Anyone using 8.1 outside of their office?

[DevilsAdvocate]

Hi guys,

 

Just been messing with an 8.1 image and i'm slowly coming to the conclusion it just doesn't work the way I want it to, mainly due to the Metro setup.

 

I've got a custom XML in place that works somewhat (This PC doesn't appear, SIMS doesn't seem to work). The only way i can get This PC to show is if i don't set the GPO to 'Remove common program groups from Start Menu'. However if i don't do that there are several items then available in the menu I don't wish people to access.

 

What are other people doing with regards to Start / Metro / Apps list....our normal start menu redirect isn't particularly attractive in Win 8.1

 

Thanks in advance.

[Arreks]

Good heavens no, why would I go anywhere near it?! Windows 10 may be the exception but I'm not touching anything with that metro design..

 

What about using the classic start/shell? though I'm not sure how customizable that would be in terms of deployment.

[Oaktech]

I've got a set of 8.1 tablets and 3 8.1 desktops. I've got a custom XML that works just fine, and I've got an App-X restriction policy to ban all the metro I don't want them to see and then the redirected start menu does the rest... I've got a a couple of tweaks in there too, like not to show the lock screen and to go straight to the desktop not to tiles.

[clockend25]

8.1 here is currently only used by myself, the technician, and...... the Principal.

[Crumpet]

I have it on a second laptop at home that i got for free but i rarely use it apart from playing Rocksmith on it. The apps are rubbish on a laptop from what i tried a while ago, i've never taken to them as they appear to be more suited to a touchscreen device than a workstation.

 

The worst thing is that Windows 8 could have been a perfectly fine OS if MS had catered for both PC's and touchscreen devices instead of forcing users down a touch interfaced avenue. They really kicked themselves in the balls on this one and have nobody to blame but themselves.

[DMcGuigan]

Running 8.1 at home, boot PC, hit Windows key, completely ignore Metro til next boot.

 

Only metro apps I use are Skype and Netflix, which go on screen two.

[LeMarchand]

Site 1: Just tidied up the Metro screen. Stuck Desktop + Office Apps + a Shut Down shortcut at front, rest alphabetically. Was built into image. Looked at the XML method, but some of the Google Apps weren't playing ball. Student machines only, so no SIMS.

Site 2: (IIRC - it's a test machine) Student Machines and built into image again. Desktop and Shut Down at front + a handful of shortcuts to a network store of app shortcuts. E.G. Computing, Literacy, Numeracy etc which then have shortcuts pointing to where the exes are locally.

 

With "This PC" would a custom shortcut work?

[crc-ict]

We have Windows 8 across site here. I looked into upgrading it to Windows 8.1 but found it broke too many of the workarounds that were in place to get Windows 8 working how we liked. We have a minimal metro tile set which is burned into the image, and have now trained everyone to type the first few letters of the name of a program they want to run.

 

Helps that here everyone uses Google Apps most of the time, so just need to be able to open Chrome and SIMS mainly, both of which have Desktop shortcuts.

 

Looking forward to Windows 10 - the preview I played around with picked up the original group policy start menu redirection that remained on the system to populate the reincarnated start menu. That's what we have feeding the 'All Apps' list in Windows 8, but it acts oddly and 8.1 seems to ignore it totally.

 

As there were no major benefits to Windows 8.1 for us, I decided to skip it but am waiting with interest for Windows 10 release and SIMS support.

[robjd]

8.1 at home, surface and across the entire school. Great OS if you can ignore the goons who say its bad because its cool to do so.

 

Customizing the home screen is a pain in the arse however but with win 10 on its way, I wouldn't worry learning it now.