How do *you* organize your start menu?

[WillyG]

My appology if u have seen this before, i believe the board ate my first post
Just out of curiosity: How do you prefer your start menu organized?
As a minimalistic (is that a word? :oops: ) person i try to use the build in applications as much as possible. That also includes the startmenu.
I started off using WindowsCE (Casiopeia E10) with its cascading startmenu (wich i liked) and then i had a short trip over the fence to the Palm world (PalmVx) and got used to the buildt in launcher there. (I came back tho, because i didnt feel comfy in that limited box :roll:), went trough PPC 2K (iPAQ 3660) and have now used PPC2002 since it came out (currently using a LOOX).
Without using any 3rd party launcher there is 3 main ways organizing this as far as i see. Wich one do you prefer? Or is there a better way of doing it? (There really is no right or wrong answer here so feel free to share ur thoughts)

:? ALT1
Programs everywhere. The default pocket PC way
Personally i find this messy. And it involves a lot of tapping and scrollbar dragging to find the right application.
-START MENU
--Prefered/most used application 1
--Prefered/most used application 2
--Prefered/most used application 3
--Prefered/most used application X
--PROGRAMS
----application 1
----application 2
----application 3
----application X
--SETTINGS
----custom system tools (like regedit)
:) ALT2
Combined.
I used this method for a long time. Here you combine the default pocket PC way, with more structured task-oriented folders or application spesiffic folders (under "programs")-START MENU
--Prefered/most used application 1
--Prefered/most used application 2
--Prefered/most used application 3
--Prefered/most used application X
--PROGRAMS
----Task-oriented folder 1 (ie: "Media")
----Task-oriented folder 2 (ie: "Reference")
----Task-oriented folder X (ie: "Communication")
----Often used application 1
----Often used application 2
----Often used application X
--SETTINGS
----custom system tools (like regedit)
:D ALT3
Fully task orientated.
This is my prefered way of doing it. I Organize every application in task-oriented folders directly under the start menu. Then i try to break down the tasks so will bee more than 12 icons in each folder (if a folder contains more than 12 icons the scrollbars will apear) Doing it this way it never takes me more than 2 taps from the open startmenu to start the desired application
-START MENU
--Task oriented folder 1 (ie: "Comunication")
--Task oriented folder 2 (ie: "Office related")
--Task oriented folder 3 (ie: "Media")
--Task oriented folder 4 (ie: "Personal")
--Task oriented folder 5 (ie: "Reference")
--Task oriented folder 6 (ie: "Games")
--Task oriented folder 7 (ie: "Tools")
--Prefered/most used application (ie File Explorer)
--PROGRAMS
----Normally empty. But this works like "uncategorized" for those familiar with Palms. Newly installed applications shows up here before i categorize them, that is moving (and somtimes renaming) their shortcuts to my task-oriented folder directly under the start menu.
--SETTINGS
----custom system tools


Now, witch way do you prefer? Is there an :lol: ALT4 wich i havent discovered yet, thats even better?

[Ed Hansberry]

I pretty much leave the start menu alone other than keeping it uncluttered from installs. :evil: I hate it when apps install their shortcuts there assuming I'll use them all of the time.

I prefer to use Launcher on the Today Screen.

[mashtim]

I mostly ignore my start menu altogether. I use Program Bar from Battery Bar. I combine that with GigaTask so that I can use a hardware button to switch between open programs with one hand.

In fact, since I saw this thread, I looked at my Start menu and noticed that it has many doubles (that, apparently, I can't remove!! what's THAT all about?) and programs that I've used once or twice. How useless!

[Ed Hansberry]

In fact, since I saw this thread, I looked at my Start menu and noticed that it has many doubles (that, apparently, I can't remove!! what's THAT all about?) and programs that I've used once or twice. How useless!

You have shortcuts in both \windows\start menu and \windows\start menu\programs. Delete one of the dupicates.

[WillyG]

Im a bit surprised 8O that most of you use a 3rd party tool as primary application launcher.
So what does this tell us about the way the startmenu works today?
hmm...let me guess: We aint happy with it?

So, those 3rd party launchers, are they all "Today launchers" or is there somthing else?
Do you launch all applications from there, since your startmenu's is full of dust and spiderweb? :wink:
Aint that a mess on the todayscreen? The themes must be whasted, cant see nothing but tiny icons :)

[Ed Hansberry]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/hansberry.jpg

Doesn't block too much of the image, depending on what it is. :)

[WillyG]

...depending on what it is. :)

Nice image, is that your "house" there on the right side? I think u will need a new gardener to look after ur garden :wink:

A bit off topic, but could you be nice enough to tell me what some of the application-icons im not familiar with are?

1. The "lamp" to the left of file explorer
2. The hand to the right of file explorer
3. The "P" between PI and Word
4. The "thing (card?)" to the right of Word
5. and finally the Word lookalike to the left of nPOP

Thanx in advance (cant risk missing some cool applications u know :) ).
btw. if ur in a rush, just give me the names, i know how to use Google, heh.

[yvilla]

So, those 3rd party launchers, are they all "Today launchers" or is there somthing else?
Do you launch all applications from there, since your startmenu's is full of dust and spiderweb? :wink:
Aint that a mess on the todayscreen? The themes must be whasted, cant see nothing but tiny icons :)

I don't like using the "Today launchers" because I'd rather leave the screen completely free for my theme images--have some beauties. So I use a combination of the Start menu (11 apps) and Giga Task (3 icons/menus of ten apps/functions each up on the Task bar) for a total of 41 apps/functions with just two taps, and no scrolling.

Then again, I recently got my e550G, so I'm starting to use the "Home" task launching app provided with Toshibas. I keep switching back and forth between those two schemes--can't decide which I like better.

But I (almost) never use the "programs" menu off the Start menu--I hate all the scrolling with all the apps left in one big "programs" group, nor would I like the multiple taps that would be needed if I were to organize it into subgroups.

[Ed Hansberry]

...depending on what it is. :)

Nice image, is that your "house" there on the right side? I think u will need a new gardener to look after ur garden :wink:

A bit off topic, but could you be nice enough to tell me what some of the application-icons im not familiar with are?

1. The "lamp" to the left of file explorer
Daily Reader - www.laridian.com
2. The hand to the right of file explorer
HanDBase - www.ddhsoftware.com
3. The "P" between PI and Word
Pocket Mindmap - www.pocketmindmap.com
4. The "thing (card?)" to the right of Word
Pocket Bible - www.laridian.com
5. and finally the Word lookalike to the left of nPOP
WordCommands - it allows you to use more keyboard shortcuts with a keyboard in Pocket Word. Don't know where to get it anymore. The link I had for it is dead.

[Sven Johannsen]

WordCommands - it allows you to use more keyboard shortcuts with a keyboard in Pocket Word. Don't know where to get it anymore. The link I had for it is dead.

For Ed and all
http://www.lagorio.net/pocketpc/wordcommands/

[Jeff Rutledge]

I pretty much leave the start menu alone other than keeping it uncluttered from installs. :evil: I hate it when apps install their shortcuts there assuming I'll use them all of the time.

I prefer to use Launcher on the Today Screen.

I'm the same way exactly. I limit mine to one row. I use Scott's Launcher program which allows you to create sub-folders. I have two folders: one for games and the other for programs, etc.

I use the other 7 spots in the row for my most use apps. That way I can access anything with two clicks.

[avoglio]

I use basically an individual standard menu:

START
Today
Ewallet
IE
Nevo
Email
FileExplorer

PROGRAMS (the following are all dirs)
Data (containing shortcuts of often used databases and other files thus in one dir I find all my daily used files)
Dfue (holds all shortcuts for wireless data, e.g. ICQ, Messenger, TerminaL)
Office (holds all Office and Database apps as well as Calc)
PIM (all PIM/Notes apps)
Programs (mostly unsorted, ala image viewer, media player, pockettv)
Games (you know whats in here :lol: )
System (everything system based like Backup tools, regedit, wisbar, storage tools, gprs monitor aso)
Travel (Metro guide, GPS Navigator, Traveller, TrueTerm dic)

Getting used to that, I reach each app very quickly.

[WillyG]

I use basically an individual standard menu:...
...Getting used to that, I reach each app very quickly.

Thanx for sharing. Always interesting to hear how others organize things.
Seems like you do things just like i used to before "upgrading" to alternative 3 :)

[mobileMike]

I keep my Programs folder and Start Menu free of application icons. I agree with Ed, I hate when applications install their icons under the Start menu.

I have created subfolders under Programs:
Games (default)
Multimedia
Network
Office & Literature
PIM
Utilities

I have shortcuts to all these folders under the Start Menu. I do use tdLauncher on the desktop to display one row of icons for those applications I use the most.

/ mike