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.
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RIP, Start Button. We loved you. Honest.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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kenratboy I am a PC fanboy, and this looks awful.Reply
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. -
iceman1992 I am having my suspicions here, is this an April Fool's prank?Reply
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! -
remyj123 I really think MS is shooting themselves in the foot on this. Whereas I understand them wanting to make the interface identical across all formats of computing, pretty much everyone agrees the Metro interface is not as useful on a desktop or laptop PC as it is on a phone or a tablet. Businesses are not going to like Windows 8 on their PC workstations.Reply
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? -
zloginet kenratboyI am a PC fanboy, and this looks awful.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.Reply
Exactly what windows 8 will be... -
Bloob I'm not missing the start-button, but the power-button should be available straight form the right-corner -menu ( whatever it's called ), and not under settings.Reply -
SmileyTPB1 It wouldn't be the first time that feedback on a product has been completely negative and MS has gone off in the wrong direction anyway. Good luck with that.Reply