8start Launcher for Windows

User Reviews

• Very good when you get used to it

  prvisrpskivampirMarch 18, 2013

  Pros

  Launching programs fast and without any problems. Not a bug consumer of memory You can arrange your software in as much groups as you want

  Cons

  Design is old fashioned

  Summary

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• 8Start Launcher - highly recommended

  qjlotlOctober 31, 2011

  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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• Good Launch tool, could benefit from drag & drop

  pfhgjk0March 10, 2010

  Pros

  Able to launch programs, file, websites, etc. Can categorize items into logical 'sets' (Utilities, Web, etc.). Many skins available, flexible arrangement of items. Hides in system tray, can be launched with mouse-wheel click.

  Cons

  Drag & drop of programs / files / websites would really help ease the setup of this tool. Also, upgrading software can break a 'link'. Only way to reset is to delete / re-add item.

  Summary

  Overall, I like this software. I have categories for software (some are whimsical - 'Hard to find Utilities' & 'Most Used'. If the developer could ease the Add / Remove process it would be truly excellent as a general launch tool.

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• I can't believe this is free software! I'd pay for it.

  QPhysicsOctober 27, 2009

  Pros

  Free. Works perfectly. Small memory footprint. Easy to learn and use.

  Cons

  Doesn't become part of desktop.

  Summary

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• Point by point response to the editor(s) review

  Louie-GApril 30, 2009

  Pros

  8start is not only beautiful but extremely functional with many ways to configure it.

  Cons

  No drag n drop or cut and paste............yet!

  Summary

  Point by point response to the editor(s) 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.? No unnecessary icons on the desktop. I would call that alleviating desktop clutter! And some of the best things around take a little while to learn. 8start pays off with huge dividends! ?Once activated, the program appears as a tiny, transparent black screen in the far left-hand corner of your desktop.? In no way is this a tiny launcher. You can have it as tall as your screen and as wide as your screen if you want it that big. The height will be adjusted by how many groups (of icons) you want showing. For the width, just click on Menu. Click on Settings. And then input the number of buttons (icons) across you want showing. And it's only transparent if you want it that way. It has 10 different settings for opacity. I like mine jet black. ?The interface is skinnable, but you can't move it around your desktop.? I've never checked out the optional skins, but you can just hold down the center scroll mouse button (anywhere on the screen) to relocate the launcher, or use any hot key combination you want. The program will remember its location. And it can be popped up over most programs, or hidden. Click Menu. Then click Settings to configure this feature. ?Our hard disk information was displayed in the window, but we had to squint to see the tiny text size.? Though the font size for the drives could not be changed, personally I do not have to squint. I can see it easily from a comfortable 24-30? distance using a 17? monitor. But 8start could use an update in this area. Oh, just hover the mouse over the drive letter to see its name and the free space left, or click on a letter to look at the contents of that drive. (It can show up to about 25 drives, be they USB flash drives, memory cards, etc.). To change the font size for individual icon descriptions (of your programs and files), click Menu. Click Organize Button. Choose the (1)Category, the (2)Group and finally the (3)Button you want to change. Click the black square (the Design Button). Choose your font size. Click Change. Click Apply. You can adjust each font individually as desired. It's actually easier to do than to describe. ?Not knowing where to go next, we paid a visit to the Settings menu, which only led to more confusion.? Though the author's English is not the best, the settings menu seems pretty straight forward: choose the drives you want showing, configure the mouse, hot keys, width of launcher, auto start, etc. ?The fill-in-the-blank-style menu offered no guidance whatsoever.? All you have to do is read it, fill in the blanks and your done. Wow, that was easy! ?The Organize Button option opened a window that suffered from way too many colors, text, and shapes being shoved into one window.? It does offer quite a few options. If you want less options, try a different launcher. ?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 on screen information to guide us.? The sequence is numbered 1, 2 and 3. That was pretty easy for me. As I hover the mouse over most of the different features, I do get pop-up info windows. This is where the fun begins. You actually get to learn hands-on. No it's not for everyone, but it is for the person who likes new exciting software. ?The program does not include a Help feature of any kind, so you're on your own with 8Start Launcher.? Click Menu. Click Organize Button. Click Help. It will take you to a help screen at the author's website. Seems easy enough! It even has video instructions, though admittedly without sound. And there's a forum if you need it. If it doesn't go to the website, do this: click Menu. Click Settings. Click ? Show me the advanced settings dialog. Then choose your browser and click save. 8Start presently supports Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. I don't know about others. ?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.? 8 start may or may not be as intuitive to configure as some other launchers, but then again, no other launcher can live up to 8start! Only you can decide how important your launcher will be. To me, since I'll be using it every day, throughout the day, I want one I can live with and enjoy for years to come. For me, 8Start is the only launcher that fits the bill. It really is worth the time invested!<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Apr 30, 2009<p/>For some reason quotation marks are showing up as question marks.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Apr 30, 2009<p/>To see how 8start looks in action, check out the forum at www.8start.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&#38;t=24

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• Nice looking App but overly complicated in my opinion.

  An_OnumaApril 15, 2009

  Pros

  Nice theme starting out. Customizable themes. Can download some nice skins/themes for program.

  Cons

  Overly complicated to setup. I like a drag and drop approach and this app did not offer such an install and go approach. Granted, I didn't take a lot of time trying to set up the program, but that's sort of the point isn't it?

  Summary

  I suppose if you want to take time and read the help files, this might be a good program. But if you're like me you want something quick, easy to install, simple to set up and get going. This did not seem to be that type of program. So to the adventurous...Good luck with this app.

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• One of the best programs ever!

  Frank TracyFebruary 20, 2009

  Pros

  8start has been one of the best programs I've ever used on my pc. And it looks great!

  Cons

  No drag and drop yet.

  Summary

  Definitely worth the time to figure it out. It'll only get better!

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• Very GOOD!

  NititepJanuary 23, 2009

  Pros

  Very easy to use and I like this program very much. Thank you very much.

  Cons

  Fonts of GROUP cannot adjust.

  Summary

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• No auto-hide, too complicated

  pellkOctober 28, 2008

  Pros

  so many options, skinnable

  Cons

  what i need is an auto-hiding launcher. moreover, it's not really easy to use because it has used very weird button icons

  Summary

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• DOES NOT work with Vista

  rainspider21October 6, 2008

  Pros

  great looking app

  Cons

  whenever you try to add any buttons to it. It stops working.

  Summary

  This app says that it works with Vista, but it only just works when you don't add any buttons or shortcuts to it. Too bad it's a good looking app with lots of promise I would definitely use it if they fixed the bugs in it.

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