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emvath79
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Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:32 pm

I'm building a new PC and think I'll end up with 8.1 (though I may go with 7 instead). My question is this: Is Start8 obsolete now that 8.1 is around or is it still useful? I'd like everything to run just like Windows 7. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Deanjo
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:39 pm

emvath79 wrote:
I'm building a new PC and think I'll end up with 8.1 (though I may go with 7 instead). My question is this: Is Start8 obsolete now that 8.1 is around or is it still useful? I'd like everything to run just like Windows 7. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks


Why pay for Start8 when Classic Shell is free?
 
Milo Burke
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:42 pm

I use Start8 with Windows 8.1, and it's definitely still helpful. I don't need it to boot to the desktop anymore (I believe), however it does give me my Start Menu back. Which I much prefer over the Start Screen.

I get down-voted every time I say this in the comments, but I think Windows 8 (or 8.1) with Start8 is a great combination and is better than Windows 7. There are still a few things that are a little wonky, like getting to the Control Panel and setting the default programs for file types to open with the desktop version of programs instead of the tablet version of programs. But it mostly feels like Windows 7 with the advantages of Windows 8: boot speed, task manager, file copy details, security, and generally a snappy feeling.
 
emvath79
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:43 pm

Deanjo wrote:
Why pay for Start8 when Classic Shell is free?


I dunno. I haven't really done due diligence yet and checked them out completely. All I want is to never deal with that crappy (in my mind anyways) Metro interface. I've used it at my in-laws place and hated it. I upgraded them from 8 to 8.1 and it's better, but not what I want myself. If classic shell can give me my proper start button back and keep the metro at bay then I'm up for it.
 
DreadCthulhu
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:46 pm

Windows 8.1 brought back the start button, but not the start menu; instead it brings you to the jumble of tiles. So you will want Start 8 or Classic shell.
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SoM
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:51 pm

this will bring me much closer to win8.1, might just slap it on my second pc..

Win 10
InWin 303
Asus z170a
i7-6700k - H60
G.Skill 2x16GB 2400
M.2 950 Pro 256GB
EVGA GTX 1070 FTW
EVGA Supernova G2 750w
Acer XG270HU
HD 280pro
 
Prestige Worldwide
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:57 pm

I have 8.1 with Start8. It works fine, Win7 style Start Menu on left Winkey and Windows 8 menu on the right Winkey.

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Chaseme
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 1:59 pm

Swore up and down I'd never do 8, 7 was fine etc. Saw some stuttering while playing BF4 and read that this isn't present in 8/8.1, so I went for it. 8.1 with Classic Shell is pretty damn good, don't regret it at all.
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Neutronbeam
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:01 pm

Never worked well for me. Have two purchased licenses I am willing to give away--PM me anybody. Been using ClassicShell and couldn't be happier with it.
"the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." -- Senator Ted Kennedy, 1980 Democratic National Convention speech
 
emvath79
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:17 pm

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I'll go with 8.1 with Classic Shell. If it's free what have I got to lose right? Thanks again.
 
Arvald
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:55 pm

If you dig up in past I have given a comparison of Start8 and Classic Shell.
Start8 behaves exactly like Windows 7 start menu, right down to pinning apps.
Classic shell is a bit more basic but free. (no pinning, and I am not exactly sure of its logic for recent apps)
 
ChronoReverse
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:02 pm

Classic Shell has pinning now for a while. I don't know if its recent applications algorithm is the same as Windows 7 but it's certainly close enough that it doesn't matter.
 
keltor
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:16 pm

I use Start 8 instead of Classic Shell due to having random issues with Classic Shell .

I would however suggest not going with 8.1 at the moment due to the mouse lag issues - they are fixed for some people with this patch: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2908279

But it did not fix my issues so back to v8 I went. Also there are issues with TeamViewer and v8/v8.1 and certain games going fullscreen. :( They don't exist in v7. At the moment I prefer the theming in v8, so I just shutdown TeamViewer when I play some games. I occasionally forget to restart it though and then when I try to access my home PC ... fun times.
 
Philldoe
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Thu Dec 05, 2013 3:38 am

I've been using Start8 since early in the year, and even with 8.1 I still see it as needed to make Windows8 not feel like crap. With that said, Win8 + Start8 is a winning combo and has caused me to move every computer I manage to Win8 because I feel that with Start8 it is simply superior to Win7.
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ordskiweicz
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:08 am

I also found Start8 wonky with 8.1. It had been fine with 8.0 I never wanted tiles, and still get irritated that they hijack obscure file types now and then despite some file associations and clean up efforts.

Went back to Classic Shell - all is good.
 
Hance
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Thu Dec 05, 2013 9:10 am

I tried that combo and half a dozen others on my new work laptop to make it usable and never did come up with a combination that didn't drive me nuts. Ended up putting Win 7 on the laptop.
 
Norphy
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Re: Anyone using 8.1 with Start8?

Thu Dec 05, 2013 10:25 am

I use StartIsBack with Windows 8.1, works fine. I found StartIsBack to be better than Start8, it seemed to be a bit more integrated somehow.

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