Hi Randy
Thanks for the interest, I'll try to answer all 1-by-1
> I like the way it does not seem to impact any existing navigation methods already native to Windows 8. Yep, as well as not impacting the system. P8 runs in a separate process, so unlike certain alternatives it can't crash Explorer or make glitches to it. (However there possible a hang in case P8 crashes until Windows Error reporting window isn't closed)
>why there appears to be double Start Menu (buttons?) on the left side? 2nd "Start menu" is just a placeholder at the moment. Don't pay attention to it until Alpha 4 (see
project roadmap). It will be also updated in beta 1.
>Are you planning to use one as a possible jump list function? Yep, it is goal for beta. Beta will have a list of already run programs in place where 2nd "Start menu" is located now, just like it's in W7. And as it's done in w7, there will be a dynamic list of command-line arguments, extended with jump lists. Just we'll do it better allowing user visually pin/unpin items.
>Perhaps a more conventional name of one or the other would help, something more like "All Programs" Well it is exactly like it was in the beginning - "All programs", hard-coded. Then we implemented automatic resolving of folders and files localized names, and "Start menu" became extracted automatically. This means 2 things:
1) This is how Windows really references the folder - it is "Start menu" first of all;
2) You can customize it! Open C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Desktop.ini (hidden), and set "All programs" or whatever you like after "LocalizedResourceName=".
Later on we can make it customizable also via P8 UI, but not in 1.0 because there will be no settings window for now
> the placement of the actual program button on the taskbar. Because it is at the extreme bottom left it makes it a little difficult to operate while avoiding the native desktop to start page toggle. Perhaps if it was either slightly larger or located a bit more to the right of where it is now to provide some separation. So the question in general is "Why is the button located there?"
Part 1. Location in taskbar and size. Let's have a look at current Taskbar layout by default:
[empty*][Appz Zone][Panels, e.g. QuickLaunch][Tray icons][Language][Date/Time][Show Desktop button]
*free space, width equal to "Show desktop button" + 1
So this is
the only free space in taskbar we can use without intruding into Explorer process (which is important point for me).
As logical continuation, the size of p8 main button equals to "Show desktop" button. Making it wider or moving will result in hovering 1st app item and we'll need to have something inside Explorer - like Start8 or Classic Start menu or many else do.
Part 2. Location on screen As for location in the screen - well, it depends on your settings
For 16*9/16*10 screens MS recommends docking the taskbar to the right screen edge. I find it quite handy by the way, this is how my all systems are set up. In case you want horizontal taskbar - try moving it to the top of the screen. You can move the taskbar without switching P8 off - it supports dynamic taskbar reconfiguration, together with "hide taskbar" option
If that's not an option too - try Alt+Z hotkey. It will bring the P8 window in the screen corner closest to your mouse pointer regardless where the taskbar really is. This is also useful since P8 supports multi-monitor configurations.
Finally, if you have a better idea - we are open to suggestions
Best regards
Mike.
