Poll: If Windows 8 had the start menu button

[adamf]

no viable alternative in desktop/laptop, and that is where winds 8 is worst.

Really? Ok then if you say so. I'd have thought Win 7, XP, Linux, OSX all could run on a laptop/desktop. I do actually run all of them (except XP now).

I run a few VMs on my Win 8 laptop for various things. I upgraded to 8 for FUN. Works for me. I like it more than 7 and it does anything I want.

You don't have to upgrade if you don't want to as far as I know. Unless your work insists on it suppose.

Perhaps I am missing something but does not the windows key give you the start menu? I know it is rather unfashionable but I really do prefer 8.

Mind you my work is 5250 so I'm living in the past clearly.

 

[znod]

I expect most on this forum have their own workarounds to try and make w8 practical on a desktop.

A more suitable question may have been :

If w8 had start menu - would it have had been better received by reviewers and public?

Obviously, yes.

Yeah, that would have been a better way to pose it since that was the intent of the question anyway.

Anyway based on the numbers of the survey thus far, I see most have accepted the OS without the start menu. I wonder how that would have change had there been no options to install one (no 3rd party app or otherwise)?

The poll numbers do not so indicate IMO. At most you can conclude that if Win8 had a start menu from the factory, then a fair percent of respondents, at this point, would be no more inclined to accept Windows 8. And, there is the problem I noted in post #9. The wording of the poll apparently was changed during the poll. Thus, some are likely to have voted "no" given the original wording while they would have voted "yes" given the changed wording. The original wording did not preclude the use of a third-part start-menu substitute. Now it does.

Continuing, I can't understand why you now say "I wonder how that would have change had there been no options to install one (no 3rd party app or otherwise)? Your post #1 says "​If Windows 8 had the start menu would you be more inclined to accept it? To clarify, if Windows 8 had a Start menu included from factory (no 3rd party apps)"

 

[adamf]

..those saying no would tend to be those that like the metro way of doing business and don't think that having a start menu is particularly important.

That why I voted no actually - you got my motivation exactly right. I'd rather there was but I can live without it.

 

[znod]

Agreed. You are one of the ones for which no is the appropriate response.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I hardly ever used it but to push WinKey -> Right arrow -> Enter.

Hardly anyone used it:

http://www.eightforums.com/windows-8-news/2886-designing-start-screen.html

 

[XweAponX]

With all the hub bub about the missing Start Menu in Windows 8, I though I'd pose this simple question?

If Windows 8 had the start menu would you be more inclined to accept it? To clarify, if Windows 8 had a Start menu included from factory (no 3rd party apps)

I accept it now, BUT, only because several 3rd party devs have created Orb apps to replace it, I think they should have kept it in there, it is a necessity. I even have Sidebar now. That Microsoft has allowed devs to make these programs, is a salute. Apple, when they make major changes to an OS, especially iOS, they block out user modifications, at least make it difficult to do it.

The worst thing Microsoft can do would be to totally remove the desktop from the PC. If they eventually manage to do this, it to Apple I will go.

 

[Coke Robot]

With all the hub bub about the missing Start Menu in Windows 8, I though I'd pose this simple question?

If Windows 8 had the start menu would you be more inclined to accept it? To clarify, if Windows 8 had a Start menu included from factory (no 3rd party apps)

I accept it now, BUT, only because several 3rd party devs have created Orb apps to replace it, I think they should have kept it in there, it is a necessity. I even have Sidebar now. That Microsoft has allowed devs to make these programs, is a salute. Apple, when they make major changes to an OS, especially iOS, they block out user modifications, at least make it difficult to do it.

The worst thing Microsoft can do would be to totally remove the desktop from the PC. If they eventually manage to do this, it to Apple I will go.

So what happens if the new UI that replaces the Desktop in a very very long time from now is better than or equal to the Desktop?...

 

[Rickkins]

Somewhat skewed question, as I use 8 with classic shell, so it totally resembles the 7 desktop... except that I also use the taskbar from XP....

I come the "If it ain't broke, DON'T fix it" school of thought....clearly....

 

[SIW2]

Hardly anyone used it

Obviously - that is why no one has even mentioned it for the last several months. It is also why all those start menu replacements aren't being used.

 

[SIW2]

So what happens if the new UI that replaces the Desktop in a very very long time from now is better than or equal to the Desktop?...

I like better things.

Let us look forward to whatever it may be in many many years time. Perhaps we will be using thought control - who knows.

This metro thing ain't it.

 

[fourthofjuly]

It didn't matter to me.

My win 8 system is my second PC and the Start Screen actually suits my purpose of using it as an HTPC.
But then again, there is always a way to make Win 8 to work like any other OS versions.

 

[Kari]

With all the hub bub about the missing Start Menu in Windows 8, I though I'd pose this simple question?

If Windows 8 had the start menu would you be more inclined to accept it? To clarify, if Windows 8 had a Start menu included from factory (no 3rd party apps)

This poll has no option for me to select.

If Windows 8 would get a start button and menu, I would do my best to remove them. I am so used to Start Screen, the new way of using Start Menu I would not like to go back. I can customize Start Screen more, organize it more freely, it's faster to use when I do not need to click endless subfolders.

Kari

 

[HippsieGypsie]

With all the hub bub about the missing Start Menu in Windows 8, I though I'd pose this simple question?

If Windows 8 had the start menu would you be more inclined to accept it? To clarify, if Windows 8 had a Start menu included from factory (no 3rd party apps)

This poll has no option for me to select.

If Windows 8 would get a start button and menu, I would do my best to remove them. I am so used to Start Screen, the new way of using Start Menu I would not like to go back. I can customize Start Screen more, organize it more freely, it's faster to use when I do not need to click endless subfolders.

Kari

Well stated, Kari. :thumb: I couldn't agree more.

 

[alphanumeric]

I voted no. As of right now the lack of the traditional start menu isn't a deal breaker for me. Metro's one screen only full screen only limitation is what spoils it for me. Windows Blue AKA Windows 8.1 looks to addressing that so, to me, things are looking up. I have no problems navigating around in Windows 7 or 8, and never find myself wishing I was in the other OS.

 

[djsigma]

Nope.

On any computer I've ever used, programs are basically split into 2 groups: -

1. Stuff I use all the time (web browser, music player, email client etc.)

2. Stuff I need, but only use rarely.

Before Windows 8, I would have shortcuts to all the stuff in group 1 on my taskbar. The stuff from group 2 would be in the Start menu.

Now that I have Windows 8, I have shortcuts to all the stuff in group 1 on my taskbar, just like before. On the Metro screen I have plenty of room to play with, so I put shortcuts there to the stuff I use the most. The stuff I use rarely is in the "All apps" menu, or I can just type to search on the Metro screen and quickly find something that way.

Windows 8 works great for me. When I first started using it I didn't like the "All apps" screen because it was basically like an always-expanded Start menu, so it would get packed full of stuff - shortcuts, folders, help files, uninstallers and what have you - but I just tidied it up and got rid of all the icons I don't need.

Besides which, you can easily add a Start menu to Windows 8 now if you want one, so I don't see why it would make a difference if MS added one back in really.

 

[Hopachi]

Yes.
At a first impression - first install... I needed a start menu. There was quite an ugly empty place down in the left corner of screen that I needed to fill.

Now, it doesn't matter anymore since I get along with the new interface (the left corner still has a first shortcut called start that gets me to start screen, a reminder of an item well-used.

Not that I care much but there would have been more Win7 users willing to upgrade if a start menu was available in 8 but it seems that moving as many Win7 users to 8 was not the priority here.

All nice and well now.

 

[Wynona]

With all the hub bub about the missing Start Menu in Windows 8, I though I'd pose this simple question?

If Windows 8 had the start menu would you be more inclined to accept it? To clarify, if Windows 8 had a Start menu included from factory (no 3rd party apps)

There are so many things I don't like about Windows 8, I'm not sure; however, that would be a step in the right direction.

Znod created a taskbar toolbar. I, on the other paw, immediately created a QuickLaunch Toolbar and put my most used apps there. Along with those apps, I put files I use most often. I also installed and tried out some of the "start menu" apps, none of which actually fill the bill, but are better than what I started with.

Every time I go to the upper right corner to shut down something, that stupid Windows 8 "toolbar" for want of a better description, flies out! Talk about annoying!

If I install something from the "store" and use it, I'm no longer able to see the time, which I sometimes do need on a constant basis. Although I can use the upper left corner to switch back and forth, if I have more than two or three apps open, it's a downright chore to move to another app without going through gyrations.

If Windows 8 is the default OS, and I want to boot to Windows 7 instead, it takes an aeon to do so. And, if Windows 7 is the default OS, it takes Windows 8 forever and three days to boot if I choose it! Grrrrrrrrrrrr

There's just so much not to like that I have finally made Windows 7 the default OS on this dual boot system. There will be times that I want to use Windows 8, but that has become less and less of a priority for me. As a How-to-Geek author just said, I've tried, but I just like Windows 7 better.

 

[Wynona]

Well I like a clean desktop with my most used apps in the task bar. This is also one of the reasons I'm not or never will be sold on the "metro" look. Yeah, I know there's the traditional desktop look, but not start menu. I just think this is something needed for a desktop PC. FOr tablets and smartphones and the like that would be OK, for a desktop, not so good. My opinion.

Anyway here's my idea of a clean desktop...

Me too, Sygnus, me too.

 

[znod]

With all the hub bub about the missing Start Menu in Windows 8, I though I'd pose this simple question?

If Windows 8 had the start menu would you be more inclined to accept it? To clarify, if Windows 8 had a Start menu included from factory (no 3rd party apps)

This poll has no option for me to select.

If Windows 8 would get a start button and menu, I would do my best to remove them. I am so used to Start Screen, the new way of using Start Menu I would not like to go back. I can customize Start Screen more, organize it more freely, it's faster to use when I do not need to click endless subfolders.

Kari

I assume the start menu would be on the desktop. Do you mean you'd try to remove it from the desktop?

 

[Kari]

If Windows 8 had the start menu would you be more inclined to accept it?

If Windows 8 would get a start button and menu, I would do my best to remove them.

I assume the start menu would be on the desktop. Do you mean you'd try to remove it from the desktop?

Yes. That is exactly what I mean.

As far as I am concerned there's no need for the old fashioned Start Menu and Start Button. I already have a "start button" there, with two separate functions: right click gives me the items for computer and Windows management, left click opens "start menu", the Start Screen.

I am so pleased with the Start Screen functions and its superior diversity compared to Start Menu on previous Windows versions I for sure do not want it back.

Kari