Summary
Highlights
The video opens by addressing the common dissatisfaction with the Windows 11 Start Menu, citing its lack of customization. It introduces Start 11 as a superior alternative, emphasizing its extensive customization options and usability, despite being a paid program with a trial version. The presenter praises Start 11 as the best Start Menu software available, even suggesting Microsoft should take inspiration from it.
Start 11 offers various Start Menu styles, including Windows 7, Modern, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows App, Windows Pro, and Windows Launcher styles. The presenter demonstrates how to activate a trial and choose a style, showcasing the different appearances and functionalities of each. He opts for the Windows Pro style for further demonstration, noting that all styles are fully customizable.
The 'Configure Menu' section allows users to add standard locations like network, video, or picture folders directly to the Start Menu's right-hand panel. This feature enhances quick access to frequently used folders, although the presenter chooses to keep his setup minimalist for the demonstration.
The 'Visual Appearance' settings offer options to enable a 'micro effect' for translucency, change menu colors, and adjust transparency levels. Users can also choose between rounded or square corners for the menu. Custom menu backgrounds are available from a pre-designed selection by Start 11, or users can turn this feature off.
Start 11 enables customization of the Start button itself, offering various pre-designed icons or the possibility of custom ones. The 'Taskbar' section allows users to enhance the taskbar with features like blur, transparency, and color adjustments. Advanced options include showing seconds on the clock and repositioning the Start button and taskbar elements. Users can also apply custom textures and adjust the taskbar size.
The video details customization of the search functionality, allowing users to choose between Start 11's search or Windows' default search, and integrating Microsoft open tabs into search results. The 'Control' section allows for changing various settings, and 'Settings Backup' provides options to save, restore, or reset configurations. Users can further customize the menu by creating and renaming groups, adding tabs, and organizing application shortcuts, along with changing group colors and transparency.
Additional appearance settings cover icon tinting, text shadows, and icon styles, offering comprehensive control over the Start Menu's look. The presenter demonstrates how a fully customized Start Menu can appear, highlighting the significant improvement in usability and aesthetic appeal over the default Windows 11 Start Menu, with neatly categorized applications for quick access.