Take a look at the Microsoft website
Windows 8. A new Microsoft Operating System.
This article is rather a departure for
me! I don’t usually claim to be
technical, and my strength is in teaching.
On the other hand, it is important not to get left behind where
technology is concerned and I am really interested in keeping up with the times. A new operating system is always a challenge
for me as I have to learn it, in order to be able to teach it.
Microsoft are launching Windows 8, their
brand new operating system for laptops and computers this autumn. Windows 8 will look radically different from
all other Windows operating systems. It follows on from Windows 7, which works so
well and is so much better than the operating system before: the disastrous
Vista. XP is even older but is a
brilliant operating system still used and loved by many, and not necessarily on
old computers! It is so popular that
people buy new computers and load an old operating system on them! Looking back in operating system history, I
wonder if there is a pattern… of a good followed by a terrible new operating
system?!
Windows 8 (previously called the Metro
interface) has been designed for phones, touch screens and tablets, but will now
also work with a keyboard and mouse.
Icons have been replaced with a mosaic of large multi-coloured tiles,
which are much larger than icons. The
tiles are able to display information about the application without being
opened. For example, the tile for your
email will show you how many unread emails there are, and the weather icon will
show you today’s temperature, Facebook will show you news and photos without it
being opened and so on.
The Start button has been removed from the
bottom left. This is rather a
shock. So things like shutting down your
computer are done in a totally different way.
If you have a touch screen computer you can swipe between the open
programme with your finger. I am not
sure if this will work with a mouse.
There is a new bar called the Charm bar,
which is to the right and can access Share, Settings, Search, Start and
Devices. A separate bar is located to
the bottom left with information such as date and time, Wi-Fi strength and
battery life. This is much larger and
more obvious than what is currently displayed on the bottom right of your
taskbar.
Microsoft is have launched their own shop,
or store, where you can buy applications- along the lines of what Apple have
done so successfully. You will need a
Microsoft account (a bit like an Apple id) to access their backup cloud, make
calendars work and I believe you can only use a Microsoft email like Windows
Livemail or Outlook.
Mrs PC’s advice is as follows. If you are considering upgrading your
computer, and are used to other operating systems, and think you are perhaps an
old dog that doesn’t want to learn new tricks… replace your current computer
while you can still buy Windows 7. Do
this soon before your choice becomes restricted. Alternatively, download a free trial of
Windows 8 and try it for yourself before deciding. For anyone who has never used a computer
before, it may possibly be easier to use Windows 8 as you won’t have to relearn
how to do things!
