Did Microsoft execs overrule Windows team to put Start button back in Windows 8.1?

[tezza]

Earlier this week, rumors hit the Internet that Microsoft was at least considering putting back the Start button as a feature for the Windows 8.1 desktop user interface. Now another rumor claims that not only is the Start button coming back, but that there was an internal fight at Microsoft to make that happen.

Paul Thurrott posted word on WinSuperSite.com, via unnamed sources, that the Windows team had objections to restoring the Start button for the first major update to Windows 8. However, it appears that Microsoft's upper management made an executive decision and overruled the Windows team, telling them the Start button is back in the Windows 8.1 desktop UI. The article does not give any specifics on which members of the Microsoft executive team pulled the trigger to put the Start button back in Windows 8.1.

Before this week, there's been no indications that Microsoft was going to change its mind on the Start button issue. Indeed, the two leaks of early Windows 8.1 development builds, including one that was posted on the Internet earlier this week, showed no evidence in its code of a Start button revival.

However, there can be no doubt that the missing Start button was one of the most controversial decisions Microsoft made for Windows 8. Research firm IDC said recently the lack of the button was something that Windows 8 user miss "consistently" along with being able to boot Windows 8 into desktop mode. More importantly, a number of third party software solutions have been released that add versions of the Start button back to the Windows 8 desktop, including RetroUI, StartIsBack, Pokki and Start8.

http://www.neowin.net/news/did-microsoft-execs-overrule-windows-team-to-put-start-menu-back-in-windows-81

Original article

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/maybe-they-should-just-call-it-windows-78

[sensez]

O, no.. :protest: I don't like start button :snack: Need going ahead without start button :thumbsup:

[insanedown58]

The button should be an optional update but then again if Windows users want it that bad, they can go have it. Personally I have lived 2 Weeks of Windows 8 without a Start Button and life was as easy as it was in 7. I won't mind the return of the Start Button but won't mind its permanent disappearance either. If it is an optional update, I wouldn't take it at first but probably will when the need rises and about the boot straight to desktop feature I won't opt for it because it adds a layer of privacy. By privacy, I mean my parents not having an idea what the weird screen is therefore not unveiling my pr0nz. :)

[mastershake]

heck YES this will make me switch back. i do not like using programs to give me my start button back. this is AWESOME news...

[DKT27]

This is a bad news. Why? I see no mention of Start "Menu". What can I do with a start "button" if it ends up taking me to the shitty Metro? :huh:

[Beamslider]

That doesn't look like a start menu....Just a button to take you to metro desktop....

Worthless.....

[ShaCrystal]

If they are making a start button that just opens the Metro UI then I think that is a terrible decision. The problem is not opening the Metro UI or start menu for that matter if there was one. I always use WinKey to open Metro/start anyway. The problem is that the start menu is missing! I use Start8 so it isn't really a problem for me, but I think that is is annoying that I should have to use third party software to get what is to me, a core feature of Windows.

I believe the start menu should be there be default and there should be a "Hide the start menu" check box under "Taskbar Properties"; (right click on the taskbar to access this.)

The start menu is a core feature of Windows, and removing it was a mistake. Metro UI is a lot better than the start menu on tablets and touch devices, however for people using desktops who have used the start menu for years, it is a lot faster. An example of where the start menu is faster than Metro UI is when you want to use the Run dialogue. With the start menu you can just hit WinKey and enter any command, while without the start menu you need to press WinKey + R. An extra key press might not seem like it takes that much longer, but all those seconds add up, and when you think about how this effects a vast number of people globaly, I think it is a valid point to make that is decreases productivity.

[a2ms]

The start menu is a core feature of Windows, and removing it was a mistake. Metro UI is a lot better than the start menu on tablets and touch devices, however for people using desktops who have used the start menu for years, it is a lot faster. An example of where the start menu is faster than Metro UI is when you want to use the Run dialogue. With the start menu you can just hit WinKey and enter any command, while without the start menu you need to press WinKey + R. An extra key press might not seem like it takes that much longer, but all those seconds add up, and when you think about how this effects a vast number of people globaly, I think it is a valid point to make that is decreases productivity.

Sorry, I don't agree. I am using Window 8 at this exact moment and I can still press the WinKey, type something like "cmd" or like "calc" and then press the enter key, and the program I like shows up. So to be honest besides the size of the new start menu, I feel it still behaves the same... EXCEPT.. if you need a system utility to administer users, or re-arrange the disk partitions, because now those are under the Settings section. So if they reconsolidate the programs, settings and files into one view, that would be enough for me.

Plus you can always pin things to the taskbar and then press WinKey + # where # is the position of the icon pinned from left to right.

Now, like someone mentioned before, bringing the start button is not equivalent to bringing the old start menu, but that is a matter of personal preferences. But until there is some public preview or some video showing the new features, we won't know for sure.

[ShaCrystal]

Sorry, I don't agree. I am using Window 8 at this exact moment and I can still press the WinKey, type something like "cmd" or like "calc" and then press the enter key, and the program I like shows up.

Technically yes this is correct, however you are opening a full screen, highly intrusive and distracting page. I prefer the start menu simply because it does not take up too much space, and keeps me focused on whatever I'm doing. If I didn't have the option of Start8 I would always use the Run dialogue (WinKey + R) instead of the Metro UI. When I want to open calc I don't want to feel like I'm being redirected away from the task at hand.

feel it still behaves the same... EXCEPT.. if you need a system utility to administer users, or re-arrange the disk partitions, because now those are under the Settings section. So if they reconsolidate the programs, settings and files into one view, that would be enough for me.

You make a valid point here, and this is really what I was trying to get across in my previous post. I summary of the point I am trying to make is that productivity is being impacted by the introduction of all these extra key presses.

You make a valid point here, and this is really what I was trying to get across in my previous post. I summary of the point I am trying to make is that productivity is being impacted by the introduction of all these extra key presses.

Plus you can always pin things to the taskbar and then press WinKey + # where # is the position of the icon pinned from left to right.

And again, Microsoft forcing us into extra key presses.

[#return 1337]

Every time I use someone else's Windows 8 machine, it feels weird when I go to the bottom left and click and get the Metro. The start menu was a selling point of Windows 95 and has been in every distro of Windows since until Windows 8. There's a time for change and there's a time for innovation. Sometimes they both can't happen at once.

[LeeSmithG]

MS should give us the option of having a start button or not having.

Save them grief and then, I will install windows 8.

[ShaCrystal]

MS should give us the option of having a start button or not having.

This 100%. Even if the start menu is hidden by default, you should be have the option to show it under "Taskbar Properties"; (right click on the taskbar to access this.) Yes I know that there are third-party options available for those who want a start menu, but we shouldn't have to be forced to use these just to get something that for many is seen as core UI feature of Windows.

[sensez]

"We may see the Start button return in the upcoming Windows 8.1 Public Preview, if not expect to see it in the final version due later this year."

TheVerge

http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/22/4251610/windows-8-1-start-button

[dcs18]

Regardless of who overruled the decision, I sure hope that Microsoft is not the one to bring back the Start Menu in future editions - they can never beat the superior job done by 3rd party alternatives.

[tezza]

@dcs

Now playing with Start8 my second choice, after SIB, as fortunately this still works. Will continue to use this even IF MS implement one.

[dcs18]

Yep, Start8 is my second choice, too - if Microsoft decides to destroy all remaining traces of the Start Menu code, we will have a good fallback in Start8. :)

[AlexCross]

I like more W8 as it Is now, without start button and with Metro, when you open your PC you can see your mails, news, etc in one screen, why do you need start button when it's on your keybord.

Ps. Why people want start button back? the search provided by Metro is 10 times better, you can't realy open, I don't know, let's say a browser in start menu and use it from start menu, so what's so important to have it?

Hope I'll be able to block that update, if it's going to bring XP style back.

[MidnightDistortions]

I like more W8 as it Is now, without start button and with Metro, when you open your PC you can see your mails, news, etc in one screen, why do you need start button when it's on your keybord.

Ps. Why people want start button back? the search provided by Metro is 10 times better, you can't realy open, I don't know, let's say a browser in start menu and use it from start menu, so what's so important to have it?

Hope I'll be able to block that update, if it's going to bring XP style back.

I can have my music, news, ect all come up at startup if i wanted to with WIn 7. Right now it's easy with the way i have it. Let me PC boot up, click on my email, media player & google chrome all on the taskbar. The rest is pretty solid. Takes about 30 sec after startup.

Why do people want the start menu back? It's because the start screen is totally intrusive. If i want to start an application right now as i am typing and it's not on my common list i can still search for it and it'll still come up. The start screen counteracts that and it defeats the purpose of Windows being called Windows when you have a full screen app taking up the entire screen, heck there isn't even a visible taskbar. It's a window on top of a window, not a desktop where you can have multiple windows that you can resize and customize to your liking.

Windows 8 is just a different way of doing the same tasks that XP/Vista/7 is already capable of.

[AlexCross]

Yes but let's think about it, how many clicks do you have to do for opening something from start button.

W7. click on Start, type the word to search if isn't on top, and click on it.

W8 click on search, and if isn't on top, type the word and click the program.

Compared to W7 you can have mails, music etc on desktop, but are they live? you need to open, log in and the read your mails and etc, then open browser search for news and etc.

Sure we don't use PC in the same way, but windows should have made Start button optional, as they did with Excel 2003 functions in 2007 or above.

Just a little joke, don't take it seriously please, If a company has it's name Apple, that doesn't meen that their product must have the shape of an apple :P

[MidnightDistortions]

Yes but let's think about it, how many clicks do you have to do for opening something from start button.

W7. click on Start, type the word to search if isn't on top, and click on it.

W8 click on search, and if isn't on top, type the word and click the program.

Compared to W7 you can have mails, music etc on desktop, but are they live? you need to open, log in and the read your mails and etc, then open browser search for news and etc.

Sure we don't use PC in the same way, but windows should have made Start button optional, as they did with Excel 2003 functions in 2007 or above.

Just a little joke, don't take it seriously please, If a company has it's name Apple, that doesn't meen that their product must have the shape of an apple :P

The difference between the start menu in Win 7 and the start screen in 8 is the start menu doesn't take up much space (more or less depending on your settings) while the start screen redirects you to another screen entirely.

The email, news, weather ect.. depends on your computer hardware and what you have installed. At the moment i use my cellphone and Digsby, while yes it still opens a web browser again if you have good hardware or already have your browser open then it should only take a second. I already have a weather gadget and i get news from a variety of sources. I'm not saying one is better than the other but what i am saying is it's pretty much the same thing doesn't save a whole lot of time (if you already got a good system). And to top it off i use Google Chrome with my folder favorites at the top of the browser. I keep all the sites i visit (including this site) so for all my news it's all one click away

lol well Apple has an Apple logo for all their products. Anyway MS didn't name Windows from just staring at a Window all day and decided to call their product Windows. I am sure they called Windows, Windows because it was the best way to describe the UI.