Start8 Beta Restores Start Button to Windows 8

CommanderFrank

CommanderFrank

Cat Can't Scratch It
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Stardock, maker of WindowBlinds just released the beta of Start8 which restores the Start button to Windows 8. Start8 also bypasses Windows 8’s stock startup screen to present the traditional desktop. The beta program is free and a final price hasn’t been disclosed by Stardock.

With the launch earlier this month of Windows 8 RTM, Microsoft blocked a popular workaround that let users boot directly to the desktop.
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I tried Start8 yesterday and it's terrible. I'll keep my Metro UI instead. No Classic Shell for me either because I never liked the old Windows 95 through XP style start menu with cascaded folders.

I don't mind Metro myself and I almost never see it, just as I almost never see Windows 7's start menu. Hit the power button on the laptop to go to sleep and when you wake it up, it goes back to desktop where you left off. It only goes to Metro on cold boot.
 
I bet this is going to go on forever like it does between Apple and the Jailbreakers.

Stardock - *It's hacked*

MS - *PATCH! - No it's not!*

Stardock - *It's hacked again*

MS - *PATCH! - No it's not!*

Glad to see a company basically giving MS the middle finger over forcing "Metro" on everyone though. :D
 
Aside from Angry Birds and an app that reminds me to feed my cat, this would be something I'd buy from the Windows Store right away. It'd be interesting to see them put it up for sale in the market and have it be the number 1 selling program. That might send an amusing message to Microsoft.
 
I tried out what would probably be considered a pre-beta back when W8 was in Beta and it worked well for the limited things it did. I'm guessing this, once completely, finished will return the desktop back to your full control. Now, the price will be a large deciding factor..... if Microsoft doesn't try to block this version's operation also.
 
Why would you ever want this? I don't even use the start menu in Windows 7, just the search box. That's all you really need these days the search box is the fastest way to get anything.
 
Ultima99 said:
This should get some positive comments around here.
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Doubt it, there will still be users who use any news about MS or Windows as a platform to spew their hatred of MS's current direction.

People have been customizing their windows installs for years. Anyone remember the hacked uxtheme.dll that allowed WinXP users to get much better theme styles? Seems people whine too much. MS isn't forcing anything on anyone. You will always have the ability to hack and customize your Windows they way you want.
 
I might now get Win8 and use it (student status FTW!)--my largest gripe has been answered.
 
...or just stick to Windows 7 where it works fine without a patch?
If you're that insistent on the start button, seems like you'd probably just want to stick to Win7 anyway.
This is mainly for people that are buying pre-built PC's with Win8 already on 'em, right?
If you hate Metro, why even bother with Windows 8.
 
That's awesome news. I have Win 8 RTM on my main pc and everything's working great. I just can't get used to no start menu.
 
Quix said:
Why would you ever want this? I don't even use the start menu in Windows 7, just the search box. That's all you really need these days the search box is the fastest way to get anything.
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but.. but what about the users that have 250 games installed??
 
SkribbelKat said:
There's a larger range of feelings between love and hate. Some of us don't like Windows 8, but don't really hate it either.
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Yep.

I am indifferent to the new start menu. it still works, just differently.

What I *DO* like is the increase in speed on my system (vs. a clean install of 7).
 
Great. So instead of getting an upgrade I don't need that changes things I don't care to have changed. This just reduces windows 8 to a an upgrade I don't need (but ultimately be forced to get eventually).
 
Well, Start8 Beta works with the quick launch bar enabled in Win 8. The other start button programs had it all screwed up.
 
XamediX said:
People have been customizing their windows installs for years. Anyone remember the hacked uxtheme.dll that allowed WinXP users to get much better theme styles? Seems people whine too much. MS isn't forcing anything on anyone. You will always have the ability to hack and customize your Windows they way you want.
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That was true with Win7 and older OS's - but not with Win8. Microsoft removed the ability to turn on the start menu with Consumer Preview and then went after 3rd party menus with the RTM. That strong arming is what annoyed alot people.

Even if you love metro, your still going to be using the desktop 90% of the time because regular apps/games will not run in metro. So why cripple it?
 
SkribbelKat said:
Aside from Angry Birds and an app that reminds me to feed my cat, this would be something I'd buy from the Windows Store right away. It'd be interesting to see them put it up for sale in the market and have it be the number 1 selling program. That might send an amusing message to Microsoft.
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You can actually by the desktop version of Angry Birds games today: http://download.angrybirds.com/

It runs on three screens using nVidia surround and works perfectly with touch both Windows 7 & 8. Great example of an app scaling to the hardware it's running on.
 
My box has that great handy start menu already! And didn't have to install a single thing. Win7 FTW.
 
I'm still holding out for the Program Manager hack for Win8. I've seen workarounds that use File Explorer, but I'd really like the classic Windows 3.1 feel. Until I can get that I'll just stick to DOS.
 
Domingo said:
...or just stick to Windows 7 where it works fine without a patch?
If you're that insistent on the start button, seems like you'd probably just want to stick to Win7 anyway.
This is mainly for people that are buying pre-built PC's with Win8 already on 'em, right?
If you hate Metro, why even bother with Windows 8.
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That's the solution most business will be using. I can see Microsoft having to extend Windows 7 support just like they did for XP due the the large number of companies who don't plan on upgrading.

As a business, I will/can not depend on a third party application that might be broken by a windows update.
 
Domingo said:
...or just stick to Windows 7 where it works fine without a patch?
If you're that insistent on the start button, seems like you'd probably just want to stick to Win7 anyway.
This is mainly for people that are buying pre-built PC's with Win8 already on 'em, right?
If you hate Metro, why even bother with Windows 8.
Click to expand...

There's more to Windows 8 than Metro. And, a lot of that new stuff is good. The new task manager and ribbon menus are good for instance. But, the Start screen is just so painfully bad that it dramatically detracts from the experience, especially if you're starting a lot of varied applications that you don't necessarily want pinned to your task bar. Things like Classic Shell and Start8 fix that glaring issue.

Frankly, it's a situation where a lot of us feel we have our hands tied. We want the Windows to continue to improve under the hood but are deeply discouraged by the direction Microsoft is going with their UI. Not only is it a hinderance, for a lot of us we view it as a step backwards. Going from translucent and rounded Aero to opaque and blocky Metro-inspired is just... backwards. Aero wasn't perfect but with Windows 8 the application windows and such just look like we've gone back to the times before rounded corners of Windows XP and terribly simplistic in styling. The whole thing just looks uninspired and old. I'll likely end up doing a uxtheme hack or something similar, should I get Windows 8. And, most assuredly, I'd get Classic Shell or Start8. Again, I don't hate Windows 8. I hate Metro. If I can get Windows 8 for $40 and then essentially kill Metro I'd be willing to do so.
 
Veilrap said:
But if that's giving the middle finger to MS over metro then

http://www.litestep.net/

Must be giving the finger to MS over the desktop?
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Not so much I don't think. The basic desktop of Windows has been the same for ages and no one ever really complained about it. Bitching about changes to how the Start menu worked, sure, but not the desktop itself really.

When Win95 came out, it was pretty much a glorious thing to use the desktop compared to the clunky version of 3.1 but then again, 3.1 was awesome compared to using a shell.

At this point we're used to the desktop the way it is, and some see no reason to change it that will be of benefit at all. I think thats where a lot of the issue comes from. The old, "If it aint broke" mentality, and they do have a point in some respects. Hence why I think there should be an option to use either rather than just a "Tough, use Metro" attitude that MS is projecting.

"Metro" has brought out people just like conversations about politics, religion, and AMD vs NV do, fanatics on both sides, with a small percentage of "eh, as long as it works" folks in the middle. ;)
 
blitzkommando said:
There's more to Windows 8 than Metro. And, a lot of that new stuff is good. The new task manager and ribbon menus are good for instance. But, the Start screen is just so painfully bad that it dramatically detracts from the experience, especially if you're starting a lot of varied applications that you don't necessarily want pinned to your task bar. Things like Classic Shell and Start8 fix that glaring issue.

Frankly, it's a situation where a lot of us feel we have our hands tied. We want the Windows to continue to improve under the hood but are deeply discouraged by the direction Microsoft is going with their UI. Not only is it a hinderance, for a lot of us we view it as a step backwards. Going from translucent and rounded Aero to opaque and blocky Metro-inspired is just... backwards. Aero wasn't perfect but with Windows 8 the application windows and such just look like we've gone back to the times before rounded corners of Windows XP and terribly simplistic in styling. The whole thing just looks uninspired and old. I'll likely end up doing a uxtheme hack or something similar, should I get Windows 8. And, most assuredly, I'd get Classic Shell or Start8. Again, I don't hate Windows 8. I hate Metro. If I can get Windows 8 for $40 and then essentially kill Metro I'd be willing to do so.
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There are a lot of great improvements problem is that using that Task Manger on a Tablet is painful. Any desktop app is painful to use on a touch device.
 
I like how it's a "free" beta.

I'm astounded that someone will fork out money to buy the final product.
 
Wrench00 said:
There are a lot of great improvements problem is that using that Task Manger on a Tablet is painful. Any desktop app is painful to use on a touch device.
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Depends on the app and there are way to improve things by increasing font sizes. It's not at all ideal but I have use the Task Manager with touch all the time. I understand that most people find it difficult because it's something they never done much. Again not ideal but with practice very useful and practical.
 
face2palm said:
I like how it's a "free" beta.

I'm astounded that someone will fork out money to buy the final product.
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Stardock has always charged for their GUI Enhancement programs since Windows 95.
 
Azhar said:
Stardock has always charged for their GUI Enhancement programs since Windows 95.
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They do but there are free versions of some of their software. From what I had read previously this will be free when final, as long as that has not changed.

At this point I tried it and removed it because I actually prefer the Start Screen. I think this program has potential but it needs to be more customizable.
 
I heard a choir of angels sing when I read the status update.
 
xxEIEIOxx said:
They do but there are free versions of some of their software. From what I had read previously this will be free when final, as long as that has not changed.

At this point I tried it and removed it because I actually prefer the Start Screen. I think this program has potential but it needs to be more customizable.
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Yeah that's why I removed it too. The Windows 7 style was too flashy as if they're just showing off their transparency programming skills or something, and their Metro style corner start menu is quite a mess. I'm curious what algorithm they used to determine what should go on the Metro style corner start menu.

There's also the multi-monitor glitch with Start8 where when you right-click on the Metro style start menu, the search panel flips over to the next monitor. It's hard to explain, but it just feels too sloppy.

I like Windows 8's Start Screen better than what Start8 has to offer. This is my 3rd day into using Windows 8 on my work laptop (HP Folio 13) and it feels like Windows 8 has been with me for a long time. I know where everything is.
 
Azhar said:
Stardock has always charged for their GUI Enhancement programs since Windows 95.
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Longer than that. They used to sell them for OS/2. Basically Stardock made their money making user interfaces pretty. Windowblinds would be their most famous product.

Windows 7 probably wasn't too great for them, given that it looked rather pretty on its own and was pretty customizable. I'm sure they are happy as hell about Windows 8. It is all kinds of ugly and that is their market: Unsucking UIs :).
 
Domingo said:
...or just stick to Windows 7 where it works fine without a patch?
If you're that insistent on the start button, seems like you'd probably just want to stick to Win7 anyway.
This is mainly for people that are buying pre-built PC's with Win8 already on 'em, right?
If you hate Metro, why even bother with Windows 8.
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Faster boot times.
Refresh and Reset.
Native USB3 support.
Hyper-V.
Storage Spaces.

All of these, especially the last two are features I want that Win7 doesn't have.
 
Limahl said:
I bet this is going to go on forever like it does between Apple and the Jailbreakers.

Stardock - *It's hacked*

MS - *PATCH! - No it's not!*

Stardock - *It's hacked again*

MS - *PATCH! - No it's not!*

Glad to see a company basically giving MS the middle finger over forcing "Metro" on everyone though. :D
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This, unlike Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player being bundled with Windows, would actually be illegal.

That said, I don't pay for third party shells. There have been plenty of free ones over the years. If they want to charge for theirs, then we'll just use something else, because there WILL be free alternatives. Microsoft cannot stop them from working without doing something majorly illegal - block certain software installs... big no-no.
 
dandragonrage said:
This, unlike Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player being bundled with Windows, would actually be illegal.

That said, I don't pay for third party shells. There have been plenty of free ones over the years. If they want to charge for theirs, then we'll just use something else, because there WILL be free alternatives. Microsoft cannot stop them from working without doing something majorly illegal - block certain software installs... big no-no.
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Microsoft expected has no problem with 3rd party launchers, they just didn't want people using the old Microsoft Start Menu.

Thanks for writing this up. You’ve obviously taken a lot of time to customize your machine to get it how you like it. This is a good example of how Windows is able to provide flexibility to our wide breadth of users. We will continue supporting such flexibility in Windows 8 and we expect there to continue to be a wide array of 3rd party launchers available to users to meet their specific needs. A good deal of obvious extensibility was intentionally omitted from the Developer Preview and will be there in the final product—colors and backgrounds, for example. But let’s focus on this advanced level of customization.
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http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/10/11/reflecting-on-your-comments-on-the-start-screen.aspx
 
Ah, gotcha... still douchey by MS, but at least we'll still have options.

Or hey, maybe when nobody buys it, they'll reconsider!
 
Jahx said:
Yep.

I am indifferent to the new start menu. it still works, just differently.

What I *DO* like is the increase in speed on my system (vs. a clean install of 7).
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On my home system (Dell Vostro 1000 w/ Sempron 3600+, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB 7200 RPM HDD, ATI Xpress 1150) once I get past the booting up, it's really hard to tell the difference in system performance between Win8 and the WinVista install it shipped with. There's less RAM used off a fresh boot, but overall responsiveness is pretty much unchanged. On a few more capable systems at the office, it's somewhat quicker feeling, but certainly not a night and day experience between 7 and 8. I'm still not sold on some aspects, but impressed by others. It's a toss-up.
 
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