[John259]

Originally Posted by DotNetWill

I disagree, the decision to upgrade will have already been made before Win8 was released

That's true for companies who are rolling out W7 or an alternative now. However, other companies are accessing W8 now and deciding their future plans.

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by BrokenArrow

It doesn't make any sense for W7 users to upgrade, XP users yes, but W7 users do not get anything out of it.

W8 pro vs. W7 home, there's a difference in features, e.g., you will be able to add the machine to a domain, use bitlocker, etc. So yes, users get something out of it.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by John259

Agreed, and so far they only have small screens and IMHO very high prices for such restricted usability.

Ok i suppose if you want to do everything online and with Google stuff, but some google services are not that great, the online office suit is pretty naff.

Better to go for a Linux distro at least people have a bit of choice with that and it is proper OS.

Anyway as sad as it is, people know the Microsoft name and they know windows, i doubt many people will buy a chrome book or a machine with Linux on it.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by d'@ve

That would be suicidal. Not even Microsoft are that arrogant and stupid. If they did, I would ditch not only Windows 8 but also any future Microsoft upgrades.

But MS is arrogant and stupid, ok Arrogant anyway, they know they got the market and people will go for it. when you got computer manufactures towing the line, because Ms got the monopoly.

However... the fact that they *could* disable them (because the utilities are unsupported) is one of the main arguments I have made against them.

I suppose it depends how these start menus work. there have to be some backwards compatibility for software to install. so I presume there is a start menu folder in Windows 8, i never looked before i installed Startisback, otherwise software installers may complain if they can't find the folder.

We will wait and see, but I know one thing if MS did do that , I would change back to windows 7

[IvanIV]

This is business, there's no place for hurt feelings and vindictiveness. They need to keep backwards compatibility, they won't break it to punish anybody. There is a start menu folder, you can create a toolbar using that folder and had a 'start menu' of sorts even without all these 3rd party start menu programmes.

[emptybox]

Originally Posted by noise747

I suppose it depends how these start menus work. there have to be some backwards compatibility for software to install. so I presume there is a start menu folder in Windows 8, i never looked before i installed Startisback, otherwise software installers may complain if they can't find the folder.

We will wait and see, but I know one thing if MS did do that , I would change back to windows 7

The start menu folders are at C:\ProgramData\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

It's what the Metro Start Screen uses, and it's what the third party start menus use.

[emptybox]

*Correction that should read C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

[BrokenArrow]

From what I have read, you don't have to install a third party start button.

You can just right click the bottom left of the taskbar (where the start button used to be) and you will get a built in basic start menu.

[John259]

Originally Posted by BrokenArrow

From what I have read, you don't have to install a third party start button.

You can just right click the bottom left of the taskbar (where the start button used to be) and you will get a built in basic start menu.

That has some useful options but AFAIK not the start menu.

[finbaar]

Hated OS? My 12 year old son got his W8 laptop yesterday - with StartisBack installed - and likes the option to pop the Metro interface up when needed. I have found W8 runs very nicely on the older hardware of his machine and is much better than XP or Vista.

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by finbaar

Hated OS? My 12 year old son got his W8 laptop yesterday - with StartisBack installed - and likes the option to pop the Metro interface up when needed. I have found W8 runs very nicely on the older hardware of his machine and is much better than XP or Vista.

You just have to read it here, everybody and their dog have something negative to say about it. And it seems to influence purchases of the new hardware or OEMs at least claim so, Acer anyway. Or maybe it's just convenient for them to blame somebody else for their problems.

[psionic]

I wish MS would patch Windows 8 and RT so that you can put the WSA (Metro) apps in folders. Once you've got a load of apps it becomes a bit messy, no matter how much you rearrange and split them up IMHO.

[c00kiemonster72]

I can't believe how many people are hung up by the start menu or the lack of it in Win8

[Geowitch]

I am perfectly happy to use the desktop screen to access all I need. Why should you need a start button?

[bobcar]

Originally Posted by c00kiemonster72

I can't believe how many people are hung up by the start menu or the lack of it in Win8

Some people do find it difficult to understand someone else's point of view if it differs from their own, you're obviously one of those people. Try to understand that some people have different requirements and preferences to yourself and you'll get on much better in life in general.

[John259]

Originally Posted by Geowitch

I am perfectly happy to use the desktop screen to access all I need. Why should you need a start button?

The reasons have been explored at great length here and elsewhere but it really boils down to the convenience of having a tree-structured menu popping up when required on the same screen as currently open program windows.

If you're happy using the Metro home page, that's fine. However, a lot of people prefer the traditional Start button and its menu, and I think it's fair to say that its removal is the biggest single cause of Windows 8's unpopularity.

[d'@ve]

Originally Posted by c00kiemonster72

I can't believe how many people are hung up by the start menu or the lack of it in Win8

Originally Posted by Geowitch

I am perfectly happy to use the desktop screen to access all I need. Why should you need a start button?

It's easy: they don't use their computers in the same way that you two do, probably have different setups, and the classic start button suits their usage and preferences better than Metro.

Horses for courses beats one size fits all.

[John259]

Originally Posted by d'@ve

Horses for courses.

...and burgers...

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by c00kiemonster72

I can't believe how many people are hung up by the start menu or the lack of it in Win8

You should see the cadence with which some people start new programmes or restart their computers I start my five or six programmes in the morning and keep using them.

[Trojanforce]

Windows 8 is terrible, especially for your average home user. Would never have bought a W8 laptop if I had known it was like this. Stick with w7, at least you know where you are.

[John259]

Originally Posted by Trojanforce

Windows 8 is terrible

Have you tried any of the utilities which restore the user interface to that of previous versions of Windows? Many people are of the opinion that they make Windows 8 acceptable. There's a list here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._for_Windows_8

[bigpod]

Originally Posted by Geowitch

I am perfectly happy to use the desktop screen to access all I need. Why should you need a start button?

Because most people I have spoken to, and on numerous threads I haave read, find it the intuitive, fast and simple way to multitask.

[cnbcwatcher]

Originally Posted by d'@ve

Horses for courses...

Anyone want a burger? I'll have a fiver each way on mine

[RichmondBlue]

Originally Posted by John259

Have you tried any of the utilities which restore the user interface to that of previous versions of Windows? Many people are of the opinion that they make Windows 8 acceptable. There's a list here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._for_Windows_8

So you have to get rid of things to make it "acceptable".
Isn't that a bit like buying a BLT and taking out the lettuce and tomato. Why not just get a bacon sandwich in the first place ?

[call100]

Originally Posted by Trojanforce

Windows 8 is terrible, especially for your average home user. Would never have bought a W8 laptop if I had known it was like this. Stick with w7, at least you know where you are.

No it's not..............It's terrible for you, because you don't know where you are. That does not make it terrible for everyone.