Win8 Start button options

[ControlD]

It's NEVER worth the 5$ for something that should be free and will be built into windows 8 over time. NEVER buy software like this from hacks. It's free or nothing for most people.

I wouldn't exactly call Stardock "hacks".

 

[Compman55]

Right-click on the desktop, select Personalize, and then select Change desktop Icons. Same as you'd do in Windows 7.

While startisback is looking very good, I've found it to be buggy -- it isn't as stable as Start8 at this point. I have no doubt the developer will get it ironed out eventually, though.

Could you be specifc to the bugs they you mention. I don;t notice any yet.

 

[Steltek]

Could you be specifc to the bugs they you mention. I don;t notice any yet.

I had a few of the errors pop up that were referenced in the support/comment thread at http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/158666-start-is-back-beta-3/

Nothing super serious, though, and it is still beta software whereas Start8 is RTM.

I'll probably buy a copy of startisback when it goes RTM provided it is priced decently.

 

[gaidin43]

I paid 14.99 for windows 8

 

[joe_H]

I had a few of the errors pop up that were referenced in the support/comment thread at http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/158666-start-is-back-beta-3/

Nothing super serious, though, and it is still beta software whereas Start8 is RTM.

I'll probably buy a copy of startisback when it goes RTM provided it is priced decently.

StartIsBack is apparently at RC1.0, and will be $5 for 5 computers, or $3 for 2 computers.

 

[TheStu]

I paid 14.99 for windows 8

You're right, that completely changes my point.

 

[gaidin43]

You're right, that completely changes my point.

Windows 8 key has long term value to it. This tweak does not. Your point it mute. Stop trying to defend developers that shouldn't charge for simple things like this.

Again if its a massive fully functional program I understand charging for it because it has long term value to it. This start8 tweak DOES NOT and isn't worth the money people are dumping on it.

 

[HeXen]

I wouldn't exactly call Stardock "hacks".

yeah, Stardock makes some very efficient, well coded stuff over the years, especially in comparison...

What's odd is the fact that anyone here considers $5 for something useful to be like baller money or something.
I spen $5.44 this morning on a breakfast burrito and milk....daily chump change, I mean c'mon.

 

[TheStu]

Windows 8 key has long term value to it. This tweak does not. Your point it mute. Stop trying to defend developers that shouldn't charge for simple things like this.

Again if its a massive fully functional program I understand charging for it because it has long term value to it. This start8 tweak DOES NOT and isn't worth the money people are dumping on it.

MOOT. And no, it isn't because you are self-contradictory. You said that you should pay money for stuff that has lasting value... except your backup software of course. And why shouldn't the developers charge for their work? Just because you consider it simple? Fine, make it yourself.

yeah, Stardock makes some very efficient, well coded stuff over the years, especially in comparison...

What's odd is the fact that anyone here considers $5 for something useful to be like baller money or something.
I spen $5.44 this morning on a breakfast burrito and milk....daily chump change, I mean c'mon.

It doesn't apply here because you can get a trial for Start8, but I always felt the '$2.99 for an app/program? That's less than starbucks!' is a little weak if only because I know what I am getting when I spent $3 at starbucks. I may not be so satisfied with my software purchase.

But again, this one has a trial.

 

[HeXen]

It doesn't apply here because you can get a trial for Start8, but I always felt the '$2.99 for an app/program? That's less than starbucks!' is a little weak if only because I know what I am getting when I spent $3 at starbucks. I may not be so satisfied with my software purchase.

But again, this one has a trial.

yes, it has trial version....and?? That's the point, how can you not know what you are getting when there is a trial version of it. regardless, like i said, its chump change, it applies to anything, especially in a thread about a $40 OS, which is cheap for Windows btw.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I don't miss the start button at all...I never really used it in Windows 7.

However for those that like the start menu...it's $5. 5 miserable dollars. You pay more for a donut and a coffee. Why shouldn't they make some money from it? They probably spent days getting it to work correctly and yet some people seem to get upset that they charge $5 for it. It's not like they are going the Full Adobe and charging $50 or something.

 

[guskline]

I personally think that Start8 is worth the $5. Best one i've tried so far in replicating the Windows 7 menu experience.

A couple friends use it as well and love it.

Just bought it for Win8 in rig 3 below. OUTSTANDING. Well worth the $5.00 to make Win 8 easier.

 

[mechBgon]

I think Microsoft should make their own add-on a la Start8, for free. But if $5 makes my computer work the way I want (until Microsoft gets their own version out), then I'm spending the $5 and not looking back. Easy call there.

My main concern is "but does this introduce any easy security exploits?" Microsoft would give their version the full security shakedown, dunno how seriously Stardock concerns themselves with security.

 

[Linflas]

I think Microsoft should make their own add-on a la Start8, for free. But if $5 makes my computer work the way I want (until Microsoft gets their own version out), then I'm spending the $5 and not looking back. Easy call there.

My main concern is "but does this introduce any easy security exploits?" Microsoft would give their version the full security shakedown, dunno how seriously Stardock concerns themselves with security.

Or maybe make it a $2.99 Windows Store purchase? Depending on the blow back I would not be surprised if they fix it themselves either in a SP or in the next OS release. The reason I say depending on the blow back is because I initially hated it being gone but have pretty much learned to live without it now. Personally I am more annoyed that I can't just set the desktop as my default at start up than I am with the lack of Start button.

 

[TheStu]

Or maybe make it a $2.99 Windows Store purchase? Depending on the blow back I would not be surprised if they fix it themselves either in a SP or in the next OS release. The reason I say depending on the blow back is because I initially hated it being gone but have pretty much learned to live without it now. Personally I am more annoyed that I can't just set the desktop as my default at start up than I am with the lack of Start button.

Oh, there's a way to do that with the task scheduler I think. I saw it in an article and now can't find the article. To have it so that as soon as it boots it launches explorer.

 

[Linflas]

Oh, there's a way to do that with the task scheduler I think. I saw it in an article and now can't find the article. To have it so that as soon as it boots it launches explorer.

I did come across that the other day, you are right it uses the task scheduler to run the shortcut to the desktop IIRC.

 

[olds]

(as a mouse/keyboard user) How Microsoftish: sell you Win8. Then you pay even more to get it back to what you had with Win 7.

I never had 7. So it cost me $45 to upgrade from Vista.

 

[gaidin43]

MOOT. And no, it isn't because you are self-contradictory. You said that you should pay money for stuff that has lasting value... except your backup software of course. And why shouldn't the developers charge for their work? Just because you consider it simple? Fine, make it yourself.



It doesn't apply here because you can get a trial for Start8, but I always felt the '$2.99 for an app/program? That's less than starbucks!' is a little weak if only because I know what I am getting when I spent $3 at starbucks. I may not be so satisfied with my software purchase.

But again, this one has a trial.

I bought true image because it had value added but I will not buy an update Less than a year after I bought the program. True images policy of not upgrading unless it's bough within six months is insane. That's not the kind of customer relation or support you want to foster in your customer base.

Again the programs like start9 is a waste of money for anyone who would buy them

 

[Tom]

Sure, its worth more than a donut, but what about a lap dance ?

 

[TheStu]

Sure, its worth more than a donut, but what about a lap dance ?

Are you asking if a lap dance is worth more than a donut? I guess it depends on the kind of donut and how hot the girl is.

Or is the software worth more than a lap dance? They are probably pretty crummy lap dances if they only cost $5.

 

[Steltek]

StartIsBack is apparently at RC1.0, and will be $5 for 5 computers, or $3 for 2 computers.

Final version has been released, and the the price is good for what you get. However, I don't particularly like the DRM product activation scheme the developer used as there doesn't appear to be an option to deactivate a copy on one machine to transfer it to a machine with a different motherboard.

For most users, this probably won't be a big deal (i.e., 5 bucks for five licenses is chump change and a 1/5 of what Start8 costs). However, I haven't gotten around to testing how virtual machines will be affected by this activation scheme - guess we'll see.

 

[mikeymikec]

I've seen 'alternate shells' for Windows before, and some of them have worked horribly - either not being properly removable or when you click the Start button you might see a flash of the old Start button underneath, then it takes five seconds for the menu to appear, or that if they've made alternate minimize/maximize/close buttons that they don't quite line up to the originals so they don't work properly, or when you click on them you'll see a flash of the original button underneath.

How do the ones people have tried for Win8 shape up in this respect?

 

[gaidin43]

Classic shell works perfectly fine with no issues and its free.

 

[Pardus]

New Start menu Windows 7 + Windows 8 Start menu Skin Even more customization!

ViStart now includes a brand new Start menu Windows 7 skin + more skins like the Windows 8 start menu Metro skin in the online gallery. Times are changing and ViStart is changing with them! When reprogramming ViStart I made a crucial decision, instead of just making a new layout like Windows 7 for ViStart I decided to make even that customizable by themers too. Themers now have complete control of the start menu giving them the power to customize all elements within ViStart, meaning there should be even more diverse start menu skins deveing developed in the community!

http://lee-soft.com/vistart/
Install Video

 

[gaidin43]

New Start menu Windows 7 + Windows 8 Start menu Skin Even more customization!

ViStart now includes a brand new Start menu Windows 7 skin + more skins like the Windows 8 start menu Metro skin in the online gallery. Times are changing and ViStart is changing with them! When reprogramming ViStart I made a crucial decision, instead of just making a new layout like Windows 7 for ViStart I decided to make even that customizable by themers too. Themers now have complete control of the start menu giving them the power to customize all elements within ViStart, meaning there should be even more diverse start menu skins deveing developed in the community!

http://lee-soft.com/vistart/
Install Video

Isn't it hard to completely remove this program and all it adds to your computer?