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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
This has been asked before but I forget the answers given (sorry)
can anyone recommend a great Start button replacement for Windows 8? Thanks in advance |
#2
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
On 5/7/13 8:20 AM, usenetopian wrote:
This has been asked before but I forget the answers given (sorry) can anyone recommend a great Start button replacement for Windows 8? The truth is, but not often mentioned, there is no "best" alternative. Just what's best for you, and only you can answer that. The two most commonly mentioned ones are Classic Shell (free) and Start8 ($4.99) I have Classic Shell installed on a Win 7 Starter netbook. I like it... there! grin But I'm building an i5 computer, and have no intention of using it there. I tend to be a power user, keyboard shortcuts, anything to make things run faster, take fewer mouseclicks to get "there", etc. And I've saved 15-20 web pages to my hard drive to evaluate later. Based only on screenshots, I think I'd like Power 8. Just no place to test at the moment. I'd suggest you make a list of the recommendations made here. Before you go looking, testing, getting caught up in the eye candy, sit down and give considerable thought to how you use the Win 7 start button and menu, then make a list of what you like and what you don't like. Now go testing, and use the one that fits you the best. Consider trying even the ones that look like overkill to you. You may find features you never thought of, and realize that would be a great feature to have. No one size fits all. Good luck. -- Ken Mac OS X 10.8.3 Firefox 20.0 Thunderbird 17.0.5 LibreOffice 4.0.1.2 |
#3
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
"usenetopian" wrote in message ... This has been asked before but I forget the answers given (sorry) can anyone recommend a great Start button replacement for Windows 8? Thanks in advance Hang on a while? http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/li...-29249953.html Windows 8: Microsoft announces 'biggest product U-turn since New Coke'. mac |
#4
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said.
Tami Reller (CFO-Microsoft and Windows) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/06/windows-8-at-6-months-q-amp-a-with-tami-reller.aspx Julie Larsen-Green (Corporate VP, Chief Engineer Windows Client – all software and hardware) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/07/julie-larson-green-at-the-wired-business-conference.aspx Julie’s May 7, 2013 Interview (Video @ Wired Business Conference 2013) http://fora.tv/2013/05/07/Windows_VP_Julie_Larson-Green_Starting_Over_with_Windows Of importance: - at this time any illusion to the return of the Start Button (the Orb) does not mean the Start Menu (***pay close attention around 17:20 in the video*** g) - Julie previously was in charge of Office (aka the person responsible for the ‘Ribbon’ approach) - any ‘fixes’ for a later *8* (as shipped) include all fixes already deployed via Windows Update (program and security) and for apps via the Windows Store. Updates for the apps via the Store include both Program (Fixes, Features, Versions) and Security Updates. Never lose sight that no matter the o/s.....mobility is the primary market focus (i.e. in MSFT case - all devices capable of currently running Windows 8 --while desktop pcs are part of the focus but less significant than in the past) -- ....winston msft mvp consumer apps " mac" wrote in message ... "usenetopian" wrote in message ... This has been asked before but I forget the answers given (sorry) can anyone recommend a great Start button replacement for Windows 8? Thanks in advance Hang on a while? http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/li...-29249953.html Windows 8: Microsoft announces 'biggest product U-turn since New Coke'. mac |
#5
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
On 5/9/2013 15:02, ...winston wrote:
Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said. Tami Reller (CFO-Microsoft and Windows) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/06/windows-8-at-6-months-q-amp-a-with-tami-reller.aspx Julie Larsen-Green (Corporate VP, Chief Engineer Windows Client – all software and hardware) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/07/julie-larson-green-at-the-wired-business-conference.aspx Julie’s May 7, 2013 Interview (Video @ Wired Business Conference 2013) http://fora.tv/2013/05/07/Windows_VP_Julie_Larson-Green_Starting_Over_with_Windows Of importance: - at this time any illusion to the return of the Start Button (the Orb) does not mean the Start Menu (***pay close attention around 17:20 in the video*** g) - Julie previously was in charge of Office (aka the person responsible for the ‘Ribbon’ approach) - any ‘fixes’ for a later *8* (as shipped) include all fixes already deployed via Windows Update (program and security) and for apps via the Windows Store. Updates for the apps via the Store include both Program (Fixes, Features, Versions) and Security Updates. Never lose sight that no matter the o/s.....mobility is the primary market focus (i.e. in MSFT case - all devices capable of currently running Windows 8 --while desktop pcs are part of the focus but less significant than in the past) All your information are exclusively from --- Microsoft? How sad!!! |
#6
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
On Thu, 09 May 2013 22:07:49 +0800, xfile wrote:
On 5/9/2013 15:02, ...winston wrote: Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said. Tami Reller (CFO-Microsoft and Windows) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/06/windows-8-at-6-months-q-amp-a-with-tami-reller.aspx Julie Larsen-Green (Corporate VP, Chief Engineer Windows Client ¡V all software and hardware) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/07/julie-larson-green-at-the-wired-business-conference.aspx Julie¡¦s May 7, 2013 Interview (Video @ Wired Business Conference 2013) http://fora.tv/2013/05/07/Windows_VP_Julie_Larson-Green_Starting_Over_with_Windows Of importance: - at this time any illusion to the return of the Start Button (the Orb) does not mean the Start Menu (***pay close attention around 17:20 in the video*** g) - Julie previously was in charge of Office (aka the person responsible for the ¡¥Ribbon¡¦ approach) - any ¡¥fixes¡¦ for a later *8* (as shipped) include all fixes already deployed via Windows Update (program and security) and for apps via the Windows Store. Updates for the apps via the Store include both Program (Fixes, Features, Versions) and Security Updates. Never lose sight that no matter the o/s.....mobility is the primary market focus (i.e. in MSFT case - all devices capable of currently running Windows 8 --while desktop pcs are part of the focus but less significant than in the past) All your information are exclusively from --- Microsoft? How sad!!! Maybe not so much sad as giving you (or at least thoughtful people) a chance to see what Microsoft people are thinking. Note the first line in ...winston's post: "Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said." -- Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch) |
#7
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
Gene E. Bloch posted this via
: On Thu, 09 May 2013 22:07:49 +0800, xfile wrote: On 5/9/2013 15:02, ...winston wrote: Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said. Tami Reller (CFO-Microsoft and Windows) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/b...ve/2013/05/06/ windows-8-at-6-months-q-amp-a-with-tami-reller.aspx Julie Larsen-Green (Corporate VP, Chief Engineer Windows Client ¡V all software and hardware) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/b...ve/2013/05/07/ julie-larson-green-at-the-wired-business-conference.aspx Julie¡¦s May 7, 2013 Interview (Video @ Wired Business Conference 2013) http://fora.tv/2013/05/07/Windows_VP...Starting_Over_ with_Windows Of importance: - at this time any illusion to the return of the Start Button (the Orb) does not mean the Start Menu (***pay close attention around 17:20 in the video*** g) - Julie previously was in charge of Office (aka the person responsible for the ¡¥Ribbon¡¦ approach) - any ¡¥fixes¡¦ for a later *8* (as shipped) include all fixes already deployed via Windows Update (program and security) and for apps via the Windows Store. Updates for the apps via the Store include both Program (Fixes, Features, Versions) and Security Updates. Never lose sight that no matter the o/s.....mobility is the primary market focus (i.e. in MSFT case - all devices capable of currently running Windows 8 --while desktop pcs are part of the focus but less significant than in the past) All your information are exclusively from --- Microsoft? How sad!!! Maybe not so much sad as giving you (or at least thoughtful people) a chance to see what Microsoft people are thinking. Note the first line in ...winston's post: "Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said." 'Mr. Ed' reruns are not always accurate these days. But "history repeats itself" is a hard adage to ignore. On the other hand, if someone had a psychic horse who could channel Melinda Gates, they might get some inside trader tips if Bill Gates talks in his sleep... Unless he talks in Java, then of course, you'd need a wireless file conversion app for your X-box. My FordSync is powered by Microsoft, and even it cannot pair with a horse unless it's a Trojan Horse, and then people had better listen up to what the horse is talking about because according to the Bible, End Times will have 4 horses and these horses are not messing around. HTH. -- I AM Bucky Breeder, (*(^; and noooooo.... that is NOT a Tomahawk armed Predator drone in my pocket; but, I'm not particularly "happy" to see you either. |
#8
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
On 5/10/2013 02:12, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On Thu, 09 May 2013 22:07:49 +0800, xfile wrote: On 5/9/2013 15:02, ...winston wrote: Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said. Tami Reller (CFO-Microsoft and Windows) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/06/windows-8-at-6-months-q-amp-a-with-tami-reller.aspx Julie Larsen-Green (Corporate VP, Chief Engineer Windows Client – all software and hardware) http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/07/julie-larson-green-at-the-wired-business-conference.aspx Julie’s May 7, 2013 Interview (Video @ Wired Business Conference 2013) http://fora.tv/2013/05/07/Windows_VP_Julie_Larson-Green_Starting_Over_with_Windows Of importance: - at this time any illusion to the return of the Start Button (the Orb) does not mean the Start Menu (***pay close attention around 17:20 in the video*** g) - Julie previously was in charge of Office (aka the person responsible for the ‘Ribbon’ approach) - any ‘fixes’ for a later *8* (as shipped) include all fixes already deployed via Windows Update (program and security) and for apps via the Windows Store. Updates for the apps via the Store include both Program (Fixes, Features, Versions) and Security Updates. Never lose sight that no matter the o/s.....mobility is the primary market focus (i.e. in MSFT case - all devices capable of currently running Windows 8 --while desktop pcs are part of the focus but less significant than in the past) All your information are exclusively from --- Microsoft? How sad!!! Maybe not so much sad as giving you (or at least thoughtful people) a chance to see what Microsoft people are thinking. Note the first line in ...winston's post: "Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said." Maybe not so much sad as giving you (or at least thoughtful people) a chance to see what Microsoft people are thinking. Thanks but what they think is none of my concern particularly it's solely for their own self-interests. |
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
"xfile" wrote in message ... On 5/9/2013 15:02, ...winston wrote: Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said. Julie’s May 7, 2013 Interview (Video @ Wired Business Conference 2013) http://fora.tv/2013/05/07/Windows_VP_Julie_Larson-Green_Starting_Over_with_Windows Of importance: - at this time any illusion to the return of the Start Button (the Orb) does not mean the Start Menu (***pay close attention around 17:20 in the video*** g) All your information are exclusively from --- Microsoft? How sad!!! The person holding the *horse's* reigns ultimately decides which direction the horse runs. As previously noted...a Start Button does not necessarily indicate a Win7 type Start Menu. -- ....winston msft mvp consumer apps |
#10
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
On 5/10/2013 03:17, ...winston wrote:
"xfile" wrote in message ... On 5/9/2013 15:02, ...winston wrote: Hearing it from the horse's mouth might be better than interpreting what someone thought the horse said. Julie’s May 7, 2013 Interview (Video @ Wired Business Conference 2013) http://fora.tv/2013/05/07/Windows_VP_Julie_Larson-Green_Starting_Over_with_Windows Of importance: - at this time any illusion to the return of the Start Button (the Orb) does not mean the Start Menu (***pay close attention around 17:20 in the video*** g) All your information are exclusively from --- Microsoft? How sad!!! The person holding the *horse's* reigns ultimately decides which direction the horse runs. As previously noted...a Start Button does not necessarily indicate a Win7 type Start Menu. As previously noted...a Start Button does not necessarily indicate a Win7 type Start Menu. Whether it's Win7 type is irrelevant and it's not the point, and the main point is that the primary mission of an operating system in *the business sector* is to serve as a stable "platform" for applications run on it, and within the primary mission, the UI design is to minimize, if not totally eliminate, user confusion and learning curve so they could quickly access to data and applications to complete their tasks. If the primary mission is failed, everything else is just BS. Win7 style or not, it's their job to accomplish the above mission to get paid (by licensing). In the consumer sector, there is no hard rules because everything can be subjective and base on personal preferences. Microsoft, as an OEM software development company, miscalculated and forgot their role, again, and tried to mix the two distinctive segments together with one half-baked product. They are the last one qualified to tell business how and if they need to deploy resources for any stupid changes not to mention that it's for their own interests. In the business sector, Microsoft is just an OEM company and they are OK if they just follow orders to do their work. |
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
On 08/05/13 10:28, mac wrote:
"usenetopian" wrote in message ... This has been asked before but I forget the answers given (sorry) can anyone recommend a great Start button replacement for Windows 8? Thanks in advance Hang on a while? http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/li...-29249953.html Windows 8: Microsoft announces 'biggest product U-turn since New Coke'. mac There is nothing wrong with the metro interface. If people had a degree of intelligence or the play fullness of a child they might see the benefits of the metro interface. It's the incompetence of people that is the problem. They are like religious fanatics. Unable or don't want to try some thing new. The metro interface is nothing more than a full screen start menu and if people can't see that tough ****. What happens when you put the mouse in the bottom left hand corner of win 8? What happens when you put the mouse in the bottom left hand corner of win 7? answer the same thing. From a physiological point of view the metro interface has been an enlightening exercise. |
#12
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
On 5/29/13 8:33 AM, Darklight wrote:
On 08/05/13 10:28, mac wrote: "usenetopian" wrote in message ... This has been asked before but I forget the answers given (sorry) can anyone recommend a great Start button replacement for Windows 8? Thanks in advance Hang on a while? http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/li...-29249953.html Windows 8: Microsoft announces 'biggest product U-turn since New Coke'. mac There is nothing wrong with the metro interface. If people had a degree of intelligence or the play fullness of a child they might see the benefits of the metro interface. It's not intelligence, it's knowledge and education that is missing from the average computer user. Most adults have outgrown the 2-3 year old mindset. And I suspect, many are so afraid of "screwing it up", they aren't interested in experimenting, having some idea of what it would cost to pay someone to fix it for them. It's the incompetence of people that is the problem. They are like religious fanatics. Unable or don't want to try some thing new. "Incompetence" is knowing how to do something, but being incapable of doing it. in·com·pe·tence [in-kom-pi-tuhns] Show IPA noun 1. the quality or condition of being incompetent; lack of ability. It's not user's lack of ability, most of us have our fingers and hands. It lack of knowledge of what and how to use those fingers and hands when using a computer. The metro interface is nothing more than a full screen start menu and if people can't see that tough ****. You assume everyone sees the same thing. But they don't. There's nothing in their past experiences with computers that initiates that "spark" where they say "What if I...?" This is no different that the GUI wars of old, with the arguments that my GUI is the perfect GUI, and everyone will find it intuitive. Which they didn't. What happens when you put the mouse in the bottom left hand corner of win 8? What happens when you put the mouse in the bottom left hand corner of win 7? answer the same thing. From my perspective, who cares? With the right graphics card and software/drivers, you can make the corners and sides do just about anything you want. From a physiological point of view the metro interface has been an enlightening exercise. I don't want the computer screen to be my phys. ed. program. LOL I was playing with a big touchscreen monitor in a store today, found it to be a general PITA, especially since I know a mouse and/or keyboard shortcuts are far faster and more efficient. OTOH, on a smartphone, tablet, and possibly a laptop with a small screen, Metro and other touchscreen UI's are probably better, as long as the user has small enough fingers. grin I may have read your post wrong, but you sound like someone that doesn't want to accept there are users who find the Metro UI limiting, cumbersome, and slow to use. I know I don't particularly care for the Win 8 desktop options either. When I get Win8 running on real hardware, not a VM, I will search out 3rd party utilities to customize the computer to work the way I want it to, not the way MS or Apple has set things up. -- Ken Mac OS X 10.8.3 Firefox 20.0 Thunderbird 17.0.5 LibreOffice 4.0.1.2 |
#13
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
Ken Springer wrote:
I was playing with a big touchscreen monitor in a store today, found it to be a general PITA, especially since I know a mouse and/or keyboard shortcuts are far faster and more efficient. I recently bought a new W8 touchscreen laptop. I find that I continue to use my old ways but for perhaps a different reason than most. I find it easier to use the mouse/keyboard shortcuts than to clean the damn screen of fingerprints every day... :-/ there are users who find the Metro UI limiting, cumbersome, and slow to use. I didn't find it hard to get used to the Metro UI. But so far I don't care much for the MS store apps I've tried. And I've found the web versions of many to be much better. Time may change this. I know I don't particularly care for the Win 8 desktop options either. Biggest desktop thing I miss is the start button. But I guess that's everybody's complaint. When I get Win8 running on real hardware, not a VM, I will search out 3rd party utilities to customize the computer to work the way I want it to, not the way MS or Apple has set things up. There's lots of 3rd party stuff out there already. But I wanted to learn to use the UI as it is for awhile. Later we'll see... |
#14
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
You only have to watch the "Surface" UK, TV adverts to see who this OS is
aimed at, 5 to 7 year olds? mac |
#15
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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?
On 5/29/13 4:17 PM, AL wrote:
Ken Springer wrote: I was playing with a big touchscreen monitor in a store today, found it to be a general PITA, especially since I know a mouse and/or keyboard shortcuts are far faster and more efficient. I recently bought a new W8 touchscreen laptop. I find that I continue to use my old ways but for perhaps a different reason than most. I find it easier to use the mouse/keyboard shortcuts than to clean the damn screen of fingerprints every day... :-/ there are users who find the Metro UI limiting, cumbersome, and slow to use. I didn't find it hard to get used to the Metro UI. But so far I don't care much for the MS store apps I've tried. And I've found the web versions of many to be much better. Time may change this. I know I don't particularly care for the Win 8 desktop options either. Biggest desktop thing I miss is the start button. But I guess that's everybody's complaint. There's at least 20 different Start button replacements out there for both Win 7 and Win 8. Not to mention the Quick Launch bar replacements. When I get Win8 running on real hardware, not a VM, I will search out 3rd party utilities to customize the computer to work the way I want it to, not the way MS or Apple has set things up. There's lots of 3rd party stuff out there already. But I wanted to learn to use the UI as it is for awhile. Later we'll see... Which is why my VM installs will remain "native", the only customization I'll have there is what's available from withing the OS itself. No 3rd party stuff. -- Ken Mac OS X 10.8.3 Firefox 20.0 Thunderbird 17.0.5 LibreOffice 4.0.1.2 |
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