Windows Start Button Gone Forever, Replaced By Tutorial
Despite complaints stemming from the Consumer Preview, the Start Button will not be officially added to Windows 8.
The Seattle Times reports that the beloved Start Button we've grown accustomed to pressing each and every day won't end up in the final version of Windows 8 despite complaints. Instead, Windows 7 will be its last, official home.
The news arrives by way of investment banking firm Nomura, which hosted meetings this week for investors with Tami Reller, the head of marketing and CFO of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft. The meetings talked about what's coming up for the next version of Microsoft's operating system.
According to Nomura, Reller addressed concerns that end users have raised about the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Although the new version -- which offers a complete revamp of the UI since the release of Windows 95 -- is seemingly well suited for touch-based devices, it's reportedly a headache for the desktop user accustomed to accessing the computer's installed programs through the Start Menu.
As it stands now, Windows 8 doesn't feature a Start Button, but rather depends on hot corners for essential functionality. Without any instructions whatsoever, desktop users must figure out how to navigate through the new Metro UI and access the Metro commands to get back to the Start screen. The Seattle Times calls this method "unintuitive and clunky."
Unfortunately, Reller confirmed that Microsoft has officially killed off the Start Button for good. Instead, the discoverability problem will be addressed through a tutorial "to show keyboard/mouse users the new commands that they need to orient themselves with in the new OS so they are not lost when they first encounter the product."
Isn't that nice?
Reller also assured investors that Office 15 will feel unaltered in Windows 8's desktop mode when using Office even though the new suite has been Metro-ized.
RIP, Start Button. We loved you. Honest.
The fundamental purpose of an OS for me is to provide and invisible interface to access all of MY stuff MY way. It looks like Microsoft is trying to turn the OS into an application itself. This is not what I want, I want to have a clear, clean, fast, customizable utility to do what I desire.
I want to see my OS do all the back-end stuff (anti-virus, backup, file management, etc.) in the cleanest, fastest way possible. These things should happen in the background, and not distract me from doing the things I want (games, internet, Word, Excel, etc.).
The implication here is you are supposed to *use* the OS as an application. No thanks.
Assuming it isn't : Smart move Microsoft. removing a landmark of a button from the interface. I honestly don't know how well it's gonna work. The saying "If it ain't broken, don't fix it" maybe appropriate here.
Assuming it is : Very funny toms!
If they ask me, and they haven't, I would compromise by making the desktop version of Windows 8 essentially an update of Windows 7 and then toss the Metro tiles on the desktop. If people want to use them, they can, if they want to go to the start menu or task bar and launch from there as they have in the past, they still could.
Why does this have to be an all or nothing proposition?
Exactly what windows 8 will be...
I wish it was about it... but that's not a joke
If you want to do something in it,it's impossible!
Let's all call it a day, and jump over to Linux, now that all 3 platforms are performing about the same, but at least with Linux, you have a simplified user interface, and you can do OS customizations via all kinds of advanced menu's and the shell; something which might take forever in Windows 8.
Anyway...thanks for nothing microsoft for removing the good ol start button