Gigabyte Smart Switch brings back Start button, boot-to-besktop to Windows 8

A vast number of PC users still lack touch screens and many of them would prefer to skip the tile-based Metro interface altogether. Microsoft is apparently aware of this and has decided to include the start button (again) with the next version of Windows, 8.1 Blue. For those who don't want to wait for the update, there are already several third-party tools on the market that lets you do all this – some free and some commercial. 

Gigabyte now offers a free tool that works on any PC with Windows 8 – not just Gigabyte notebooks. With the app Smart Switch, the system will boot directly to the desktop without taking the detour via the tiled start screen. It also gives you quick access to basic power options. 

Other than Smart Switch, the manufacturer also offers other useful tools under the umbrella name Smart Technology. The tool Smart Turbo is used for overclocking, allowing the user to maximize performance. Smart Charge switches off the charging functionality in the USB ports when your notebook's battery is running low. By pressing the function key (Fn) when your notebook is in off state, you get access to the Smart Setup tool, including BIOS and system restore options.

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