Microsoft's Windows 8 Plan B(lue): Start button back, boot to desktop

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    Microsoft's Windows 8 Plan B(lue): Start button back, boot to desktop


    Posted: 16 Apr 2013
    Reports from a couple of different forums from this past weekend raised the possibility that Microsoft might be moving toward allowing users to skip booting into the Metro-Style Start menu and instead start their PCs in desktop mode. (Winbeta.org noted the thread about this on April 14.)

    One of my sources confirmed this is now looking like the plan and added that Microsoft is also considering bringing back the Start button as an option with Windows Blue.
    Source:ZDNet/All About Microsoft

    I guess His Majesty The User is still King and we just might stop clicking the semi-invisible phantom and have that familiar click target that seems so natural now that we (or some of us) got used to it.
    Teerex's Avatar Posted By: Teerex
    16 Apr 2013



  1. Posts : 983
    10 x64 | 7 x64
       #1

    ZDnet has opinionated writers it would seem.
    Just the day before - Windows: It's over | ZDNet

    So what if 8.blows has a start button. MS trying to polish a smoking turd.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,660
    Windows 8 Pro (32-bit)
       #2

    One question: if you're not going to use Windows 8, then what do you intend to move to?
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  3. Posts : 10,994
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit
       #3

    FuturDreamz said:
    One question: if you're not going to use Windows 8, then what do you intend to move to?
    I figure Windows 7 will give me at least a few more years of service. Maybe by then Microsoft will come out with an operating system that appeals to the masses. Like Windows 7 did. Hopefully, the various Linux distros and third party offerings like Classic Shell, Start8, etc will continue to tweak and improve their products and provide PC users with whatever Microsoft fails to provide.
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  4. Posts : 2,465
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #4

    FuturDreamz said:
    One question: if you're not going to use Windows 8, then what do you intend to move to?
    Another question: Why you MUST move to something else if what you already have works?

    It seems a logical move to me, after seeing the effect Win8 had in users. In the long run, if the had continued the "metro" way, users will either stay with XP/7 or move to Linux/Mac, but since MS only intention is to earn money, and Win8 is clearly losing sales, they take their decision back.
    To me, at least a parameter to bring the start menu would be enough. Having the metro-crap as an option is not bad, as long as it's possible to get rid of it if you want.
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  5. Posts : 2,973
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP1
       #5

    In reality, Windows 8 is a superior OS to Windows 7. It has Storage Spaces, a much better file transfer system, a very informative Task Manager, it uses less resources AND it's generally regarded as being faster than Win 7............let that sink in. All this, and admittedly I have not made the change to Win 8, nor do I plan on it anytime soon. It is unfortunate that two features cast a shadow over the good features of Win 8. If they want to give me my Start Button back, and let me use my desktop with a desktop AS a desktop, I will gladly sign up tomorrow. I've always said during a fresh install of Windows 8, there should be a dialog box that asks you if you want a "Desktop" installation, or "Touch" installation......that would put an end to this nonsense. Also, I know of several programs that will install a fully functional, and customizable, start menu and will let you work from a desktop environment, but I don't feel I should have to "Add" that functionality. If Microsoft wants to try to clean up the mess they made of Windows 8, if they have heard our outrage and want to right the wrong, let them do it!

    Also, businesses will NOT make the change from XP or 7 to Windows 8........they probably have more of an impact on what Microsoft will do than we do to be honest. Businesses are the reason they have supported XP as long as they have......they will do the same for Windows 7, and their voices along with ours may make Microsoft reconsider this new style of OS.
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  6. Posts : 330
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #6

    kbrady1979 said:
    In reality, Windows 8 is a superior OS to Windows 7. It has Storage Spaces, a much better file transfer system, a very informative Task Manager, it uses less resources AND it's generally regarded as being faster than Win 7............let that sink in. All this, and admittedly I have not made the change to Win 8, nor do I plan on it anytime soon. It is unfortunate that two features cast a shadow over the good features of Win 8. If they want to give me my Start Button back, and let me use my desktop with a desktop AS a desktop, I will gladly sign up tomorrow. I've always said during a fresh install of Windows 8, there should be a dialog box that asks you if you want a "Desktop" installation, or "Touch" installation......that would put an end to this nonsense. Also, I know of several programs that will install a fully functional, and customizable, start menu and will let you work from a desktop environment, but I don't feel I should have to "Add" that functionality. If Microsoft wants to try to clean up the mess they made of Windows 8, if they have heard our outrage and want to right the wrong, let them do it!

    Also, businesses will NOT make the change from XP or 7 to Windows 8........they probably have more of an impact on what Microsoft will do than we do to be honest. Businesses are the reason they have supported XP as long as they have......they will do the same for Windows 7, and their voices along with ours may make Microsoft reconsider this new style of OS.
    Couldn't agree more. I thought initially that this was going to be the way when 8 was first advertised, then I realized they were not going to allow compatibility for those non-touch desktop users, which seemed odd, that you would want to use a touch interface without the touch part. Perhaps if MS would have listened to the people long before 8 was released they could have prevented this back step.
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  7. Posts : 4,161
    Windows 7 Pro-x64
       #7

    Superior? I personally don't want my files and programs to go up in smoke, fog, cloud or whatever it's called this year. I want control of what's on my PC and were it goes. I don't want to rely on a network connection to get work done. And for sure, I don't need no stinkin' Crayon designed UI. Windoze8 is a bust for a lot of folks. I'll wait for something better just as I waited for Seven from XP (Skipping Vista). Microsoft will fix it. They don't have a choice if they plan on keeping desktop business.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2,973
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP1
       #8

    Well, we better hope they fix it with Windows Blue, because I suspect if they don't fix those 2 problems in that iteration of the OS, they never will. Also, from what I remember, Windows 8 wasn't always suppose to be lacking a Start Button/Menu.......the code was always there and people were "fixing" it themselves. They pulled the code out at the last minute for some reason.....seemed like a d*ck move to me. It's such an easy fix to appease touch users and desktop users. I think they tried it, committed to it, and are too stubborn to admit it was a mistake right now. It's not like they couldn't release a big Service Pack that let users have the start button and boot to desktop back! I think it's more about admitting it was a dumb idea than anything else.....and we are either forced to use a gimped OS, or stay with what we have.
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  9. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #9

    Win 8 superior? In not too many ways besides the lack of drivers still and the problems people have been running into even after a clean install with all updates on. It seems even the retail 8 is proving a bit buggy.

    As for being lighter weight on resources then 7 that has to do with two main items not mentioned so far. 1) Further progress by some MS dept.s that is on the MinWin kernel brought in by 7. 2) Features commonly seen in previous versions gone! Media Center, useless form of Windows Defender, dvd and video playback support GONE! That's bound to end up seeing fewer processes running in the background as well as the increased need for 3rd party apps spelling out a losing formula!

    As for bringing back the Start orb/ menu, All Programs menu, and additional Settings>Control Panel, Administrative Tools, etc. that has been centralized through the Start to begin and then scattered all over by 8 the writer there clearly points out that seeing the Start actually returned is not "written in stone" at the present moment but only hinted on.

    As for the Metro or "Modern" as some have referred to it as being the MS name simply watch one of the latest Win 8 tv spots and see just what device is being used to show how "wonderful" 8 is... with what? a tablet gui being shown on what? a tablet not any laptop or desktop! The Windows RT gui at work on a... "Tablet"!

    And the Big Goober MS made besides already having the "Choice of GUI" as at least a setup option is what? Using a tablet touch&swipe on the desktop releases instead of foresight and developing a "Desktop" compatible Touch&Swipe gui everyone could adhere to! And then they wonder why 8 is not selling? daaaaaa....

    As for the core elements besides stripping away at the features what could have been a good following to 7 by the ways now only sees a few new "eye candies" or "Bells & Whistles" when looking at the new Lock screen and login option of password, pin code, or pic file. The task manager also finally has a new look similar to a 3rd party benchmarking app to revitalize that while the rest of 8... STINKS! as far as the traditional form of Windows is concerned.

    Now if someone is fortunate enough to see a good install, isn't running into any software problems, and has all the drivers working well their immediate thought is "This is a better Windows and even starts up faster!". At the same time they seem to forget instead of seeing things centralized for repetitive tasks things are scattered all over in hidden toolbars and right click menus! For tablet and smart phone users "No big deal!" not having been working on Windows desktops since the 90s! they don't have the "Wat's up witha this stuff eh?" type feelings about the way MS botched up the works in favor of their own new Surface tablets which is precisely why they wanted everything looking exaxtly the same across the board regardless if the desktop sales fell through entirely They only focus was promoting tablet sales since they were bringing in a new hardware product line. TADAaaaa...!!!

    Can anyone comprehend the marketing strategy being deployed there? If the usual something has a hiccup every other ? then why worry if 8 tanks when you are trying to promote something entirely different in the first place in order to compete with two other giant mobile device artists? No! You want a slam dunk on the competition! MS wants a piece of the pie the Fruit basket company as well as "Gooog doodle litis" are into! Can't you smell the flowers? Blaaa...
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