Windows 8 is finally here & it brings many changes to the table. Mr. Karan Bajaj (ET) takes you through some cool new features, unexpected disappointments & some of the great new hardware designs on offer.
Great New Features..!
The Ribbon..!
The Explorer menu bar uses the 'Ribbon' interface that was first introduced with Office 2007. The 'Ribbon' only shows relevant tools depending upon your menu selection, making it easy to access many functions.
Windows To Go..!
This feature lets you make a copy of your Windows 8 PC (settings, files, apps & etc..!) on a USB drive. Connect the USB drive to any Windows 8 PC & it will boot up with your personalised settings and show all your files / or apps as if it was your own computer.
Touch Optimised..!
Microsoft has done a wonderful job with the touch optimisation of the user interface.The large tiles, gesture support & full screen apps make Windows 8 great to use with a touchscreen.
Charms..!
'Charms' appear on the right side of the desktop. Using these, you can access all your connected devices, settings as well as search or share quickly from anywhere in the computer.
Live Syncing..!
You can login to your Windows 8 desktop using your Windows Live ID. If you login to any other Windows 8 computer or / tablet, all personalisation settings will automatically be synced.
Unforseen Disappointments..!
No Start Menu..!
As the start menu is replaced with the Metro styled Start screen with Live Tiles, it requires a slight learning curve. People used to the start menu from so many years of PC usage might not like that its gone.
Hidden Shutdown..!
To shut down, you have to open the Charms bar & go to settings to access the power options for Shutdown or restart - a pain compared to Windows 7's 2 step shutdown process.
Limited Start Screen Multitasking..!
The start screen offers a feature called snap that lets you place 2 apps side by side on a single screen. However, several users will feel limited with just 2 apps side-by-side.
Multiple Control Panels..!
Controls are spread across the OS in WIndows 8.You have the classic control panel, then a settings screen for the start screen & a separate control panel on the Charms bar too.
Junk Tiles on the Start Screen..!
Everytime you install an app, it is automatically added to the Start Screen as a tile. This leads to a lot of junk tiles on the start screen making it cumbersome to navigate.You have the option to remove tiles, But doing so for every app / or driver you install is irritating.
Our Take..!
Windows 8 heralds a number of changes that will impact the way you use your computer. The new touchoptimised start screen is the most visible change it replaces the traditional start menu.
On a non touch device, getting accustomed to it might take a while, but on a touch device it is a joy to use, thanks to gestures. The underlying explorer interface has undergone its share of changes too. You get the Ribbon menu bar interface, Charms bar, a new file copy progress bar, improved search & a revamped control panel. The boot & load times for Windows 8 are much faster than Windows 7 as well. Thanks to the integrated Windows Store it is easy to access various free & paid apps for your system as well as keep them updated.
So should you upgrade Yes,especially considering that all users of Windows 7 (in any state) can head to www.windowsupgradeoffer.com and get great deals on the upgrade.
Quick Tips..!
If you want to get the older start menu back, you can install a free app called 'Startmenu 8' from http:// goo.gl/lLw4h.
The app puts a start button on the taskbar & allows easy switching between the start screen and desktop. You can create your own app group on the start screen to sort apps. Just drag an app tile to an empty space on the right side & it will create a new group that you can individually name.
Windows 8 comes with a built-in tool for a clean re-installation of the OS. Open PC settings > General & select the option to 'Reset your PC & start over'. This will remove all existing data and reset your PC you do not need to insert the installation DVD or / USB.
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