Windows Blue could bring back Start Menu and desktop booting

In a surprising change of direction for Windows 8, Microsoft may be relenting and bringing back some older, yet more popular features. According to several media outlets, the company is currently testing a user-selected option which would allow booting directly into the Windows desktop, as opposed to the new Tile UI.

This change could be reflected in the upcoming Windows 8.1 update, along with the return of the Start button and menu, a feature that many users longed for after switching to Windows 8. The changes appear to be a result of harsh criticism that the OS has received, especially from enterprise customers and users running non-touch screen devices.

IDC has published multiple reports suggesting that Windows 8 hasn't met the response that Microsoft anticipated, with some companies even blaming the OS for the stall in PC growth. These latest changes could be an effort to appeal to customers who have yet to make the jump, but nothing has been set in stone and changes could occur before the official release.

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