Microsoft Removes Start Button from Windows 8

[obiown77]

If a medium to large company moves to win 8 ,this will be a support nightmare for helpdesk, lol.

 

[monsta]

Do we have another Vista on our hands?
MS again will be sending more people over to Apple if they keep this up.

 

[Onus]

This smacks of "monkeying;" change for the sake of change. If it's going to be better, show us how and why FIRST, so we can look forward to it. Otherwise, Microsoft, please stop "monkeying."

 

[dimar]

It would be really nice if Microsoft could allow users to revert the UI to classic modes, all the way back to windows 1.0

 

[RipperjackAU]

[citation][nom]sporkimus[/nom]Windows 95 (new, but junky), Windows 98 (good), Windows Me (junk), Windows XP (good), Windows Vista (junk), Windows 7 (good), Windows 8 (on it's way to being junky)[/citation]

I think you missed a couple. What about Windows NT and Windows 2000 Professional?

From what I recall Windows NT was OK'ish as a workstation OS, but Windows 2000 Professional was great! Even ran DoS games without too much fuss.

 

[stoneraaron]

Maybe Microsoft will come out with a Windows 8 Retro?

 

[11796pcs]

Hopefully this is just a publicity stunt, but knowing Microsoft they're not smart enough to think of something like that. Petition anyone? Because I know I use the Start menu/button frequently every day and if it is nuked in 8 I will not be updating from 7. Ever.

 

[turtlehunter0]

First Clippy and now this 🙁

 

[NightLight]

So, we're back to win 3.11? I've got to admit, I miss those old tiles sometimes, but I loved win95 when it came out.

 

[SchizoFrog]

Oh look, more idiots complaining about Metro's interface and the use of tiles. Don't like it? Turn it off. Simples.

Every single advancement and improvement, including those that you do like have come from changes that at the time, a lot of people complained about. They are trying to make things more simple by designing a UI that will cross all platforms while giving the users the OPTION to continue using an older UI.

In a couple of years time you won't have to learn a new UI for an OS no matter what device it is on. It will be the same for Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops and PCs. So you will be able to pick up a brand new device and know from the off the majority of where things are and how it all connects and works.

Complaints about MS moving backwards are from those that want the PC to stop developing and to stay as a single entity sat under a desk. That product model is rapidly becoming out of date.

 

[alidan]

[citation][nom]rawful[/nom]Each version of Windows since XP has pushed me further and further away from Windows. Vista was garbage, I dislike 7 and don't understand the praise it gets from everyone.[/citation]

i use 7 for ssd and 8gb ram only... if i could get ssd support on xp and decent driver support with 64bit xp i would have stayed xp...

i dont like change for change sake like windows 7 did... i miss the tileing options, in os folder size reporting, and needing to click on the name of an object to select it, not anywhere to the right of it... it makes moveing files a pain.

i also dont care for native zip support, it wouldn't be an issue if i couldn't accidently drop things into zips now...

and the part i hate the most about windows 7 is when i ask if there is a way to turn crap i don't like off... i get told go 3rd party, and than give me a list of every program that they think will work... its like people know windows 7 is broken and telling me the work around...

long story short i hear you, and hate change for change sake... if the changes were meaningful, i would be 100% behind them, but because most are cosmetic at best, i mean how hard is it to have the look and feel of xp, 2000, or whatever other os as an option when setting up the os... god knows it wouldn't take up that much space and would be greatly appreciated.

 

[A Bad Day]

As long as there's a way to switch the interface to W7's style, I won't mind. Touchscreen style interface don't go well with laptops/desktops that don't have a touchscreen.

 

[jlats26]

[citation][nom]schizofrog[/nom]Oh look, more idiots complaining about Metro's interface and the use of tiles. Don't like it? Turn it off. Simples.Every single advancement and improvement, including those that you do like have come from changes that at the time, a lot of people complained about. They are trying to make things more simple by designing a UI that will cross all platforms while giving the users the OPTION to continue using an older UI.In a couple of years time you won't have to learn a new UI for an OS no matter what device it is on. It will be the same for Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops and PCs. So you will be able to pick up a brand new device and know from the off the majority of where things are and how it all connects and works.Complaints about MS moving backwards are from those that want the PC to stop developing and to stay as a single entity sat under a desk. That product model is rapidly becoming out of date.[/citation]
Have you even tried the new OS?

First, you cannot "Turn it off". There is a "desktop" feature that will show you a win7 like desktop, but it is completely useless.

Second, I like Microsoft. I usually get jacked about a new OS. But when they completely change an OS that hasn't even reached its full potential yet, that's a problem.

They hadn't even tapped into the potential of the desktop icon, and they completely destroyed it and switched to these "Metro Tiles". From a tech standpoint, this makes no sense, and good luck to all the Help desk's that have to support this nightmare.

 

[gurboura]

[citation][nom]mrkdilkington[/nom]Hopefully this will be like the 'show desktop' quickbar button they removed in Win7 that you can add back in yourself (the one by the start button, not the new one on the right-hand side).[/citation]
Wasn't the dedicated "Show Desktop" taskbar section on the right hand side sufficient?

 

[alidan]

[citation][nom]schizofrog[/nom]Oh look, more idiots complaining about Metro's interface and the use of tiles. Don't like it? Turn it off. Simples.Every single advancement and improvement, including those that you do like have come from changes that at the time, a lot of people complained about. They are trying to make things more simple by designing a UI that will cross all platforms while giving the users the OPTION to continue using an older UI.In a couple of years time you won't have to learn a new UI for an OS no matter what device it is on. It will be the same for Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops and PCs. So you will be able to pick up a brand new device and know from the off the majority of where things are and how it all connects and works.Complaints about MS moving backwards are from those that want the PC to stop developing and to stay as a single entity sat under a desk. That product model is rapidly becoming out of date.[/citation]

wow... its like you dont read the news about the os... you CAN NOT AVOID METRO, yea we many have a normal desktop, but they ARE REPLACING THE START MENU WITH METRO...

yea, we complain about nothing... you know when i moved from 98se to xpsp2... and guess what... not 1 complaint... read above... i have several complains about 7 that aren't going away... and i forgot no native gif support, need a 3rd part application for that too.

microsoft is going backwards because it things that tablets and cellphones are viable computers when they just aren't... they are good enough for web browsing, watching video and such... but you need keyboard/mouse to do any real computer work... why base your whole os on cellphones and tablets... i mean i get making them compatible and making the experience universal... but at the expense that you are going backwards with your primary demographic on a long shot bet that you will sell windows tablets (apple can sell cool... microsoft cant... and thats all an iphone and ipad are... the cool thing to have at the moment)

 

[alidan]

[citation][nom]gurboura[/nom]Wasn't the dedicated "Show Desktop" taskbar section on the right hand side sufficient?[/citation]

i can concur that that was the only change in 7 that was for the better.

 

[blevsta]

First was there was Netflix and Quikster.
Then there was Bank of America and the $5 ATM fee.
Now there's Microsoft and the start button removal.

Will they follow the other two and fix this mistake? Better do it before it's released. Don't fix it if it isn't broken.

 

[mildgamer001]

the start button is one of the best parts of windows, makes everything more organized, much easier to get to programs when you dont want to minimize all your windows, and everything is easy to find, now im going to have sit there with my mouse hovering over some invisible button that may or may not be like the regular start button that has worked PERFECTLY FINE FOR YEARS? this is so stupid, microsoft get your act together, geez.

 

[sykozis]

[citation][nom]back_by_demand[/nom]And that is why Apple is never going to be a business company and just a hippy fanboi company[/citation]
Ummm....Apple is a "business company".... Most CGI studios use Apple computers, as do quite a few recording studios.

[citation][nom]humand[/nom]Much like Intel, I think Microsoft has a tick-tock development roadmap as well.. tick is when they flop.. Win ME, Vista, 8... and tock when they actually do a decent job, 2000, XP, 7.. So I guess we have an ideea what to expect from Windows 8[/citation]

WindowsME and Windows2000 served different markets, but were released the same year.

WindowsME was the final release of the Win9x series (Windows 4.x) for Consumers
Windows2000 was WindowsNT 5 for commercial use

[citation][nom]RipperjackAU[/nom]I think you missed a couple. What about Windows NT and Windows 2000 Professional?From what I recall Windows NT was OK'ish as a workstation OS, but Windows 2000 Professional was great! Even ran DoS games without too much fuss.[/citation]
Looks like he was only listed the "consumer" Windows versions....

 

[sykozis]

[citation][nom]schizofrog[/nom]Oh look, more idiots complaining about Metro's interface and the use of tiles. Don't like it? Turn it off.[/citation]
OR....just don't upgrade...

 

[onyx_64]

with the way MS is, im sure there is an "option" for users to get the button back.. Thats wht i love about windows. User CAN control.

 

[jiangyi]

I do have to say, if they're doing away with the start button, what's the point of the start buttons on most of our keyboards these days then!?

 

[zybch]

[citation][nom]sykozis[/nom]Ummm....Apple is a "business company".... Most CGI studios use Apple computers[/citation]

If by 'Apple computers' you mean 'linux computers', then yes, you're correct.

[citation][nom]jiangyi[/nom]I do have to say, if they're doing away with the start button, what's the point of the start buttons on most of our keyboards these days then!?[/citation]

I mainly use it for searches. Just tap the windows key and type what you're after be that an application or file/document.

 

[njt]

Complaints about MS moving backwards are from those that want the PC to stop developing and to stay as a single entity sat under a desk. That product model is rapidly becoming out of date.

... or maybe they come from those with long memories and remember MS' latest fads that led to "improvements" such as the active desktop, the quicklaunch bar (i liked, but you have to dig to get back), the (vista-style) gadgets, to name a few. now you get the search-as-you-type start menu and the ribbon (which to me is an abomination, btw) and the next round will have the tiles. wait another 4 years and windows 9, and where will all this be after MS once again fails in the ultramobile segment?

and yet, it's 2012 and in windows you still get apps that steal the focus, so you're typing and a dialog pops up which you dismiss the first time you press (which just happened) without having a chance to see what the hell that was. 2012 and you still cannot for love or money rearrange the stack of windows in the order you choose or even just pin to the top/bottom unless either the app codes for it or you download a utility. 2012 and you still cannot tell the OS that a specific app must always start at priority x, or use only x cores, unless you get a tool for it. and never mind my favorite windows 7 "enhancement", that one where whenever an app crashes, by default you have to wait several minutes for the system to go on the net and search for a solution (has anybody ever seen any? except for the now ultra-rare "incompatible with this version of windows"). you even have to go to the trouble of setting a registry entry to skip that marvellous, likely patented feature, it couldn't just have been toggled, noooo..... and by the way, you want to bet that is an enhancement that won't make it to windows 8? feedback on this, brave, brave early testers?

MS enhacements, the "innovation" buzzword they like to throw about so much, really leaves a lot to be desired. passing fads, more like.

 

[Deleted member 978]

Windows 7 and Vista are the same thing folks just interface changes ... Anyway, the Start button was a poorly thought out interface from the beginning. What function did it serve ... it was just a button that brought up more menus and sub menus. If Microsoft want to really understand how to do an interface, they need to look at Apple and Chrome. They stay out of your way and don't require you to have excessive clicks to get to your software. Start button is just an extra step, they really only need:

1. Search input box
2. Dock for favorite apps/links (auto hides)
3. double click anywhere on empty desktop space and you get file/app explorer
4. right click anywhere on empty desktop and you get a list of installed applications/games

This IS a fast and efficient interface that doesn't require extra button pushes and menu to sub menu to sub menu navigation.

Microsoft's "Metro" interface is something from the days of Windows 3.11 ... rather than think up something original and useful (as in works the way humans work) they go back to the past and dig up ugly and clunky.

And what is it with all these companies (Apple included) that think the Max,Min, and Close window should all be located next to each other in a window corner?? Can't tell you how many times I've seen people Close a Window when they meant to minimize it or maximized a window ... close proximity of these buttons is silly, it invites mistake -- if you moving quickly with your mouse and you're off by a few millimeters you've suddenly closed your application rather than maximized it. Maximize should be upper right, minimize lower left, close upper left and leave the lower right alone for re-sizing.

I agree, it's like none of these companies actually do any user study groups to figure out how people interact and the common interface mistakes.

But either way, there is NOTHING new under Windows 8 that wasn't in Vista ... it's based on the same code path.