Microsoft reportedly planning to go back to Windows desktop default

[KoKo]

February 2, 2014, 2:10 PM

While much of the recent chatter surrounding Microsoft Corp. may be centered around the successor to Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, another change may be in the works for software giant’s Windows 8.1 operating system to cater to core users.

Recently, reports indicate Microsoft MSFT -2.37% is planning to update Windows 8.1 by having the system boot to a desktop option by default, something traditional desktop users have been wanting.

This past June, Microsoft announced it would allow users an option to boot directly toward a more traditional desktop interface, but now that option may become the default, replacing the default of booting to the Metro tile-based interface that was meant to capitalize on the rise of tablet use.

First leaked by Russian blogger Wzor, the shift indicates a move by Microsoft to cater to its bread-and-butter clientele, keyboard and mouse users.

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2014/02/02/microsoft-reportedly-planning-to-go-back-to-windows-desktop-default/

[hobbit709]

1. Another bandaid on a gaping wound.

[lostincalifornia]

6. Most likely. Windows 8.1 did not address anything that was irritating most conventional users. The

Start8 application from Startdock, and other similar programs did what Microsoft should have done in the first place

They are still fortunate that Apple has failed to attract most business users because the cost of their hardware is too much, and the business applications have never caught on, especially compared to Microsoft Office

[jmowreader]

38. "Especially" compared to Microsoft Office...

Microsoft Office for Windows was ported from the Mac, and the Mac version is still sold. The DOS version of Word was hideous, and I don't remember if they ever had a DOS spreadsheet.

[lostincalifornia]

55. I know

[lostincalifornia]

2. It was obvious that business was not upgrading to it. They had better fix issues such as reading a

PDF takes you into metro mode. In fact for the 90% of business that doesn't have touch screens, doesn't want their desktop to look like an IPAD device when doing normal business activities, default back to Windows 7 for those folks.

The windows 8 interface was an inefficient interface for those on non-touch desktop type devices.

In addition, they should fix the start menu for these desktop uses, so it is back to Windows 7.

The 8.1 start menu implementation was a half-assed attempt to correct things. They should have implemented something like the Start8 application.

Then people could have rolled their own interface to their liking

[KoKo]

11. I was hoping this article meant they would be going back to a Win 7 or XP

Start Menu.

I've read that people don't want to give up XP and I thought this might be hopeful news since XP won't be supported after April this year. But, reading the replies it seems that what they are suggesting won't be a real return to what was familiar...but, more of a "tweak?"

I'm an XP user and was dreading eventually having to upgrade...so I was hopeful.

[lostincalifornia]

12. you are right, that should be the way they should go

[jsr]

21. Wait till you try to get rid of their SkyDrive cloud crap

which is now embedded in the OS.

[KoKo]

23. Well...that does it for me...I'll hang on to my XP on desktop until

it dies. I have 7 on my Laptop...and that's a newer machine...so hopefully I'll get a few more years and by then they will have either fixed Win 8 or I'll go with Apple.

I'm not a fan of cloud, especially with NSA Spying. Although they probably already have my info in cloud...I don't plan to give them any more info willingly.

[jsr]

25. XP and Office 2003 are stable and will do the job.

Almost every "improvement" they've made has been garbage - designed to raid your wallet and hold people captive.

[Xithras]

3. That doesn't mean much for most users.

When most people say "I want desktop mode back", they really mean that they want desktop mode with the old popup Start Menu interface. Even in Windows 8.1, the "Start" button in the new optional Desktop mode simply brings up the Metro window again...because the Metro window IS the new Start menu. Microsoft making desktop mode the new default screen won't change that.

[lostincalifornia]

7. You are absolutely right, it is stupid that they don't realize that. They should either implement

or by the company that makes the application Start8 which lets users roll their own interface, either metro or Windows 7.

If a third party can do it for 5 bucks, you would have thought MSFT would have caught on

[Vashta Nerada]

4. I already have Windows 8.1 and I can already do that.

[lostincalifornia]

8. If you are doing that, you are not getting the old Windows 7 Start, unless you have third party

software

If I am mistaken, then please tell me how you configure it for windows 7

[DesMoinesDem]

15. Yep, all you have to do is check a box.

If you want to boot straight to the desktop you easily can. It is nice that they are making this the default, though.

[Vashta Nerada]

16. The Start Tiles are only useful if you have a touch screen.

I have never found that screen to be useful so I bypass it.

[randome]

18. What about when Windows takes you into Metro and you don't want to be there?

That's a major annoyance for some who prefer to be thinking about their work, not their OS.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]All things in moderation, including moderation.[/center][/font][hr]

[DesMoinesDem]

20. I boot straight to desktop and use classic shell for my start button

but I like to have the start screen open on a second monitor. It can show you some useful info and some metro apps come in handy.

[last1standing]

5. Only Microsoft could survive after the debacles of Windows ME and Vista.

Will they be able to withstand the mistake of releasing Windows 8? I'd guess yes, but they're not the monolith they once were. With Apple and Android taking up the lion's share of the tablet market while PC sales shrink, Microsoft may find it very hard to maneuver as the once did by merely buying up the competition or marketing a lesser product with better advertising.

That said, I use Windows 7, which is little more than a remake of Vista, every day and find it incredibly stable and responsive. Perhaps if MS looks to its own history, it will revamp 8 and market it under a different name. I wonder if that will be enough this time.

[lostincalifornia]

10. Windows 7 is Vista. Problem was they released Vista too soon. They "felt" pressured by Wall Street

to do it.

Apple has other issues. They should really be pushing to get into business arena, which means their costs need to come down. They had a perfect opportunity to do it with Vista, and now again with Windows 8

[last1standing]

13. Apple's greatest marketing advantage is that so few businesses use it.

Business capable operating systems require far more resources and flexibility than Apple can offer. When I was in corporate IT, the few Apple systems I had to deal with were constantly having issues because the OS is in no way ready for commercial use. Also, do to the proprietary nature of Apple systems, the computers weren't very expandable or flexible enough to suit the differing needs of the various businesses and their applications. Also, as you state, the cost of purchasing and repairs was insane.

I think Apple will be looking at the same problems as Microsoft in a few years (or sooner). They are being outmaneuvered by Google's Android in the sales department and can only count on more and more clever advertising to keep them in the market. Yet, as more people start realizing that Apple offers little over Android other than "cool kid" niche marketing, I believe they will falter, again.

[lostincalifornia]

31. I agree, and their model would need to change if the want business to use them. As you alluded they

are already being outmaneuvered by Android. They are going to have to be a lot more innovative in the mobile area than they have been recently, that is for sure.

[randome]

14. Agree in general with what you say about 7.

But even there, Microsoft managed to clutter the taskbar, changing for the sake of change. I find it extremely annoying to have a 2 panel taskbar that offers me nothing.

Then they decided to place folders at the bottom of the stack instead of at top. I suppose they consider that 'technology'.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[Bandit]

24. At least you get a task bar, with windows 8 you do not.

I hate windows 8...HATE IT...HATE IT...HATE IT

[wandy]

26. When you say "place folders at the bottom of the stack" what do you mean?.........

If it is how explorer is presenting a view to you, that is easy to fix.

[randome]

29. I mean the Start Button menu system, not Explorer.

Menu folders are, by default, placed at the bottom of the stack. How original of Microsoft to have switched this for us. I'm sure there was reams of user data to justify it.

I drive everything on my PC through the menu system because I am very organized. I always work with a clean desk, no matter how hard Microsoft tries to make that. And now with 8.1, they just say, 'Fuck it! Throw everything on the desktop and let God sort it out!'
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[wandy]

30. Sorry, can't help there. So far my experience with Win 8 has been limited to...........

Euuuuuuuu. Yuck! Make it go away.

You can get used to anything, I guess.
Although I have not messed with this recently, somewhere long ago I solved a problem for someone with Classic Shell.
http://www.classicshell.net/
It might be worth looking into.

[Egalitarian Thug]

60. M$ exits and has always existed because it is protected and subsidized by the government.

M$ is and has been above the law, that's how it became a "monolith". If you had started M$ and done exactly as Gates & Co. did, you would have been, at best, bankrupt, and very possibly in jail, because you do not come from the right class.

[LittleBlue]

9. 8 is a disaster in general

Just because we have smartphones doesn't mean I want my PC/laptop to look like a hopelessly cluttered smart phone. We don't all use touchscreens on everything.

7 I still far superior to 8.

[madokie]

17. Linux is so much better

when you install it on your computer its like you give your computer a shot of adrenaline. No worries with needing a lot of add ons that use up your resources like anti-virus or anti-malware programs. Turn the computer on and in less than a minute it is up and ready to do whatever you want to do with it

And its free if you choose to not contribute anything towards development.

[Grey]

27. Which version do you prefer? nt

I mean which version of Linex do you prefer, I am still using XP on the old PC.

[madokie]

28. Ubuntu or Mint

On my desktop I run ubuntu 10.04.4 one my wife's laptop I have mint 15.

For most people starting off Ubuntu or Mint is the best way to go. You can download and burn a copy and try it to see if you like it before you install it. For a long time I had a double boot system with XP but after I got comfortable with linux I reformated and just install the linux version I use.

[Logical]

33. Many non-technical people struggle with it. n-t

[madokie]

37. I'm as none technical as any one and I don't

Really not any different from going to a new version of windows when they upgrade it. In fact its easier.

What version of linux do you use or do you?

Be interesting to see what your answer to this is

[Logical]

40. Ubuntu, but I disagree with you about the ease compared to OSx or Windows for non-techs. n-t

[madokie]

41. Whats difficult with ubuntu

Why do you say you have to be a techie to use ubuntu

[Logical]

42. Driver issues can be a nightmare. And drivers lag for many devices. n-t

[madokie]

43. Thats bullshit

I've yet to run into anything that didn't work right out of the box.
I don't think you know what you're talking about

[Logical]

44. LOL, OK, you are correct. Linux is perfect. Drunk? Or just mad bro? nt

[Chan790]

45. Well then, you're special.

I'm a computer scientist, worked in a university computing department and I can barely make it run some things.

Everything that requires WINE is a PITA...and most anything worth running requires WINE as very few software publishers design or publish anything for Linux.

[Logical]

46. I imagine this person has no real experience except for his little plain home desktop PC. Don't....

ruin their fantasy!

[steve2470]

64. I'm not dissing Linux here but....

I've used it and it does require more technical skills than regular Windoze. With some installs I've been lucky and everything worked out of the box. However, I've also had installs where my NIC card wouldn't work and one install where Ubuntu didn't like my motherboard. I've used everything from Fedora to Ubuntu to Mandriva to the old Mandrake to SuSe. Linux is undeniably better on the security front, partially because it forces you to use your password for every major change. It's a great OS.

[Hutzpa]

65. Sounds like you have no idea what you're talking about

you better check your Ubuntu or Mint to make sure your drivers are from the right source.

I will not recommend Linux to anyone that is not technical because you will be handing it over to someone else to use for you.

[madokie]

67. I've been part of, encouraged others too

I've installed a passel of Ubuntu and Mint operating systems to a shitpot of computers and I've yet to run into a problem. whether it be an old computer as I have or a brand spanking shiny new one like most have been. Linux does not allow anything on a Linux operating system that is not vetted by Linux without your agreeing to allow it. I have not seen nor heard of anyone who has tried Ubuntu or Mint that has had a problem with malware, spyware, viruses or anything like undocumented drivers. No need for any of that.
I run AutoCad 2000 on my linux machine using Wine and it really wasn't that difficult to do either. In fact Acad 2000 runs better using Wine than it does using compatibility mode in XP. (Acad 2000 was written for win98 btw) Give it a try to install Acad2000 into a winblows7 machine and you'll be pulling your hair out by the time you get it up and running. I know I've done it.

I come from the old world of DOS where bad command or file name and the blue screen of death was the norm. Where 640 mbs of memory was all and you needed two floppies to boot too and about 10 minutes of your time with your computer grinding away like a threshing machine on its last leg, then the 10 meg hard drive came out and boy o boy what an improvement that was. I've yet to have a crash with any of the Linux installions I've been part of or on my own machines. The only time I've had to worry with a driver was for an old from years gone by dot matrix printer

Everything you need to do anything you want with the computer is there for the taking. Free of charge if you don't want to contribute I might add.

Gimp has Photoshop beat all to hell, Open Office has word beat as well, same for Libre Office. Don't even get me started on Firefox compared to Outlook Express. LOL

The person here who doesn't know what they're talking about damn sure ain't me

Almost all servers are running Linux, google you name it, the ISS runs a Linux machine finally too because they really need a stable operating system. That's the reason they gave when they made the switch.

My only regret with Linux is I waited as long as I did to make the change.

[grahamhgreen]

61. What's the easist way to install and dual boot on a mac?

[Berlum]

19. Microsoft is to computers what RepubliBaggers are to politics

[Logical]

35. Ahhh, Apple fanboy whining? n-t

[Berlum]

48. Nah. Just a stark realist.

[Logical]

49. No, I doubt it. n-t

[Berlum]

50. Doubt is healthy

You can doubt the reality of the news in the OP. And you can doubt the reality that MS sucks. You can doubt all of reality, or you can doubt half of it.

But no matter, your doubt still amounts to little more than a bucket of woo.

[SidDithers]

56. Berlum doesn't use scientific materialist computers...

they use their psychic powers and post to the internet directly from their mind.

Sid

[lpbk2713]

22. Win8 was a bad mistake.

The gnomes of Redmond wanted to fix something that wasn't broke.

Bad move.

I have Win7 on my laptop and office PCs but I prefer the XP that is on my home PC.

[Le Taz Hot]

32. OMG, I hope so!

I HATE H.A.T.E. Windows 8. NOTHING is where it's supposed to be. Everything I need I have to do a flippin' Google Search.

[randome]

34. It would be so simple to give you the option of whether to use the 'new' system or not.

But they don't do that because they want everyone in the world to think the way they do. It's insanity.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]“If you're not committed to anything, you're just taking up space.”
Gregory Peck, Mirage (1965)[/center][/font][hr]

[X_Digger]

36. My windows 7 interface is as much like XP/98/95 as I can make it.

Fuck transparency, icon shadows, animations, mouseover hover effects, candy-colored crap. Give me classic theme, classic start menu, classic control panel, classic explorer.

If I wanted an apple product, I'd sell a kidney to buy one.

Me and my three monitors are happy, thankyaverramuch.

[TroglodyteScholar]

39. How fu@#$ hard could it be...

...to add a step in the installer that offers "Desktop" experience, "Modern" experience, or "decide for me" which would then detect your display's capabilities...?

This is NOT fucking rocket science, Microsoft. If you're smart, when you bully people into something new you'll make sure they think they had some choice in the matter.

[MH1]

47. I was wondering that too. nt

[Initech]

51. Thank god. Fuck apps and app stores.

[bravenak]

52. I liked XP.

It worked for me.

[SomethingFishy]

53. Me too. The only reason I went to Win7 was DX11..

for gaming. Otherwise I'd still be on XP.

I don't know what genius at MS thought that putting a tablet or phone OS on a PC was a good idea but.. Epic Fail...

[bravenak]

54. It was stupid. They thought it was cool. I just wanted things to work the way they were supposed to.

My mom still can't find her start button. I have to drive to her house every time she wants to use it.

[SoCalDem]

58. My most recenbt purchase of my Toshiba was a Win7 machine, but they offered to

have it sent to me with XP.. They included the CD for Win 7, when I was ready to switch.. I have not done so yet..

[KoKo]

59. Where did you buy it...and if it offered 7 or XP...that would be something

my partner here would really need...as he has a Toshiba now...but, he's going to need to replace soon and has 7...but does not want 8 or 8.1 or any of it.

Did you order it online? I would urge him to do it now if there's a place he can get another Toshiba with what he wants! I don't think he should wait...but buy it as a back up ...in case... XP won't be supported but he could get a couple or more years out of 7...

[SoCalDem]

66. Yes.. I ordered it online and on the phone

I also had them install Office.. It was more pricey than I could have gotten at a store, but it had what I wanted.. It's this version..(check your inbox)

[L0oniX]

57. Ubuntu ...the choice of Obama. See info link below.

"The team chose Ubuntu as the operating system"

http://insights.ubuntu.com/resources/interviews/ubuntu-powered-obama-for-america-success/

[WillowTree]

62. For some reason, I'm not shocked by this.

I bought a new laptop just as Windows 8 was coming out so I'd have a fresh, new Windows 7 machine that'll last me awhile when the one I already had gives up the ghost. As someone else said up-thread somewhere, 7 Professional has been just all kinds of stable and I had a bad feeling about 8. Turned out to be a good decision.

[steve2470]

63. If you have Win8 already, you can upgrade to Win8.1 for free

To upgrade, you have to go to the Microsoft Store link on your Metro screen and do a search for Windows 8.1. This M$ link further explains it: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/update-from-windows-8-tutorial

Once you upgrade to Win8.1, you can enable auto-boot-to-desktop-mode by right clicking on the Taskbar, click Properties, click Navigation tab, then go to the Start Screen section, and check the box marked "When I sign in....go to the Desktop instead of Start". Reboot and that change is in place.

The other major change people want (the Win7 style classic Start button) can be achieved by going to http://www.classicshell.net/ and downloading their app which will give you the classic Start button again. With these two changes, you can avoid the hassles of that dreadful Metro screen from now on.

[hobbit709]

68. My high end laptop came with 8 on it.

first thing I did was install Classic Shell and then spend 3 hours tweaking it to act right. It looks and feels like 7 and people are amazed.