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

 

[SIW2]

Of course he isn't serious.

He is being ironic.

I bet most people out there don't even know the Start Button was taken away.

I bet fewer still care either way about wether it should be there or not.

These are issues that only power users and media attack dogs have any real passion about.

Anyone going from any recent version of Windows prior to 8 won't even know the start button is gone? The few that do notice don't care? And an even fewer number that do notice and care are only power users and media attacks dogs?

Are you serious?

 

[SIW2]

What MS should do is realize its two separate interfaces and not one. Even in your response there its clear that you don't seem to understand that its two separate interfaces. Why do people dislike the removal? Because they don't like having to go to a separate interface to run programs. Why, if I want to run a desktop program, do I have to go to a full screen mobile interface, select it, just to pop back to the desktop interface? Whats good about that? Nothing.

So it isn't a matter of integrating the Start Menu into the Modern UI, its a matter of not having any good reason to go to the Mobile Interface at all, if you're not running off a tablet, or simply using it as a media device. Simply crippling and removing the Start Button doesn't magically cause people to automatically use the mobile interface for their needs.

 

[lehnerus2000]

I bet most people out there don't even know the Start Button was taken away.

Given the lacklustre adoption rate of W8, I guess you're right.

 

[turbofish]

And this has been one of the biggest reasons people haven't moved to windows 8. Yes, the old start button was used a lot and no, business have no need of the modern UI. My wife made sure she bought 100 licenses of windows 7 so that she can skip windows 8 on all new PCs at her work. We are deploying over 1,200 new machines at my work that have been 'downgraded' to windows 7 because of the changes. I've been running it on beta form and now gold version for 1 1/2 years and it is simply broken without a start button. Want an example? I'm a DBA by trade so when I get a new box, I install SQL 2012 followed by Visual Studio 2010. Without me putting in my own start button, there is no way to find a icon to click that says Visual Studio, no way to search for it. Visual Studio 2010 can only be found by clicking SQL Server Data Tools. Office uses the same shell for its VBA as well so you won't be able to click an icon on the new start menu to find that either.
With that said, I love windows 8 on my laptop as long as I never have to look at modern UI and have Start8 installed. I also really enjoy windows 2012 as long as I can do the same thing

 

[Ednan]

I just want Aero (transparent window bars) back.

 

[jimbo45]

I just want Aero (transparent window bars) back.

Hi there
You can
It's called VISTA.

I prefer (and I'm sure others do too) to have the meanest and leanest OS possible -- and the if I want to add stuff I can choose what I want. I'd prefer almost NOTHING to be standard in the OS - even the browser apart from the File system and security. The kernel could be TINY and then you just add features you want --ideally even the GUI as well. Linux used to have a basic "X" server which provided the video framework -- you then chose a GUI you wanted -typically KDE / GNOME.

It's a bit like some of these cable TV companies offering 427 channels (never mind 426 of then are just basic boring shopping channels) and charging X EUR a month -- when I'd rather pay Y EUR for far fewer channels but only those I want.

There are 3rd party apps that can supply this sort of stuff for windows -- like Stardock etc.


Cheers
jimbo

 

[Hopachi]

I just want Aero (transparent window bars) back.

Using Vista or 7 is still an official fix to this.

If you want some transparency on Win8, try this:
http://www.eightforums.com/customization/23145-aero-glass-windows-8-beta-1-a.html

 

[SIW2]

Don't get too excited.

It might not happen.

Worse, it might be a start button - back to the damn screen.

Not a start menu.

That would be a very cynical move by MS.

 

[Hopachi]

Don't get too excited.

It might not happen.

Worse, it might be a start button - back to the damn screen.

Not a start menu.

That would be a very cynical move by MS.

Don't know to who is this addressed but:
I agree.

Let's not jump to conclusions too fast.

 

[Lee]

Here's a question: How many illegal boot leg copies of Win 8 have been downloaded? Do any of you have an idea? Would you be surprised to know it is over fifty-million copies since it's October release? . . .but wait. . .

 

[snoop101]

Don't get too excited.

It might not happen.

Worse, it might be a start button - back to the damn screen.

Not a start menu.

That would be a very cynical move by MS.

That would be funny as hell. "Here is your stupid start button" to take you to our Mobile phone interface. haha

 

[jimbo45]

Here's a question: How many illegal boot leg copies of Win 8 have been downloaded? Do any of you have an idea? Would you be surprised to know it is over fifty-million copies since it's October release? . . .but wait. . .

Hi there

By all accounts this pales into insignificance compared with the number of Pirated copies of Ms Office. In spite of this Ms office is STILL one of the largest (if not the largest) revenue producers for Ms.

This is one reason why Ms decided to go the subscription route for Office -- Office 365. Currently the costs are reasonable but this is only to "sucker you into this method of software usage". Once people have NO choice then you watch --rates will rise horrendously.

Another insidious form of "monetisation" is to license "Per Seat". This perhaps isn't of too much significance to home users but is also a hugely expensive way of paying for software - especially if you have a variable and quite largely fluctuating number of users.

Still given that Office is the most pirated piece of software on Earth and it's STILL ms's most profitable division could it be that Pirating software doesn't really cause the loss in revenue that people allege that it does -- after all how many of the people pirating office would have bought it HAD IT NOT been available on torrent sites -- difficult to say.

I'm not getting into any Moral argument here - merely to say that just because a huge number of people have downloaded a piece of software from a torrent site in no way means that sales of the software would have been significantly different had the software NOT been available on torrents.

When Statistics are quoted people must be VEY CAREFUL in drawing conclusions from them.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[jladwig]

I for one hope they do not bring back the Start button (not that it's gone, it's still there it's just square). Just think of how much entertainment would be lost if people didn't have anything to argue and complain about.

 

[McDougal]

It would be nice if MS added a Start menu/button to the Windows 8.1 release, but in reality, I don't think it's going to happen. Doesn't really matter for me though, because I've already gotten used to the Start screen, I don't even think about it anymore.

But it would be a nice surprise if I was wrong.

 

[gzt7d8]

Thank you!


ps: Can you please return my Aero too, I've seem to lost that too!

 

[cflusflwfl]

I work at a computer repair/support store and deal with people using computers in the business world as well as many home computer users. People that insist that the lack of start button or the modern ui is not an issue to the majority of users are wrong. On a daily basis I deal with customers who have bought a Windows 8 computer from a big box store. They will bring their computers in and ask if they can get Windows 7 installed. They all want the computer to boot to the desktop and the start button back. We have noticed a huge upsurge in selling our refurbished Windows 7 units. Most people are not tech savvy and want something familiar and do not want to adjust to Windows 8.

 

[Lee]

I work at a computer repair/support store and deal with people using computers in the business world as well as many home computer users. People that insist that the lack of start button or the modern ui is not an issue to the majority of users are wrong. On a daily basis I deal with customers who have bought a Windows 8 computer from a big box store. They will bring their computers in and ask if they can get Windows 7 installed. They all want the computer to boot to the desktop and the start button back. We have noticed a huge upsurge in selling our refurbished Windows 7 units. Most people are not tech savvy and want something familiar and do not want to adjust to Windows 8.

. . .and of course you help Microsoft get richer by selling them a copy of win 7 when all they really needed was a free copy of ClassShell. . .go figure.

BTW, "Welcome to the Eight Forums." . . .

 

[Ray8]

My understanding was that an upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7 was free, for any device that came with Windows 8. At least with Windows 7, you know that Microsoft won't do any mischief and break these third party programs, free or otherwise.

 

[PaulGo]

Microsoft actually admitting they were wrong in removing the start menu? I thought they did extensive research and found that it wasn't needed! It looks like this may be a setback for Microsoft in having to admit they misjudged public resistance to the "Modern" interface. I guess the Windows 8 purists who love the "Modern" interface will say Microsoft has defiled Windows 8 and will boycott Windows 8.

Anyway on a more serious note it would be wonderful if Microsoft actually listened to public opinion and put the start menu back in. I will wait for Windows 9 before considering an OS upgrade (as long as Microsoft retains the start menu).

 

[Lee]

My understanding was that an upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7 was free, for any device that came with Windows 8. At least with Windows 7, you know that Microsoft won't do any mischief and break these third party programs, free or otherwise.

Hi Ray,

That may have been true prior to the new year, albeit not so much now. Bought a new HP about three months ago and when asking HP if there was a free convert to win 7 their answer was "No." But, hey some of the others may still honor that offer.