![]() However, its support of keyboard shortcuts and extensive customization support might make it preferable for certain desktop power users.The Control Panel is a collection of tools to help you configure and manage the resources on your computer. We found its interface inefficient and poorly suited for touchscreen computers. Our bottom pick of the three is Start Menu 8. If Stardock can fix the buggy and clunky “Windows 8 style” menu, it might just take the throne back from Reviver. Start8 is strong competition, however, and basically neck-and-neck if your computer lacks touch. We also like that the app is developed in the style of Windows 8, which makes it look more like a built-in feature than a third-party app. This new app manages to fuse support for traditional desktops and new touchscreen devices into one interface with minimal pain. So, which of these competitors is the victor? Users can manually re-size the menu, but this quickly becomes an annoyance, as the amount of wasted space will depend on the folder or location you’re exploring.Īt least Start Menu 8 is free, though a few advanced features (like tabs) are locked behind a $9.99 paywall. Large portions of the interface sit empty at times. Yet, at the same time, the app takes up nearly as much space as Start Menu Reviver. The menu’s detailed interface relies too much on small elements, however, which makes Start Menu 8 almost impossible to use properly on a touchscreen device. The app’s customization includes a battery of keyboard hotkeys that activate various menu functions. Rather than copy Windows 7, this menu creates its own unique look and feel which is optimized for use with a keyboard and mouse. This gave the developer some time to sit back and craft its own take on what a Start menu should be. Start Menu 8, from IObit, came out a few months after the release of Windows 8. Start Menu 8 Image used with permission by copyright holder Users with touch should simply use Start Menu Reviver instead, at least until Stardock pushes out a few more updates. A new “Windows 8 style” menu option has been added to address this, but we found it to be clunky and buggy. Touch users will have trouble because some interface elements are too small to reliably activate. Start8’s commitment to the old-school Start menu can be a weakness, however. Yet customization isn’t a chore because the app boasts a simple, easy-to-use settings menu. Stardock has packed in a plethora of functional and aesthetic options that let users tweak the look and function of the menu significantly. At a glance, the menu looks almost identical to that formerly used by Microsoft, and once you dig in, you’ll realize it’s actually better. If you’re in love with the Windows 7 Start menu, you’ll quickly fall for Start8’s faithful reproduction. To justify the price, Stardock meshed the Start menu everyone knew with a long list of new features. Stardock was among the first to spring on the opportunity to create a replacement Start menu and also the first developer to sell a Start menu (at $4.99) rather than offer it for free. Start8 Image used with permission by copyright holder ![]() Second, there are no animations that respond to touch, which means you’ll wonder at times if an app didn’t activate because it wasn’t registered or you simply fat-fingered it.īut these two flaws don’t come close to outweighing the advantages, and best of all, Start Menu Reviver is free. However, this is only an issue on a PC with a large display. First, the menu takes up a lot of space and can’t be made smaller. There are just two minor flaws that might annoy some users. All of this makes for a flexible and enjoyable menu. Tiles can be moved, apps changed, icons switched, and more. And don’t worry if you find something you don’t like it can probably be customized. The large, metro-style icons shown when the menu is first opened can be complimented by a pop-out list of programs and files that allow for quick access to any software installed. Surprisingly, Reviver manages to meet this goal with few compromises. ![]() Windows 11 may soon replace all your annoying RGB apps Ranking all 12 versions of Windows, from worst to best
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