is classic shell ok to use

[hankwt]

Iv just ordered myself a ROG G751JY DB72 cant wait of course it has windows 8.1 Im a windows 7 guy is it safe to use "Classic Shell" to make it emulate windows 7
any thoughts or problems associated with this ?? any other recomendations better than Clasic Shell ???? i will eventuallu swith to windows 10 once I am certain the bugs are gone

[joshindaphils]

No issues that I am aware of I do prefer Start8 though stardock has other solutions as well... in fact it seems to me MS is ripping of stardock in Windows 10, you can have a traditional Win7 menu or a hybrid menu like in Windows 10. Lots of other neat little Window utilities in there as well I like fences as well.

Anyhow I find it well worth the $5 for Start8 http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

[Xuphra]

joshindaphils wrote:
No issues that I am aware of I do prefer Start8 though stardock has other solutions as well... in fact it seems to me MS is ripping of stardock in Windows 10, you can have a traditional Win7 menu or a hybrid menu like in Windows 10. Lots of other neat little Window utilities in there as well I like fences as well.

Anyhow I find it well worth the $5 for Start8 http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

Definitely agreed. I tried out ClassicShell today, and it just wasn't as nice and clean as Start 8. It's easier to use and looks better.

[grandmachine]

I have an ASUS ROG G751JY-DH71 and the first thing I installed was classic shell. Haven't had any problems with it.

[Edweird]

Not a single issue with it since December. I'll change to Win10 as soon as it comes out, too.

[clockworksatan]

I had a horrible moment over the weekend. I installed classic shell and then uninstalled it again because... And I don't know how I can bring myself to say this... I think I've got used to the Windows 8.1 start button! *cries*

Heh, in all seriousness though, classic shell is great. It perfectly brings back a Windows 7-style start button but I just feel that it takes Windows 8 back a step.

[Edweird]

The modern/metro style interface is not given enough credit - it was just not optimized for use with a stationary, non-touchscreen PC. And the messages saying "Tap here" all the time in the upper right corner were annoying >.> Really, that's my only problem with 8/8.1

Looking forward to Win10's interface and ... oh lawdy - DX12!

[joshindaphils]

While I haven't reviewed it in nearly two years now I found Classic shell to have some fit and finish issues for instance when disabling hot corners the traps were still present. This was a huge annoyance when working with multiple monitors as the cursor would constantly be stuck in the corner. There is more than a good chance this is not the case anymore, I simply don't know, but it was a handful of things like that that moved me over to paying for Start8 back when I was evaluating my options. Start8 has a free trial so you can see the differences (if any functionally still exist) and see if it is worth the fiver to ya.

Edwerd,

I think it gets all the credit it is due; a good mobile interface that should not exist on strictly desktop paradigm. It is a colossal mistake by most all accounts.

clockwork,

It is highly subjective and I think it is far less of an issue for casual users, however as a power user that will frequently run commands and searches off the Start menu I find it incredibly jarring to have a whole screen taken over just to search for something or launch an app. It kills productivity, is a wasteful use of pixel IMO and is just crazy distracting to me. Otherwise Win8/8.1 is a solid upgrade to Win7 just get alternatives to the default metro apps or a utility to make them appear in a window.

A mobile UI is much slower to interact with by utter necessity of the simplification needed and should never be foisted upon desktop users IMO.

[clockworksatan]

joshindaphils wrote:
...as a power user that will frequently run commands and searches off the Start menu I find it incredibly jarring to have a whole screen taken over just to search for something or launch an app. It kills productivity, is a wasteful use of pixel IMO and is just crazy distracting to me.

Totally agree. I have to admit that when I've got my 'power user' hat on at work I'm using Windows 7, and my G751 is my relaxing-at-home machine so I'm happy to have to deal with Windows 8.1's mess of a UI which, by all accounts, is a complete disaster - but I've become used to its proclivities and await the upgrade to Windows 10 with baited breath!