Solving the Windows 8 Puzzle

Solving the Windows 8 Puzzle

Why the change? PC sales had stagnated Touch tablets and smartphones had captured people s imagination Microsoft had to enter the new era

Windows 8 is different It merges touch and desktop computing Touch devices might then be used to do real work

Windows 8 is different but it works similarly on Phones Tablets And all of them can run a version of Microsoft Office Computers

Windows 8 is different It is designed with touch screens in mind But it still works fine with a keyboard and mouse

What s to like A stylish, modern look Inexpensive or free apps from an online store Retains support for most previous programs Better performance, even on older computers Includes: a mail app, built-in antivirus, simple backup Larger, clearer text in the tile environment

Click the lock screen to see the login screen Windows 8 works best with a Microsoft account Get one before you begin

Windows 8 begins with a Start screen that replaces the Start menu The coloured tiles start tile apps

Tile apps cover the whole screen They have no close button

Tile apps show minimal controls to save space Right click to see the hidden controls

To fully close a tile app, move the cursor to the top and drag to the bottom

Tile apps can be left open for a quick start-up Go to the bottom corner and click to go back to the Start screen or press the Windows key

Move to the top left corner and move down to see the switcher Use it to swap between open tile apps

The Start screen can scroll sideways The plain tiles start desktop apps

Desktop apps open in a Windows 7 style desktop It is like using two different computers in one

Sometimes there are two programs for the same function Internet Explorer desktop version Internet Explorer tile app version

There is no Start button in the Desktop environment Items that were on the Windows 7 Start button are now in other places

Click the yellow File Explorer button in the taskbar to find documents The windows look like Windows 7, but have ribbon style menus

Move the mouse to the top right corner and move down to see the Charms menu It has many of the items that were on the old Start menu

The items in a charm menu depend on the app that is running The Search charm can find items inside the app or find Apps, Settings or Files

The Settings charm has the settings for the app that is on screen It always has the Power button to shut down and a Change PC settings button. In the desktop, it also has the Control Panels

For more controls, right click in the bottom left corner, or press the Windows and X keys

To return to the Start screen: Click in the bottom left corner or click the Start charm or press the Windows key

Just start typing while on the Start screen to begin a search Choose Apps, Settings or Files under the search box to search for different items

Right click anywhere on the Start screen to see the All apps button

All apps shows all your programs Double click on a program to start it or right click to see a list at the bottom showing what you can do with it

Right click on a Start screen tile to see what you can do it

You may want to install a Start menu replacement There are free and paid ones available The picture shows Start8 from stardock.com

My nine Windows 8 survival tips Login with a Microsoft account The Windows key is your Home button Right-click (or flick down or up) for app menus Pull apps down from the top to turn off Use the charms for search, settings, shut down Personalise the Start screen Use the Switcher to change open tile apps Use the Windows + X menu (maybe) Consider installing a Start menu replacement

Version 1 of a New Era The first step in a bigger plan Bound to be further refinements and changes More good tile apps are needed Hardware will keep evolving A new update system is coming in 2013

Questions What is the future of the Desktop environment? Will all programs be converted to tile apps? How long will Windows 7 be available in shops? Has Windows 8 hurt the PC industry? Will Microsoft change anything back?

Extra Info

Things people complain about Controls are hidden and need multiple clicks to find them The Start menu has gone and its functions are scattered Familiar built-in programs have changed or are missing Controls are hidden and need multiple clicks to find them Some functions flip between the tile and desktop The tile apps are not suited to serious computing tasks The desktop is hard to use with touch Keyboard, mouse and touch have different controls There is no Help in the tile environment

Tips for operating Windows 8 with touch The touch gestures Tap = click, double tap = double click Touch, hold and release is equivalent to right click on buttons Swipe in from right to see the Charms Swipe in from left and back to see multi-tasking bar Swipe out an app from the multi-tasking bar to snap apps side by side Swipe up from bottom or down from top show hidden button bars = right click Pinch inwards with two fingers for semantic zoom in Start screen and some apps Pull tiles down in Start screen to see the option along the bottom = right click There seems to be no touch gesture to bring up the Desktop s Windows key + X menu When you get lost, press the Start button on the bezel Enlarging the Desktop environment on the Surface RT tablet In Internet Explorer > Options (Gear) menu > Zoom > 125% In Display control panel: change size to 125% > change text sizes to at least 10 point In Office 2013 programs, click the Touch button in the Quick Access Toolbar You may want to use a stylus for some work Some work really cannot be done successfully on the Desktop without a keyboard