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    Microsoft removes start button in Windows 8

    By Lance Whitney | CNET.com – Tue, 7 Feb, 2012

    Say goodbye to the Windows start button. Microsoft has gotten rid of it from the latest build of Windows 8.

    Hitting the Web over the weekend, screenshots of the new Windows 8 build display the "super bar," but without the start button orb on the left, according to The Verge. Build 8220 will be the final version released before the beta, now known as the Consumer Preview, debuts before the end of the month.

    Until its untimely (or timely) death, the Windows 8 start button located in the Metro UI offered access to the search, share, devices, and settings panels. The Windows start button in the desktop simply returned you to the Metro UI.

    To replace the start button, Microsoft will reportedly turn that space into a hot corner, sources told The Verge. Hovering your mouse or swiping your finger over that spot will bounce you back and forth between the Metro UI and the desktop in an attempt to offer a more consistent experience between the two environments.

    Fans of the traditional start button may not be happy. But The Verge believes the move is final given that Microsoft has been chewing on this decision for awhile. On the plus side, the super bar will retain its Windows 7 functionality as home to pinned shortcuts for launching your favorite desktop applications.

    Related stories from CNET.com

    Windows 8 will also sport an enhanced "charms bar," a group of transparent icons that provide access to key features, added The Verge.

    The charms bar can actually fill in as a replacement for the defunct Metro UI start button by offering links to the search, share, devices, and settings panels.

    A number of Microsoft users have expressed concern over Windows 8's reliance on the Metro UI and touch-based input. PC users in particular have complained that the new UI doesn't lend itself as easily to navigating via conventional mouse and keyboard, at least as seen in the current Developer Preview.

    Acknowledging the concerns and tweaking some aspects of Windows 8 in response, Microsoft has promised that the new Consumer Preview will be more user friendly for traditional desktop users.

    What do you feel about this article?

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    • Tim3500
      Tim3500  •  Miami, United States  •  3 months ago
      I dont want a touch screen. I want to lean back and use my mouse.
      • NM
        NM 3 months ago
        Thne why are people buying the iPad by the millions?
      • Craig M
        Craig M 3 months ago
        ipads suck, its a fad
      • RaNdOm
        RaNdOm 3 months ago
        Not everyone buys those things
        -.-
    • Bad Bob
      Bad Bob  •  Milwaukee, United States  •  3 months ago
      Stick with XP, works great.
      • Raccoon City Survivor
        Raccoon City Survivor 3 months ago
        too bad it doesn't have support anymore.

        and BTW windows 7 run smoother.
      • wxdude
        wxdude 3 months ago
        Yes, Win 7 is much better than XP, it loads and starts up much faster & does not have as many glitches. You should definitely upgrade.
      • leela
        leela 3 months ago
        Have XP, too and am satisfied with it. I also kept my classic E-mail as well. I have noticed from a lot of computer use that many times people have a tendency to "fix it worse" most of the time. As for no support, how many times have people had to use support with their systems. So far I have been able to use mine without resorting to any helplines. Newer is better__not always.
    • Joseph Prut
      Joseph Prut  •  Willowbrook, United States  •  3 months ago
      win 98 = win
      win ME = fail
      win xp = win
      win vista = fail
      win 7 = win
      win 8 = ???
      • ®™
        ®™ 3 months ago
        No start button = automatic fail
      • Terrence Riddick
        Terrence Riddick 3 months ago
        Windows 8 is a WINdows!
      • Peace of The Earth
        Peace of The Earth 3 months ago
        You forgot to add windows 95 and windows 2000 that's another win right there..
    • Abdul Jurballz
      Abdul Jurballz  •  3 months ago
      Great, nothing more fun than hiding all the old buttons and making things completely different.

      It is always a joy as l lose productivity for a few weeks or so.

      Thanks Dudes!
      • Toll_Free
        Toll_Free 3 months ago
        Don't upgrade, dumbo
      • Abdul Jurballz
        Abdul Jurballz 3 months ago
        eventually you always have to. you might get away with skipping one
    • Dude
      Dude  •  3 months ago
      I'll use XP until it's no longer possible.
      • Joe Bananas
        Joe Bananas 3 months ago
        same, i'll be keeping my PCs XP and 7 for now.
      • Jcoffee
        Jcoffee 3 months ago
        Yeah my old XP machine is going to linux in the near future and the Win 7 laptop will not be upgraded.
      • GERALD L
        GERALD L 3 months ago
        Xp and 7 are close enougth in layout that I can use them interchangeably.
    • Bill
      Bill  •  Houston, United States  •  3 months ago
      Why do I want a damned cell phone interface on my 25" desktop monitor?
    • Michael
      Michael  •  3 months ago
      I tried out Windows 8 for awhile (before the most recent build in which they have apparently dropped the start button) and I hated it. It looks ridiculous and has no place on a desktop or laptop computer. I think the only place for it is on touch screen devices. But it does not look like a good OS for a home office type of computer. Plus, the other annoying thing about it was that it's not even a desktop centered environment. The desktop is merely another one of the "apps" that you can find from the super bar or whatever it is now. And there are a number of programs that run outside the desktop environment, and when they are running outside the desktop environment, the only way to get out of those programs that I could see was to hit alt+tab, which always left me wondering if the program was still running in the background or if it had actually been shut down. In other words, I hate Windows 8. I'd much rather stick with XP myself.
    • Robert T
      Robert T  •  Los Angeles, United States  •  3 months ago
      BIG MISTAKE
    • Rich
      Rich  •  3 months ago
      STOP CHANGING WINDOWS.
      We want simplicity.
      We don't want to RE-LEARN windows every 5 years.
      This is why the Android Tablets have blossomed in popularity!
      They are simple!
    • techie775
      techie775  •  3 months ago
      Why? The start button was one of the greatest things of Windows 95 when it was introduced. I fail to see the logic in this move...
    • DrunkenDonuts®
      DrunkenDonuts®  •  3 months ago
      I realize that the old traditional desktop layout will be available with Windows 8. I just hope M$ provides the ability to turn Metro OFF, DISABLED, DELETED, OBLITERATED, NUKED. I do NOT want that horrid interface wasting resources in the background when I will never, ever use it.
    • T Bone
      T Bone  •  3 months ago
      Why can't they just leave sht alone? If it ain't broke, don't friggin' fix it!
    • Deb
      Deb  •  3 months ago
      For those of us who aren't completely computer savvy, making "improved" versions of Windows is like moving the furniture around in the home of a blind person.
    • DouglasL
      DouglasL  •  Washington, United States  •  3 months ago
      I work in IT, here we passed over Vista because it sucked. We are still on XP but getting ready to move to Windows 7. How much you want to bet we will be using it still in 2018 or so when they figure out something better than this....trying to be Apple...pathetic.
    • poolshooter
      poolshooter  •  3 months ago
      The more crap Microsoft puts in the kitchen sink the worse it gets. I don't use a tablet or anything close to it. This is all fine and dandy for the younger generation, their used to it.For us old fashioned folk, I love my PC and it's fully upgradable. Love my XP too. At least I can find stuff. Time for another operating system when the time comes to get another computer. I don't mind change, but this is #$%$
    • Typical Tea Bagger
      Typical Tea Bagger  •  3 months ago
      Sounds like I'll be sticking with Windows 7.
    • T
      T  •  Everett, United States  •  3 months ago
      Why are software companies to quick to change and relocate familiar functions? It just #$%$ off customers, hate it.
    • G
      G  •  Irvine, United States  •  3 months ago
      But I like the start button...
    • Harrison
      Harrison  •  3 months ago
      Window 8, windows vista 2.0 coming to a dumpster near you in 2012!
    • Socrates
      Socrates  •  Pekin, United States  •  3 months ago
      I just went to windows 7 last year. I didn't like it at first, but now I like it better than XP. One of my kids has Apple. I really don't like it's format, but may go there if Microsoft keeps playing OS roulette. I am getting #$%$ tired of having to change my OS every few years. They don't make it better, just flashier and add lot of crap you don't need.
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