CNET Editors' review
Aston2 Menu allows users to replace the standard Windows Start menu with a variety of fun and useful alternatives. The program maintains the integrity of the original menu's layout while adding interesting graphics and utilities.
Once installed, the program transforms users' Start menus automatically, but it's easy to access Aston2's settings in order to make changes. Users can choose from seven different skins that are included, or visit Aston2's Web site to download additional skins for free. The skins come in a variety of themes--natures, holidays, and specific time periods, for example--some of which contain sounds and animations. Many of the skins include widgets that show clocks, calendars, and weather. It's easy to switch between skins and adjust settings within them, and the program can also be easily exited if users want to return to the standard Start menu. We liked the fact that the program jazzes up the Start menu and adds some helpful features, but doesn't go overboard adding unneeded, clutter-creating utilities. In fact, the program allows users to easily edit, rearrange, and rename all the items within the Start menu. The program makes the menu highly customizable, yet still familiar and easy to navigate.
The trial version of the software has a 30-day limit, which is plenty of time to try it out. It installs without issues but does leave a folder behind upon removal. We recommend this program for any user who wants to customize the look of the Start menu and add a few useful features to it.
Publisher's Description
From Gladiators Software:
Aston2 Menu is a feature-rich Windows start menu replacement with the enhanced functionality. It opens the new line of Aston2 products, which, accumulating the best achievements of Aston1 and keeping up with the latest tendencies, turn your desktop into a yet more convenient and attractive environment. Absolutely all Aston2 Menu elements are skinnable and can be animated, which makes it yet more attractive. It can be populated with many useful widgets like Clock, Calendar, Recycle bin, Disks, Search, Toplist, Weather and others. Aston2 Menu provides fast and convenient search for the files on the local disks and for the information in the Internet, which makes your everyday routine much more effective. The menu is extremely flexible in terms of configuration. Every element of the menu can be tweaked and customized, thus letting one to create yet more convenient working area.
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3.5 starsout of 2 votes
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"Excellent way to experience Windows on a Netbook!"
Version: Aston Menu 2.0.3
Pros
Friendly on Netbooks, skins work well and do not hog up resources, easy on the eyes
Cons
Not too many skins available for the program, While I said friendly on netbooks, sometimes the menu appears in the left where it should be , then all other clicks after that the menu appears in the center.
Summary
I received this as a freebie via GiveAwayOfTheDay's website and was impressed with its usefulness. I added weather gadgets to some of the menus and they were accurate weather reports (they use Weather.com). It seems to hold up on netbooks just fine by trying to accurately resize a menu to fit the resolution. This is the case for most skins, but a few are glitchy at 1024x700. I previously tried another product, Windows 7 Start Menu from another vendor because I always have a lot of programs installed (casual games) but prefer this one better because of its skinning and customization features. I wont take off any stars for its imperfectness due to the glitches I encountered, but thats my fault for using a non supported resolution. Give this a try and see how you like it, I did and you might too.
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