In Depth: Why Microsoft has got it right with the Windows Start screen

When Windows 8 introduced the Start screen at the expense of the Start menu, it certainly made the natives restless. "It's bigger, brighter, bolder, much more personal — and much more controversial" we wrote in our Windows 8 review.
And you only need to take a quick glance down at the comments underneath that article to see some of the anger directed at Microsoft.
Where was the hallowed Start button? Why had the desktop been demoted to app status? How does this new-fangled Start screen work?
From the Facebook news feed to iOS 7, big changes always generate a certain amount of opposing opinions. For many, it felt as if Microsoft was foisting an unwanted tablet interface onto its loyal user base, those who were already happy with the traditional Start menu, taskbar and desktop paradigm.

Start screen vs Start menu

For me, after a full year of use, it feels like the brave new world of the Start screen is one that I'm very happy to be in — the look of Windows 7 feels rather old-fashioned and one-dimensional in comparison.