Is there an actual name for the "Start Menu" user interface element in Vista?

March 3, 2008 1:11 PM

Is there an actual name for the "Start Menu" user interface element in Vista? It also shows up in Office 2007 and holds all the "Open, Save As . . ." file operations.

I've heard it called the "Pearl" - is that actually the name of the element? Is there another common way to refer to that object? Is it a "button"? Something else?

posted by dhacker to Technology (6 answers total)

Best answer: Yes, brace yourself, it is called "The Microsoft Office button" which is located on "The Ribbon"
posted by prostyle at 1:16 PM on March 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

The Throbbing Orb.
posted by GuyZero at 1:23 PM on March 3, 2008

If you right click and select the "explore" option on the pull-down menu, it opens a folder entitled "Start menu." The Office Button is called just that if you scroll over it without clicking on it.
posted by Ironmouth at 1:29 PM on March 3, 2008

I believe the throbbing orb in Vista is still called the start button. At least when you hover over it, that is what it says.
posted by birdherder at 1:30 PM on March 3, 2008

Response by poster: So it's the "Office Button" eh? Staggering.
posted by dhacker at 1:36 PM on March 3, 2008

I believe the Start button's name in Vista is actually the Start Orb.
posted by phaded at 4:48 PM on March 3, 2008