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Why Microsoft killed the Windows Start button

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Carol Haynes:
Actually not quite true - every PC and laptop I have seen (and that is most mainstream brands) comes by default with the power button to activate sleep mode - not shutdown. Personally I do not find sleep mode very effective - especially if someone only uses their computer occasional and/or turns off the power so I always change it to Shutdown. Laptops I change lid close from sleep to hibernate - that way if they don't turn it on for a week the battery won't die!

db90h:
Actually not quite true - every PC and laptop I have seen (and that is most mainstream brands) comes by default with the power button to activate sleep mode - not shutdown. Personally I do not find sleep mode very effective - especially if someone only uses their computer occasional and/or turns off the power so I always change it to Shutdown. Laptops I change lid close from sleep to hibernate - that way if they don't turn it on for a week the battery won't die!
-Carol Haynes (July 08, 2012, 01:18 PM)
--- End quote ---

I stand corrected then. I swear I don't remember changing my desktop configs to shut down on power button press, but I probably did first thing and then forgot, and assumed that was the default.

As for laptops, I only have one, and it does sleep on power button press.

Still, in ANY case, no more instant power off, which is the main point here ;)

wiiiindy:
I still use the Start button but could probably get used to alternative methods without too much problem.  99% of apps and tasks are started from the desktop or the Quick Launch bar or keyboard shortcuts.  Of course I am still on XP so I don't yet have a good feel for how big a jump Win8 will be but I see the Start button as a big deal.  However,  I still fail to see the logic of removing it unless there is an easy way to get it back you want it.

I never power down my computer so I was intrigued by the discussion of the how the power/on/off/shutdown hardware switch works.  The only time I have used it is when Windows (XP3) freezes so hard I can't recover any other way and I have always had to hold it for 3 seconds or so to get the power off.

Since my computer is 10 years old this year, I tested it.  (It's a Dell XPS bought in Feb 2002).  Sure enough a quick press on the button initiated a controlled shutdown.  So it has (potentially) worked that way for at least 10 years unbeknownst to me.

In case it is of interest to anyone, my XPS has operated flawlessly (the hardware) except for a dead DVD writer for the whole 10 years and continues to do so.  It has been running 7/24 all that time except for a few vacations.

That's probably because I would NEVER cut the power by holding in the power button or pulling the plug unless I absolutely had to!!!

jadinolf:
Most of the time I use the Start button to stop the computer.
-David1904 (June 28, 2012, 05:24 PM)
--- End quote ---

Just did that for the first time in years.

Should always do it. :)

Thanks for the reminder.

Stoic Joker:
While the Windows H8 Metro vs. Ye old Start Button debacle has raged on I haven't really seen/heard much in the way of a why any of is was done/needed. Its really just been a lot of screw Vista Metro noise. But I ran across an article over at Neowin that actually made sense to me. Which was rather handy, as the only reason I'd gone to Neowin (which I generally never visit) was to try to make some semblance of sense out of all the waa waa waa I want my start button back screw Metro noise. So... What do you guys think of this article: Why the Start Menu needed to go

I rather liked it.

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