Windows 8
A quick review, a few tips and some handy time saving shortcuts to download.
Is there any need to upgrade to Windows 8?
Windows 8 has been around for a few months now but we are seeing very little interest in businesses wanting to upgrade, many are insisting on Windows 7 to be installed on any new computers that they purchase.
Do we recommend Windows 8?
Actually, no we don’t at the moment…
When any new Windows Operating System comes out, we usually wait until the first service pack has been released before we consider it as an option for businesses. It’s not such an issue if you’re home computer has problems with its new version of Windows, but if we install a lot of computers in a Company and there are compatibility issues then it could work out very expensive for that Company, especially until a patch has been released to resolve those issues.
Windows 8 isn’t just like any other previous Windows Operating System upgrade.
The new Windows 8 is different! The whole Windows look has pretty much been the same for the past 17 years and now with Windows 8 it has completely changed.
Microsoft has tried to create a platform that will work across PC’s tablets and smartphones and in doing this there had to be major changes. Now most of us feel like having a tantrum if a shortcut has moved on the desktop or if files have been re-arranged so we can understand the horror when a user starts up Windows 8 for the first time!
Where is the START menu?
The start menu has gone and has been replaced by tiles on the desktop which many people seem to associate with a mobile phone appearance!
Apart from the missing start menu, a lot of what you will do on Windows 8 will remain the same. Office applications, once opened will work the same and you can still have all your applications pinned to the taskbar as well as arranging them to your preference on the “tiled desktop”
What if we really want Windows 8?
If you’ve got familiar with Windows 8 and would like to use it in your business, we would still install and configure it for you or even advise you on setting it up yourself if you run a smaller business.
If you did decide to go for Windows 8 or if you currently have it installed you will certainly save yourself time by learning some keyboard shortcuts that apply to the way you use your computer. Windows 8 has been designed with touchscreen use in mind so you may find using a mouse a bit long winded for some commands
Windows key: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application
Windows key + B: Select the first item in the Notification Area and then use the arrow keys to cycle through – Enter to open
Windows key + C: Access the charms bar
Windows key + D: Show/Hide Desktop (minimize/restore all windows)
Windows key + E: Open Computer
Windows key + F: Access the Files Search screen
Windows key + H: Access the Share charm
Windows key + I: Access the Settings charm
Windows key + K: Access the Devices charm
Windows key + L: Lock computer
You can find a comprehensive list of over 110 Windows 8 shortcuts on the following link – this is a FREE PDF Download that you can print and keep handy for future reference Windows 8 shortcuts pdf download
