Forced Into the Windows 8 World
By Bob Rankin
Switching to Windows 8 Made Easier
A reader asks: ‘I really need a new laptop computer, but all of them come with Windows 8 now. I’ve heard many negative things about Windows 8, but my friend says it’s not so bad once you get used to it. Are there any tips or tricks you can share to ease the transition to Windows 8?’ Actually yes! Read on for my tips on restoring sanity to Windows 8, and some surprising things you’ll actually LIKE in Windows 8…
What’s the Problem With Windows 8?
It’s true that Windows 8 has been greeted by both pundits and consumers with generally negative reactions. Although there are some good things in the Windows 8 package, the radical change to the familiar desktop interface is what has so many people bothered.
Microsoft is clearly pushing the new “tiles and apps” interface that was first called “Metro”, and is now the “Modern UI”. This type of interface seems to make perfect sense on a smartphone, a tablet, and to some degree on touch-enabled laptops. It’s understandable that Microsoft was aiming for a common experience across all types of screens, but forcing this brave new world on desktop PC users was not a popular decision.
Yes the tried and true Desktop is still there, but it takes an extra click to get there from the new “Modern UI” Start screen. And adding insult to injury, the Start button was eliminated from the Desktop interface. For users who are accustomed to using the Start button to launch programs, open files, and navigate to other Windows functions, this is a big deal. Maybe even a deal breaker.
Other gripes commonly heard from Windows 8 adopters include the confusion that arises when they have to deal with apps that only run in either the new or the old interface, and the hassle of switching between the two. One example is that there are now two versions of Internet Explorer, and they’re slightly different in how they look and work. And then there’s the fact that the tiled apps on the Modern UI screen will only run full-screen. Switching between them requires learning when and where to click (or swipe) and it’s not never clear if you’re closing or just hiding an app. Yes, it’s Windows, but without the windows. Why, Microsoft, why?
Excerpt shared with permission from Bob Rankin.
