Microsoft is bringing the Start Menu back

Millions asked for it, and Microsoft is providing it: the old Start Menu is coming back. Kind of. At its Build conference today, Microsoft announced a new Start Menu that looks like a hybrid of the best of Windows 7 and Windows 8. It's around the same size as the Windows 7 menu, but also features miniature Live Tiles along one side.

Read more at: Microsoft is bringing the Start Menu back | The Verge
 
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I'll be the first to say, it looks horribly tacky with Aero and metro iconography and design mixed together. They REALLY should have redesigned the UX aspect of the Desktop as well to make everything consistent, it's all just a mish-mosh of annexed design and new.

Also, this is something I'm disabling right off the bat in my images unless I get told otherwise whom I install Windows on their compulators. There isn't anything about the start menu that the Start Screen, when properly configured, can provide. It's just preference.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    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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    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
... and the 'Start Menu' dilemma continues!!!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
Also, this is something I'm disabling right off the bat in my images unless I get told otherwise whom I install Windows on their compulators. There isn't anything about the start menu that the Start Screen, when properly configured, can provide. It's just preference.

You'll probably get told otherwise.

I think its great, and one step closer to me actually using 8. Still on 7 for doing my work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 on the desktop, Windows 8 Surface Pro mobile
Not bad. Doubt it will replace Start8 for me, but I'll reserve judgement until after I get a chance to use it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Tech Preview 10041 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350 8-core Black Edition @ 4.0 Ghz (4.2 Turbo)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus R9 290 DirectCU II OC, Gigabyte R9 290 Windforce OC in Xfire
    Sound Card
    Integrated w/ Creative A250 2.1 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Main: Asus VN289H 28" Secondary: Acer G246HL 24"
    Screen Resolution
    3840x1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SanDisk Ultra Plus (Windows drive)

    240 GB Crucial M500 SSD (Data drive)

    1 TB WDC WD10EACS 7200RPM HDD (Data drive)

    2 TB Seagate Expansion Desktop external HDD (Backup drive)
    PSU
    900w Antec HCG-900
    Case
    Raidmax Agusta Full ATX
    Cooling
    Corsair H80 liquid
    Keyboard
    Cooler Master Devastator KB24
    Mouse
    Cooler Master Devastator MS2K 1000/1600/2000 DPI
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps cable
    Browser
    Chrome
Also, this is something I'm disabling right off the bat in my images unless I get told otherwise whom I install Windows on their compulators. There isn't anything about the start menu that the Start Screen, when properly configured, can provide. It's just preference.

You'll probably get told otherwise.

I think its great, and one step closer to me actually using 8. Still on 7 for doing my work.
Contrary to popular belief, I've only had two people out of three dozen request a start menu, technically one since I set up Windows 8 for a friend's grandparents as they moved from xp to 8 and it would be just easier for everyone for it to work more like xp/7 than 8. Someone else, I went with All Apps view over Start and they're ok with that, but I'd image they would be either way over that start menu they had...wow. Talk about a mess.

But anyways, everyone I've done installs of Windows 8/8.1 have ALL been quite content with the Start Screen setup I set up. No one has asked for anything more or less, other than how this can be done or something of such. It could be that, it could also be how I sit them down and learn them the ways of the Windows. :cool:

And interestingly enough, when I work one someone's PC that I installed 8 on to do an upgrade to 8.1 for example, I always find a rearranged Start Screen. Certain File Explorer tiles are removed, things are resized, things are added. They get how it works and customized to the way THEY want it. That right there is what the start menu does not offer. It's just a static list of whatever.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    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
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    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
It's just preference.
You said it right there. You can disable it if you don't like it. What users are complaining about is no choice. Simple and completely avoidable. Give us the options to enable and disable at will.
Personally I would disable Metro, the charms and make it look like Windows 7. So much so I have not used my 2 Pro licenses except one for a virtual machine as there is no point.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 64 Bit and VM
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built (Saberkitty)
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350 Vishera 32nm Technology @ 4.1 GHz default
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 (Socket 942)
    Memory
    G Skill F3-2400-8GZM
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB Super SC ACX 2.0+ with Back Plate GDDR5 128bit, PCI-E 3.0
    Sound Card
    Creative X-Fi Titanium HD Audiophile PCIe
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG L227WTG x 3
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    238GB TOSHIBA THNSNJ256GCST SATA Disk Device (SSD)
    1863GB Seagate ST2000DM 001-1CH164 (SATA)
    1397GB Seagate ST1500DL 003-9VT16L(SATA)
    466GB Western Digital WDC WD50 03AZEX-00K1GA0 (SATA) x 2
    932GB Seagate ST310005 28AS SATA Disk Device (SATA)
    PSU
    Enermax Revolution87+ 1000 Watts Gold Certified Power Supply
    Case
    Rocketfish Full Tower
    Cooling
    Cooler Master 212 with push pull fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech K740
    Mouse
    Logitech Laser
    Internet Speed
    Fibre Cable 100 down 30 up.
    Browser
    IE 10 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast, MSE and common sense
    Other Info
    3 x LG L227WTG @ 1680 x 1050 16:10 monitors.
    Using Mouse Without Borders (Google it)
Seems like a smart move to me. Hopefully they remember to include some elements of choice this time around in order to make the masses happier. Side note, All apps view on start screen has been and still remains, hideous on multiple levels.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
    CPU
    Processor AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 635 Processor, 2800 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX 460
I can confirm that the Start Menu is not available in the Windows 8.1 Update, but to be released in a future update instead.
sad.gif
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I can confirm that the Start Menu is not available in the Windows 8.1 Update, but to be released in a future update instead.
sad.gif

Well, guess I'll stop looking for it then. Thanks for the info, man.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Tech Preview 10041 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350 8-core Black Edition @ 4.0 Ghz (4.2 Turbo)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus R9 290 DirectCU II OC, Gigabyte R9 290 Windforce OC in Xfire
    Sound Card
    Integrated w/ Creative A250 2.1 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Main: Asus VN289H 28" Secondary: Acer G246HL 24"
    Screen Resolution
    3840x1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SanDisk Ultra Plus (Windows drive)

    240 GB Crucial M500 SSD (Data drive)

    1 TB WDC WD10EACS 7200RPM HDD (Data drive)

    2 TB Seagate Expansion Desktop external HDD (Backup drive)
    PSU
    900w Antec HCG-900
    Case
    Raidmax Agusta Full ATX
    Cooling
    Corsair H80 liquid
    Keyboard
    Cooler Master Devastator KB24
    Mouse
    Cooler Master Devastator MS2K 1000/1600/2000 DPI
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps cable
    Browser
    Chrome
I can confirm that the Start Menu is not available in the Windows 8.1 Update, but to be released in a future update instead.
sad.gif

they did say in the other update for 8.1 that's coming later
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 update 1 Pro X64 with WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    intel i7 2600k
    Motherboard
    Asrock H61M-VG3
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce GTX 560 Ti
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Internet Speed
    100MB
Yeah, I just wanted to clarify this since it may have confused some with it being mentioned along with the discussion of the "Windows 8.1 Update" for the 8th.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I just update my win8.1 enterprise install and very little has changed, visually anyway ,the shutdown option on the start screen, the x to close an app. the store icon on the taskbar ,that can be on pined or setup in taskbar properties ,the all apps icons looks different,not positive of that ,never really used that much anyway
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    0i812
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4770K LGA1150
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    Corsair 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 CMY32GX3M4A1866C9 1866MH
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x Crappy GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    I haz lollies ..
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x LG / 2 x Samsung 21 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    Crispy
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO (OS / Other)
    1 x Kingston 120G HyperX SSD (Swap)
    3 x Seagate SATA III 2TB Barracuda (Data Drives)
    1 x Seagate SATA III 1TB Barracuda (Media to XBox)
    1 x W/Digital SATA II 300G VelociRaptor (Image)
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500w
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 White Full Tower
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech G19
    Mouse
    Logitech G700 / Logitech T650 Touchpad Thingy
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 2+ (Australian version ... lol)
    Browser
    All of them
    Antivirus
    Nortons IS
    Other Info
    This one time at band camp ...
Andy, do you tell people you install for there is a choice? If they could see both version your results may be the reverse of what you've had. People who need someone to do an install for them may be thinking, oh well, that's just the way it is.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 Ult X64 SP1
    System Manufacturer/Model
    H.A.L. 2000
    CPU
    i5-2550K @ 4.4GHz, today
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
    Memory
    16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GeForce 650Ti Boost
    Sound Card
    Realtech onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung P2570HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 PRO OS, Seagate Constellation 500GB, Users
    PSU
    Corsair HX650W
    Case
    Inwin Dragon Rider
    Cooling
    120mm X4 case fans 3 intake, 1 exhaust , 120mm X2 CPU cooler fan
    Keyboard
    some old Dell I found
    Mouse
    steelseries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    50Mbs/11Mbs
    Browser
    IE11, Pale Moon, Opera
    Antivirus
    NIS 2013
    Other Info
    LG BluRay BD/RE, DVD/RW, front panel w/USB, eSATA, Audio, multi-card reader, Mr Fusion generator
Good move Microsoft. About time they did this. A lot of people like myself use Windows for work. I never needed that modern start menu and I never saw any benefit for me. I don't really use any modern apps, well excluding Mail (have to admit its very convenient to check email quickly and get notified instantly of new messages).

Ability to have live tiles on the start menu is acceptable. Mail will obviously be in there for me lol. Maybe weather too. I mean if I can still add shortcuts to my documents, music, photos folders, then I give Microsoft an applause.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro & OS X Mavericks
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5 430M
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel® HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
Andy, do you tell people you install for there is a choice? If they could see both version your results may be the reverse of what you've had. People who need someone to do an install for them may be thinking, oh well, that's just the way it is.
No, since the way I set up the Start Screen and the rest of Windows doesn't constitute a need for a start menu. Everything that was needed from it is on the Start Screen. Everything they need to know about how to use it, I teach them personally. Contrary to popular belief on the interwebs, the people whom I've worked with are quite content with Windows 8. I HAVE, in fact, come across several people who bought a new laptop or tablet PC and were quite frustrated by it. But after my custom image and my help, they're doing quite well. So it's either ME personally doing something right, or the setup is doing something right, or both. I think it's both.

I just thought of a recent install of 8.1 on a tablet and a couple weeks later when we both met up again and I was learning that person's sister the ways of the Windows Phone, I was asked if instagram can be a "window" on the Start Screen as I explain the whole abridged spiel of Windows 8. They found it nice to have that live tile, windowed content right there quickly and easily.

But even then with that start menu, it wouldn't matter because again, it doesn't offer anything more or less than the Start Screen. It's just user preference.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    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
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    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
Those who already have Classic Shell or Start8 probably aren't overly excited about MS bringing it back. Other than some slight performance penalty and a few quirks (Classic Start hung a few times, search not as robust), the replacement Starts more or less behaves like Windows 7 Start. The live tiles in MS's version is nice but might be annoying.

What is more exciting is having Metro apps on the desktop. There are a few metro apps I like but, except for games, I don't want them in full screen. Having it on the desktop means there will be no need to visit the Metro shell ever again for laptop/desktop users.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 Haswell
    CPU
    i7-4702MQ
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce 750m
    Screen Resolution
    3200x1800
Those who already have Classic Shell or Start8 probably aren't overly excited about MS bringing it back.

No, they probably are. Keep in mind they put those on their system to get that functionality back. Also keep in mind that those tools also take constant updates to stay active as they are workarounds that can continually become broken as newer builds are released. Its far better to get rid of third-party tools whenever possible so stuff 'just works'.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 on the desktop, Windows 8 Surface Pro mobile
Those who already have Classic Shell or Start8 probably aren't overly excited about MS bringing it back.

No, they probably are. Keep in mind they put those on their system to get that functionality back. Also keep in mind that those tools also take constant updates to stay active as they are workarounds that can continually become broken as newer builds are released. Its far better to get rid of third-party tools whenever possible so stuff 'just works'.
I'm not disagreeing with you that MS should have put this in Windows 8 (or just left it there from Windows 7), and native is always better, but in this case, the third party tool is 95% there. And Classic Shell auto-updates. No real-world maintenance required.

Are you arguing philosophically or pragmatically? Because in my real world usage, Classic Shell does everything I need Start to do. MS bringing back Start would add a slight performance improvement and slightly faster/better search.

People say things like 'it should just work', and again I agree this is good and that MS did mess up, but if the effort to install Classic Shell is literally 4 minutes, pragmatically, I say so what?

I just find the huge consternation, rage, and online diatribes over the Start menu overblown. If Classic Shell/Start8 didn't exist or really sucked, I'd be there with you all. But it does exist, and from a pragmatic point, it makes Windows 8 a better Windows 7.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 Haswell
    CPU
    i7-4702MQ
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce 750m
    Screen Resolution
    3200x1800
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