SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 26.11.2012

Windows 8: what you should know in advance

Windows 8 may look like the simple successor to Windows 7, but actually it’s a brand new kind of Windows. What makes this version different from all the previous ones?

Two different faces

Windows 8 (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/home) has two completely different faces, a new “touch” face and a “classic” face. The “touch” face has a Start screen with tiles, while the “classic” face shows the familiar Windows Desktop.

The tiled Start screen shows all your apps, each tile containing updated information without having to open the app. This tells you at a glance how many new e-mails you have or which of your friends have updated their status, or the headlines of your favourite newspaper, etc. Needless to say that this “touch” version assumes that you have a touchscreen. Opening and closing apps, opening menus, editing items: it’s all done with touch.

If you click or tap on the app showing the desktop logo, you open the traditional Windows Desktop. This is almost identical to that of Windows 7, except that the Start button has disappeared. You can run all your older Windows applications here, and it’s best to use your mouse and keyboard. Annoyingly, Windows 8 always launches with the new Start screen and you are constantly pushed back to this screen. If you run mainly older Windows applications on an old computer with no touchscreen, Windows 8 may turn out to be quite a nuisance.

Two different shapes

Apart from the “full” Windows 8, there’s also Windows RT. This version is only meant for devices equipped with ARM chips (including iPads and many Android tablets) and is ideal for light, energy-efficient devices. Windows RT offers only a very limited version of the desktop and you can only run Microsoft Office, no other Windows applications. The “full” Windows 8 is meant for classic desktop computers and laptops (preferably equipped with a touchscreen), and for high-range tablets on which you can keep using all Windows applications. The full Windows 8 comes in two versions: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro (mainly for businesses).

Windows apps

Like iOS or Android, Windows now also produces its own apps: stripped-down applications which can be operated completely by touch. Windows 8 is supplied with a couple of free basic apps such as Persons, Mail and Messages, Photos, Video and Music. More apps are available in the Win­dows Store, although only 5,000 apps are on offer for now. The shortage of apps is mainly a problem for Windows RT, which completely relies on them.

Upgrading to Windows 8?

Anyone buying (or having bought) a new computer equipped with Windows 7 between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013 qualifies for an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for a mere £14.99 (check out http://windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-GB). If you’re currently using Windows XP, Vista or 7, you can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for £29.99. The free Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8) checks whether your current computer is ready for Windows 8. Note. If you upgrade from Windows 7, all your applications, settings and files will be preserved in the process, while in Vista, only your settings and files will be preserved.

Opinions are divided about whether Windows 8 is worth the upgrade. It is better than its predecessor, technically speaking, but it may take some time getting used to its new approach. For computers which aren’t equipped with a touchscreen, upgrading is definitely not a must.

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