[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Review: Classic Shell brings the Start menu to Windows 8 for free here

[laserw]

I've been using this add-on for months. Windows 8 is faster than 7 and blows the doors off Xp which was what was on this computer before going to 8. Great program. This ends all the whining by the nellies who can't deal with windows 8 start page. Now shut the hell up.

[paulw1]

This morning my Win 8 laptop with Classic Shell did a big update. Now when it boots up it now goes to the win8 desktop and not Classic shell. I have to click on the Win8 desktop icon. Has M$ tryed to disable this abilty to run 3rd party classic start menus??

[MisterClark]

I tried a couple of free start menu programs, but ended spending $4.99 on Stardock's (stardock.com) excellent Start8; it has everything Windows 7 start menu had, and set up was super easy and fast. I was impressed, and now I am very happy with Windows 8.... However, as a typical laptop user, with a built-in trackpad that is NOT Windows 8 capable, I cannot believe the MS intentionally deleted this familiar and simple way to interface with the desktop. I guess maybe a touch screen would answer that question, but it should have been an option for older hardware...

[brainpup]

If you have a Desktop Computer there is NO REASON to fork over more money for a new OS just because Microsoft says so. I have Windows 8 on a Tablet because it came that way ( it was a Christmas gift from my wife that I can't take back ) and the new GI is pretty useful, but for the 2 Desktops & 1 Laptop at home Windows 7 is great, for the 8 desktops we have at work With Windwos 7 Ultimate nothing could be better ( I have 4 women that can each type over 80wpm on their Desktops and 2 of them even have the older Microsoft "Split Key" type keyboards...so I'm not switching them up to any kind of boxy touch screen user interface. We do have 1 computer with Windows 8 on it with a touch screen, 3 of the girls have tried it but none are comfortable with it. Gina actually said we should put it in the waiting room for the kids to play with....
Oh and if you don't like the Start Menu in Windows ( any form ) try "Start Menu 7" it has a totally unique Start Menu where you get to see all of your programs at once and is totally customisable...Google it.

[BearPup]

I think the point of this discussion should be "choice", which this software at least starts to address. Microsoft demands users do things their way, which if it works for you is great. But for some of us, the default interface doesn't work. I use Win 7 (I can't use a touchscreen) but neither do I like the Start Menu as its 'presented'; so I use a program called Start Menu 7 from OrdinarySoft (referenced in brainpup's comment above). The operative word for that program is "choice".

Start Menu 7, which I've used for years, opens one single menu with all my programs and folders listed in it. I choose to use it alphabetized, but I could also choose to do it in groups a la Windows 3.1 or any of a number of different ways, including using the Windows Button.

I'm big on choice, which is why I also use Thunderbird and Firefox, both of which allow me to customize the interface the way I like - there is little in the way of choices that are forced upon me, so I customize these programs (and all the other programs I use) in the way that works best for me.

And that's the lesson that Microsoft really needs to learn: let the users decide what works best for the individual, and give us the tools to customize the interface in that manner.

[alkwn]

The list of applicable operating systems did not include Win8 for Laptops, but was specific y calling out the desktop. Does that imply I can't use the shell for my laptop????? Al

[totobilly]

Veramente ottimo ... rispetto ad altri a pagamento, peraltro è anche in italiano ... leggero, configurabilissimo ... sembra progettato da Gates in pesona ...