Windows 8.1 Boot to desktop Selection screen mockup.

[zhangm Supervisor]

I don't think major UI overhauls that add or change functionality have ever been optional. The notion of giving a choice is simply going to ensure that people stick with what they're familiar with rather than get used to interacting with new features.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Classic start menu will never come back. If anything, it will be changed like what happened from 9.x to XP. And it may not be a menu. May still be the screen with more/better options.

 

Correct and if the Classic start menu did come back it would be "Because of the whiners ... OMG you ruined windows 8" :D

[Andre S. Veteran]

Correct and if the Classic start menu did come back it would be "Because of the whiners ... OMG you ruined windows 8" :D

Exactly. When Microsoft makes changes that I approve, it's because they took the right decision. When Microsoft makes changes that I don't like, it's because they listened to the [insert derogatory term here]s.  :laugh:

[techbeck]

Correct and if the Classic start menu did come back it would be "Because of the whiners ... OMG you ruined windows 8" :D

MS just needs to find a good balance that will appeal to most users.

[123456789A]

I'll probably get in a lot of trouble for leaking this, but here's the actual selection screen from the latest build.

 

[The Evil Overlord]

I like it, +1 dude

just deal with it or buy classic shell this is Microsoft's vision if you don't want it stay on 7 or move to osx or Linux

+1

 

I'd bet the ms rivals would get a huge boost from either camp, at least if ms give the end user a choice they can at least try to keep everyone happy

[Dot Matrix]

Of course not. But MS has a long history of giving people choice. They didnt do that with Win8. Implement the new way but give users more options or a familiar way as well. And with all the rumors and leaks recently, it appears MS is listening.

 

With a UI change this big, and with MSFT wanting to unify their services, what options do you think they could have offered? Microsoft has never offered the option of switching UIs. We've always had Explorer.exe since Windows 95. There was no switching it off, so why do people expect to be able to switch off Metro?

 

I'll probably get in a lot of trouble for leaking this, but here's the actual selection screen from the latest build.

 

Damn, you're telling me that my Commodore 64 is forever stuck with the Start Menu?

[The Evil Overlord]

The vast majority of people that actually use W8 have no problem with the start screen and a lot of the ones that stayed away because of bad word of mouth have no real idea what the supposed problems are, they just hear 'it's bad' and that's that. See Vista. I know way more that never tried 8 but don't know what's so terrible about it than I know users who ditched 8 and I fear MS is going to do more harm by backpedaling instead of organically improving what they now have. The first screen kinda makes sense but seeing a screenshot of the old, dusty start menu makes me realize that I don't miss it at all.

I tried 8, wasn't impressed by the demonstrator model in my pc world.

waited about a month and bought it, just for the hell of it, had too many problems putting it on my son's machine took me a day to lose all patience with it, (intermittent wifi, random driver issue bsod) gave up. (even vista never gave me that much of a headache)

I'm not calling you a liar, but in my case, my experience of using 8 was not pleasurable, when it would work, yes, it was nice, but the headaches for me outweighed the benefits

[Dot Matrix]

I tried 8, wasn't impressed by the demonstrator model in my pc world.

waited about a month and bought it, just for the hell of it, had too many problems putting it on my son's machine took me a day to lose all patience with it, (intermittent wifi, random driver issue bsod) gave up. (even vista never gave me that much of a headache)

I'm not calling you a liar, but in my case, my experience of using 8 was not pleasurable, when it would work, yes, it was nice, but the headaches for me outweighed the benefits

What machine do you have? I've never had those issues.

[Devmer11]

My computer from 2007 that i'm using hasn't had a quarter of those issues heck it runs 100X better then it ever did with vista

I tried 8, wasn't impressed by the demonstrator model in my pc world.

waited about a month and bought it, just for the hell of it, had too many problems putting it on my son's machine took me a day to lose all patience with it, (intermittent wifi, random driver issue bsod) gave up. (even vista never gave me that much of a headache)

I'm not calling you a liar, but in my case, my experience of using 8 was not pleasurable, when it would work, yes, it was nice, but the headaches for me outweighed the benefits

[The Evil Overlord]

What machine do you have? I've never had those issues.

my son's? Athlon dual core 3ghz 2 gig ram running 32 bit cause I'm too cheap to buy more and he'd just use it to game it's supposed to be his homework computer :p

wifi was a belkin n model, then I tried my cisco n300 same effect

graphics was on board, then tried one of my spare NVidia 8500's (then I found out it wasn't the graphics card)

Board is an asrock, unsure of make and model, as it worked (and didn't care as it wasn't an asus) runs almost as well as my rig with one or two exceptions, (mine was originally built for gaming, a long time ago)

[dead.cell]

With a UI change this big, and with MSFT wanting to unify their services, what options do you think they could have offered? Microsoft has never offered the option of switching UIs. We've always had Explorer.exe since Windows 95. There was no switching it off, so why do people expect to be able to switch off Metro?

 

 

Damn, you're telling me that my Commodore 64 is forever stuck with the Start Menu?

They have offered the option of switching to the classic start menu though back with XP. Not sure why you're getting bent out of shape if they were to include the option once more, considering the change from Windows 7 to 8 is quite big for some people.

 

All they're doing by not giving people the option is promoting Windows 7's continued use and purchase. If you're a tech enthusiast and all about moving forward with technology, certainly you wouldn't want Windows 7 made out to be the next Windows XP where Microsoft continues to support it for well beyond it's expected life duration. I mean, unless you truly want Microsoft spending that much money over the next decade...

[The Evil Overlord]

My computer from 2007 that i'm using hasn't had a quarter of those issues heck it runs 100X better then it ever did with vista

I didn't like vista much neither, the only os I had next to no problems with was 7, but that's because of all the reading I used to do here, looking for support for 'insert whatever random xp issue you like here'  so but at the time of the launch of 8, I actually rated vista higher than 8, I'm on the record saying that too, my opinion has changed little, I'll be honest, but it's not because I didn't try 8.

 

I'm yet to try 8.1 as I don't have my spare hard drive to trial a copy anymore, (son's one died so I put my spare in his, and a personal financial consideration prevents me from buying random pc parts at the moment)

[Rickkins]

The vast majority of people that actually use W8 have no problem with the start screen and a lot of the ones that stayed away because of bad word of mouth have no real idea what the supposed problems are, they just hear 'it's bad' and that's that. See Vista. I know way more that never tried 8 but don't know what's so terrible about it than I know users who ditched 8 and I fear MS is going to do more harm by backpedaling instead of organically improving what they now have. The first screen kinda makes sense but seeing a screenshot of the old, dusty start menu makes me realize that I don't miss it at all.

Hahaha.... classic comedy gold..!!!

The hard truth is, the only place you find stories like that, is right here on this very board. Out there in the world, 8 has been a dismal flop the like of which ms has never seen, and that, of course, is why they're scrambling to back pedal back to a familiar desktop. Metro has failed, and failed big time. And everybody knows it, save for a small be vocal band of pro-metro fans right here.

[The Evil Overlord]

They have offered the option of switching to the classic start menu though back with XP. Not sure why you're getting bent out of shape if they were to include the option once more, considering the change from Windows 7 to 8 is quite big for some people.

 

All they're doing by not giving people the option is promoting Windows 7's continued use and purchase. If you're a tech enthusiast and all about moving forward with technology, certainly you wouldn't want Windows 7 made out to be the next Windows XP where Microsoft continues to support it for well beyond it's expected life duration. I mean, unless you truly want Microsoft spending that much money over the next decade...

I get that, and do understand, but if you're loyal to a company, (or at the very least don't want to move to a rival os) would it be so terrible if they extend 7's life, or in fact any successful os's life, xp was loved by some, hated by others, but it's versatility is testament to it's lifespan, wouldn't you agree?

[margrave]

Great mockup! That would be great! Love options.

[techbeck]

There was no switching it off, so why do people expect to be able to switch off Metro?

I think a lot of the people who dont like Win8 will be happy with the changes regardless if their dream off being able to switch of metro happens. And as long as people who like Win8 the way it is now can continue using it the way they like, then they will be happy as well. Its about MS finding a good/better balance between who is for and against it. Of course, you will have people who hate it regardless...cannot please everyone.

Seems lots of people who are pro Win8 from the start are upset with these changes. Why does it matter as long as they can continue using Win8 the way they like...

[xWhiplash]

Hahaha.... classic comedy gold..!!!

The hard truth is, the only place you find stories like that, is right here on this very board. Out there in the world, 8 has been a dismal flop the like of which ms has never seen, and that, of course, is why they're scrambling to back pedal back to a familiar desktop. Metro has failed, and failed big time. And everybody knows it, save for a small be vocal band of pro-metro fans right here.

 

I agree.  Everybody I talk to says they hate Windows 8.  Once I mention Start8, they are happy with it.  This is what people want.

[vcfan]

[The Evil Overlord]

:rofl:  :rofl: :rofl:  Vanilla Ice, Game Gears and Tamagotchi's FTW

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

<snipped the pics>

Best.

Post.

Ever.

[123456789A]

omg Lunchables

 

Do they still make those?

[dead.cell]

I get that, and do understand, but if you're loyal to a company, (or at the very least don't want to move to a rival os) would it be so terrible if they extend 7's life, or in fact any successful os's life, xp was loved by some, hated by others, but it's versatility is testament to it's lifespan, wouldn't you agree?

There's nothing wrong with Microsoft wanting to continue support for their previous operating systems. In fact, I encourage it! However, for someone (not you) who's so adamant about telling people how Windows 8 is the way forward and all the rhetoric about future this, direction that, you'd think for a moment he'd consider that people will not move forward without a reason to, and in fact, will regress back to what they're familiar with if they have a bad experience.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that... Microsoft will either spend the time to make bridging the gap easier for their user base, or spend their time continuing to support an OS that people are clinging to, not for compatibility reasons or because of cost, but rather because they don't want to have to learn a whole new system that they could already be more familiar with if Microsoft provided a solution.

 

Currently, I support Start8 as the alternative, but realistically, retailers and sales people may not suggest this, usually due to company policies and the obligation of what may come if they download the wrong software or have issues with it. However, many honest sales consultants will tell you about it, provided they're aware of these options.

 

omg Lunchables

 

Do they still make those?

Yes. I uh... eat the pizza ones whenever I accidentally buy one from the grocery store. :ermm:

[The Evil Overlord]

There's nothing wrong with Microsoft wanting to continue support for their previous operating systems. In fact, I encourage it! However, for someone (not you) who's so adamant about telling people how Windows 8 is the way forward and all the rhetoric about future this, direction that, you'd think for a moment he'd consider that people will not move forward without a reason to, and in fact, will regress back to what they're familiar with if they have a bad experience.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that... Microsoft will either spend the time to make bridging the gap easier for their user base, or spend their time continuing to support an OS that people are clinging to, not for compatibility reasons or because of cost, but rather because they don't want to have to learn a whole new system that they could already be more familiar with if Microsoft provided a solution.

 

Currently, I support Start8 as the alternative, but realistically, retailers and sales people may not suggest this, usually due to company policies and the obligation of what may come if they download the wrong software or have issues with it. However, many honest sales consultants will tell you about it, provided they're aware of these options.

 

Yes. I uh... eat the pizza ones whenever I accidentally buy one from the grocery store. :ermm:

Very well put sir, *tips hat*

[cooky560 Veteran]

It strikes me as strange why this mock-up wasn't included as part of the setup questions about privacy and similar. 

 

Also: BRING BACK THE ABILITY TO HAVE A NON-MICROSOFT ACCOUNT without having to disconnect a network cable during the install.