Microsoft employee explains decision to scrap the Start button

The fact that Windows 8 has two "desktops" (Metro and standard desktop) is fail enough.

My thoughts on metro and the lack of a start button are starting to change as we get closer to launch. You can get keyboards for tablets to make the almost a laptop. With metro I see Microsoft making laptops the double as tablets. That is a game changer. I don't like using a trackpad on my laptop too much so the idea of just being able to touch the screen(if I so choose) is appealing to me. Especially if Windows 8 laptops are much like Microsofts's surface. At this point I'm content to wait until this goes mainstream to make up my mind about Windows 8 and metro.

Its common methodology for corporations theses days, to replace creativity with a "reinvent-the-wheel" mindset. Who ever can give the appearance of progressive dominance, weather it is empty or not, clearly thinks they deserve your attention. If not your money. This way they never have to provide real innovations all the while continuing a steady stream of income.

I use the Start button allot !! I will start a riot if there is no way I can use it in Win 8. It make supporting MS products easier if you don't have internet and have to guide someone to fix something

I will hire myself a programmer to make me one !!
maybe even create a FB page to support the cause!( I dont have a fb account)

You do realize Bill Gates is retired, and the Windows 8 changes are part of Ballmar and co, not Gates.

If this is true, it's really the stupidest reasoning ever. Instead of looking at what users switched to (the task bar) and building it further, they decided to revamp the old feature. What next? "Clippy isn't used as much as it used to; we must create a new, better Clippy."

Microsoft have just said they think tablets will overtake desktop PC's next year - and they are attempting to be at the front of that (alongside Apple of course). This quote is merely their attempt to keep their PC market intact too.

Windows 8 will be fine, it's just another learning curve (just like Office 2007-2010 & Vista - Windows 7), shocker at first but you'll grow to love it. Windows 9 will most likely be the same basic OS as Windows 8, but MS will continue to collect user experience data and improve. I'll be buying Windows 8 for at least one of my systems (Productivity Desktop, Laptop or HTPC --- leaning towards the HTPC)

More people are pinning programs to the task bar and their solution is to make the start menu cover the entire screen... uhm WHAT!? The telemetry data clearly shows that users want less intrusive screens popping up since they are avoiding a small menu in favour of a thin taskbar.

To me it looks like they wanted to merge mobile and desktop operating systems and went out to look for justification.

It would just make me happy if they gave a scale button for metro...stay at my desktop and have metro take up a quarter of the screen.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. There is definitely a learning curve though, and I understand the skepticism from people, but after getting used to it, it really is equal and/or superior to the Start button.

Which is funny, too, because the Start Screen fiasco has done nothing but detract focus from the real issue with Windows 8: mouse and keyboard navigation for multitasking.

So according to MS's logic, the power button is not used as much anymore as more ppl are using sleep mode or hibernate. That leaves MS with the decision to scrap the option to turn the power off and replace that option with a full screen mode window that lets you buy an application to hibernate or place the PC into sleep mode.

Oh and because the applications are purchasable via the funky full screen window they are naturally better, because as a "Mobile device user" you need to empower yourself by buying everyday functionality that other Operating systems support out of the box.

This way fan boys can endow them self with slobbering salivating satisfaction that only they have this unique functionality because keeping up with the Jone's mentality is rampant with this crowd.

The iSheep and other lemmings from mobile devices are coming to a Windows near you, beware!

why not keep the start button? its a handy time tested interface for your applications, the start button is a small part of your screen I would rather have it then any icon that would fill its tiny space

I use the Start menu all the time, when I have maximized windows and so... The big problem is, they could just leave the option to use the old style start, no having to scrap it completely. I have a good computer, but there are things I don't use, like Aero. (I downloaded a darker basic theme and am using it, because Aero steals performance from my games).

The idea of customizable OS is dying with this Windows 8. The good part is Windows 7 is still great, and I can stick with it for years to come, just like some people are still using XP (another great OS) or even Vista.

I am meh over the start menu. I've long stopped using it as my main stay go to for program management. Honestly, I don't even use the taskbar at all. In fact I had to get two programs just to get rid of taskbar and start orb (both are persistent!).

For the past 6months I've switched over to a very minimalistic interface using RainMeter and RocketDock. I've become more productive due to it, I may upgrade to Windows 8 but I know that these customizations will be the second thing to go in. And the removal of metro anything will be the first thing done.

If Microsoft looked at my usage for the past 6 months they would see "Accessed Start menu 1-2 times per month, Accessed Taskbar not even once a month." I don't even point and click for when I do access the start menu, far simpler to hit WinKey since my hands are already on the keyboard.

And for clarification, yes it took me all of 2 hours to get used to this new setup. Much more spacious, also I've come to the point of despising desktop icons so those are gone as well. In addition, for those of you curious on what it looks like you can see for your self at dl.dropbox.com/u/17772947/screencaps/Desktop_ScreenShots/desktop_5-23.jpg

I understand your frustration my child. It probably hurts your brain too much to try and figure out the complicated start menu. That's why Apple made this thing called an iPad for you. Go buy one and free yourself from the mental anguish that is 'Windows 7'. God Bless you my child!

Your a perfect candidate for a tablet. Sell your desktop and go buy an iPad and you can live happily ever after.

Can't believe they nerfed the start button! ****ing Blizzard ...

I use the start button all the time. I've never liked pinning things to the task bar, because I like it to have as much available space as possible, so it's less cluttered when I have a lot running.

IF all people want to do is complain about Microsoft, don't forget you can go to another OS.
I'm grateful to just have a pc. I personally started with ME & then XP home & Pro & now XP MCE. ALL 2nd hand
from a trusted friend who started with a home built 95 which I did use.