Start Button and Boot to desktop may be back in Windows Blue, From ZDNet

[Snoop]

http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-win...-the-start-button-boot-to-desktop-7000014075/

I hope this isn't just a rumor.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

Bring back Aero and Previous Versions and I'm sold!

 

[Evander]

Good, maybe they'll use the opportunity to improve the start menu as well. The one introduced in XP and that carried over to Vista and 7 sucks b/c it makes you scroll down the list of programs instead of displaying your programs in columns across the screen. In XP I simply went to classic start menu instead and I tried that in Vista but found the menu to be too slow. 7 completely removed classic start menu - not good. So since Vista I've been using what is now called Start Menu X:
http://www.startmenux.com/index.html
Compact Menu w/ cascading columns and "one click" Programs display instead of click one to open the start menu and clicking again on "Programs". I wish it was less memory intensive (sitting at 16 Mb in task manager - which was enough to run the entirety of Windows 98 OS back in the day) but it does what I want it to and it's free (with some extra features in the PRO version). I haven't tried it on 8 but it's supposed to be compatible

 

[vbuggy]

http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-win...-the-start-button-boot-to-desktop-7000014075/

I hope this isn't just a rumor.

I hope it is.

What I really want is a dedicated and simple Win-key gesture.

 

[MontyAC]

Hopefully, MS will make the wise decision.

 

[gmaster456]

As long as there is start8 it doesn't really matter to me. But boot to desktop would be nice

 

[blankslate]

As long as there is start8 it doesn't really matter to me. But boot to desktop would be nice

It'll probably help a little bit with adoption of Win8 in corporate settings though, especially if it's an old xp machine that might be a little low on specs for Windows 7.

As I recall Win8 has lower system requirements than its two predecessors.

 

[gmaster456]

It'll probably help a little bit with adoption of Win8 in corporate settings though, especially if it's an old xp machine that might be a little low on specs for Windows 7.

As I recall Win8 has lower system requirements than its two predecessors.

We updated everything to Windows 7 in the past year or so. Although there is one Pentium D machine for the meeting room running XP that i'd like to upgrade. I may slap windows 8 onto it. It's not a mission critical machine and is really only used if someone has a powerpoint on a thumb drive (rare). I wonder how it'd run.

 

[geniusloci]

Biggest 'I told you so' curb stomp of the arrogant 'It's just different' and 'you don't know how to use your pc' crowd coming ever.

 

[Maximilian]

Biggest 'I told you so' curb stomp of the arrogant 'It's just different' and 'you don't know how to use your pc' crowd coming ever.

This x1000, "you just dont like change, learn to adapt" ugh!

Also I hope that whatever made MS think people don't use the start button never influences them again.

 

[Snoop]

This x1000, "you just dont like change, learn to adapt" ugh!

Also I hope that whatever made MS think people don't use the start button never influences them again.

The removal of the start button and accentuation of their tablet/phone interface was completely self serving to MS. They simply made that crap up that no one used the start menu.

 

[Tom]

I hope it is.

What I really want is a dedicated and simple Win-key gesture.

Have you ever looked at well used keyboards ?

Guess what key NEVER gets touched ?

 

[Jaskalas]

Even if they fix those issues, it's no longer $40.

So now it has to seriously compete with Win7, and all else being equal I wouldn't just jump at a chance to spend $200.

 

[Zxian]

Have you ever looked at well used keyboards ?

Guess what key NEVER gets touched ?

Wait, you're saying you never use the Windows key? Mine might not see as much usage as the space bar, but it's naive to say that the Windows key never gets used ever.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

Wait, you're saying you never use the Windows key? Mine might not see as much usage as the space bar, but it's naive to say that the Windows key never gets used ever.

I never use the Windows key, but my IBM Modem M13 keyboard doesn't have one.

 

[Crusty]

I can honestly say I have probably launched an application from the start menu by navigating to it maybe a dozen times since I've been using Win7(pretty much since release).

If the app is not pinned to my taskbar I'll just hit the win-key and start typing until it displays the right one.

I use Win-E, Win-D, and Win-tab constantly...

 

[PingSpike]

I never use the Windows key, but my IBM Modem M13 keyboard doesn't have one.

I used to accidentally use the windows key all the time while playing games.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

We updated everything to Windows 7 in the past year or so. Although there is one Pentium D machine for the meeting room running XP that i'd like to upgrade. I may slap windows 8 onto it. It's not a mission critical machine and is really only used if someone has a powerpoint on a thumb drive (rare). I wonder how it'd run.

Quite well most likely. I had the preview version installed on an old MSI Wind (first one, Atom N270, 1GB RAM). Ran very well, although the screen had too low resolution to use store apps...

 

[Inspire]

Good, I'll have to buy it then.

I'll be able to migrate my one machine running 8 pro.

 

[ElFenix]

I can honestly say I have probably launched an application from the start menu by navigating to it maybe a dozen times since I've been using Win7(pretty much since release).

If the app is not pinned to my taskbar I'll just hit the win-key and start typing until it displays the right one.

I use Win-E, Win-D, and Win-tab constantly...

i've got nearly everything in quick launch. so i also pretty much don't use the start button. no pinning because why bother when stuff is on the quicklaunch.

 

[Mem]

i've got nearly everything in quick launch. so i also pretty much don't use the start button. no pinning because why bother when stuff is on the quicklaunch.

I don't miss the old start button infact was hoping they don't bring it back,booting to old desktop could be handy for those that spend most of their time there,I 'm one of them but then it only takes less then a second to go between the old desktop and Metro so really only a minor improvement IMHO.

I do hope Microsoft move forward and not backwards and think of new modern ways to improve WinBlue/8.1 etc rather then giving in to those people that prefer the old ways.

 

[Spjut]

I hope this is true.
Having the option to use either the modern UI or the old UI is a win for everyone, I don't see why anyone would oppose that.

 

[mikeymikec]

I'm pretty sure I've read this article already, and because it doesn't refer to a particular build number and a screenshot, I file it under 'rumours'.

I hope it is true as well, because I think the lack of choice surrounding Metro certainly ranks in Microsoft's "Top 5 mistakes" list. I think the related big players have the following problems:

a) Obsessiveness about UI "brand identity" resulting in lack of flexibility
b) Obsessiveness regarding the cloud and "we want to control all of your stuff"
c) Lack of objective thinking and simply accepting that say a family unit isn't going to be entirely Microsoft or entirely Apple, etc, and going for a bit of cross-compatibility
d) Their patent trolling.

 

[Tom]

I don't miss the old start button infact was hoping they don't bring it back,booting to old desktop could be handy for those that spend most of their time there,I 'm one of them but then it only takes less then a second to go between the old desktop and Metro so really only a minor improvement IMHO.

I do hope Microsoft move forward and not backwards and think of new modern ways to improve WinBlue/8.1 etc rather then giving in to those people that prefer the old ways.

There isn't anything "new" about Windows 8 UI. There's just stuff that's different for the sake of being different, and stuff that's missing.

 

[Mem]

There isn't anything "new" about Windows 8 UI. There's just stuff that's different for the sake of being different, and stuff that's missing.

I'm sure you had DOS/Win3.11 fans were saying samething decades ago,main reason why UI was changed IMHO was for touchscreen devices like tablets/phones etc...ie to accomodate latest hardware technology,regardless its something Microsoft can build and improve on with next generation of operating systems etc.. just like Win95 eventually evolved into Win7,all things come to an end sooner or later.
don't get me wrong I'm not saying Win8 is perfect(no OS is) or UI will not change again down the road but can understand why Microsoft have done that.

I think the big decision Microsoft have to make is do they keep their next generation of operation systems hybrid type OS ie to accomodate everything or build a few different versions ie desktop only version etc..I do think Microsoft want to stay with hybrid OS that can accomodate everything.