Microsoft hide Metro start screen w/ Windows 8.1 Update 1?

There are reports circulating, including this January 30 one from The Verge, that Microsoft may be poised to hide its Metro Start Screen with Windows 8.1 Update 1, by turning on by default the boot-to-desktop setting.

However, I'm hearing this may not end up being the case by the time Windows 8.1 Update 1 begins to be made available to users preloaded on new PCs and pushed via Windows Update. (That rollout is supposedly starting in mid-March.)

Windows watcher may recall that after refusing outright to include a boot-to-desktop setting with Windows 8.0, Microsoft conceded with Windows 8.1 and added boot-to-desktop option to its operating system
.

Read more at: Microsoft to hide Metro start screen with Windows 8.1 Update 1? | ZDNet


See also: http://www.eightforums.com/windows-8-news/40043-windows-8-1-update-1-everything-we-know-so-far.html
 
I hope they made a windows 7 style start menu.
 

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There are reports circulating, including this January 30 one from The Verge, that Microsoft may be poised to hide its Metro Start Screen with Windows 8.1 Update 1, by turning on by default the boot-to-desktop setting.

Soon it'll be as hard to find as "new coke"...
 

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    Win8.1 Pro, Desktop Mode
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    Me
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My Computer

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    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
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    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
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    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
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    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
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    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
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    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
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    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
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    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
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    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
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    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
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    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I really do find it quite funny that windows user are still crying about the start screen. Kubuntu user have the app screen, Mac OS X have the launch pad, so why is it all right for them to have what is basically the same programs/applications launch system as the Start Screen without all the . . . you add what you want here. . .?
 

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    Win 8, (VM win7, XP, Vista)
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    HP Pavilion p1423w
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    Intel Core i5 3330 Ivy Bridge
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    Foxconn - 2ADA Ivy Brige
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    16 GB 1066MHz DDR3
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    ATI Radeon HD 5450
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    Mitsubishi LED TV/Montior HD, Dell 23 HD, Hanspree 25" HD
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    Mit. 1980-1080, Dell 2048-115, Hanspree 1920-10802
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I really do find it quite funny that windows user are still crying about the start screen. Kubuntu user have the app screen, Mac OS X have the launch pad, so why is it all right for them to have what is basically the same programs/applications launch system as the Start Screen without all the . . . you add what you want here. . .?

In all of these other os's you can find what you are looking for fairly easy. The Metro start screen stretches across the screen further than what you can see and it looks cluttered and boxy.
Windows_8_update_Dec_2012.jpg
 
Last edited:

My Computer

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    Manjaro Linux/Ubuntu 12.04 LTS/Windows 8.1 Pro
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    HP Pavillion m7480n
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    Intel Pentium D CPU 3.00GHZ
    Motherboard
    P5LP-LE (Leonite)
    Memory
    4.00GB
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    NVIDIA GT 240
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA GT 240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Insignia HD LCD tv
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    (1) 2 TB Hard drive
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I really do find it quite funny that windows user are still crying about the start screen. Kubuntu user have the app screen, Mac OS X have the launch pad, so why is it all right for them to have what is basically the same programs/applications launch system as the Start Screen without all the . . . you add what you want here. . .?

In all of these other os's you can find what you are looking for fairly easy. The Metro start screen stretches across the screen further than what you can see and it looks cluttered and boxy.

I found that in 8.0. Everything installed ended up on the main Start Screen. It got cluttered real quick. It's reversed in 8.1. When you install a programs its tiles go on the All Apps screen. Then you just pin the ones you actually use to the main Start Screen. I find it much more manageable now.
 

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    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
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    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
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    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
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    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
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    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
It's actually very easy to find whatever a user needs in windows 8.1, all you need is a little bit of effort to get accustomed to the OS.
 

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    Acer Type-2
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    Intel HD 4000
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    1366x768
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    Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
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    12.68Mbps
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    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Personally I love the Start Screen for slammin' up favorites quickly, which, in my case is music.
View attachment 36318
 

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^^^ old Rush fan here, nice to see all those covers again. Actually, 1st time I've seen anything interesting on any w 8 start screen :)

And looking forward to MS getting their self-afflicted problems sorted out, will be interesting to see what 8.1.1 brings.
 

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    W8.1, W7
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    Laptop
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    FF
I really do find it quite funny that windows user are still crying about the start screen. Kubuntu user have the app screen, Mac OS X have the launch pad, so why is it all right for them to have what is basically the same programs/applications launch system as the Start Screen without all the . . . you add what you want here. . .?

OS X users are different to Linux and Windows users.
They seems to love everything that Apple does (good or bad).

There were lots of complaints when:
  • KDE was modified (a couple of years ago)
  • Gnome 3 introduced
Ubuntu used to be the #1 Linux distro, until they introduced Unity and Gnome 3.

With its (mostly) traditional GUI options, Linux Mint seems to be the #1 Linux distro now.
 

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    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
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    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
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    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
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    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
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    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
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    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
Windows 8.1 Update 1 boots in to desktop mode as default

"It has been confirmed by several sources now that Microsoft is making a 360 with an upcoming Windows 8.1 update. Windows at default will boot into desktop mode. The reason for the reversal is to improve the OS for keyboard and mouse users. This preference will likely not apply to touch-screen devices."

Credit: Guru3d.com, Hilbert Hagedoorn

Windows 8.1 Update 1 boots in to desktop mode as default
 

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    Intel DQ965MT
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Tiny Tim's Windows 9 Wish List

Dear St. Microsoft,

I have tried to be good this last year, so here is my wish list for the holidays

1. bring my Windows 7 interface and Aero style themes back
2. allow me to choose my start screen
3. screen those Windows Store Apps and give us some good tools
4. add Media Center as standard option instead of add on
5. add codecs back to media player
6. charge a reasonable price for full retail version;
(father is only working part time now, and Mr Scrooge doesn't pay him much)​


I will leave milk and cookies on the table,

Tiny Tim
 

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    also have Apple iphones, AT&T and Tracfone services

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System One

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    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
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    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
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    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
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    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
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    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
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    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
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    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
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    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
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    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Ew.

This is what I was hoping wouldn't happen, taking new ideas and concepts and ram them down back into the old...
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
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    OCZ 500 watt
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    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
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    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
You can't please all of the people all of the time. Some might even say that the people spoke and Microsoft listened. I like 8.1, and if they do that and the other proposed changes, I'll like it even more.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
ok, so it auto starts the desktop app UI, but the desktop has no menu... unless one installs one. So, it's a little odd, isn't it? If you use the default 8 start menu, you must go to the modern / touch UI or the full screen desktop shell UI / tifkam. So, for the desktop modus folks, MS is assuming everyone will install a desktop menu ?? ...curious...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
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