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The Perils of the Start Menu

I have noticed more and more often that people are limited by their Start Menu.  They cannot find what they need in a timely manner, if at all.  I have a solution that will not only speed up your computer using, but keep you from being engulfed by your Start Menu.

Many people’s Start menu looks much like this.  Even the image given is a relatively clean example compared to many I’ve seen.  How difficult is it to find the program you are looking for in that large list of items.  Granted, you will learn it’s approximate location and tend to narrow down your search over time, but any change puts you in a “search funk” once again.

The Window’s Start Menu is actually a major improvement over the old program sorting feature of Windows 3.x and prior, but still has it’s flaws.  The MacOS X design answers some of this problem with it’s Dockbar, but suffers the same problem with it’s applications folders.   Microsoft tried to help this problem with the Quick Launch bar, but as with the Mac Dockbar, if you added every program you use then it is just as difficult to find what you need.  So you only add your frequently used items, but every time you need that program that didn’t merit a nod, your left with fighting through the program tree.

There has long been a debate about the merits of the mouse. Even back when Apple was in it’s infancy, they put millions of dollars into UI research.  Two things were found:

1. Users consistently report that keyboarding is faster than using the mouse.
2. The stopwatch consistently proves mousing is faster then keyboarding.

This is why the Dockbar and the Quick Launch bar are so popular.  Most people these days use the mouse so naturally that a mousing interface feels…well…natural.  But while your hands are mostly placed on the keyboard, removing them and moving the mouse to an icon then placing your hands back on the keyboard is very inefficient.

There is a very simple way to solve all this.  Application launchers provide the means to quickly find what you need, while appealing to a natural interface.  I’ll illustrate this in reverse order.

Keyboarding is becoming more natural due to the internet and search engines.  These days you can’t mouse click your way into finding something on the internet with any efficiency.  You can bookmark (or favorite) your frequently used sites, but when you need something outside of your bookmarks, you are back at your keyboard.  That’s why typing what you need has made a comeback in what a user finds natural.  You see this with Microsoft’s introduction of Windows Search 4.0 and Google’s Desktop search.  No longer will you find yourself navigating through directory trees to find that one file you need, WS4 and GD provide an easy way there.

Secondly, application launchers quickly find what you need without you having to type out the entire name.  A good launcher will also learn what you type most often so that you can begin to get the program you want with a single key press.

Executor

The best launcher I have found to date is Executor (Windows) and Quicksilver (MacOS) and GnomeDo (Linux/Gnome).  Launchy (Windows/Linux) is also a nice launcher.  I don’t own a Mac, so I won’t comment on Quicksilver, but Executor does the job wonderfully.  With a quick Ctrl-Space, Executor is up and ready for commands.  I can then type, “fire”–and Firefox loads; “email”–and my email launches; “word”–and Microsoft Word runs.

Executor also let’s you add your own keywords for certain items.  Say you don’t want USA Today as your home page, but it’s the first page you view in the morning.  Setup a keyword that is: “usatoday” and BAM! your browser will load with USA Today ready to view.  Compare that to:

1. Open browser
2. Goto bookmarks (or favorites)
3. Find USA Today
4. Click Item

You’ll find yourself getting things running twice as fast.  You’ll never have to dig through the Start Menu again, just think of the time you’ll save.

I’m just saying…