Win10 Start Menu Regression See Windows Product Changes

A classic start menu was born

On the morning of October 1, 2014, Microsoft officially released the Windows 10 operating system. The biggest optimization of this version is the return of the menu that most old users are happy with. Looking back at the history of the Microsoft operating system, it is not difficult to find out the importance of the start menu in it. Of course, by starting the menu design, you can also feel Microsoft's understanding of the Windows operating system at different times, and pursue these clues, I will take you back to the changes in the Windows Start Menu.

Windows Start menu of the birth of

In earlier versions of Windows, MS-DOS Executive program provides file management and & ldquo; menu & rdquo; function, the program is in the final of Windows 3.0 The File Manager and the Program Manager are replaced, and the Program Manager can be said to be the prototype of the Start Menu.
The earliest start menu is long

The earliest program manager is a simple MDI interface dialog box with shortcut icons such as "program groups" for users to execute. . The start menu is developed to meet the user's needs for file manager and program manager, solving the user's simplest operational requirements. It is thus incubated through the integrated start menu, which opens up the most iconic start menu function for Windows.

Windows 95's most classic start menu
Windows 95 Start Menu

Speaking of the first start menu, it first appeared on the Windows 95 operating system, with a single-row start menu design. It condenses the program manager into a ready-to-use pop-up menu, retaining many features of the program manager, such as: embedding functions, while increasing the flexibility of the operation, the birth of the start menu effectively improves the user's operating efficiency At the same time, it also created a classic start menu design.

Windows 95 and later versions, including Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, and the Windows NT operating system for commercial use, all use the classic start menu design shown above. From 1995 to 2001, Windows's most classic menu design style dominated this era. Many users have come into contact with computers since this era. I believe that the design of the blue cursor on the gray is no stranger.

In terms of functionality, the Windows 95 Start menu provides programs for running programs, quickly opening files, finding help, searching for files, setting up computers, and quickly shutting down computers. These features build the basic functionality of the Start menu and continue to be used until now. . With IE4.0 and Win98 allowing users to drag and drop in the start menu, the start menu also welcomes a customizable mode to meet the needs of different users.

Major upgrades to the Windows XP Start Menu

Windows XP Start Menu

Time reached 2001, Microsoft Windows XP operating system released, In this version, Microsoft made a very big upgrade to the start menu. First of all, the style has abandoned the classic single-column design, and the double-column design makes the start menu content display richer. And with the Luna-style design of the start menu, both icon optimization and color matching look more comfortable and more beautiful.

The Windows XP Start Menu for dual-column display adds a list of recently used program shortcuts to the list on the left. Programs that users frequently browse are displayed here in a centralized manner, making program startup easier and moving the program menu. At the bottom left, you can quickly browse through all installed programs.

Windows XP Start Menu has added my documents, my computer, my pictures and other quick browsing file design functions to the right list. This design allows users to quickly complete file classification and search operations, greatly improving The convenience of the start menu. At the same time, the basic functions introduced in the previous section are retained.

Microsoft Windows XP also integrates user management functions into the start menu. The user login name is displayed on the upper left side, and the user settings interface is quickly accessed by clicking on the avatar. The logout button at the bottom right is also used in conjunction with the user function to complete the user logout operation.

With the increase in computing performance, the menu has changed in appearance, and it is no longer the same classic. The new changes have made the user's eyes shine, and the most ugly is described by the “ugly duckling and swan”. The Windows XP Start Menu is also very functional in design. This style continues the three generations of operating systems since then, and has also achieved the Windows XP generation of classic operating systems.

Windows Vista Start Menu is more slim
Windows Vista Start Menu

Although Windows Vista does not create classics, its start menu experience is not bad, basically continuing Windows XP The style is still double-column display design, the right column menu removes the icon design of Windows XP, and the text mode is used directly, making the start menu slimmer. In order to adapt to the Aero interface of Windows Vista, the start menu has added the Aero effect, and the background color has also been adjusted to be more transparent and has the effect of “Glass Glass”.

The biggest change in the Windows Vista start menu is that all the program extension columns of the start menu will not obscure the directory on the right side, and instead use the same column display format, which reduces the user's mouse movement distance and makes the operation faster. In addition, a search function has been added to the start menu. After entering the text, the user can list the matching start menu items, execute the instructions quickly, and find the content.

The Windows Vista Start menu moves user management to the top right, with a prominent design that makes the user management more aesthetically pleasing and integrated into the overall system. Other aspects basically continue the Windows XP start menu design, there is not much change.

If the Windows XP start menu is like a girl who has grown up, then the Windows Vista start menu is a slim slim girl.

Windows 7 Start Menu is more customizable
Windows 7 Start Menu

The Windows 7 Start Menu continues the Windows Vista Start Menu design and still uses the Aero effect. The structure layout and button position have not been changed. The default background color has turned blue. The user can also adjust the color of the start menu according to different desktop effects. The shutdown button on the lower right has been slightly modified, and the design is simpler.

In addition, the Windows 7 Start menu has been adjusted on the left side of the function. Users can fix frequently used programs on the left side and view additional files in the extended column. Windows Vista Start Menu to Windows 7 Start menu design is like 20-30 years old, there is not much change in appearance, but more mature and charm.

In a sense, we can refer to the Windows XP to Windows 7 start menu as the second generation start menu. The design is rich in functionality, practical, beautiful in design and easy to operate. In particular, the Windows 7 start menu design can already be called the peak level of the traditional start menu.

Windows 8/8.1 Start Menu Detour Tour
Win8 Start Menu

In order to promote the mobile platform, Microsoft completely canceled the traditional start menu, using the so-called “Start screen” instead, the mobile home based Metro home screen, the purpose is to force users to use the mobile platform. But obviously, the Metro main screen is very redundant for many computers that don't support touch screens, and makes traditional desktop operations very inconvenient.