This Windows 8.1 Demo Actually Uses Mouse, Start Button
Microsoft demonstrates who the Start button and wallpaper unifies the desktop and Modern UI experience.
This week during Computex 2013 in Taipei, Microsoft gave a demonstration of Windows 8.1 that briefly revealed the returning Start button. Unfortunately, it's not the one we've come to know, love and depend on since Windows 95, but rather serves as a quick hop to the Start screen for mouse-based customers. The IDG News service caught the whole thing on video which coincidentally shows how the updated platform can be manipulated with the traditional mouse and keyboard setup. Finally.
As we've already seen this week, Windows 8.1 adds two new tiles sizes, one of which allows the user to view a string of information within one box like weather details or the last several emails received. Â Users can also swipe up from the Start (AKA Home) screen to reveal an app drawer where all apps installed are listed instead of dumping them on the Start screen by default. This way, users can add whatever they want.
Although this app drawer was loaded up using a finger, the demo also showed how it can be pulled up using a mouse. Once the peripheral is moved on the Start screen, a "down" arrow appears near the bottom-left of the screen. Click on that, and the All Apps screen jumps up from the bottom featuring a similar "up" arrow in the same location. Click on that, and the screen tucks back into the bottom.
Later on in the video, which is just 1:44 long, the Start button shows up in its familiar seat located on the left side of the taskbar in desktop mode. The Microsoft rep said that with Windows 8, there seemed to be a separation between the desktop and the Start screen: two worlds on one device. The company has fixed this by allowing the desktop wallpaper to appear behind the tiles on the Start screen as well.
To demonstrate the new unity between desktop and Start screen, he set the wallpaper to be the same on both. He then clicked the Start button, and magically Windows 8 became one OS once again. Just in appearance, it looks as if the tiles are turned off and the taskbar turned on in one click, and the tiles turned on and the taskbar turned off in the next click. Rinse and repeat. The only items that stay the same is the wallpaper, and the Start button.
Take a look at the example below. While the Start button doesn't return the Start menu to its rightful place, Windows 8.1 looks to be a step in the right direction. The preview version of the update arrives later this month on June 26 during Microsoft's BUILD 2013 conference.

As to the usual stupid "resistance to change" emotional kneejerk responses like codo's - would swapping a QWERTY keyboard for an obscure DVORAK layout then telling everyone they're stupid or "hate change" improve typing speeds? No. That's just change for the sake of change which isn't down to user or ergonomics, it's a marketing ploy that only the gullible fall for every time (remember Vista's "Sidebar"? LOL)...
sounds like zero change to me~ no start menu in win 8.1, about the only change i can see is you can set the background for the metro screen.
this looks like a fail all around
sounds like zero change to me~ no start menu in win 8.1, about the only change i can see is you can set the background for the metro screen.
this looks like a fail all around
As to the usual stupid "resistance to change" emotional kneejerk responses like codo's - would swapping a QWERTY keyboard for an obscure DVORAK layout then telling everyone they're stupid or "hate change" improve typing speeds? No. That's just change for the sake of change which isn't down to user or ergonomics, it's a marketing ploy that only the gullible fall for every time (remember Vista's "Sidebar"? LOL)...
Well, I'll say this. I never liked the Start Menu for a couple of reasons. First of all, applications will add folders to the Start Menu. You'd have to click on the Start Menu, navigate to the folder, expand the folder, sometimes even subfolders just to find the EXE (or whatever file) you're looking for. That kind of was a PITA. Secondly, I don't think I've liked the Start Menu since Windows XP. With Vista/7, it's very similar to 95/98/Me. You have a single column list you have to scroll through. The way I see it, you can much more easily customize this start screen, see bigger icons and not have to navigate through folders or scroll through a list as much. Of course, with a Start Menu, you could also cut out the crap, or even do what I do, make a Quick Launch toolbar. If I ever do get Windows 8.1 (and to be honest, now I think I will with my new build next month), I will be making a Quick Launch toolbar.
This is by no means beneficial and in no way brings back the functionality of the start menu that is needed. Let me add tiles that link to device manager, computer management, or whatever else I want to get to with ease.
Loved ? No way ..... the start button cumbersome interface was simply replaced with a more cumbersome interface. Give me back HP's "Dashboard" or PowerDesk's "Coolbar" for ergonomics.
Change for the sake of progress is useful. (Like the automobile)
Windows 8 interface for desktops is not useful, it's kind of a hindrance, at which point, it's change for the sake of change. Perhaps for tablets it's outstanding, but desktop is pointless. And there's no reason microsoft couldn't include the start menu as it's been since windows 95. Improve it and clean it up? Yes, but removing it has no value to the user, it's just change for the sake of change.
Change for progress like the automobile, jets, the computer, the smart phone, all those were practical changes to make life better for consumers, name one way windows 8 is such a change as to make life better for the consumer?
It's faster? I guess. if a second or two really matters to you. But then you'd buy an SSD instead, a much greater improvement then any OS could give. Not really making life better. Give me an computer/OS that boots my PC from a cold boot up, to in game (A modern game) in less then 20 seconds and I'll label it life changing. Right now with an SSD, it takes about 2-3 minutes combined. Mostly because the game takes forever to load.
It's more secure? I question that. Nothing is secure these days. Saying this OS is more secure then this one, is like saying Ford cars take less damage in a crash then Honda. When both are pretty equally smashed after impact. Again not really a life changing event.
When windows does something that truly changes the way a consumer does something, and that means, better then the old way, then it will be change for progress. But thus far, microsoft hasn't done that since they invented the start menu. All i've heard even from users of W8 is it's a hassle to work with even for industry veterans.
Maybe Windows 9 will do what 8 "should" have done.
If not, Linux is starting to pick up a bit in the gaming community, perhaps it will do better.
(Plus being open source, anyone can change an aspect they don't like all the way down to the core of the OS, by installing a new element or re-coding the original ^^)
Even before windows 8 came out, I would make my start button invisible because it looked cleaner - the fact that windows eight lets me just use the windows key and start typing was actually a PLUS for me.
I know I'm in the minority, but if this is as much forced for me as not having a start button was with normal W8, then windows is just setting up another comedy of errors.