Windows 8: Start button returns

from JoeUser Forums

Here’s what we’ve put together in 24 hours:

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So if Microsoft doesn’t restore the Windows 8 desktop to being able to work without jumping back and forth between it and Metro, we’ll do it.

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Obviously we can improve on this but we’ll see how much Microsoft fixes things up before we invest too much time on this. Comment here if you think you’d be interested in something like this.  As the Windows 8 beta evolves, we can start to look at what sorts of usability things need to be addressed and put together something more comprehensive.

Update: GO HERE to get it: https://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

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Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Brad you da man!! :)

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Well not  me, Neil's team (Object Desktop).

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Some kickass intuitive people around here !

Wincustomize shall live on. :sun:

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 4
The button is of course skinnable...
End of Neil's quote
:star:

Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Yay! Knew it wouldn't take you guys long!

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

So how much?  :grin:

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 2
Well not  me, Neil is (WindowBlinds lead).
End of Frogboy's quote

The combined effort of Stardock makes the acronym P.C. acttually mean what it says Personal! :)

Quoting Neil, reply 4
The button is of course skinnable...
End of Neil's quote

And of course Neil Your The Man as well thanks for all you do! :)

 

On a side note I understand Microsofts direction but I feel a loss of focus on a true OS "like we have known so far" could be a huge step back so many of us still need a "True Desktop"!

 

 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yes! SD always showed MS that there's another way. Congrats to Neil's team: "Bravo!".

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Take a look at the Gnome UI, Neil. You might get inspired. B)

 

I like what you've done. And if you can make that skinnable...then I'm all for it.

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top

What took Neil so damn long?;)

Well, as for suggestions: Metro 'windows' (with the 's') would be nice, I suppose. 

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

FANTASTIC !! Now that's more of what I had in mind. You folks are the BEST !! 5* 5* 5* :thumbsup:

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes , I agree there many of us that are still going to need the "true desktop" and may not be using the apps that are going to be focused on the Metro UI.   Glad to see you guys are working on a solution!!   Not having the traditional easy accessible start button was one of the first things that annoyed me, esp when I needed to reboot and it took me much wasted  time figuring out how to do it.

 

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Once again Team Stardock shows MS what fer!

You rock guys!!

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Way to go Stardock! 5* 5* 5* 5* :thumbsup:

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I believe this is way so many of the community members stay with Stardock, Brad and his folks really do try to make Windows a better OS.  5* :thumbsup:

Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Anyone who has been messing with Win8, can you answer two questions?
Can metro be disabled? And does the Win8 desktop retain all functionality from Win7? (gadgets, right click menu's, use of docks, to name a few)

thanks.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Wow that was fast! I booted into Win8 Customer Review one time early this morning. After reading Brad's post and subsequent comments I was smh. Maybe there's hope after all.  :thumbsup:

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Neil, You Da Man!!!  5* 5* 5* 5*

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 4
The button is of course skinnable...
End of Neil's quote

I want your children.....

 

[OK, enough of discussing odd eating habits]....;)

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Anyone who has been messing with Win8, can you answer two questions?
Can metro be disabled? And does the Win8 desktop retain all functionality from Win7? (gadgets, right click menu's, use of docks, to name a few)
End of quote

No and No.

Right now, Windows 8 treats the desktop a lot like how Windows treated DOS. It's a box you can go back to. But you're "supposed" to live in Metro. The desktop is designed for legacy apps.

The problem is, Metro doesn't make a lot of sense for desktop use in its current incarnation where everything MUST BE FULL SCREEN NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL. With Metro, it's not Windows. It's Window.

(incidentally, I don't have a problem with Metro as a tablet OS, but as a desktop OS? insane).

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Great to see some alternatives being developed.

I'd give it two thumbs up, were it not that one of them was digested by my tractor a couple years ago. :thumbsup:  

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

That looks good! But I will stay with my win 7 as long as possible :) Windows 8 is more for consuming...

But wouldn't it be cooler to have a complete selfmade start menu that is customizeable? So you just have a quick icon, that opens a menu. And for having it open real quick just let it run in the background (may access the options through an icon in the system bar), while clicking the icon once in the quick bar, just brings the software/menu to the foreground. Just my two cents :grin:

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top

Comment here if you think you’d be interested in something like this.
End of quote
If, through some strange turn of events, Windows 8 becomes good enough that I actually use it or somehow circumstances force me to use it despite my considerable desire to not do so, and Microsoft hasn't added this functionality natively by launch, then I would consider this to be essential. But by preference I will just continue using Windows 7 and if I were to upgrade then I'd upgrade to some form of GNU/Linux.

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think, there will be some need for this. :-) Great !