The "Start" product was first introduced as Start8 in 2012 to bring back the Windows 7 Start Menu after the release of the abysmal Windows 8 operating system. This is also when I first became aware of Stardock. In addition to Start8, I also purchased Modern Mix.

Start10 was released in 2015 to provide alternatives to the Start Menu in the Windows 10 operating system.

And Start11 was introduced in 2021 to provide alternatives to the Start Menu in the Windows 11 operating system.

I have gone back through the Start Forums to find comments on the transitions from Start8 to Start10, Start10 to Start11v1, and Start11v1 to Start11v2. What I have found is very interesting.

When Start10 was introduced, there were a number of complaints that the upgrade was not a free update! These even though there was three years between versions and the name was changed from Start8 to Start10.

When Start11 was introduced, interestingly I couldn't find any complaints about having to pay for the upgrade, but a lot of enthusiastic users participating in the beta or pre-release version.

Now, with the introduction of Start11v2, there again has been a number of complaints that the upgrade is not free. In fact, the attitude of those unhappy about the paid upgrade is extreme. Some of those complaints were that the name wasn't changed, so it should be a free update. Interestingly, even when the name was changed from Start8 to Start10, there were still a number of complaints.

My observation is that there will always be a handful of users who will not be happy about paying for a legitimate upgrade, and that they cannot be convinced otherwise.

Many thanks to Stardock for their great products and excellent support.

pelaird