Windows 8 Start Screen is horrible (mark ii)

[nekrosoft13]

MS biggest mistake with windows 8 is getting rid of start menu, if they wanted the useless start screen they could easily have kept both. Desktop should not be treated as a app, there should be easy way to disable "hot corners" and "handle on top" when in desktop mode. start screen should not "slap" you in face each time start the PC, there is no reason for it not to boot straight into desktop on your DESKTOP PC.

apps like startisback, start8 and numerous other apps that bring back the good old start menu are proof enough that a lot of people don't like the changes made, desktop and laptop pcs should not run/feel like tablets.

Desktop-like envirolment failed on mobile device (example windows mobile 6.x) who is the idiot at MS that thought that tablet interface will work on desktop.

bring back the start menu in windows 9!!

[McKay]

bring back the start menu in windows 9!!

Good luck. I've adapted to the Start Screen and am now more productive with it. When I use XP at work the Start menu just feels backwards to me.

[+Warwagon MVC]

hmmm.... where have I heard that before? .... I just can't put my finger on it....

[Noir Angel]

I hope you packed a seriously thick pair of flameproof pants, because a lot of our users positions are that Windows 8 is awesome in every way and it's your fault for refusing to adapt, because all change is completely awesome.

[jakem1]

hmmm.... where have I heard that before.

It's the sound of a broken record.

[Calum Veteran]

[. . .] if they wanted the useless start screen [. . .]

That comment means to me that your views have little credibility; your post indicates that you don't understand the Start screen concept because you're not aware of its uses, and what you've provided is not constructive criticism. Everyone should acknowledge that the Start screen has its uses, even if they dislike it, because it has many of the same uses the Start Menu did (e.g. allowing one to open apps). If you found the Start Menu useful, you have to find the Start screen useful in the same ways the Start Menu is. Constructive criticism, however, would be pointing out that the Start screen covers you entire screen, which is something the Start Menu didn't do (that could be a point that leads you to feel the Start Menu is more useful than the Start screen; however, some of us feel that the Start screen is more useful than the Start Menu because of some features it has which the Start Menu didn't have, so that's when we'd reply to that point of yours with the reasons as to why we disagree).

[Kalint]

Admin can you make a new category for people to **** and whine about something that takes 5 minutes to learn?

THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANKS!

[Noir Angel]

That comment means to me that your views have no credibility and what you've provided is not constructive criticism. Everyone should acknowledge that the Start screen has its uses, even if they dislike it, because it has many of the same uses the Start Menu did (e.g. allowing one to open apps). If you found the Start Menu useful, you have to find the Start screen useful in the same ways the Start Menu is. Constructive criticism, however, would be pointing out that the Start screen covers you entire screen, which is something the Start Menu didn't do (that could be a point that leads you to feel the Start Menu is more useful than the Start screen).

We should acknowledge it on what basis? because you say so. Forgive my bluntness but did someone die and make you the sole arbiter of deciding other people's usability factors?

[+Warwagon MVC]

I hope you packed a seriously thick pair of flameproof pants, because a lot of our users positions are that Windows 8 is awesome in every way and it's your fault for refusing to adapt, because all change is completely awesome.

I've been using Windows 8 since it launched. Let me give you my pros and cons on the start screen

1) Searching for an app by just typing once you press start is an improvement over the old start / programs

2) Pinning folders to the start screen is useful

Cons

1) Every time I Press start and it covers my entire screen I get annoyed.

2) The fact they hid every start button / charms button is annoying.

Over all not as annoying as it use to be, but the full screen thing still bugs me.

[nekrosoft13]

That comment means to me that your views have no credibility and what you've provided is not constructive criticism.

useless on desktop, does that make you feel better? desktop-like ui on mobile device failed, tablet/mobile ui on desktop simply doesn't belong.

I hope you packed a seriously thick pair of flameproof pants, because a lot of our users positions are that Windows 8 is awesome in every way and it's your fault for refusing to adapt, because all change is completely awesome.

what can you expect from the "xbox" generation.

[Shane Nokes]

We should acknowledge it on what basis? because you say so. Forgive my bluntness but did someone die and make you the sole arbiter of deciding other people's usability factors?

Can you open the menu and launch an app? Yes...therefore it has a use, and thus is useful.

You can debate the user-friendliness of that functionality, but to deny it has a use is to deny reality.

So to answer your question? Reality made Calum the arbiter...

[Noir Angel]

I've been using Windows 8 since it launched. Let me give you my pros and cons on the start screen

1) Searching for an app by just typing once you press start is an improvement over the old start / programs

2) Pinning folders to the start screen is useful

Cons

1) Every time I Press start and it covers my entire screen I get annoyed.

2) The fact they hid every start button / charms button is annoying.

Over all not as annoying as it use to be, but the full screen thing still bugs me.

The biggest annoyances for me are the fact that it covers the whole screen, the fact that in my opinion it's very unappealing visually (Dull colour blocks and gradients are so 1990s), and the lack of folder support that you get in a conventional start menu. The bonuses? For a desktop PC, very few in my opinion but I suppose the tablet market is helped by more competition.

[Calum Veteran]

useless on desktop, does that make you feel better? desktop-like ui on mobile device failed, tablet/mobile ui on desktop simply doesn't belong.

[. . .]

No, because it works the same on a desktop PC as it does on a tablet; thus, it has the same uses on a desktop PC that the Start Menu had.

[Shane Nokes]

useless on desktop, does that make you feel better? desktop-like ui on mobile device failed, tablet/mobile ui on desktop simply doesn't belong.

what can you expect from the "xbox" generation.

Huh...weird I use mine on a non-touch based desktop and laptop on a daily basis, and get more work done using both Metro & Desktop UI environments...how weird.

As regards 'xbox' generation...I'd be willing to bet you're younger than me...which would put you firmly in that generation as well.

[Dot Matrix]

I'll just leave this here....

[Athernar]

bring back the start menu in windows 9!!

I agree the start screen is a desktop abomination, but honestly I don't particularly care about the start menu.

As far as I'm concerned they can replace it with whatever, just so long as it's not full-screen and doesn't try to force-feed me a UI I have no use for.

[Scorbing]

MS biggest mistake with windows 8 is getting rid of start menu, if they wanted the useless start screen they could easily have kept both. Desktop should not be treated as a app, there should be easy way to disable "hot corners" and "handle on top" when in desktop mode. start screen should not "slap" you in face each time start the PC, there is no reason for it not to boot straight into desktop on your DESKTOP PC.

apps like startisback, start8 and numerous other apps that bring back the good old start menu are proof enough that a lot of people don't like the changes made, desktop and laptop pcs should not run/feel like tablets.

Desktop-like envirolment failed on mobile device (example windows mobile 6.x) who is the idiot at MS that thought that tablet interface will work on desktop.

bring back the start menu in windows 9!!

There are a million of these threads here on Neowin. We don't need another one.

[Calum Veteran]

We should acknowledge it on what basis? because you say so. Forgive my bluntness but did someone die and make you the sole arbiter of deciding other people's usability factors?

Tiles on the Start screen can be clicked by anyone who has a mouse and working hands. Therefore, it has the same use, in terms of opening programs, that the Start Menu had. Therefore, it cannot reasonably be deemed useless.

I'm not sure whether you missed my point or not.

[Noir Angel]

Tiles on the Start screen can be clicked by anyone who has a mouse and working hands. Therefore, it has the same use, in terms of opening programs, that the Start Menu had. Therefore, it cannot reasonably be deemed useless.

I'm not sure whether you missed my point or not.

Yes, it can be used to launch applications. That doesn't mean it's a change for the better however.

I'll just leave this here....

Pretty much only relevant to people that own a tablet. Which I do not, nor do I ever intend to buy a Windows 8 tablet.

[LaP]

Why did you bother ?

it's like going to a Red Sox fan site and trying to convince them the Yankees are awesome.

[Shane Nokes]

Yes, it can be used to launch applications. That doesn't mean it's a change for the better however.

That wasn't the point being made. The point being made is that it has a use, thus is useful.

To claim that it's not useful is to deny reality itself...which is what Calum was trying to say...that someone cannot be taken seriously if they espouse the view that something isn't useful just because they don't like the way that it can be used.

[Calum Veteran]

Yes, it can be used to launch applications. That doesn't mean it's a change for the better however.

[. . .]

That wasn't my point :) I completely understand that some people prefer the Start Menu, especially for the reason that it doesn't fully cover their screen. I just wanted to point out to him that his credibility is in jeopardy for stating that the Start screen is "useless," as that denies reality.

EDIT: Shane Nokes is explaining my point better than I am :p

[Scorbing]

You don't like Windows 8, then go back to Windows 7 like I did. Problems and frustrations over.

[n_K]

I'll just leave this here....

Start menu doesn't work with 'remote input' i.e. keyboard? What a crock of ****, windows 95 onwards works FINE with a keyboard, you don't even need a mouse.

I've not tried the start screen since removing W8 but how well does that work with a keyboard? '****' is all I can think of really.

Start menu not customisable? I can add/remove items/folders and functions just as you can on the start screen, it's got the same customisation. Oh no actually that's a lie, I can switch between classic and W7 start menu in W7 which ironically makes the start menu MORE customisable than the start screen!

Expandability? I can't see any relevance.

Yeah start menu isn't touch friendly I'll agree, it's an utter pain in the arse trying to use it via RDP on an ipod touch.

[Dot Matrix]

Tiles on the Start screen can be clicked by anyone who has a mouse and working hands. Therefore, it has the same use, in terms of opening programs, that the Start Menu had. Therefore, it cannot reasonably be deemed useless.

I'm not sure whether you missed my point or not.

But I should have to move the mouse. It's not what it was designed for.

Wait... :rofl: