Windows 8.1 Preview... return of the Start Button

[abortretryfail]

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More details at Windows 8.1 Preview - Microsoft Windows

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If you already have Windows 8 you should be able to see the update in the Store

[abortretryfail]

The Start Button is back!!!



But it still just goes to the Start Screen... but I rather have the start screen than the jumble of list which was the Start Menu of previous Windows versions.

As with Windows 8 before, right-clicking gets you the "power user" menu...


There are more options for app tile sizes and personalization in the Start Screen


There's a more obvious down arrow on the Start Menu to take you to the "all apps" screen for all your apps and programs.

This way you can reserve the Start Menu for only the important things.

[noy.juan]

wala man na mawala ang button gi transfer raman na sa sidebar... now returning it back sa original location still they didnt return or provide option for classic menu... still on tech community this is this insufficient update... so there is nothing new about something that should be there at the first place...

it proves to show that MS had made a mistake and trying rectify the mistake they made when they change the layout of windows 8...

sa amoang mailing list daghan gihapon disappointed... im still skeptic about the fate of win8... as the former to be my main OS now has just became the 3rd.... 2nd to Mac...

[cloudduster]

First impression nako sa Windows 8 kay bati but then I realized nga mas daghan benefits iya mahatag compared sa 'Start' button nga nawala.

[noy.juan]

First impression nako sa Windows 8 kay bati but then I realized nga mas daghan benefits iya mahatag compared sa 'Start' button nga nawala.

contrary to popular belief win8's design is optimize for touch capable device... anyway it depends on the user and how he uses it... on my case i test technology... i beta, alpha test it... crack it... bomb it... hack it... the only thing i like win8 is its memory management and new boot menu... once i figure a way to customize grub2 like win8 boot menu... then win8 will be a thing in a past.. the best way to learn the faults and joy on win8 is to join msdn mailing lists beta testers...

[abortretryfail]

Well, personally, I prefer the new Start Screen than the Start Menu. Start Screen is more organized and I can easily get to what I need. While the Start Menu was just a bunch of folders and programs lists you had to navigate through.

Right click on the bottom left corner for Windows 8 or Start Button for Windows 8.1 and you easily get to most of the "power user" functions you need.

I'm guess I'm more in tune to the OS. I never had a touch screen PC and yet I can breeze through Windows 8 with just a keyboard and mouse.

[trdrhyme]

Nice.. Thanks2x...

[noy.juan]

Well, personally, I prefer the new Start Screen than the Start Menu. Start Screen is more organized and I can easily get to what I need. While the Start Menu was just a bunch of folders and programs lists you had to navigate through.

Right click on the bottom left corner for Windows 8 or Start Button for Windows 8.1 and you easily get to most of the "power user" functions you need.

I'm guess I'm more in tune to the OS. I never had a touch screen PC and yet I can breeze through Windows 8 with just a keyboard and mouse.

well, we all have our own preffered OS and it's sh!t... if win8 is soo great why it isnt selling well and win7 has been gaining increase of sales... btw... you remind of a guy (they say he/she is a ms marketing on the leash) sa usa ka tech blog who actually said the same word about startup menu "just a bunch of folders and programs lists"....

havent you heard there is a search feature on that sa win7... oh wait your the same guy who break that news sa launching ana diri sa cebu... which is why i won a couple of frebies...



you could seek it up online daghan mga tech news naay article....

like most everyone remains skeptic even to those who love windows soo much...

OT: one thing i learn working in marketing... to be able to sell your product you need to make you product as perfect as possible even if is a shit... selling a software maybe different than marketing a movie or a tv program... but the concept is still the same.. what im saying with the advent of social media an forums... this has been the new avenue for online marketing.... i heard MS are paying some people to that... get into social media do a review or break a news... then release a supposedly "leak"... geez.... i was born when internet is still a privilege... give me a break...

[abortretryfail]

I don't really trust things online... with the advent of the internet people now have a soapbox to say whatever they want. Being online makes them feel big. And it makes them feel bigger when they go online to put things down.

Yup, I've had the privileged to work with Microsoft off and on. When I was a kid in school it was like one of the dream jobs you'd want to have.

My last stint was with marketing but I was more of a tech evangelist. Part of my job was to go around and help people understand the software and use it better. And one reason I was good at it was because I lived it. I have Windows 7 licenses just sitting there gathering dust because Windows 8 works much better for me. You look at my laptop and I have Windows 8.1 and I'll breeze through it with just keyboard and mouse.

So if that's the case then why is Windows 7 still surging? Well, because people got so use to having Windows being Windows with the Start Button, Start Menu, and all that. So when Microsoft decided to try something new it was like throwing a monkey wrench in the works.

People were so confused... where the heck was the Start Button? People complained and got on their online soapboxes to do it. But if you do a search you'll find other bloggers and reviewers giving Windows 8 the thumbs up. It's just that people who complain usually tend to be the loudest.

One instance is this...


Which is a stupid stunt really. Because yes, obviously, people will be like that at first... especially if you don't give them any sort of guidance.

But part of my job was to show the way around new software. And when I do that a spark happens in people and they become more competent with using it.

Still, as the old saying goes... you can lead a horse to the water but you still can't make them drink. And if Linux, Apple, or Windows XP works for you then go for it.

But if you'd like to give Windows 8.1 a try then the install the Preview. If it sucks then tell Microsoft why and how you think they should fix it... that's why it's out in the public now in the first place so everyday people can kick the tires around.

No, I'm not connected with Microsoft anymore and they are not paying me for this thread. Would be cool though.

By the way... I was born in a time when computers were a privilege and internet was unheard of. We didn't have Google but we had values.

[abortretryfail]

Those who loathed the Start Screen now have the option to boot directly to the Desktop. And they can also skip the Start Screen entirely by going directly to Apps View. Charms and other corner gestures can be disabled as well.


Applications in Apps View can now be sorted and you can also opt to have Desktop applications listed first.

Have yet to find a built-in option to have the old Start Menu... could be something to suggest to the Windows Team during the Preview period for those who want that back.