Microsoft believes that the Windows 8.1 Boot To Desktop option will soon become obsolete for Windows 8(.1). On desktops and office PCs many users had very few uses for the Start Screen, while on Tablets and Notebooks with touchscreens – the Start Screen is very useful. Microsoft’s Randy Guthrie stated that as soon as desktop users see the true benefits of the Start Screen they will start using it and thus the boot to desktop option will become obsolete.
“I like the live tile notifications that appear on my favorite apps, so for the way that I use the computer now, it works better for me to launch to the Start Screen instead of the Desktop, even though I don’t have a touch screen in front of me…I am starting to think that the Windows UX designers may have been right all along, and that over time this option will end up being one of the most requested and least-used features in the new release.” Wrote Randy Guthrie.
On the other hand many Windows 8 users, especially those in desktop and office environments, find that the boot to desktop option is essentially to cutting out the “useless” Start Screen feature that was designed for touch devices. What are your thoughts on the Windows 8(.1) Start Screen?
Image courtesy of Softpedia
I haven’t tried to really use the start screen. Part of it is from not using Windows 8 much (I’m mostly on 7), part of it because I use Classic Shell on 8. I can see how the start screen can be useful, but I don’t know enough to really know if I’m right. I can envision using it to group my programs in a convenient way and be able to access that to launch them easily. That could work out better than Fences. Can’t be sure without actually trying it though.
Windows UX people must high on drugs. They should just hire the Classic Shell people to fix the successor to Windows 8.
i understand the start screen on a mobile device, but i build HIGH-end desktops with the purpose of programming and gaming…sometimes both at the same time, and i want my DESKTOP to FEEL like a desktop! i run multiple monitors so i can code and see my results on a separate screen when running the programs to test…i also usually have a third monitor for the page with the instructions for the assignment, and my other apps like winamp, raptr etc the start screen should be disabled by default on actual desktops!
Desktop without direct desktop boot mode?
meh!!