Hey Everyone,
Well you will be waking up this morning to all the hype about the release of Windows 8. It is now available for general sale. There are a few versions of the new operating system, but the two main differences are Windows 8 and Windows RT.
Windows RT is a version that is made for the mobile device market ie: Tablets, of which Microsoft is actually releasing one of their own called the "Surface". The problem with RT is that it only runs with the "Metro" style of Windows 8, which is the new tiles look, it does not work with any of the previous programs that you may have purchase for any windows products. This may prove to be a problem when you start using it for every day activities and it won't let you run addons that some web sites require, or open a particular file that you don't have an app for. Obviously all of this will improve as time goes by, but this is Microsoft's first step into what it sees as the future and as yet doesn't quite have the app store full of the required or the "wanted" apps to back it up.
There are other brands of Tablets available running Windows 8 RT as well, but if you are planning to purchase one, don't be told by the sales person that it can do anything and everything.
Windows 8 itself has copped a bit of flack for going away from the traditional style of windows to this new "Metro" style tiled interface. However with only the press of the keys you will get back to the traditional desktop if that is what you desire, however this is still minus the "start button" in the left hand corner that we are all used to. I have been using the preview version of Windows 8 for a little while now, and find it to be really good.
Take the time to actually watch an online clip or read a tutorial to learn the basics, it is actually quite easy and quite intuitive to use if you leave your mind open to it. You can fully customize the tiles you have on your desktop to present to you the items you think are important. The mail tile for instance, will show a preview of your emails as they arrive. You can set your tiles into different groups if you wish, it really is a highly customizable interface and a lot of fun to play with.
There are rumours of very good deals from Microsoft to upgrade your Windows 7 of Vista operating system to the latest, I have heard the price of $40 dollars being thrown around, but I haven't heard anything confirmed for Australia yet. If you have just purchase a machine recently I have been told by one local computer shop that it will cost you $16 dollars to upgrade to the latest.
I guess what I am saying is yes, Windows 8 looks very different, but don't be afraid of it, iPads and iPhones were different too, but everyone embraced them!. Take the time to actually learn it rather than just pressing buttons madly and getting frustrated and giving up, remember hitting the windows key will always get you back to the home screen, and the windows key and q will open a search box, and the windows key and d will get you to the desktop interface. Here is a link to some of the Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts
So embrace the new, have fun, and be wary of Windows RT at this early stage.
Well you will be waking up this morning to all the hype about the release of Windows 8. It is now available for general sale. There are a few versions of the new operating system, but the two main differences are Windows 8 and Windows RT.
Windows RT is a version that is made for the mobile device market ie: Tablets, of which Microsoft is actually releasing one of their own called the "Surface". The problem with RT is that it only runs with the "Metro" style of Windows 8, which is the new tiles look, it does not work with any of the previous programs that you may have purchase for any windows products. This may prove to be a problem when you start using it for every day activities and it won't let you run addons that some web sites require, or open a particular file that you don't have an app for. Obviously all of this will improve as time goes by, but this is Microsoft's first step into what it sees as the future and as yet doesn't quite have the app store full of the required or the "wanted" apps to back it up.
There are other brands of Tablets available running Windows 8 RT as well, but if you are planning to purchase one, don't be told by the sales person that it can do anything and everything.
Windows 8 itself has copped a bit of flack for going away from the traditional style of windows to this new "Metro" style tiled interface. However with only the press of the keys you will get back to the traditional desktop if that is what you desire, however this is still minus the "start button" in the left hand corner that we are all used to. I have been using the preview version of Windows 8 for a little while now, and find it to be really good.
Take the time to actually watch an online clip or read a tutorial to learn the basics, it is actually quite easy and quite intuitive to use if you leave your mind open to it. You can fully customize the tiles you have on your desktop to present to you the items you think are important. The mail tile for instance, will show a preview of your emails as they arrive. You can set your tiles into different groups if you wish, it really is a highly customizable interface and a lot of fun to play with.
There are rumours of very good deals from Microsoft to upgrade your Windows 7 of Vista operating system to the latest, I have heard the price of $40 dollars being thrown around, but I haven't heard anything confirmed for Australia yet. If you have just purchase a machine recently I have been told by one local computer shop that it will cost you $16 dollars to upgrade to the latest.
I guess what I am saying is yes, Windows 8 looks very different, but don't be afraid of it, iPads and iPhones were different too, but everyone embraced them!. Take the time to actually learn it rather than just pressing buttons madly and getting frustrated and giving up, remember hitting the windows key will always get you back to the home screen, and the windows key and q will open a search box, and the windows key and d will get you to the desktop interface. Here is a link to some of the Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts
So embrace the new, have fun, and be wary of Windows RT at this early stage.
