Windows Blue could restore the Start button, boot straight to the desktop

Love it or hate it, Windows 8's most significant user interface change is the Start screen and its accompanying Metro environment. It replaced the classic Start menu and is the first thing you'll see when you boot the operating system up. While the Windows desktop is still available in Windows 8 and works just as well as it ever has, the absence of the Start button and the need to use the Start screen has upset those who prefer the way things worked in Windows 7.

ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley is now reporting that the upcoming Windows Blue, also known as Windows 8.1, may be backtracking on some of these user interface decisions. According to her sources, the update may restore the Start button to the Windows desktop, as well as give users the ability to bypass the Start screen entirely at boot. Foley notes that she's not "100 percent sure" that these features will make it to the final version of Windows Blue, but that sources within Microsoft say that the company is at least considering both options. Interestingly enough, Foley's source makes no mention of the Start menu, just the button itself.

Even if both the Start button and the boot-to-desktop option are disabled by default in the next major Windows update, restoring the option to use both without resorting to third-party utilities or hacks seems like a prudent move. In particular, businesses afraid of retraining costs or user backlash will likely appreciate the ability to take advantage of Windows 8's under-the-hood enhancements and features without giving up a Windows 7-esque interface, to say nothing of people who are simply allergic to the new Start screen.

Windows Blue is due later this year, with a public preview expected in or around June. The update, which is something less than a full Windows release but something more than an update rollup or service pack, is Microsoft's opportunity to sand down Windows 8's rough edges and respond to the most common critiques of the operating system. Blue is also expected to bring new features and enhancements to the Metro environment, so if you enjoy the new interface (or if you're using it on a tablet, where it's less controversial than it is on the desktop), don't expect the new user interface to disappear.