Pros
Does the job! I also use and recommend Modernmix
Cons
Not free. I decided to pay up since I also use and recommend Modernmix. Can purchase both at same time for $8 which I feel is worth it.
Pros
Nice idea!
Cons
Will not allow pasting of internet shortcuts on the desktop
Read reply (1)
Reply by danwat1234 on August 11, 2014
Version 1.16 at least works fine with internet links from Chrome, dragging the contents of the address bar to the desktop results in a shortcut being created.
Also by right clicking on the desktop and clicking 'new shortcut', you can paste in a URL and it's created just fine.
Pros
freefreefree
Cons
to many issues with reboots and key sequence not working correctly.
Pros
Very useful since it gives us back the features that were gone with arrival of Windows 8-8.1.
Cons
Price - this kind of app should be free for windows users
Summary
I think it is absolutely rude that the users on whom the Microsoft and Windows were built on were taken the basic feature of the software they used for past several decades. I have bought windows 8 laptop with touchscreen however as someone said above, there are lots of us who use windows for more serious work than playing around on the internet. Metro ought to be on tablets and there's no way it should be default OS on PC - but an option. And I have to say out loud that we - the customers should be paid back for software like this because we were forced to have the worst windows ever that came with new computers. And this behavior just ruins all the rights of customers all over the world who must buy either more expensive Apple or just be forced to buy new computers with a total disaster OS like Windows 8. It's still a mystery for me why with an upgrade windows 8.1 haven't come with normal start menu - probably they have to make lost money back on app like this....good app but I am a really angry customer - SHAME on WIN 8-8.1 and the whole company's attitude.
Pros
adds a start menu
Cons
there are none really! kudos to Stardock for writing this, it's just unfortunate that it wasn't already an option in the windows 8 interface
Pros
Even with windows 8.1 it still sucks, cant find anything I want. This fixes everything in a few seconds. Windows should give all users of Windows 8 a free download of the paid version of this.
Cons
None besides it's still Win 8.
Summary
Ill be sure to keep buying Windows 7 computers as long as they keep selling them to avoid this problem in the future.
Pros
Returns the Start Menu from Win 7 level.
Gives flexibility to configuration of the start menu.
Truly gives us back our computers - especially those of us with no touch screen!
Cons
None. Okay, they might have made it flexible as other menus have, and allowed us to go with Win XP Pro, Vista, or Win 7.
Summary
While it looks simple enough, you can count on there being a lot going on behind the return of the Start Menu, and these folks deserve Kudos for returning control to the End Users.
Truly, it doesn't matter what level user you are, having the ability to control our PCs is crucial. Being at the mercy of Microsoft, when they instituted Metro or Modern, was so very wrong and un-Microsoft.
All's right with my Win 8.1 system now, and I can concentrate on getting things done, not trying to figure out HOW to get them started!
Pros
Puts the start menu back into the desktop on Windows 8/8.1 and makes Windows 8 and 8.1 usable for a desktop user who does not have or ever want to be poking around on their monitors.
Cons
None. It just restores sanity for a desktop user.
Summary
Just get it and wave two fingers at the numpties at Microsoft who think we are all air heads who never do anything serious on a PC.
Pros
Starts right to the desktop screen and avoids those annoying tiles
Doesn't seem to slow the computer down.
Runs completely in the background as if it didn't even exist.
Allows for plenty of customization.
Cons
None that I can think of besides the $4.99 for something that should have been included to start with.
Summary
Even though you're paying for a product that should have been included from the start I would recommend this program to anyone who doesn't want to have to deal with the start screen and just wants to use their computer for desktop tasks like they have done in the past.
Pros
free version worked great, made it look like Windows 7. No more dealing with annoying tiles
Cons
After paying for the full version, and clicking on the link provided in the e-mail, laptop got such a bad virus, that the hard drive was infected and laptop didn't work at all anymore - had to be taken in to get wiped and restores. Everything installed on computer lost.
Summary
Enjoy the free version, don't pay for the full version (comes with a virus, at least in our case)
Updated on Sep 10, 2013
RETRACTION !!!!!!
It seems that Start8 is not the program that caused the virus after all.
After hard drive clean up, Start8 worked just great, just as intended.
I guess it was a coincidence that caused the damage right after downloading the paid version.
Please Wait
