The best replacement for start menu is desktop icons.

The best alternatives to start menu are rated as following:
★★★★★  desktop icons
★★★  icons on desktop
★★★  icons
★★  taskbar
★  icons windows xp
★  start screen
★  taskbar windows xp
★  dock

Your alternative for start menu is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about start menu, one probably shouldn't forget about windows 8.

Other search terms related to start menu and their ratings are:
★★★★★ windows 8
★★★ windows 8.1
★ command prompt
You have in mind a companion for start menu and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of start menu in all years. Click on graph for more.
start menu
desktop icons
icons on desktop