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Windows 9 To Win Over Windows 7 Users, Disables Start Screen For Desktop
DroidJason1 writes One of Microsoft's main goals with Windows 9, the next major version of Windows, is to win over Windows 7 hold outs. The operating system will look and work differently based on hardware type. Microsoft is looking to showcase the desktop for desktop and laptop users, while two-in-one devices like the Surface Pro or Lenovo Yoga will support switching between the Metro interface and the classic desktop interface. The new desktop will allow Modern UI apps to run in windowed mode, and have Modern UI apps pinned to the Start Menu instead of a Start Screen. There will also be a mini-start menu. Microsoft is looking to undo the usability mistakes it made with Windows 8 for those who are not on a touch device. WIndows 9 is expected around spring of 2015.
The Start Screen made a few critical improvements to the Start Menu, it just had the misfortune of being bundled with Metro.
Namely, it eliminated a few problems caused by third-party developers cluttering up the Start Menu with extraneous folders and shortcuts (no more nested folders). Now you can have a better organized Start Screen but still have access to all those extra shortcuts if you need them.
Bringing these enhancements back to the desktop would certainly be welcome, at least by me. Also, IIRC Tiles support was already announced for the Windows 9 Start Menu. So, like Android widgets or the already-existing desktop Gadgets... could be useful. I probably won't use them, though, except maybe for the weather.