Just recently I set up a new notebook for personal use. While I was pleased to see that the OS which came pre-installed was set up quite nicely, I was rather flabergasted by all the additional software that was installed which first had to be removed. I like to restrict the selection to the essential software I really need on my device. I really don’t care to have a boatload of apps pre-loaded, possibly invoked at startup which then nest themselves into my system tray. Obviously, I started uninstalling all the unnecessary ballast.
Once happy with my software selection I realized there was yet another problem that required solving: consolidating my start menu.
It is a little astonishing how many entries one still has in their start menu, even after uninstalling 50% off all the software that came out of the box. It made me question whether it wouldn’t be about time to have a start menu etiquette. So here’s my proposal in order of importance, 1 being the most important:
1. Don’t create a start menu folder if you don’t plan to add more than one shortcut to the menu.
Creating a folder and putting one shortcut into it is pointless. Adding a folder is an unnecessary indirection and only adds additional mouse-clicks when one wants to start the item. Instead, put this app right into the root folder of the start menu, both making it more accessible and easier to find.
Even worse is the following:
I wonder why Acer thinks their system utilities are so important to deserve 3 different folders. If you must have several items in the start menu, try to consolidate your items into one folder and keep things clean. That’s after all, what folders are there for.
2. Don’t add documentation or uninstallers to the start menu.
When someone is looking for help, they are most likely running the application. Better make sure your application has great embedded help where it is needed the most: in the running app. Also, why do we still need readme files in 2010? If your application requires someone to dwell through a readme.1st file before they should start an app, then your app is likely fundamentally flawed. You don’t really believe someone would actually read such a file in the first place, right? Let this tradition of delivering separate documentations die please. Great apps are intuitive, have their required documentation embedded or might even greet the user with a video tutorial at first run.
In regard to uninstallers, let the OS manage that for you and don’t create redundancy. The paradigm on Windows has long been to go to the Control Panel, where you invoke the Add/Remove Programs section. This is where people look for uninstallers. By adding your uninstaller into the start menu you actually fragment the overall OS experience and needlessly contribute further to the start menu clutter.
3. There is no need for Throwaway Shortcuts.
Admittedly, I just made this term up. What I’m trying to refer to is a shortcut a customer would likely only click once, if ever. Such shortcuts would be an online registration as seen above in 2. Why not ask for online registration at first run of your app? It certainly gives the registration more weight as it does not have to be invoked manually by the user, but it also makes sure that there won’t be a shortcut left behind if a user actually decides to register. What’s the value of keeping such a shortcut in the start menu forever? Only put things into the start menu that you anticipate to be invoked frequently.
Final thoughts
Starting with Windows Vista, the start menu has been improved with search capabilities that mitigate the ever growing clutter in this tool. However, this isn’t an excuse to just mindlessly throw items at this menu. I would welcome app makers that consider rethinking the way they want their users to invoke their app. Make it easy to find your application and understand that you cannot take over your customers computer with force. Be mindful in how you install your application and expose it to the customer. You don’t want to be the app that shamelessly puts icons and folders all over the place. Try to keep things consistent, intuitive and clean. I hope the above may inspire you to deliver a better experience. Your customer will be thankful for it, as I know, I would be!