ibm650 Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Although Microsoft is indeed bringing back a version of the Start button with its upcoming Windows 8.1 update, it’s still not bringing back the full Start menu that’s long been a staple of the Windows experience. Lenovo, however, is aiming to fix this by bringing the Start menu back on its own. Bloomberg reports that Lenovo plans to “pre-install SweetLabs’ Pokki software, which provides a replacement for the dearly departed Windows Start menu” on new Windows 8 PCs that it will start shipping in the coming weeks.This is particularly interesting because Lenovo has been the one OEM that has done reasonably well at selling Windows PCs this year and is now the No. 1 PC vendor in the world. If Lenovo successfully uses the restored Start menu as a marketing tool for its new PCs, it might push other companies such as HP and Asus to find third-party Start menus of their own to pre-load onto their computers.http://bgr.com/2013/08/22/lenovo-start-menu-windows-8/#more-1044199 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidnightDistortions Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Not a bad idea, i think other PC companies are trying to have W7 preinstalled as a way out of W8 systems so i wonder how much feedback will W8.1 will receive but it could encourage some XP users to upgrade. However, even though 8.1 will be on desktops i wonder how the reception will be due to those who are already in the mindset that W8 isn't doing well and prefer W7, Vista or Xp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emerglines Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 I do see just a commercial attempt to get more customers nothing more nothing less, but still a good idea to make them upgrade their OS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamu726 Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Today's Lenovo announcement prompted a Bloomberg story titled "Lenovo Turns to a Startup to Bring the Start Menu Back to Windows." But the devil is in the details. This isn't a straightforward replacement of Microsoft's iconic Start menu, which was left out of Windows 8 in favor of the touch-friendly Start screen. According to SweetLabs, Lenovo PCs "will include Pokki’s modern Start menu, app store, and game arcade out-of-the-box, all powered by SweetLabs’ dynamic app recommendation and distribution platform."SweetLabs says its app store includes desktop apps like Dropbox, Evernote, and Skype, along with "desktop versions of Web and social apps (e.g., Facebook, Gmail, Kabam games)" and "unique Pokki apps (e.g., popular Instagram app, Instagrille, and Twitter desktop app, Tweeki)."The Pokki app store even includes some Windows Store apps—which is kind of odd given that you can get those apps from the Windows Store.....Pokki's Start menu provides some familiarity, with access to the Windows control panel, power options, and programs and files. But it will also nag you to install new stuff. "Apps are dynamically recommended in the Pokki Start menu, app store, and game arcade to users by SweetLabs’ real-time app recommendation system," SweetLabs' press release notes.....Whether "bloatware" is good or bad is in the eyes of the beholder, though. Many consumers may appreciate the familiarity offered by Pokki when making the sometimes jarring transition from earlier versions to Windows 8. Other users may prefer the Windows 8 interface as it is, or at least want to test out a few different Start menu alternatives and see which one they like best.Full article: Ars Technica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neverbattle Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 bundling-sale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tezza Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Lenovo already had the "Lenovo QuickLaunch" for Windows 8 (provides a "Legacy Desktop Simplified Start Menu") available since last year.Good idea though for PC users not familiar with Win8, will allow them to begin with a very familiar experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realraydon Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 why bring it back? let it be~~ it's W8, not xp or w7... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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