KVR Audio

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:25 pm

I don't like the thought of having 3rd party extensions to bring the Windows 7 start menu functionality back (actually i don't like the thought of extending Windows functionality with 3rd party stuff at all...). I don't know if it still applies, but there was news about Microsoft bringing back a classic start menu (or rather the start menu that will be in Windows 10) to Windows 8 with an update.

Lesha · Post by **Lesha** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:38 pm

chk071 wrote:I don't like the thought of having 3rd party extensions to bring the Windows 7 start menu functionality back (actually i don't like the thought of extending Windows functionality with 3rd party stuff at all...). I don't know if it still applies, but there was news about Microsoft bringing back a classic start menu (or rather the start menu that will be in Windows 10) to Windows 8 with an update.

I am using Start8, and once you install and set it, you completely forget it is there.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:49 pm

I'm sure you're right, but i'm pretty much a wimp when it comes to stuff which could in any way harm my system, or bring instability into it. 15 years of not having messed up a Windows installation and stuff.

Ok, there's been minor problems every now and then, but i guess that's normal.

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:53 pm

woggle wrote:
mutantdog wrote:I wouldn't really call that a start menu, more of a half-arsed attempt at trying to calm the complaints. ClassicShell (and presumably Start8) actually brings back full functionality there.
because of my work I am interested in what you see as the missing functionality - what sort of things do you use the start menu for that you can't do in 8.1?

Maybe to launch applications? Mine wouldn't fit all in the task bar, and I also don't want to clutter it. And no, Metro ISN'T a replacement for that.

Fortunately, Windows 10 will get Start Manu back (I am running the Tech Preview in a secondary PC).

BTW - I too was running Start 8 since the beginning, and not had na issue to report about it. It's completely transparent.

woggle · Post by **woggle** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:04 pm

fmr wrote:
woggle wrote:
mutantdog wrote:I wouldn't really call that a start menu, more of a half-arsed attempt at trying to calm the complaints. ClassicShell (and presumably Start8) actually brings back full functionality there.
because of my work I am interested in what you see as the missing functionality - what sort of things do you use the start menu for that you can't do in 8.1?
Maybe to launch applications? Mine wouldn't fit all in the task bar, and I also don't want to clutter it. And no, Metro ISN'T a replacement for that.

It is, just not a replacement you like

tonkatodd · Post by **tonkatodd** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:12 pm

A tip that maybe helpful or not is I create new toolbars in the taskbar that are just folders with shortcuts in them. Saves me time and space.

toolbar folder.jpg

woggle · Post by **woggle** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:22 pm

tonkatodd wrote:A tip that maybe helpful or not is I create new toolbars in the taskbar that are just folders with shortcuts in them. Saves me time and space.

toolbar folder.jpg

that's a nice idea, thanks

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:30 pm

tonkatodd wrote:A tip that maybe helpful or not is I create new toolbars in the taskbar that are just folders with shortcuts in them. Saves me time and space.

toolbar folder.jpg

Yeah I do the same on Mac to make up for the lack of a menu based launcher (Mac has a pathetic app launcher)

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:14 pm

aMUSEd wrote:
tonkatodd wrote:A tip that maybe helpful or not is I create new toolbars in the taskbar that are just folders with shortcuts in them. Saves me time and space.

toolbar folder.jpg
Yeah I do the same on Mac to make up for the lack of a menu based launcher (Mac has a pathetic app launcher)

Yes, that's why I always open the Applications folder, and have a very cluttered Dock

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:16 pm

woggle wrote:
fmr wrote:
woggle wrote:
mutantdog wrote:I wouldn't really call that a start menu, more of a half-arsed attempt at trying to calm the complaints. ClassicShell (and presumably Start8) actually brings back full functionality there.
because of my work I am interested in what you see as the missing functionality - what sort of things do you use the start menu for that you can't do in 8.1?
Maybe to launch applications? Mine wouldn't fit all in the task bar, and I also don't want to clutter it. And no, Metro ISN'T a replacement for that.
It is, just not a replacement you like

If you had like ten screens filled with icons, you would not say it is.

woggle · Post by **woggle** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:25 pm

fmr wrote:
woggle wrote:
fmr wrote:
woggle wrote:
mutantdog wrote:I wouldn't really call that a start menu, more of a half-arsed attempt at trying to calm the complaints. ClassicShell (and presumably Start8) actually brings back full functionality there.
because of my work I am interested in what you see as the missing functionality - what sort of things do you use the start menu for that you can't do in 8.1?
Maybe to launch applications? Mine wouldn't fit all in the task bar, and I also don't want to clutter it. And no, Metro ISN'T a replacement for that.
It is, just not a replacement you like
If you had like ten screens filled with icons, you would not say it is.

what's the use case for 10 screens filled with icons - that seems quite unusual - How do you organise the start menu to cope with that number of individual files/programs that need to be at hand (rather than say in a folder via explorer or via toolbar groupings)
Sounds like an extreme edge case - and no design can ever cater for every possible scenario equally. Doesn't mean that you don't have a legitimate need, just that you can't justify criticising a design solution for the masses based on an extremely unusual and specific requirement.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:29 pm

Yeah, i hardly can fill one screen with icons on a 1920x1080 resolution here.

Cheers for the tip with the taskbar toolbars btw, very handy.

Lesha · Post by **Lesha** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:36 pm

I've been also using RocketDock on Windows, really speeds up things.

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:43 pm

woggle wrote:the use case for 10 screens filled with icons - that seems quite unusual - How do you organise the start menu to cope with that number of individual files/programs that need to be at hand (rather than say in a folder via explorer or via toolbar groupings)
Sounds like an extreme edge case - and no design can ever cater for every possible scenario equally. Doesn't mean that you don't have a legitimate need, just that you can't justify criticising a design solution for the masses based on an extremely unusual and specific requirement.

It's not me, it was what Windows 8 did when I chose the option to make all applications available. In Windows 7, the Start Menu has everything properly organized in folders, but for some reason, Metro just filled endless rows with icons. Then I installed Start8 and forgot that rubbish. It makes no sense on a desktop anyway, so I never bothered again with it. From then on, it was launching directly to the desktop (Start 8 already gave that option, even before Windows 8.1).

And I don't get your surprise. It's common, unless you don't have everything in Metro and just choose what's there, icon by icon. A useless waste of time.

mutantdog · Post by **mutantdog** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 6:55 pm

woggle wrote:
mutantdog wrote:I wouldn't really call that a start menu, more of a half-arsed attempt at trying to calm the complaints. ClassicShell (and presumably Start8) actually brings back full functionality there.
because of my work I am interested in what you see as the missing functionality - what sort of things do you use the start menu for that you can't do in 8.1?

Mainly its a convenient place to put shortcuts to folders. Also like the fact that it has a GUI rather than just a boring right-click. It's bigger aswell which means i can see what i'm doing from the other side of the room.

I guess there's an element of old habits about it and a bit of stubborn refusal to let Microsoft take something from me that i like.

KVR Audio

What OS are you using in late 2014?

What OS are you using in late 2014?