Bringing Back The Start Menu - How it should be. (8.1 Update 1, 8.2, 9 Discussion Thread)


Recommended Posts

I was thinking that instead of bringing back a full start menu, they could invent a whole new box. Let's call this a "spring box" (like the iOS spring board). The idea being that it only shows when the user is on the desktop (or it could be implemented across the platform) and be optional. When the user moves the mouse to the lower left corner of the screen (where the start button is currently) instead of just a button a small menu would pup up on top of the button and including the start button. The button, when clicked, would still take you to the start screen, but by just rolling over it, the spring box would appear. This box would contain up to 9 pinned live tiles OR DESKTOP APPS and no more than that. All the tiles would be that standard square size (like on the original Windows Phones) which could not be changed. At the bottom in a thin strip just under the user pinned tiles OR DESKTOP apps, would be small buttons that correlate to each charm on the charms bar (search, share, devices, settings).

 

If a user wanted to search he/she wouldn't even need to click the search button just like on that start screen. Instead the user would put their mouse in the lower left corner the spring box would appear and the user can just start typing, then the search pane would just appear on the right side, but the spring box would stay. 

 

The right most button on that thin strip would be an arrow pointing to the right, when clicked the power user menu (Winkey+X) would appear to the right of the spring box allowing the user to shut down access those tools. These tools should not be able to be pinned to the spring box. 

 

This idea would work as I realize the nine apps that the user needs to open constantly should be enough. The user would go to the start screen for other apps. Another thing implemented on the right corners are buttons, the top one opening the charms bar and the bottom one opening the PC settings. These buttons would be clickable like the start button and the app switching button.

 

What do you guys think? Any ideas you would like to see implemented?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dont know, but what I do know is if M$ put that start menu in Windows 9, it would sell like hotcakes. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dont know, but what I do know is if MS put that start menu in Windows 9, it would sell like hotcakes. 

 

Wow! A Start Menu design that doesn't stink! This one I might actually use.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dont know, but what I do know is if MS put that start menu in Windows 9, it would sell like hotcakes. 

 

Something like the concept you posted would be fantastic, that really is the best of both worlds.

 

I think that would also work well combined with the ability to pin Modern apps to the task bar which has been shown in the latest leaked screenshots.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All I want is the concept that this guy made.

(YouTube)

Thats actually something that I would like even if I doesn't miss the startmenu. I also like the red/orangle line that goes throught the whole bottom of the taskbar. The transition effect to the start screen is strange, but other than that, it's an epic concept.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really think it's a safe bet that the menu they bring back won't be the same one from 7. Metro and the tiles aren't going away, they already added pinning them to the taskbar so I expect support for them in the new menu where you can have the small and medium sizes pinned to it so you can still take advantage of the info they give.  I also expect them to add the crams into the new menu along with the power user right click menu they have in 8.1 right now.

 

Internally they are calling it "mini-start" and if they wanted to fit it with the rest of the UI well it'd slide out from the left side like the charms menu/windows slide out from the right side. It'd match well with that concept posted where it goes all the way to the top of the screen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.