have to purchase say WinDVD or Power Dvd to play DVD's and then you had that stupid regionalisation nonsense. VLC player from Videolan plays all DVD's / multi-media files and IS FREE.

Point 8) Aero snap is only "Eye Candy" and most people don't seem to want it -- and if it's not really wanted except by a few removing it makes the UI leaner and meaner which seems to be what most people want.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Corelogik]

I was referring to the snap feature that gave you side by side windows to work in, apparently this feature is still there, but I couldn't get it to work on my RP or RTM installs. So I was under the, apparently mistaken, impression it had been removed. Snap - Microsoft Windows

As to point 10, I seem to recall that prior to Windows 8, you could play back commercial DVD's in Windows Media Player due to Windows Media Center being included,... not that using WMP was the best solution, or even a good one, but it worked.

IMO, DVD playback, CD/DVD writing, photo viewing, all of these and more are basic functions that every OS should have out of the box.

Basically my list involves returning Windows 8 on the desktop to a desktop centered OS, with "Metro" apps available and allowed to run like other normal applications do on the desktop. This would give dev's there extended platform for Metroized apps beyond tablets, but keep a desktop for what a desktop is for. Then keep the metro-centric OS for touch enabled mobile devices where it belongs.

This is what Apple has done with OS X and iOS. You have iOS on the mobile front and OS X on the desktop, and while some iOS features have been brought into OS X, OS X remains a desktop oriented OS for traditional desktop style use. This is the approach that MS should have taken instead of the arrogant, one size fits all, our way or the highway type of situation we have now.

 

[Coke Robot]

This is what Apple has done with OS X and iOS. You have iOS on the mobile front and OS X on the desktop, and while some iOS features have been brought into OS X, OS X remains a desktop oriented OS for traditional desktop style use. This is the approach that MS should have taken instead of the arrogant, one size fits all, our way or the highway type of situation we have now.

By that logic, if you look at the market share of mac os versus ios, what will you find? ios has cannibalized the mac, without ios apple would tank. apple today isn't concerned as much these days with the mac anymore. They've even said that they're on an assault on the PC, as well as mac, to replace them with an ipad. There is the speculation that in 10 years though, mac os will just be ios.

If you had Windows on the desktop, and Windows 8 on the tablet, given the current market stances where people genuinely use a simple phablet over a full PC, Windows on the desktop will become mac os. It is basically not very relevant to the company anymore, it's not the bread and butter anymore. Windows 8 on the tablet is.

This is why Microsoft did what the they did. Instead of having one OS die out as well as the other form factors that used that OS, they are taking that old OS, reinventing and redesigning it, and in turn bringing the older form factors up to date with new technology such as touch and hand gesturing. Windows 8 is best on new PCs for a reason, there are new technologies that Windows 8 takes advantage of than before.

Also, I should say that apple even cut out the DVD drive in their mac lineup as they find it's an outdated media interface, like the floppy drive. Why Windows still has support for floppy disks is beyond me. USB flash drives and network streaming kind of killed the need for the DVD drive.

 

[turbofish]

But the people who use a PC or Mac will not be able to work on a tablet. My nephews are in the arts (sound engineering and graphics art) and although they love their iPhone/iPad, they wouldn't be able to do their jobs on a tablet. Same with everyone that I work with in IT. I couldn't do virtualization and SQL work on a tablet and our programmers wouldn't be able to do their jobs.

But then again, maybe that would explain why there aren't any more Apple servers... Apple pretty much skips the Business world altogether and only has the niche markets of sound/graphics while the world goes to work on Microsoft products.