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CNET Editors' review
8Start Launcher claims to be a program launching tool that alleviates desktop clutter. However, thanks to its lack of intuitiveness, we'd rather stick to launching programs the old-fashioned way.
Once activated, the program appears as a tiny, transparent black screen in the far left-hand corner of your desktop. The interface is skinnable, but you can't move it around your desktop. Our hard disk information was displayed in the window, but we had to squint to see the tiny text size. Not knowing where to go next, we paid a visit to the Settings menu, which only led to more confusion. The fill-in-the-blank-style menu offered no guidance whatsoever. The Organize Button option opened a window that suffered from way too many colors, text, and shapes being shoved into one window. The interface tries to use a step-by-step approach to guide you through the process of adding program buttons, but the concept fell flat. Even after hovering our mouse over each of the nondescript buttons, we were at a loss as to what to do next, and there simply wasn't enough onscreen information to guide us.
The program does not include a Help feature of any kind, so you're on your own with 8Start Launcher. While you can get this program for free, the time you spend trying to understand its unintuitive design and operation makes this application's price too high.
Publisher's Description
From 8start:
A skinable, portable, innovative Application Launcher with Countdown and Tree Notes Taking features. A whole new way of launching programs and files, making your desktop clean, countdown to / for specific time in system tray, and access/share notes fast and easy. Starting programs from shortcuts on desktop and start menu is an obsolete and cumbersome process. Now it is made precise with categorization and graphic options. All your favorite programs, folders or documents can be easily identified from the groups and the icons displayed. The skinable design and the graphical interface make your desktop much more viewable and useful than all your wallpapers and shortcuts put together. You can maintain a clean desktop and access any favorite program/folders/documents with a single click. Clear, useful groups replace the clutter of icons on your desktop. Even the menu is better than the standard start menu. The innovative Countdown feature which reside in System Tray, make you countdown always visible when you access to other application e.g. MS Word, MS Excel... With Tree Notes Taking feature, you can access and share notes fast and easy. Notes can be store in local computer, portable drive and file server. You can access combination of notes (in different locations) in few mouse clicks
What's new in this version: Version 3.0 adds drag and drop feature
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 38 votes
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Current version:
5.0 starsout of 1 votes
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My rating:
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"8Start Launcher - highly recommended"
Version: 8start Launcher 3.0
Pros
I've used this application for several years and have found it to be very useful. The fact that you can group your applications according to their use and then start the required one with a single click is excellent. Yes, it is a bit tricky to set up in the first instance, but that is nothing compared to the time and frustration saved thereafter.
Cons
A little tricky to configure (see above).
Doesn't appear to start a few applications (64bit applications, I think).Summary
I've tried various task launchers, but I always have come back to this one.
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