Is there a way to have the Task bar (like what exists in the Desktop) to appear on all screens, including the Start Full Screen Menu and the Metro Apps?

If not then I would be great if there way. This idea was presented to be by someone I was showing Windows 8.1.  The idea is that it should be an option, as some Tablet Users might not want it. However for many Desktop users with Large screens the small loss of screen space is not an issue for them, and the added usability is HUGE!  And if there is going to be a Charms menu, then in the Task bar should be a "Charms tip" like the "Start Full Screen Menu tip".

should be an option, as some Tablet Users might not want it.

If the new multi-monitor support is any guide I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it as an option.  FWIW I have had extended Taskbar disabled, wanting a Taskbar only on my Tablet and not on my widescreen monitor.  Now, however, with the new multi-monitor "support" I am getting multiple Start Screens and multiple Search screens which significantly negates that preference.  I could understand it happening if a user was actually requesting multiple Taskbars but I don't want it.  Everything now depends on where keyboard focus is.  I think having extended Taskbar disabled should be a sufficiently strongly implied "option" about where I want the Start Screen and Search.  Otherwise, you may be right and I may need to enable the other Taskbar simply as a way of bringing that monitor back under control.

Robert,

I agree with you about having an option for either enabling or disabling a task bar across all screens. We each work differently. Some people prefer the task bar to be on either the left or the right hand side, while other prefer it to be at the top. For me, I just want the option to be able to turn it on for my desktop computer.

Hi.

Taskbar+Desktop vs. (Start) Screen.

The (Start) Screen  (i.e. Surface) is the evovling replacement for the Taskbar+Desktop in pre-WinRT (i.e. pre-Surface systems, remember the Surface table m.v. and earlier. Surface is also i.e. like more physical ... i.e. see http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=microsoft+future+vision+2020&filters=hd&lclk=hd) 

• The Apps List/View replaced the Start Menu
  
  
• In desktopmode, the legacy taskbar goes across all screens. You can reset the main screen for the pins.
  
  
• To have the new "taskbar/desktop" (Start Screen) appear on a screen - you go i.e. to the lower left corner to call it onto that particular display.
  
  
• What I have learned since the Windows 8 preview is - like with the taskbar, to keep the number of shortcuts (tiles) down to weekly/daily use on the Start Screen (i.e. new taskbar). Instead of organizing by classification i.e. video, games and so on - try to do by action, i.e. Operate, Creative - i.e. creative could hold Word, Visual Studio, Photoshop .... i.e. daily/weekly use.
  
  Now with Windows 8.1 - and even smaller tiles ... the problem will be not to clutter up the "taskbar" with complexity ... rendering it a "bad" quick launch station. The pinning came around to Win7 because Windows lacked a launchpad at the time - because the Programs Menu (Apps List) was too complex ... simply too many shortcuts. So Again, keep the number down on the Start Screen.
  
  
• Both taskbar + desktop are integrated into this "new" desktop, more abstract than just about documents, i.e. also about data.
  
  
• I guess the nice thing about the concept of a surface is it can be abstract from electronics, i.e. potential to work nicely with ubiquitous computing, i.e. upcoming physical and dynamic architecture.
  

See details below:

The surface "Start Screen" is similar to the desktop/taskbar - just a more general concept. I.e. shortcuts from where your launch, i.e. data like the People hub.

But thats just to say the existing use of shortcuts like in the taskbar is already integrated into the surface (the screen).

In the archived Windows 8 preview and especially on the Windows blog you can find references why the screen was qualified with start - becoming the Start Screen (something about telemetry data on Start Menu vs. Desktop thus it should have been Start Desktop ... and never Start Menu (just menu) ... thus the "new" desktop became the Start Screen. So I guess Surface could have been a more precise and may be better name rather than "the Screen"? It could also have coined the increased amount of virtualization coming to the screen including the transition to more physical stuff, i.e. like walls)

Thanks for the reply. I have yet to understand just how the "Full Screen Start Screen menu" is any form of improvement over the Start Button and its menu. However I do not seen any relation to the "Full Screen Start Screen menu"  and the task bar, there are two very different tools with fundamentally different uses.

1) The task bar is (or as it is on most peoples computers) is always visible.  Where as the start screen is either IN YOUR FACE or is not visible at all.

2) The task bar allows me to see and easily access my 20 to 50 open applications/windows, allowing me to know what is currently open, so I don't need to open it again, and reminds me that I still need to attend to the open application or document.

3) The task bar does allow me to pin (quick launch) a few, very frequently used applications, saving me a) the effort of opening the "Full Screen Start Screen menu", and b) allowing me not to loose visibility of my applications on my desktop (which is one HUGE annoyance of the "Full Screen Start Screen menu").

I would like the task bar to be visible at all times, even when I am in Metro applications, this would remind me which Metro applications I was previously working with, so that I know to go back to them.  I am usually multitasking between many tasks, and it is easy to "forget" one of these tasks, so the reminder provided by the task bar is appreciated. It also allows me a very convenient method for moving between applications.

I have noticed that on the Windows 8 tablet that I test on, swiping from the left now shows what applications I am running and no longer rolls around the sequence of opened applications, was this an update?  It certainly is a improvement, cycling through 15 or more opened applications was tedious.

On a large desktop screen the loss of screen space that is used by the task bar is not an issue for me.

 When I went to the web site you suggested, was there a particular video you had in mind, the link   http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=microsoft+future+vision+2020&filters=hd&lclk=hd)  too me a many videos and I did not know which one you may have been referring to.

Maybe you could utilize split Windows to display the task bar when using Windows Store Apps.

I would like the task bar to be visible at all times, even when I am in Metro applications, this would remind me which Metro applications I was previously working with, so that I know to go back to them.

What does Alt-Tab do, e.g. if you are currently watching nothing but Fullscreen stuff?   (I'm on W7 right now, so this is a question to check when I get back.)  My recollection is that you get to see everything you can switch to.  Another option I have from my keyboard is that the old Flip 3D key does something related.   Win-Tab which on W7 does the same thing as Flip 3D now is used to bring up only the App Switcher.  My mouse can be programmed to do similar things.

I have noticed that on the Windows 8 tablet that I test on, swiping from the left now shows what applications I am running and no longer rolls around the sequence of opened applications, was this an update? 

No.   That has always been there.   There are two options concerning the App Switcher in the Options General tab.   (Win-W G...)  You need the first one on but the second means that if you would get the feature that you don't want.   Also, there is a keystroke alternative which pins it:  Win+Ctrl+Tab.  (Use the other Ctrl- key to make this manageable.  Win-Shift-Tab which I had given originally just reverses the direction of navigation in the App Switcher, pinned or unpinned.)

Gad.  They have changed its location and its accessibility.   Now it is under PC & devices, Corners & edges.  Same two options I described.  So  Win-W Cor Tab Enter opens it.  (I am going to have to get used to pressing Tab to pick the first entry instead of just hitting Enter for it.)

I have never been that that good at remembering key strokes, I prefer to see what I am doing, which is why I like and use the Task bar, not Alt-TAB. About the only key stroke I frequently use is Win-E.

I don't want to see the Task bar functionality taken away, and in Metro it does not exist (i.e. it has been taken away, as the Task bar was originally always visible in Windows long before Metro was designed).  I wonder if Metro's designers have any idea what I am saying or asking?

I quite like the way Win+Ctrl+Tab can lock the Win 8 task switcher, but sadly it only shows my open Metro apps, and my desktop, not the open desktop apps. The  Win 8 task switcher is not very intelligent, it does not list all my running applications. This to me is proof that Microsoft wants to phase our Desktop windowing for Metro Windowing, which I strongly oppose due the loss of functionality.

Overlaying Windows are very user friendly, whereas Metro's method of displaying multiple applications is very limited and ineffective as I found out last night when using Windows 8, I attempted to adjust Internet Explorer settings from a Metro Mail email. To make further comment this has been improved (maybe fixed) in Windows 8.1.