Pokki actually works with all versions of Windows (as far back as XP), offering to replace the stock Start button and menu with its own pretty, icon-oriented system.

During installation, be sure to check the option to use Pokki as your Start menu. When that's done, just head to the Windows 8 Desktop and you'll see something that looks like an acorn where the Start button normally resides.

Click and you'll see a menu that, while not exactly identical to Windows 7, looks familiar enough. All Programs, Control Panel, Documents, a Shut Down menu--they're all there.

If you right-click the Pokki Start button and choose , you'll see a option. Yep, you guessed it: Now your Windows 8 system will start in Desktop mode instead of the Start screen, meaning you can enjoy a more traditional Windows experience.

As a huge added bonus, that's home to dozens of, well, Windows 8-style apps. You can use them or not, but they all run within the Desktop environment, so you don't have to switch back to the Start screen or anything.