What’s fresh in Windows 8?

Summary

A short time ago, Microsoft launched its new and revised Windows 8. In this article I will attempt to describe what I find fresh about the new Microsoft offering. I feel that this approach will help the lay users understand their requirement and help decide to upgrade or not from their current OS.

Windows 8: A Completely Fresh Perspective from Microsoft

I started using computers at a relatively early age and my first system was a Windows 95 PC in the early 90s. Till date I have worked with nearly all Windows variants- 95, 98, 98 SE, ME, 2000 Pro, XP, Vista and Windows 7 (I know NT and Server are missing from the list. Not into servers till date). After running apps on so many seemingly different Windows systems, I can say for sure that the basic structure of Windows had not changed much over the years, until Windows 8.

However, over the years, graphics have improved, new features have been introduced, security features have been added and improved, but the basic operational design had remained almost unchanged, till Windows 8. The new Windows is a completely new approach to desktops as it has been definitely designed keeping in mind a tactile interface and a majority of its apps are also specifically designed to operate on such an interface. The new OS does work with the traditional mouse and keyboard setup, though that’s not as much fun.

The Good Features of Windows 8

If you have a touch screen device such as tablet or a smart phone, this might be the first time you like using Windows OS on these devices. The new Windows allows you to download apps from the Windows Store and its new UI and start screen give a really cool look and feel. Depending upon your device, you might get a feel rivaling that of an iPhone or iPad, but probably not surpassing it. The Start Button as you have used all these years, has been completely thrown out, but you now have a full page Start Menu, which features separate tiles featuring your installed applications.

There is also a new feature known as the Charms Bar, which provides you shortcuts to often used features such as search, share, settings and devices. The brand new UI (User Interface) featured in this OS also allows you to use multiple windows and flip between applications as you would on any other touch-enabled device. Same functions are allowed by using the mouse scroll button and the keyboard Tab button, which allows you to access a top to bottom list of apps that are currently running. Downloading apps for Windows has also never been easier and any user can directly download apps from the Windows Store, which is built on the lines of the Apple iTunes store. These I feel are definitely good reasons to try out Windows 8, especially if you have a touch-interface setup already.

Things to Remember Before Upgrading

As with any new Windows OS, compatibility of current apps is a key issue to be considered and I have included a few things that you need to know before you go ahead with the upgrade. Windows 8 upgrade is available to users of Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista and Windows 7 with a few restrictions according to the OS being upgraded. Users of Windows XP SP3 can transfer their files, but none of the settings or applications can be transferred to Windows 8. For Vista users can transfer both their files and settings, whereas, Windows 7 owners can transfer their applications, files and settings to Windows 8 during the upgrade.



The author, Abhishek Chakravarti has been writing for the IT industry over the past few years. He has extensive experience in many a Software Development Company specially in the field of Open Source Solutions. He currently writes for eXtendCode Software Company in India. For More information visit: http://www.extendcode.com/