Quote:
Originally Posted by Turtle91
So, if I understand correctly, you want to have only those programs you use regularly showing on the start bar/menu and you want to get to the rarely used apps within a few "drill-down" clicks. You don't mind having a list of folders always showing up - regardless of how often you click on them - but you don't want tiles taking up space that you may have to scroll over??
The Start Menu already lists those programs you use most often for quick clicking on the far left and you can group tiles of regularly used, but less often, programs on the variable-sized tiles area for easy access. I have an "Office" group... I have resized (small) the less-used apps (publisher, one-note, etc)within that group so they take 1/4 the space but are still quickly available without searching. (See example below)
If you rarely want access....and don't want it sitting there staring at you...taunting you with "why don't you love me anymore" eyes...then unpin it and then use the "All Apps" selection on the start menu... That groups ALL apps/folders in alphabetical order. You can easily find your lonely app from there.
-or-
Just start typing the name on the start button. Just like Win8's auto search on the start screen (which was well received even if the start screen wasn't) it will automatically list all those possible items relating to your search within fractions of a second. That is a MUCH faster way of getting to the under-appreciated apps/docs/links on your computer than trying to drill-down.
IMO the ability to organize your programs is much better than on XP/7/Vista it is just slightly different in presentation. Of course, it also requires people to learn new tricks...
If new versions of software did everything exactly the same as the old version, no one would ever upgrade. 
Quick example of my Start Menu |
That takes way too much screen. I disliked the full-screen start menu of Windows 8.1, why should I like it now in Windows 10?
The applications that are pinned on my taskbar are the ones that are always open if I have my computer on (think browser). That's one or two at most. Those I don't have pinned on my start menu (using Windows 7).
Then I have a few applications pinned on my start menu, those I'll start once in a while, not once a year, but at least not every day (for instance the snipping tool). About 4 or 5 applications. Then there are those applications which I'll start by double clicking or right clicking on a file (text editor). Those I don't want to see on my start menu. And finally there are those applications that I might start really seldom. Those will show up on the "last started applications" list.
And I don't need those live tiles, I find them too "in your face". I prefer a lean layout.
I thought I could get it in Windows 10, by not putting any live tiles on the start menu. But then you cannot pin anything. And that "All programs" thing is way too bulky. I can see more entries in my leaner version of the start menu in Windows 7.
Which is weird, as I really do like the overall look of Windows 10, which is very clean. But that start menu is just ... not so... No idea how to describe it in English...