Does Anyone Really Care About the Start Menu?

[Nuspieds]

I do not understand the "excitement" or anticipation that non-Windows 8 adopters have for Windows 8.1. It's still the same OS with the Modern UI, but with added/changed functionality; the fundamentals stay the same.

Even for the so-called Start button, that's not revolutionary in Windows 8 because there are already several third-party apps that provide the traditional Start button. If I'm not already onboard with Windows 8, there's nothing in 8.1 that will make me all of a sudden see the light.

The bottom line, though, is that Windows "8" is, right now, the Windows platform MS has established as the future. If you haven't already upgraded to Windows 8 and as long you will be on the Windows platform, then it is just a matter of which Windows "8" version you end up upgrading to and adopting (i.e., 8.1, 8.2, 9.x, etc.).

Sent from the SurfaceForums.net app for Windows 8

 

[DOS]

The bottom line, though, is that Windows "8" is, right now, the Windows platform MS has established as the future. If you haven't already upgraded to Windows 8 and as long you will be on the Windows platform, then it is just a matter of which Windows "8" version you end up upgrading to and adopting (i.e., 8.1, 8.2, 9.x, etc.).

Exactly, we will all assimilate, resistance is futile.

 

[pallentx]

I get people's frustrations, I really do. This is the biggest shift in the OS since Windows 95. I would say this shift is actually even more significant that Windows 95. Windows 95 just improved a desktop OS. This is more like the DOS to Windows shift. Its a whole new paradigm for computing: 1 OS, multiple ways to use it. I don't know if the market will have the patience to learn it. I hope the completely insignificant, cosmetic changes in 8.1 are enough to smooth the transition for people.

I bet when Windows 1.0 came out, people complained that MS should just focus on making the best command line OS and not mess with all that silly GUI junk.

 

[DOS]

Actually, Windows 1.0 was a non-event. But when Windows 3 came out... Techs were screaming, calling the mouse a "rat" and there was no way in hell they were going to work with that rodent. Those who refused to submit, went to work at Novell... those who chose to embrace it, went on to live happy lives as IT Specialists.

 

[mitchellvii]

Actually, Windows 1.0 was a non-event. But when Windows 3 came out... Techs were screaming, calling the mouse a "rat" and there was no way in hell they were going to work with that rodent. Those who refused to submit, went to work at Novell... those who chose to embrace it, went on to live happy lives as IT Specialists.

Just because change was good in the past does not therefore mean all change is good. In Windows 8 MS tried to implement on Desktops something that had utterly failed on phones for years - after all, isn't Modern UI basically just Windows Mobile? One of the downsides of having deep pockets is that it makes you blind to bad ideas. When you can afford to be idealistic you tend to be less pragmatic. If MS thought they had only one shot to get Windows 8 right I doubt they would have been so aggressive in changing the game.

We'll see how good a job 8.1 does of fixing things.

 

[DOS]

Just because change was good in the past does not therefore mean all change is good.

Ok, I'll give you that... Remember the $2 bill? The Apple Newton? Microsoft Bob? The Electric Car? (OK, that last one's still up for debate).

I certainly don't think 8.1 is the last we'll see of the Windows 8 enhancements. April 2014 marks the official sunset of Windows XP... Microsoft will throw in a few more trinkets by then to pacify the naysayers, and I think we'll see a lot of corporations leap frogging Vista and Windows 7 to move directly to Windows 8.x.

 

[mitchellvii]

Ok, I'll give you that... Remember the $2 bill? The Apple Newton? Microsoft Bob? The Electric Car? (OK, that last one's still up for debate).

I certainly don't think 8.1 is the last we'll see of the Windows 8 enhancements. April 2014 marks the official sunset of Windows XP... Microsoft will throw in a few more trinkets by then to pacify the naysayers, and I think we'll see a lot of corporations leap frogging Vista and Windows 7 to move directly to Windows 8.x.

I'm excited about Windows 8.1. I think it holds promise and more importantly that MS is listening to consumers instead of naval gazing. Even though the Start Button doesn't have the Windows 7 Functionality, just it being there along with the wallpaper remaining the same as the Desktop should help a lot. As the Song of Soloman says, "It's the little foxes that spoil the vine".

P.S., Your comparison to the electric car is actually quite prescient. Like Modern UI, the electric car is a good concept but has struggled due to high prices, slow charging batteries and a lack of supporting infrastructure. If you could charge your battery in 5 minutes at any gas station and electric cars cost the same as gas, I have no doubt they would have been wildly popular. Windows 8 is like that. Prices are too high and there is a lack of supporting hardware. When price comes down and touch screens become ubiquitous Windows 8 will become more popular.

 

[cauzion]

I can live without Start button with no problem at all. I have my main application icon shortcuts on my desktop and have no problem to search when I need something that it's not there.

He guys, after using my Surface RT for 7 months on an average of 7-8 hours a day, I've decided to start a blog posting my perceptions. It's so much to tell that I think this not the place to post them.

So, check it out at: http://SurfaceRtReview.BlogSpot.com

 

[pallentx]

Just because change was good in the past does not therefore mean all change is good. In Windows 8 MS tried to implement on Desktops something that had utterly failed on phones for years - after all, isn't Modern UI basically just Windows Mobile? One of the downsides of having deep pockets is that it makes you blind to bad ideas. When you can afford to be idealistic you tend to be less pragmatic. If MS thought they had only one shot to get Windows 8 right I doubt they would have been so aggressive in changing the game.

We'll see how good a job 8.1 does of fixing things.

Completely agree, not all change is good. But, I'm using Windows 8 at home on a desktop, on a tablet and on my phone and I can positively say that its great. Its not perfect. It has a lot of growing up to do, but they are off to a good start with a great concept that is working very well, right now, for me. 8.1 is not a "fix", its a .1 step in a long process of evolution of this new concept.

 

[mitchellvii]

If MS could make it so a mouse cursor worked more like a finger that would help. For instance, make it so if you hold down "ctrl" when you left click and drag the cursor works like a touch.

 

[pallentx]

If MS could make it so a mouse cursor worked more like a finger that would help. For instance, make it so if you hold down "ctrl" when you left click and drag the cursor works like a touch.

That would be handy. I have found myself trying to do touch gestures with the mouse on my desktop. I really like the swipe right left in IE to go forward and back. I keep trying click drag on the desktop to do the same. It would also be good for the old Tablet PCs to use the pen like touch. When I loaded Windows 8 on my old Fujitsu tablet, the pen worked like a mouse instead of touch.

 

[JohnF]

I would not be surprised to see new pc buying stop, and people going Macs and ipads. Got a lot of newly retired professionals who used PCs all their lives getting irritated -they are complaining to their kids, many of whom are leaning apple anyway.

Do those people realize those OS's don't have the start button either and are even more different than W8 is? They're not willing to make a minor change to W8 but are willing to make a major to Apple?