Microsoft defends Metro UI over old Start menu

I mean seriously????

First they broke the Start Menu, Vista started moving away from the old working menu to give us the crap system that its so hard to find things you end up searching for it instead, now they report people use it less so its not needed anymore?

and Second, if I wanted to type on a keyboard to launch apps I would have stayed on command line.

Talk about making bad decisions based on bad data.
 
Elimentals said:
I mean seriously????

First they broke the Start Menu, Vista started moving away from the old working menu to give us the crap system that its so hard to find things you end up searching for it instead, now they report people use it less so its not needed anymore?

and Second, if I wanted to type on a keyboard to launch apps I would have stayed on command line.

Talk about making bad decisions based on bad data.
Click to expand...
How did they break the Start menu? For example in Windows 7 (and Vista), to open up the Event Viewer, I simply open up the Start menu, type "ev" and the Event Viewer shortcut is displayed. Please explain to us how something like this would have been faster in XP and earlier.

And no command line would allow you to launch something like this either.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
How did they break the Start menu? For example in Windows 7 (and Vista), to open up the Event Viewer, I simply open up the Start menu, type "ev" and the Event Viewer shortcut is displayed. Please explain to us how something like this would have been faster in XP and earlier.

And no command line would allow you to launch something like this either.
Click to expand...

Sure it works for things that you know or use repeatedly, where XP's/Windows 2000 system was grate was when you did not know if something was on the PC.

Example you want to Open a media player like VLC but dont know if its installed. Clicking on start programs did not overshadow your PC and you could see at a glance if VLC was installed or if there was in fact another media application that you recognize installed.

Simply put I would rather have addressed the issue by using/enforcing categories, similar to what Linux use. Like use sub menu's for Internet, Office, Games and so on.
 
Elimentals said:
Sure it works for things that you know or use repeatedly, where XP's/Windows 2000 system was grate was when you did not know if something was on the PC.

Example you want to Open a media player like VLC but dont know if its installed. Clicking on start programs did not overshadow your PC and you could see at a glance if VLC was installed or if there was in fact another media application that you recognize installed.

Simply put I would rather have addressed the issue by using/enforcing categories, similar to what Linux use. Like use sub menu's for Internet, Office, Games and so on.
Click to expand...

lol I'd be worried if you don't know what is installed on your own pc..

And if they did use those categories, people would complain that it looks to much like linux..
They can't please everyone.
I haven't used Windows 8 yet, so no comment on Metro.
 
nakedpeanut said:
lol I'd be worried if you don't know what is installed on your own pc..
Click to expand...

If you only use one or two PC's in your day to day sure, I would be concerned as well.

Problem comes in when that number gets to 10 or more, be it support or simply using a PC at a internet cafe or on your folks old dinosaur. Also simply removing a function because its not used much makes no sense, with that view if Windows 8 was a car they would remove the spare in the boot because people dont use it.

And if they did use those categories, people would complain that it looks to much like linux..
They can't please everyone.
I haven't used Windows 8 yet, so no comment on Metro.
Click to expand...

I guess that could be an Argument.

I am not saying I have the perfect solution, but I can say that replacing something that was small and none intrusive with a Full screen picture filled mesh of colored squares is not it.

The fact that every ones mesh will look different as they pin and group as they see fit, will make it soooo much worse as well.

All I can say is if they truly going to kill the start menu(I sure as hell hope they change their mind), I am glad I am not in Desktop/helpdesk support anymore.
 
i miss the old start menu - Im sure i use it less since they broke it

These days i just stick my most used programs on my taskbar, and type the rest
 
Elimentals said:
First they broke the Start Menu
Click to expand...
That implies it was working before, which imo it wasn't.

The WinXP start menu was flawed imo. Once you start loading a decent number of progs there are just too many entries to find stuff. Or if sorted alphabetically you need to know whether Word is filed under "Word", "Office" or "Microsoft"...and then hope the PC owner didn't move it. The search function is a huge improvement on that.

Not entirely convinced by this new direction though...will wait & see.
 
LOL, everyone's got an opinion about start menus and app launchers.
No 1 OS provider will ever keep everybody happy.
 
Elimentals said:
Sure it works for things that you know or use repeatedly, where XP's/Windows 2000 system was grate was when you did not know if something was on the PC.

Example you want to Open a media player like VLC but dont know if its installed. Clicking on start programs did not overshadow your PC and you could see at a glance if VLC was installed or if there was in fact another media application that you recognize installed.
Click to expand...

If you type 'VLC' into the start menu of Windows Vista/7, it will show up if it's installed, otherwise it won't.

I like typing into the start menu better because, like keyboard shortcuts, it's much faster than using a mouse.
 
No... XP's start menu was "broken".

I remember hovering over "programs", then a whole desktop screen's worth of nested sub-menu's later, I could find what I was looking for.

No thanks.
 
I too enjoy a clean desktop with most used apps pinned to taskbar and start menu. Metro is creating an additional layer of bling which will benefit touch screen interfaces but is a bit of a nuisance on a regular desktop...

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sandmanm34 said:
I too enjoy a clean desktop with most used apps pinned to taskbar and start menu. Metro is creating an additional layer of bling which will benefit touch screen interfaces but is a bit of a nuisance on a regular desktop...
Click to expand...
You're not forced to use Metro though, you can revert to the traditional windows look IIRC. Just like XP/Vista/W7 allow you to use a classic Windows theme.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
You're not forced to use Metro though, you can revert to the traditional windows look IIRC. Just like XP/Vista/W7 allow you to use a classic Windows theme.
Click to expand...
There is a registry tweak available to switch metro on or off yes but do you think the RC will have a settings option to switch it on or off?
 
sandmanm34 said:
There is a registry tweak available to switch metro on or off yes but do you think the RC will have a settings option to switch it on or off?
Click to expand...
It probably will, MS knows better than to piss people off from past experience. They have already confirmed that the Ribbon can be disabled.
 
I'm using Windows 8 on a laptop and I love it. It took some getting used to at first - and troubleshooting with it being a Developer Preview and all - but now that I've gotten the hang of it it's quick and simple to use.
 
Yes I quite like the current start menu, all I have to do is type "word" into the search box, hit enter and bam Microsoft Word starts. Windows XP's start menu was an absolute mess, opening dozens of sub menus then potentially miss-clicking and going thorough the process of finding the item again.

I have not used Windows 8 yet and I hope they keep the start menu as simple as it is now. I don't want to open the start menu and get distracted by the fact that somebody posted something on Google+
 
Xzib1t said:
Yes I quite like the current start menu, all I have to do is type "word" into the search box, hit enter and bam Microsoft Word starts. Windows XP's start menu was an absolute mess, opening dozens of sub menus then potentially miss-clicking and going thorough the process of finding the item again.

I have not used Windows 8 yet and I hope they keep the start menu as simple as it is now. I don't want to open the start menu and get distracted by the fact that somebody posted something on Google+
Click to expand...

I think a lot of people dont get it....

7103.Fig_2D00_1_2D002D002D00_Live_2D00_tiles_2D00_on_2D00_the_2D00_Start_2D00_screen_5F00_thumb_5F00_11665169.jpg


THIS is the new start menu.

The menu, is now a screen.
 
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Elimentals said:
I think a lot of people dont get it....

7103.Fig_2D00_1_2D002D002D00_Live_2D00_tiles_2D00_on_2D00_the_2D00_Start_2D00_screen_5F00_thumb_5F00_11665169.jpg


THIS is the new start menu.

The menu, is now a screen.
Click to expand...

What have they been thinking, the only item that truly belongs there is Internet Explorer - if you even use it.

Well all I can say is, change is and will be difficult.
 
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