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Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 7th 13, 03:20 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
usenetopian
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Posts: 1
Default 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
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  #2  
Old May 7th 13, 03:51 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
Ken Springer[_2_]
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Posts: 3,817
Default 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  
Old May 8th 13, 02:07 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
Usenetopian
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Posts: 26
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?

On 5/7/2013 12:55 PM, G. Morgan wrote:
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?

Thanks in advance


There are about 5-6 programs (easily searchable), but I've decided on
Stardock's Start 8 ($4.99). I didn't like some of the free ones I tried
for one reason or another, and watch out for PUP's* on some installers
for the free ones. (watch the installer, don't agree to toolbars etc...)

*PUP - Potentially Unwanted Program


I went with Start8 and I love it, works like a charm

worth the $4.49 (coupon if you click 'like' for their facebook page)

  #4  
Old May 8th 13, 03:01 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
SC Tom[_3_]
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Posts: 4,089
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?



"usenetopian" wrote in message
...
On 5/7/2013 12:55 PM, G. Morgan wrote:
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?

Thanks in advance


There are about 5-6 programs (easily searchable), but I've decided on
Stardock's Start 8 ($4.99). I didn't like some of the free ones I tried
for one reason or another, and watch out for PUP's* on some installers
for the free ones. (watch the installer, don't agree to toolbars etc...)

*PUP - Potentially Unwanted Program


I went with Start8 and I love it, works like a charm

worth the $4.49 (coupon if you click 'like' for their facebook page)


I started with this one (free):
Ex7forW8
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/thr...-for-Windows-8

then opted for Start is Back ($3.99 for 2 PCs):
http://www.startisback.com/

Didn't really have a problem with the freebie, but SIB has more options, and
doesn't rely on any Win7 files.
--
SC Tom


  #5  
Old May 8th 13, 03:03 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
SC Tom[_3_]
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Posts: 4,089
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?



"SC Tom" wrote in message ...


"usenetopian" wrote in message
...
On 5/7/2013 12:55 PM, G. Morgan wrote:
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?

Thanks in advance

There are about 5-6 programs (easily searchable), but I've decided on
Stardock's Start 8 ($4.99). I didn't like some of the free ones I tried
for one reason or another, and watch out for PUP's* on some installers
for the free ones. (watch the installer, don't agree to toolbars etc...)

*PUP - Potentially Unwanted Program


I went with Start8 and I love it, works like a charm

worth the $4.49 (coupon if you click 'like' for their facebook page)


I started with this one (free):
Ex7forW8
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/thr...-for-Windows-8

then opted for Start is Back ($3.99 for 2 PCs):
http://www.startisback.com/

Didn't really have a problem with the freebie, but SIB has more options,
and doesn't rely on any Win7 files.



That should read "($3 for 2 PCs)"
--
SC Tom


  #6  
Old May 8th 13, 10:28 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
mac
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Posts: 15
Default 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


  #7  
Old May 8th 13, 02:05 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
mechanic
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Posts: 1,064
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?

On Wed, 08 May 2013 07:04:26 -0400, Paul wrote:

That fact that Reller would not commit to a "Start Button and
a boot straight", means that is not their plan. It means they'll
be doing something else, a "half-measure" meant to address
"customer confusion", rather than address "customers hate our
interface".


Fair enough, why abandon a new idea simply because some people have
problems coping with it. Change happens - get over it.
  #8  
Old May 8th 13, 03:02 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
Ken Springer[_2_]
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Posts: 3,817
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?

On 5/8/13 7:05 AM, mechanic wrote:
On Wed, 08 May 2013 07:04:26 -0400, Paul wrote:

That fact that Reller would not commit to a "Start Button and
a boot straight", means that is not their plan. It means they'll
be doing something else, a "half-measure" meant to address
"customer confusion", rather than address "customers hate our
interface".


Fair enough, why abandon a new idea simply because some people have
problems coping with it. Change happens - get over it.


I think it's representative of more than just a new idea and coping.

1. To me, it sounds like MS is saying "We don't care what our customers
want, especially the existing ones, you're going to do it our way. Period."

2. New ideas are great, but there should be a route that provides easy
transitions. Tablet and cell phone users are more used to the
touchscreen interface. Desktop users are not. The question I have is,
why didn't they set the install routines for desktop systems to boot
into a traditional interface, with the ability to easily switch between
the interfaces? They seem to be somewhat arrogant in believing everyone
will just know how to do it.

3. One thing that might have helped out of the gate is if they had made
the tile that gets to the desktop stand out visually. It wouldn't have
to be a different size, just an obviously different design/style, so the
new user's eye is drawn immediately to that tile, with larger letters
saying "Desktop, press here", or similar.

4. Generic observation... I think MS is like most large organizations,
they've lost touch with the basic user of their products and services.
They simply don't know what people would like to see. Surveys and such,
done from behind the screen, tell you little. That only accesses the
folks who do the survey. And believe it will have an effect.

5. The question of increased computer security from the "bad guys" is
always mentioned as a sound reason for upgrading. Agreed. But what
prevented them from simply maintaining an XP looking interface for
consistency, making transitions easier?

I've read comments about how inefficient the Win 8 interface is,
requiring more mouseclicks to get where you want to be. Does anyone
know of some accurate reporting of this? If it is less efficient,
people like me will be unhappy. We want to use the computer more
efficiently, less efficiently.
--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.8.3
Firefox 20.0
Thunderbird 17.0.5
LibreOffice 4.0.1.2
  #9  
Old May 8th 13, 05:37 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
Paul
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Posts: 18,275
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?

mechanic wrote:
On Wed, 08 May 2013 07:04:26 -0400, Paul wrote:

That fact that Reller would not commit to a "Start Button and
a boot straight", means that is not their plan. It means they'll
be doing something else, a "half-measure" meant to address
"customer confusion", rather than address "customers hate our
interface".


Fair enough, why abandon a new idea simply because some people have
problems coping with it. Change happens - get over it.


It is possible, to leave some bread crumbs, to make everyone happy.
It wouldn't cost them that much to do it. I mean, this is why
software has configuration options - to make it configurable.

For example, if I'm a large business, looking at two salaried
hours of "learning curve" for the new OS, times 50,000 employees,
you can be damn sure I'll want that registry bit to flip in the
sysprep.

Microsoft are just like Mozilla, with the Awesome Bar. Because it was
"progress", well, they couldn't very well leave a preference in
about:config, to turn it off. It was "like it or lump it". It
took a third party plugin, to keep both camps happy.

Canonical did a similar thing to what Microsoft has done,
and seemed to use the same approach (we don't care what
customers think). Ubuntu and Unity GUI. I guess you could
think of it as a "prevailing industry attitude". Something
to be proud of. This is partially why there are so many
distro flavors, hosted on the Canonical facilities. (As other
FOSS contributors, struggle to clean up the mess.) One difference
is, the Unity interface was delivered half-finished, which
does nothing when it comes to gaining mind share, and getting
people on your side.

Paul
  #10  
Old May 9th 13, 08:02 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
...winston[_2_]
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Posts: 1,861
Default 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

  #11  
Old May 9th 13, 03:05 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
xfile[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 101
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?

On 5/8/2013 21:05, mechanic wrote:
On Wed, 08 May 2013 07:04:26 -0400, Paul wrote:

That fact that Reller would not commit to a "Start Button and
a boot straight", means that is not their plan. It means they'll
be doing something else, a "half-measure" meant to address
"customer confusion", rather than address "customers hate our
interface".


Fair enough, why abandon a new idea simply because some people have
problems coping with it. Change happens - get over it.


Because the new idea produces no tangible benefits and only idiots will
accept changes for the sake of changes.

Every single day in a real business, professionals are consistently
learning new things and making changes because it is a "global market"
now, so for either defensive or offensive reason, we need to serve
customers and compete around the world - nonstop, 24 hours.

We need to consistently learn new languages, new cultures, new buying
behavior, new technologies, new laws, and so on and so on, just to come
up new products and services that we could stay ahead and afford you
guys to live on welfare checks.

The last thing we need is a moron like you come to tell us how to find
the start button for no apparent good reason and why a new OS is
important to MS.

You can spend your whole pathetic life on playing with a new OS which
has no tangible improvements, but please do spare us and do not draw us
to your level.

MS lost again because professionals reject it. Get over it!!!

  #12  
Old May 9th 13, 03:07 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
xfile[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 101
Default 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!!!
  #13  
Old May 9th 13, 03:19 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
dadiOH[_2_]
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Posts: 1,020
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?

Ken Springer wrote:
On 5/8/13 7:05 AM, mechanic wrote:


Fair enough, why abandon a new idea simply because some people have
problems coping with it. Change happens - get over it.


I think it's representative of more than just a new idea and coping.

1. To me, it sounds like MS is saying "We don't care what our
customers want, especially the existing ones, you're going to do it
our way. Period."


It has always been pretty much that way with MS.
____________

2. New ideas are great, but there should be a route that provides
easy transitions. Tablet and cell phone users are more used to the
touchscreen interface. Desktop users are not. The question I have
is, why didn't they set the install routines for desktop systems to boot
into a traditional interface, with the ability to easily switch
between the interfaces? They seem to be somewhat arrogant in believing
everyone will just know how to do it.


Indeed. And why dump useful things like the ability to have multiple
taskbars? The ability to set varying type sizes and styles for various
things?

And speaking of switching, why force everyone into a multi-user environment
from XP on? The *ability* to use it with multiple users is fine but there
are scads of people with computers that are never touched by others...why
obfuscate things for them with "administration rights", "default user",
etc.?
___________

3. One thing that might have helped out of the gate is if they had
made the tile that gets to the desktop stand out visually. It
wouldn't have to be a different size, just an obviously different
design/style, so
the new user's eye is drawn immediately to that tile, with larger
letters saying "Desktop, press here", or similar.


My Win8 experience is short, bought a laptop with it three days ago, but I
now boot to the desktop, have the start button back, an opaque taskbar, etc.
IOW, it now looks/functions much like XP.
______________


5. The question of increased computer security from the "bad guys" is
always mentioned as a sound reason for upgrading. Agreed. But what
prevented them from simply maintaining an XP looking interface for
consistency, making transitions easier?


Exactly!. Or at least, a choice between the two.

And speaking of security, MS has been messing with OSs for 30 years. AFAIK
they have never gotten a secure one. What they have gotten is *BIG* ones.
The win8 folder on my new laptop is 16GB; a pristine WinXP folder on my PC
is about 1GB; a well used WinXP folder on the PC is 2GB. How did they
manage to add 15GB fromXP to 8 and what is it??

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net


  #14  
Old May 9th 13, 03:52 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
Paul
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Posts: 18,275
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?

dadiOH wrote:


And speaking of switching, why force everyone into a multi-user environment
from XP on? The *ability* to use it with multiple users is fine but there
are scads of people with computers that are never touched by others...why
obfuscate things for them with "administration rights", "default user",
etc.?


That's to make it harder for malware to gain a foothold.
That malware you run as user "dadiOH", doesn't have
administrator rights. It also doesn't have Trusted Installer
rights, so it can make changes to executables in the
Program Files folders.

While that approach can never protect you from everything,
it significantly complicates making exploits for the system.

In a corporate environment, there might be one user physically
on the computer, but the IT staff count as a "second user", a
user granted a higher privilege level. And with that privilege,
they can adjust policies to support corporate objectives (whatever
those are). If they don't want you installing your own apps,
they can stop you. Even though, you're the only user on the
computer.

Paul
  #15  
Old May 9th 13, 04:10 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-8
Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18,275
Default Best Win 8 Start Button replacement program?

xfile wrote:
On 5/8/2013 21:05, mechanic wrote:
On Wed, 08 May 2013 07:04:26 -0400, Paul wrote:

That fact that Reller would not commit to a "Start Button and
a boot straight", means that is not their plan. It means they'll
be doing something else, a "half-measure" meant to address
"customer confusion", rather than address "customers hate our
interface".


Fair enough, why abandon a new idea simply because some people have
problems coping with it. Change happens - get over it.


Because the new idea produces no tangible benefits and only idiots will
accept changes for the sake of changes.

Every single day in a real business, professionals are consistently
learning new things and making changes because it is a "global market"
now, so for either defensive or offensive reason, we need to serve
customers and compete around the world - nonstop, 24 hours.

We need to consistently learn new languages, new cultures, new buying
behavior, new technologies, new laws, and so on and so on, just to come
up new products and services that we could stay ahead and afford you
guys to live on welfare checks.

The last thing we need is a moron like you come to tell us how to find
the start button for no apparent good reason and why a new OS is
important to MS.

You can spend your whole pathetic life on playing with a new OS which
has no tangible improvements, but please do spare us and do not draw us
to your level.

MS lost again because professionals reject it. Get over it!!!


Another way of stating this, is the computer is an "appliance".
We're familiar with "wash" and "rinse" on our appliance, and
it serves no purpose to move the furniture and make "super-wash"
and "hyper-rinse". We get more washing done, if we already
know the controls down pat.

If a Microsoft developer wants to put "super-wash" and "hyper-rinse",
on their tablet or phone OS product line, I have no problem with that.
Because I won't have to look at it every day :-) Greasy fingerprints
and tiles, FTW.

Paul
 




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