[jimmaswell]

Calling the start button a travesty is ridiculous. The start menu is a useful and appropriate menu where programs and other shortcuts are listed that nobody really has a problem with outside contrived complaints on the internet that were made for the sake of complaining. The real travesty was the abrasive and confusing replacement they made for it in Windows 8.

[derefr]

You weren't around for the release of Windows 95, I take it. The OS tried very hard to point out that you have to click the start button to, well, start doing things—but people usually just Didn't Get It anyway until someone guided them through the process.

Probably the best thing Microsoft could have done back then was make a little pseudo-video† walkthrough, showing people what's in the Start Menu and what happens when you click on a few of the items in there.

† What do you call a video stored as a sequence of automation triggers for software, rather than as pixels? Are you allowed to call it "machinima" if it's not a game?

[TazeTSchnitzel]

The Start button may not be brilliant, but it came about through actual usability studies. Having just the one button drastically reduced the time it took people to find things.

[Dylan16807]

But you only have to learn it once. Just like the hamburger.

[josho]

Start button is where you go to start a program. Hamburger button is where you go when you've tried everything else.. I.e. It's a placeholder for random stuff which is why it's bad design.

[Cyberdog]

> Start button is where you go to start a program.

Or to shut down the computer.

[Dylan16807]

Start button is where you go to initiate an action.

I hate this joke.

[mchahn]

> Or to shut down the computer.

That should be "Start to shut down the computer". (grin)

[omnibrain]

> Probably the best thing Microsoft could have done back then was make a little pseudo-video† walkthrough, showing people what's in the Start Menu and what happens when you click on a few of the items in there. They did that. Windows 95 came with a whole bunch of tutorials. IIRC they worked like you describe. There was also the notorious "Tip of the day" via the welcome.exe.