There has been a lot written in the recent past regarding Windows 8, from a business viewpoint, from a technology viewpoint, and from various other viewpoints.
In researching numerous articles, looking for guidance on upgrading to Windows 8 and whether or not I should be doing so, I came across some helpful tips regarding this new operating system.
There are several different flavors of Windows 8. At the lowest level, there is simply Windows RT and Windows 8. You can think of Windows RT as the flavor of the operating system that runs on tablets that do not have Intel processors, i.e., no Intel Inside. Windows RT runs only applications available through the new Windows Store, similar to Apple’s iTunes Store.
However, some complexity is added when factoring in tablets that do have Intel inside. They seem to be able to utilize applications available solely through the Windows Store and other applications that are not available to Windows RT users, from the application vendors themselves.
Simple enough so far, I think I get this.
OK, fasten your seat belts, then.
Further, Windows 8, itself (not taking RT into account now), is both a Tablet OS and a PC OS. Windows 8 offers a completely new user interface, named ‘Metro’, which lends itself to the touch-and-swipe usage of tablets. This user interface, however, is also available on the PC edition of Windows 8, though the regular Windows 7-ish-looking UI is available through a widget named, appropriately enough, ‘Desktop’. Apparently, one of Windows 8’s strengths is building on an already strong reliance on keyboard and mousing that most users are familiar with, and has definitely not been forgotten.
Not to be forgotten completely, there are some subtle differences in plain, vanilla Windows 8; there is Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. For the most part, the difference lies in whether or not the user is a Home user or a Business user. Windows 8 Pro offers networking options, such as joining a domain and the Remote Desktop application. There is one component, however, that blurs the line between the two versions. If your intent is to use Windows 8 as a home-theater PC, that will require Windows 8 Pro, not the other version.
Okay, I think I understand about the versions. What next?
Well, the paradigm for how the user works with Windows, as an operating system, has shifted as well. With the Metro interface and the Desktop interface, there seems to be a much heavier reliance on the ‘Windows’ key to toggle functionality and applications.
From the Metro interface, the user can launch the Desktop interface and work within that much more familiar environment. To return to the Metro UI, the Windows key needs to be pressed.
More functionality available using the Windows key (at least, according to Venture Beat) follows:
- [Alt] + [Tab]: Switch between different applications running on your desktop
- [Windows logo key] + [Tab]: Switch between different running Metro applications
- [Windows logo key] + [Q]: Open the app list and search window
- [Windows logo key] + [R]: Open a “Run” dialog box
- [Windows logo key] + [I]: Open the Settings pane
- [Windows logo key] + [X]: Pop up a text-based menu of common system settings
(I could write much more on how working with Windows 8 is different from previous versions, but will save that for another article.)
It seems as though there is a very large learning curve from Windows 7 to Windows 8.
At this point, I have a tablet and my Windows 7 laptop functions fine. I think I’ll hold off before making the leap to the next Microsoft tech.
