It was been less than a month since Windows 8 arrived. Microsoft took a huge gamble by removing the start menu and forcing the operating system to boot to a radically new and different interface. It was this one reason why I could find no reason to even consider upgrading. I wasn’t alone.
Sales have been “lukewarm” and the man who made the decision, Steven Sinofsky, has been fired. In the same article about his firing, the headline asks if the Start menu will be returned to Windows. If I were to guess, it will be returned within the next six months. That is purely speculation on my part and I feel that strongly because of the poor sales so far.
The good news is there is a solution for those who want an answer today. Stardock’s Start8 will restore the Start menu functionality back to “Windows-7 style”. At top right is the the “desktop” flavor or Windows 8 and you’ll see a circle where the Start menu should be. At right you’ll see the Start menu as restored by Start8. There is a free 30-day trial and after that it costs $4.99. If you must upgrade to Windows 8, I think this is an absolutely must-have utility!
This may seem like a simplistic decision to eliminate the Start up Menu, however, for most users, this can make a big difference. I have always supported that manufacturers before making radical changes in their products should consult the opinion of its consumers.
Imagine if car manufacturers one day decide that “it would be better we install joysticks instead of traditional steering wheels of the cars”. You can still drive the car, but it will take a long time to adapt to it. Or not…
Silvio Win
You can also use Classic Shell, which can give you a win xp look and feel.