Windows 8中最大的变化之一是“开始”菜单^{(Start Menu)}已被“开始”屏幕^{(Start Screen)}取代，现在您可以使用一种非常不同的方式来启动应用程序。虽然“开始”屏幕^{(Start Screen)}非常适合通过几次按键进行即时搜索和启动应用程序，但对于喜欢使用鼠标而不是键盘的用户来说，它并不是那么友好。因此^(Therefore)，我决定做一个快速分析，看看新的开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}与旧的开始菜单^{(Start Menu)}相比如何。它是否有助于更快地访问您的应用程序安装的所有快捷方式？让我们^(Let)来了解一下！

注意：^(NOTE:)分析已针对Windows 8 Release Preview进行了更新。不幸的是，报告的积极变化并不多，本文的结论和建议与Windows 8 Consumer Preview相同。

用于分析的应用程序

在我的实验中，我选择了一组许多Windows用户使用的流行应用程序：Mozilla Firefox、uTorrent、7-Zip、Auslogics Disk Defrag、Notepad++、ImgBurn、Winamp、Dropbox、Mozilla Thunderbird、K-Lite Codec Pack、Skype、Adobe阅读器 X^{(Adobe Reader X)}、Paint.NET、LibreOffice 3.5、雅虎通^{(Yahoo Messenger)}。

它们是使用默认选项安装的。想要安装工具栏的软件和其他不需要的第三方软件（例如Winamp 和 Yahoo Messenger^{(Winamp and Yahoo Messenger)}）除外。对于那些应用程序，我不允许安装任何不需要的软件。

Windows 8 开始屏幕

Windows 8 已将开始菜单^{(Start Menu)}替换为开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}。它在Windows 文件^{(Windows file)}系统中的位置是相同的。

在Windows 7和Windows 8中，构成开始菜单^{(Start Menu)}和开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}的文件夹和快捷方式都位于两个文件夹中：“C:UsersUser NameAppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart Menu”和“C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart Menu”。

这是安装我用于分析的应用程序后开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}的样子。我发现它非常拥挤和杂乱无章。

当我右键单击并选择所有应用程序时，我得到的内容与^{(All apps)}Windows 7中的开始菜单^{(Start Menu)}非常相似。更有条理的快捷方式结构，看起来很像经典的开始菜单体验^{(Start Menu experience)}。

Windows 8 桌面

幸运的是，与Windows 7^{(Windows 7)}相比，除了缺少开始菜单按钮之外， ^{(Start Menu button)}Windows 8中的桌面^(Desktop)保持不变。

此外，它们在文件系统^{(file system)}中的位置相同："C:UsersUser NameDesktop"和"C:UsersPublicDesktop"。

这是桌面^(Desktop)的屏幕截图，安装了我用于此分析的所有应用程序后。

它在两个操作系统中看起来都一样，我很高兴看到没有差异。

开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}与开始菜单^{(Start Menu)}：有多少快捷方式^{(Shortcuts Are)}？

我在Windows 7^{(Windows 7)}和Windows 8 Release Preview上安装了相同的应用程序集，具有相同的安装选项。然后，我计算了在两个操作系统中找到的快捷方式的数量。在下表中，您可以找到桌面^(Desktop)、Windows 8 开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}和所有应用程序^{(All apps)}列表以及Windows 7 开始菜单^{(Start Menu)}中每个应用程序安装的快捷方式的数量。

在计算所有快捷方式后，我注意到Windows 8 开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}、所有应用程序^{(All apps)}列表和 Windows 7 开始菜单上显示的快捷方式数量之间存在重要差异：^{( list and the Windows 7 Start Menu:)}

Microsoft 需要^{(Microsoft Needs)}对开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}进行哪些更改！

看看这个实验以及到目前为止我对Windows 8开始屏幕的整个^{(Start Screen)}测试体验^{(testing experience)}，我发现它组织得很差，不一致，有时甚至令人困惑。我坚信微软^(Microsoft)需要做出一些重大的改变和改进，才能提供良好的体验。我的主要建议如下：

• Microsoft应阐明Windows 8选择“^{(Windows 8)}开始”屏幕^{(Start Screen)}上显示的快捷方式的标准。我了解显示应用程序安装的所有快捷方式对用户没有帮助，他们的数量应该受到限制。但是，用于选择的标准应该清晰、一致并与软件开发人员进行良好的沟通。
• 开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}需要更好的算法来分组快捷方式。现在的方式，我发现它缺乏效率和友好性^{(efficiency and friendliness)}。特别是对于技术不高的用户。使用“开始”菜单文件夹中的应用程序创建的文件夹，并以与“^{(Start Menu)}所有应用程序^{(All apps)}”列表类似的方式对它们进行分组可能对用户更有利。或者，至少，将应用程序安装的所有快捷方式分组到同一个快捷方式块中。
• 所有应用程序^{(All apps)}列表应该停止隐藏快捷方式。它应该绝对显示应用程序在其开始菜单^{(Start Menu)}文件夹中安装的所有快捷方式。

如果进行这些更改，我相信人们将需要更少的时间来适应新的开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}。将其强大的搜索功能与更喜欢使用鼠标的人更好的组织相结合，将使人们感到轻松，不会错过旧的开始菜单^{(Start Menu)}。

结论

我很想知道您对新开始屏幕^{(Start Screen)}的体验：您^(Did)喜欢使用它吗？你认为它需要进一步调整吗？你同意我在这篇文章中提出的观点吗？

我期待着就这个话题进行建设性的讨论。

Is the Windows 8 Start Screen an Improvement vs. the Start Menu?

One of the biggest changes in Windows 8 is the fact that the Start Menu has been replaced by the Start Screen and now you have a very different way of lаunсhing applications. While the Start Sсreen is great for making instant searches and launching aрplications with a few keystrokеѕ, it is not that friendlу to users who love using the mousе instead of the kеyboard. Therefore, I decided to make а quick analysіs and see how the new Start Sсreen compares to thе оld Stаrt Menυ. Does it help in getting faster access to all the shortcuts instаllеd by your applications? Let's find out!

NOTE: The analysis was updated for Windows 8 Release Preview. Unfortunately there are not many positive changes to report and the conclusions and recommendations of this article are the same as for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

The Applications Used for the Analysis

For my experiments, I chose a set of popular applications used by many Windows users: Mozilla Firefox, uTorrent, 7-Zip, Auslogics Disk Defrag, Notepad++, ImgBurn, Winamp, Dropbox, Mozilla Thunderbird, K-Lite Codec Pack, Skype, Adobe Reader X, Paint.NET, LibreOffice 3.5, Yahoo Messenger.

They were installed using their default options. Exceptions were made for software that wanted to install toolbars and other unwanted third-party software (e.g. Winamp and Yahoo Messenger). For those applications I did not allow the installation of any unwanted software.

The Windows 8 Start Screen

Windows 8 has replaced the Start Menu with the Start Screen. Its location in the Windows file system is the same though.

Both in Windows 7 and Windows 8, the folders and shortcuts that make up the Start Menu and the Start Screen are found in two folders: "C:UsersUser NameAppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart Menu" and "C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart Menu".

This is how the Start Screen looks like after installing the applications I used for the analysis. I find it pretty crowded and disorganized.

When I right click and choose All apps, I get something very similar to the Start Menu in Windows 7. A much more organized structure of shortcuts, which looks a lot like the classic Start Menu experience.

The Windows 8 Desktop

Luckily, with the exception of the missing Start Menu button, the Desktop has remained unchanged in Windows 8, compared to Windows 7.

Also, their location in the file system is the same: "C:UsersUser NameDesktop" and "C:UsersPublicDesktop".

This is a screenshot of the Desktop, after installing all the applications I used for this analysis.

It looked the same in both operating systems and I was happy to see there were no differences.

Start Screen vs. Start Menu: How Many Shortcuts Are There?

I installed the same set of applications, with the same installation options on both Windows 7 and Windows 8 Release Preview. Then, I counted the number of shortcuts found in both operating systems. In the table below you can find the number of shortcuts installed by each application on the Desktop, the Windows 8 Start Screen and All apps list and in the Windows 7 Start Menu.

After counting all the shortcuts, I noticed that there are important differences between the number of shortcuts displayed on the Windows 8 Start Screen, the All apps list and the Windows 7 Start Menu:

What Microsoft Needs to Change About the Start Screen!

Looking at this experiment and the whole testing experience I had so far with the Windows 8 Start Screen, I find it poorly organized, inconsistent and sometimes confusing. I strongly believe Microsoft needs to make some serious changes and improvements, in order to provide a good experience. My top suggestions are the following:

• Microsoft should clarify the criteria based on which Windows 8 selects the shortcuts displayed on the Start Screen. I understand that showing all the shortcuts installed by applications doesn't help users and their number should be limited. However, the criteria used for the selection should be clear, consistent and well communicated to software developers.
• The Start Screen needs a better algorithm for grouping shortcuts. The way it is now, I find it lacking in efficiency and friendliness. Especially for users who are not very technical. Using the folders created by applications in the Start Menu folders and grouping them in a similar way to the All apps list might be better for users. Or, at least, group all shortcuts installed by an application in the same block of shortcuts.
• The All apps list should stop hiding shortcuts. It should display absolutely all shortcuts installed by applications in their Start Menu folders.

If these changes are made, I believe that people will need less time to accommodate with the new Start Screen. Combining its strong search features with a better organisation for those who prefer using the mouse, will make people feel at ease and never miss the old Start Menu.

Conclusion

I am curious to know what is your experience with the new Start Screen: Did you enjoy using it? Do you believe it needs some further tweaking? Do you agree with the points I raised in this article?

I am looking forward to having a constructive discussion on this topic.

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