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

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

"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

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

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!!!

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)

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.

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.

"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

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.

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.

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

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...

You only have to watch the "Surface" UK, TV adverts to see who this OS is
aimed at, 5 to 7 year olds?

mac

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