Start++ Makes Vista's Start Menu Wicked Useful

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Productivity, Freeware, Search

Start++ Makes Vista's Start Menu Wicked Useful

by Lee Mathews Sep 16th 2008

One of the features I've always liked about Vista was the Start Menu's search box. I heard a lot of complaints about the missing run command, but who cares? Win + R still works.

Besides, once you download and install Start++ the search box will be kicking so much ass you won't believe it.

Start++ adds a number of handy functions. For a start, you can set up custom keywords to perform search operations. By default it will recognize g (Google), y (Yahoo!), l (Live Search) w (Wikipedia), and imdb ('nuf said).

Type g[space] your search text, and Start++ will display results right in the start menu. You're even able to switch views between web, news, blog, and image seamlessly. Text and links can be highlighted and copied with ctrl + c, though right clicking does not work.

Setting up new keywords is a snap, and the sky's the limit.

Start++ can also be extended by installing plugins, and there are quite a few available for download. Commands of interest include the MS knowledge base (just enter a KB number), YouTube search, MSN Weather, and Start/Stop services. There are also gadgets available, like Digg (doesn't work 100%) and PocketTweets, which provides an excellent, streamlined interface to use Twitter in the start menu.

I also love the developer's choice to include sudo in the app's functions. Need to run a command with elevated privileges? Preface it with sudo, and Vista will run it with admin rights. Slick!

Now, Start++ isn't perfect. It did quit displaying results a couple times, but closing and re-launching the application got it going again. To me, it's a minor inconvenience, and not something that will make me uninstall it..

I haven't always been the biggest fan of Vista's redesigned start menu, but Start++ transforms it into something that is beautifully useful. If you're a Vista user, this is well worth a download.

Tags: shell enhancement, ShellEnhancement, start-menu, vista

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Zaxour said 2:31PM on 9-16-2008

You know you can add the Run command by going through your start menu properties?

Right click on task bar>properties>Start Menu tab, Customize, and its in that list.

Lee Mathews said 2:32PM on 9-16-2008

Absolutely. It was one of the first things I looked for when I played with the betas. I've never clicked it anyways, win+r is so much quicker.

H said 3:51PM on 9-17-2008

The Run command is right there out of the box. You don't have to do anything.

Just type the name of an executable in the 'Start Search' box in the start menu.

LEo said 2:43PM on 9-16-2008

Great! Now mix this with Launchy and we have the ultimate launching tool.

L.

neo said 2:56PM on 9-16-2008

Vista is not that bad. Apple has done a good job bashing MS. I've recently purchased a macbook and while OS X is nice, it doesn't stand head and shoulders above Vista - at least not from a UI standpoint. Give it up Apple fanboys...

Lee Mathews said 2:59PM on 9-16-2008

True...somewhat unrelated, but true. Every OS has things it does well, and things it does poorly. Vista and OSX are no different.

Ultimately, all I want is an OS that is stable, secure, and that lets developers roll killer apps like Start ++ easily.

DiRT said 3:47PM on 9-16-2008

I don't disagree at all, but you are asking for it!

Kenneth said 7:52PM on 9-16-2008

I also recommend Vista Start Menu. While there is a paid version, the free version has most of the features and is quite powerful in extending the start button/vista orb menu. It doesn't integrate with the search field as much as this, but for people looking for a more expansive start menu, it may fit the bill better:

http://www.vistastartmenu.com/index.html

Allen said 4:05PM on 9-17-2008

Interesting to know is that the developer of Start++ Brandon Paddock is also part of the Windows Search department. (Neowin member, also)

Wil said 4:12PM on 9-18-2008

The Run command is handy for quickly launching programs so it is worthwhile making a small configuration change to add it back to the Start Menu. You can quickly do so in Windows Vista by completing the simple steps listed below:

1. Right click on the Start button, and click Properties.
2. From the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog, click Customize.
3. Scroll down through the list until you shall find Run command. Check the box next to it.
4. Click OK.
(Found on lockergnome)

John Lord said 1:15AM on 11-10-2008

you already can add customized shortcuts and search providers to the xp version of the search box. I don't know why they blocked this functionality in the vista one.

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

View more Time Wasters