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RIP Start button / Start Menu: Microsoft is to remove the Start Button in Windows 8

Saturday, February 11, 2012 12:01:21 PM

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Update based on the Consumer Preview of Windows 8

Latest update:I've added the start screen to add a picture of the new charms seen in the latest official release of Windows 8 (Windows 8 Consumer Preview). I have also update the screenshots of Windows 8 to match what is seen in the consuemr preview.

It appears that the Windows button has changed icon and moved to the right hand corner of the screen.

Original post based on a rumor

In a daring move, Microsoft has decided to ditch the Start Button in Windows 8, the next version of Windows operating system. The Chinese-language site PCBeta hinted at the Start button's demise over the weekend with some supposed Windows 8 beta screenshots, and The Verge confirmed the change with "sources close to Microsoft's Windows 8 development."



Instead of the start button or as Extreme Tech calls it the corner-hugging Windows flag, Windows 8 will feature a "hot corner." Flicking the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen will bring up the new fullscreen Metro-style Start screen, which in my opinon is extremely ugly.

Windows 8 Start Screen
The Windows 8 "Start Screen"

I frequently use the start menu to launch the start menu to search for things. The start button is one of the killer feature of Windows over Apple Mac. It is soooo much easier than Mac's many menus. Removing the Start button may cause confusion among Windows users unless Microsoft clearly explains how to find and open apps.

The Evolution of the Start Menu

See how the Start Menu (now known as the "Start Screen") over time with different versions of Windows (starting with the latest version Windows 8).

Start screen in Windows 8 consumer preview The Start Menu (now known as the 'Start Sceen') in Windows 8 developer preview Windows 7 Start Menu Windows Vista's Start Menu Windows XP's Start Menu Windows ME's Start Menu Windows 2000's Start Menu Windows 98's Start Menu Windows 95 Start Menu
The Start Menu in previous versions of Windows (The scroll to the left to see more Start Menus)

The Start Button is one Microsoft's strongest trademarks of Windows with all versions of Windows, starting from Windows 95, featuring the Start Menu.


Link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0AJM6HMYjM

HTML5 / Standard compliantHappy Valentine's Day

Comments

beiren Thursday, February 23, 2012 2:49:41 PM

Who cares? Windows 7 support is extended to 2020 or so...

Unregistered user Sunday, March 4, 2012 11:38:12 AM

Anonymous writes: Microsoft removed the Start Menu and the Start Button completely. If I wanted to do all my office work on a tablet, I would have gone and bought myself a new iPad (which I still might do, if I’m forced to choose between a Windows tablet and an iPad). Why can’t we just leave the tablet market to Apple and the PC market to Microsoft? Don’t get me wrong, I like Windows 8 in general, but what happened to freedom of speech and choices. In Windows XP we had the choice to switch back to the Classic Start Menu and in Windows 7 we have XP Mode. It looks like in Windows 8, the only choices we have are to tablet or not to tablet. Rizonesoft started a petition to ask Microsoft to at least give us a choice between the interfaces and bring the Start Menu back. Go here: http://www.rizonesoft.com/2012/bring-back-the-start-menu/ for more information about the petition. Please help Rizonesoft accomplish this almost impossible task by signing and sharing this petition.

Liquified Soulliquifiedsoul Saturday, May 19, 2012 9:09:00 AM

I do like Windows without start button (as long as the windows key in the keyboard brings the start menu up). I even made my widows 7 ditch that start button. In my opinion the start button just wastes my taskbar space.

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