Start8 Questions

By MorganX
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

MorganX

Posted
Posted

For those who have tried Start8, apparently there are millions, when you search from the Start8 menu, can you right click and perform context actions on the search result?

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1131796-start8-questions/
Share on other sites
Grand Master

MorganX

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It's well worth the $4.99 - worked out at around ?3.20 for me.

I installed the trial. I'll buy it. I've been OK without the start menu, but just can't deal with Modern UI's clumsy search anymore. What a nice piece of software. Very well designed.

I don't care what anyone's usability tests show, Start8 makes Windows 8 better. Search efficiency has returned. It's nice to have Metro apps in the start menu, and I love the hold for half-second opens start page feature.

Nice to have browse Computer as menu from Start Menu back as well as Recorded TV. Windows 8 is highly recommended with Start8 for just about everyone. If you have a Windows Phone 8 you can use Windows Media Player classic for syncing everything, real syncing. Surface is still without hope. Unfortunately Zune doesn't support Windows Phone 8.

With Start8, I don't see why you would stay on Windows 7. No reason at all that I can see. $39.99 or $14.99 to MS, $4.99 to Stardock. Not bad at all.

Really nice piece of software.

PS: Though I'm in heaven to have start menu search back, there is one minor omission; when hovering over search results it does not show a tip with the location. Rarely needed, but definitely of value.

Community Regular

syobon999

Posted
Posted

Its a shame start8 gets all the attention, IMHO STartIsBack is the defacto windows 7 start menu to windows 8 and the only program i'm aware that introduces no extra load, all to render the start menu is from windows 8 itself, classic shell and pokki are anotherterrible example of bloat.

Guest xiphi

Posted
Posted

I prefer StartIsBack. Tried Start8 a few times, but even the most recent update it still loves to make my system sluggish after a while for no reason at all. StartIsBack has a free trial, as well. They're both good, but Start8 loses out due to performance issues.

Rookie

Oni Ray

Posted
Posted

StartIsBack can do the same thing and is cheaper too.

Using SiB myself. For the uninitiated, it's the actual Windows 7 start menu that the developer Tihiy (Stanislav Zinukhov) has re-introduced to Win8 with a hook(?). Unlike Start 8, it's not a start menu replacement or emulator - it is the original Windows start menu itself a part of Microsoft's own code from Win 7. :D And since it's MS's own code, it works, feels and looks exactly as like the real deal - and that's 'cuz it is :)

Also, since it integrates itself into the core, it doesn't have any trailing processes or services. Doesn't schedule any tasks. Just loads a single extra dll to integrate into the explorer shell. So no performance lag or start screen flash at the start. I'll highly recommend to anyone who is dissatisfied with the Metro/Modern UI to give it a try (30 day full function trial) before settling on one solution or another :think:

Costs $3 for 2 PC's BTW. For 5 bucks, you can get a 5 PC license ($1 per PC). Not too shabby for the real McCoy, eh? :yes: Start is Back website - Softpedia review - Arstechnica review

EDIT: I'm liking it so much that I've become a bit of an evangelist :p

  • syobon999 and goretsky
  • Like 2
Grand Master

Fraud OS 11

Posted
Posted

classic shell and pokki are anotherterrible example of bloat.

Don't spread FUD about bloat. All Start Menu replacements inject themselves into Explorer.exe so it's the memory usage of Explorer.exe that you should be watching. The memory usage is identical. Not a problem on even any slower system. Not that StartIsBack is bad or anything, it's excellent. :D

Community Regular

syobon999

Posted
Posted

Don't spread FUD about bloat. All Start Menu replacements inject themselves into Explorer.exe so it's the memory usage of Explorer.exe that you should be watching. The memory usage is identical. Not a problem on even any slower system. Not that StartIsBack is bad or anything, it's excellent. :D

what i'm saying is that classic shell loads a service of its own and the code to the menus is entirely new, its bloated compared to StartIsBack, but not a bloat itself.

Mentor

YanksOnTop

Posted
Posted

Its a shame start8 gets all the attention, IMHO STartIsBack is the defacto windows 7 start menu to windows 8 and the only program i'm aware that introduces no extra load, all to render the start menu is from windows 8 itself, classic shell and pokki are anotherterrible example of bloat.

I used classic shell and it was always laggy on my system. I also tried start8 and wasnt really impressed either. I actually started to use Pokki yesterday and have had pretty good results. I feel its faster and doesnt look too bad either. Just my opinion. And Im not really sure what bloat your talking about. It does have apps that ou can load but its not really obtrusive. So far its the one thats worked the best for me.

Community Regular

syobon999

Posted
Posted

I used classic shell and it was always laggy on my system. I also tried start8 and wasnt really impressed either. I actually started to use Pokki yesterday and have had pretty good results. I feel its faster and doesnt look too bad either. Just my opinion. And Im not really sure what bloat your talking about. It does have apps that ou can load but its not really obtrusive. So far its the one thats worked the best for me.

look, I love Windows 8, its snappier and a more vivid experience than windows 7, everyone call feel this, but start menu is vital to me, i want something identical to windows 7 not more or less, more = bloat.

Rising Star

mzta cody

Posted
Posted

look, I love Windows 8, its snappier and a more vivid experience than windows 7, everyone call feel this, but start menu is vital to me, i want something identical to windows 7 not more or less, more = bloat.

Having used both, I can see what you're saying. I would also say that Start8 is very much a high quality product. However, StartIsBack has a certain essential "purity", for lack of a better word. Therefore, in the end, a bit more elegant of a solution than Start8.

  • Oni Ray and syobon999
  • Like 2
Veteran

Colin.B

Posted
Posted

So I'm likely installing Windows 8 tomorrow...If I understand correctly StartisBack and Start8 don't really change the features of Windows 8 and isn't as drastic as running a custom ROM on my Android. They simply bring back the start menu?

Grand Master

Brandon H Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

So I'm likely installing Windows 8 tomorrow...If I understand correctly StartisBack and Start8 don't really change the features of Windows 8 and isn't as drastic as running a custom ROM on my Android. They simply bring back the start menu?

you are correct
Grand Master

MorganX

Posted
  • Author
Posted

what i'm saying is that classic shell loads a service of its own and the code to the menus is entirely new, its bloated compared to StartIsBack, but not a bloat itself.

I have an i7 with 32GB RAM so if it is adding any load I'm not noticing it, plus I'm not in the Start menu "that" much. But when I am, it's much preferred tot he Start Page especially search. I also like all the options. I'd rather have this than just the regular Windows 7 Start menu. I have not tried the others you mentioned and I'm sure they are fine, but this is just very well made, feature filled, and does what I want. No performance or bloat issues but like I said, I wouldn't notice any minor issues anyway.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Major Xbox layoffs may claim South of Midnight developer Compulsion entirely

      By Abercrombe · Posted

      I agree. I also think Phil stayed too long. They should definitely fire whoever thought all a console platform needed was Call of Duty, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout to survive. Asha and crew are still saying they need more Elder Scrolls and Fallout games. They simply don't get it.
    • Samsung is shutting down yet another app used by millions

      By Krieg · Posted

      wtf cares
    • Microsoft announces 12th-gen Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 processors

      By tsupersonic · Posted

      Macbook Air is an appealing option, as are plethora of Windows devices with various different CPU's
    • Mozilla highlights Firefox Nova 2026 redesign and more upcoming features with new roadmap

      By hellowalkman · Posted

      Mozilla highlights Firefox Nova 2026 redesign and more upcoming features with new roadmap by Sayan Sen Last month Mozilla confirmed that Firefox was set to get a major redesign this year. Dubbed "Project Nova", it can already be tested and will roll out to all users later this year.The idea is to keep the browser competitive in a rapidly evolving internet landscape. As such the revamp focuses on improving privacy, usability, performance, accessibility, and customization. Key privacy features including the built-in VPN, private browsing mode, and Enhanced Tracking Protection, will be more visible and easier to manage, while users will have the option to disable AI features entirely through a dedicated kill switch. Additionally, the redesign promises faster page loading, the return of Compact mode, expanded personalization options, and stronger accessibility support. You can find the full details in the dedicated piece linked above. In a new blog post today the company once again reiterated on Nova and also emphasized other new and upcoming features like the settings revamp that is intended to make it easier for users to understand browser settings. In order to make it simpler for users to keep up with such features Mozilla today is launching Firefox roadmap. Hence enthusiasts and interested users will be able to check out what's cooking and also share feedback about the upcoming additions. Alongside the roadmap announcement, Mozilla also highlighted what's new in Firefox 152. One of the biggest additions is the arrival of Tab Groups on Android. The feature, which has already been helping desktop users organize large numbers of tabs, is now beginning to roll out on mobile. Users will be able to group related tabs together, assign names and colors to them, and return to them later. Mozilla says support for iOS will arrive later this year. Firefox 152 also introduces the aforementioned redesigned Settings experience. The company says the changes are meant to make controls easier to find and help users discover features they may not have previously known about. Existing preferences are not changing, though they are now better organized. Another notable addition is the new Blocked Tracker Widget, which provides a visual overview of Firefox's privacy protections by showing how many trackers have been blocked over time and the types of tracking activity the browser has stopped. Looking ahead, Mozilla revealed several upcoming roadmap features. They include customizable keyboard shortcuts, as well as enhanced PDF editing tools that will allow documents to be split, merged, and reorganized directly within Firefox. The company is also working on bringing Multi-Account Containers into the native Firefox experience thus removing the need for a separate extension. Meanwhile Firefox's built-in VPN is set to expand to mobile devices. Mozilla is also developing AI-powered features like Quick Answers, which can provide concise responses to voice queries, and Smart Window, its optional AI browsing experience that is now available without a waitlist. Finally, a new Power Saving Mode is in the works and will help reduce the impact of resource-heavy tabs on mobile devices in order to extend battery life. The video below summarizes the upcoming changes in an easy to understand format: You can find the announcement blog post here on Mozilla's official website.
    • Microsoft unveils new Surface Laptop with improved trackpad, Snapdragon X2, and more

      By tsupersonic · Posted

      Dead on arrival at that price. Like they missed the mark by multiple hundreds of dollars - this should actually undercut the Macbook Air at $899 if they want any sort of sales / further adoption of WoA

  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      Console General earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Year In
      Twozo Technologies earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      Twozo Technologies earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Twozo Technologies earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Veteran
      branfont went up a rank
      Veteran

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      511
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      199
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      109
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      89
    5. 5
      Nick H.
      71
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!