• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MoneySaver

helping you save money online

  • Household Bills
    • Gas
    • Electricity
    • Home Heating Oil
    • Broadband
    • Home Phone
    • Mobile Phone
    • TV
    • Property Tax
    • Insurance
    • Mortgages
  • Personal Finance
  • Travel
  • ‘Big’ Expenses
    • New Baby
    • Buying a Home
    • Wedding
    • New Car
    • Going to College
  • Deals & Shopping
Windows 8: What To Expect

Windows 8: What To Expect

by Mr. Moneysaver · Oct 2, 2011

It has been described as a “reimagining” of Windows – the brand new Windows 8 was unveiled to an enthralled audience at the Build Conference in Anaheim, California, a week ago. So as a vision of where Microsoft sees the future of computing, what can we expect from the new operating system and will it really achieve its goals?

Best of both worlds

Microsoft Windows 8 aims to be the best of both worlds by playing both sides and being designed for mobile and desktop services.

Phone users will be thrilled to hear that it makes the most of the Metro interface, which was one of Windows Phone 7’s most striking features. It is a slick panel-based user interface that sets coloured tiles against a plain background with the tiles easy to move around if you want to customise the device. This is particularly useful on tablet devices as it makes navigation so easy – but it could be more problematic on non-touch enabled PCs which have to use a standard scroll bar at the bottom.

Thankfully however, anyone who is put off by the Metro interface will be relieved that Microsoft hasn’t abandoned its fundamentals and instead has simply revised its desktop. For example, one of the main tiles on the primary home screen is for a desktop in the traditional Windows mode with familiar functionality for PC users including a file system, jump lists and a version of Explorer. However, one notable change is how programmes can be browsed from the “start” button. Instead of being presented with a list of recent programmes and documents, the user will get an all-purpose search icon that is not dissimilar to the search function on a Mac.

Key features

Other key features of the new Windows 8 system include inventive touch controls which were a hallmark of the Metro interface, such as the virtual keyboard and a lock screen that provides a nice combination of an alert screen and a screensaver. Even logging in has been made more fun thanks to a facial recognition option.          

The device will come with a number of Apps already familiar to smart phone users including Internet Explorer 10, RSS feeds and a bespoke Twitter client. In addition, Windows 8 promises a mere eight second boot time – that compares favourably to the 30 seconds needed by Windows 7. Overall it seems Windows 8 is a halfway house allowing it to surge into the tablet market without making too many changes for PC users.

Filed Under: Deals and Shopping

More quick reads on Moneysaver.ie …..

Recent…

  • Don’t Pay The Penalty When You Cancel A Contract
  • How To Make Your Benefits Go Further
  • Cash or Card: You Decide

Related…

No related posts.

Copyright © 2023 · Moneysaver.ie · Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy · About · Contact Us · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT