Windows 10: A history of the Windows Start menu

The way I look at the windows start menu is "does it start the programs I wish to use" - If the answer is yes then It's fine, I see it for probably less than 60 seconds a day so in my working day it's an irrelevance

As for Classic Shell ... Why add something that does nothing other than make a current OS look like something from the past, and uses up resources,

 

If you mean is it programmed using XAML then yes (except it is a resizable window unlike windows 8 where it was full screen). I liked the 8 start screen at the time (although I've gone off it now and find it rather jarring when I have to use it especially if you use Teamviewer or Webex and it has to refresh the whole screen).

The absolute best thing MS did with the start menu was in Vista. Pressing the *Start to search. Sometimes I have to use XP remotely and I feel like a right thicko wandering around the menu with everyone watching because I've forgotten where something is.

Anything more recent than Vista there is no reason to use a start menu at all - use *Start and type. Put in E you get Excel, put in S you get Snipping tool. It learns - if I put in Sp I get spending.xls which is where I (rather anally) record what I spend.

If you want to browse files use the Windows Explorer. Honestly I wouldn't care (or even notice probably) if they removed the start menu completely.

@Barman58 says he spends a maximum of 60 seconds a day using the start menu. I'd say at most I use it 5% of that time (perhaps 2 or 3 seconds) and most days not at all.

 

An another vote for Classic shell...

When I upgraded my PC, it unfortunately came with a copy Windows 8 (which had just been released),
after giving it a go for a week, I was ready to 'nuke' the HDD and clean re/install Windows 7, when a
colleague suggested giving Classic menu a go. I did, and went on to use it not only in Windows 8
and 8.1, but installed it about an hour after installing Windows 10 back in July last year.

Nope, I have no interest whatsoever in giving the current version of the MS 'menu' a go, as Classic menu
does what is says on the tin faultlessly, did so in Windows 8, did so in 8.1 and still does so in Windows10.
(by the way,I also like Classic explorer)

An as someone who has used Windows since the late 1990's, I have little interest of going back to the
days of having type in everything I want to use, partly because when I open the Classic menu I might
want a choice of software to use. Yes, I know Windows offers a choice of what use to open something,
but in my opinion that irritating Windows menu is time-wasting, with its limited choices and emphasis
on the default apps.

 

Are you seriously suggesting that you get sent a (I don't know) a .doc file and then save it, you open up the start menu and think:

Hmmm, what program shall I open this sucker with. I tried this .doc with Word yesterday but today I'm gonna give Wordpad a spin.

Or are you saying you have so many programs to deal with certain document types you can't remember what they are called or what they are for so you stare and the screen.

Start Menu>Programs>Microsoft>Programs to do with text documents>Wordpad >no> Word>No>OK>probably notepad will work.

 

If things like 'fattened' right click menus seem to suffice for touch devices, why have tiles at all!

 

Perhaps. I don't believe anyone (apart from users of this forum) use start menu though.

You get sent a .xls you click on it and it opens excel or whatever.

You don't save it then go scouting around the start menu looking for a program to open it with.

I get it people don't like flat aesthetics, but a start menu no-one uses? Come one. Doesn't matter.

 

The only time I ever consider what application to open a file with is for media files.

I have, of course, set relevant defaults, but sometimes I have a need, (or whim *Wink ) to open with an alternate application, (Open an MP3 file in an editor rather than a player).

In this situation I simply right click the file and choose "Open With ..." Windows has conveniently added the programs I have used in the past to a drop-down list

 

Really? You don't save it?

With Classic Shell you could go Start>Programs>My Programs>Multimedia Programs>Something I downloaded>VLC>VLC (without a skin).exe

And then, having opened the program, look for the "open" dialog and see if you can browse to the file you saved some time in the past.

I've got it actually - you single *Wink

If I'd have downloaded the last episodes of War and Peace too quickly yesterday I'd have had to help with the dinner. As it was I could blame it on start menu UI differences and sit on my Arsenal are doing OK this year no?

 

Today I'm more concerned with the fact that I received an email HMRC, (tax man) telling me I'd overpaid them by 3p ( US$ 0.04), no offer to repay this of course, wondering if I should start a class action lawsuit *Wink *Tongue

 

When I get my start menu setup I really never need to use the all apps part and here is a screen shot of my start menu:




It's really simple for me to find what I use all of the time and launch the program/app. AS for classic shell, it was nice to use with Win8/Win8.1 but now that we have a native start menu back I don't have the need for it anymore.

 

Nah - it is all talk. Only people who actually switch to Linux join class action lawsuits.

My ex (ex-internet provider that is) owes me 34c. I've spent rather more than 34c phoning them about it that's for sure. Sad git I am.