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Start10 - A Windows 10 Start Menu Replacement from Stardock

Discussion in 'Windows 10 Information and Alerts' started by allheart55 (Cindy E), Aug 12, 2015.

  1. allheart55 (Cindy E)

    allheart55 (Cindy E) Administrator Administrator

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    Screenshot%20(17)_9.png


    I have always been a purist when it comes to my operating systems. Very rarely have I ever used any type of overlay or integrated software to modify how Windows performs out of the box as I prefer to just learn to work with the system as it is. It also helps to prevent any confusion as I am writing or helping someone out and keeps what the OS is capable of separate from what the overlay software does.

    One of the more recent options that found a market when Windows 8 was released was from Stardock Software. They saw the reaction to the lack of a Windows 7 style Start Menu in Windows 8 and released Start8 to address that. They then released ModernMix which allowed users to run full screen Modern Apps on Windows 8 in a window.

    As Windows 10 has come to market we now have a hybrid Start Menu that combines some elements of the old Windows 7 style Start Menu with the modern Live Tile aspects of the Windows 8 Start Screen.

    The merger of these two Start Menu's has resulted in some compromises and while there are some customizations available it may not be enough for everyone.

    Once again Stardock is bringing a new option to market that will allow users to have a highly configurable Start Menu in Windows 10 and it is appropriately called Start10.

    6691b90cee5c19ff8cd6a5baa0f37917.png

    Side by side comparison of Start10 and Windows 10 Start Menu (image courtesy of Stardock)

    I have been running Start10 over the last couple of days on a test system and must admit it has had minimal impact on overall system performance.

    The level of customization is extensive and provides users who want to set things up for their own personal usage preferences plenty of flexibility. They have also included a shortcut to quickly open the traditional Windows 10 Start Menu and there is also a cascading folder of Modern UI apps - basically the Windows 10 All Apps list.

    Source : http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/...placement-stardock#slide-0-field_images-58191
     
    allheart55 (Cindy E), Aug 12, 2015
    #1
  3. Rich M

    Rich M Guest

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    IMHO the Stardock and Classic Shell program menus are both stellar and should be used in place of the Windows 10 Program Menu which is a serious piece of junk, and definitely a reworking of that Horriffic Start screen on Windows 8.
     
    Rich M, Aug 14, 2015
    #2
  4. IceMan37

    IceMan37 Banned

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    I don't know that it's a piece of junk especially W10's menu though I don't care for the full fledged Windows 8 Tiles-Metro experience. W10 can be manually tamed very easy, and honestly it's pretty good especially with those tweaks I offered you via email if you tried them. I have Windows 8 level transparency enabled (0) and I have the start menu tamed. My desktop with the windows 10 tweak gradients that very few know about makes it look nice instead of the all white - gradient windows I also found a way to narrow out the start menu so it's not too blocky looking it's perfect. In real time here is my desktop. Watching an older movie (X-Files) on with the menu, the improved transparency, and most important the windows gradient is present.


    ef38cf6590b6cb36e76854ebdd99db5d.jpg
     
    IceMan37, Aug 15, 2015
    #3
  5. IceMan37

    IceMan37 Banned

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    I really like the program - I liked Start8 too. The only reason I don't use it right now is because I need to know the operating system very well in it's default state, so that I can better help customersbetter and get more acquainted with every bit of the OS before I put a windows 7 mask on it. So right now and likely for at least a year it's vanilla windows 10 :)
     
    IceMan37, Sep 4, 2015
    #4
  6. Rich M

    Rich M Guest

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    I put Classic Shell on every system I touch anyway though I use Start8 myself which I like better. I didn't have 10 around long enough to try your solution on anything though as I had to have Paltalk and my laptop was just useless with 10 on it. I wasn't sure if it was moving forward at all it was so slow and I didn't have the patience nor did I see the reason to tweak it when it started out so slow. Remember that is the laptop I thought was fast enough that I never added an Ssd drive to it before I installed 10. After installing 10 I could have cried for what it did to the fastest laptop I have ever used. That is the only laptop I have ever liked and I was pissed enough when Lenovo bought Sony though I like Lenovo a lot as well, but it could not compare to that Sony.
     
    Rich M, Sep 5, 2015
    #5
  7. IceMan37

    IceMan37 Banned

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    I will be moving to Start10 in a few months for sure! I agree about Sony VAIO laptops you remember years ago I told you I had one it was a C2D Intel it was the coolest laptop I ever had :)
     
    IceMan37, Sep 5, 2015
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  8. Rich M

    Rich M Guest

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    Yeah someone whose opinion I respect had convinced me to get an Acer touch screen and I hated everything about it. It couldn't run power management so I installed 7 but never found the right video driver. When I restored using Acronis it never booted again after that and I had to send it back to Acer where they replaced the hard drive. I listed it on Amazon and sold it after I got it back and bought the Sony and have loved it ever since. I don't use a laptop much so I am hoping I never have to buy another one!
     
    Rich M, Sep 5, 2015
    #7
: operating systems, software, start menu, stardock

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