Microsoft has just launched a radical redesign of its Windows operating system, introducing a touch-enabled interface aiming to bridge the gap between PCs and tablets.
The Windows 8 launch marks the biggest change to the system since 1995, when Microsoft first offered built-in Internet support. The new OS also comes at a time when increasingly more consumers fall in love with notebook computers, tablets, and smartphones running software from Apple and Google.
"What you have seen and heard should leave no doubt that Windows 8 will shatter the perceptions about what a PC really is," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer touted at a New York event to start of the Windows promotional campaign.
The new software is designed for use on several types of machines, including desktop PCs, notebook computers and tablets, as well as Microsoft's new Surface tablet, Microsoft's first foray into the hardware business.
New Computing Experience
Windows 8 promises a radically new computing experience. The main thing about the new operating system is that Windows 8 is specifically designed for touch-screen computers, aiming to make desktops and laptops work more like tablets. The new Windows OS will still work with mouse and keyboard shortcuts as well, but it will take some for users to get used to it.
First of all, Microsoft offers two versions of Windows 8 or, more precisely, Windows 8 and Windows RT. While the two versions look the same, the processing chips are different for each version. Windows 8 runs on standard chips from Intel, and users upgrading their home desktop or notebook PC would get an AMD version. Windows RT, meanwhile, is the version of light, small tablets and laptop/tablet hybrids running on ARM chips.
Windows 8 will be able to run programs written for older versions of the Windows OS, but Microsoft RT will not. The latter is limited to applications specifically created for it and available via Microsoft's store. Windows RT devices, however, will come preloaded with a version of Microsoft Office.
How To Navigate Windows 8
Upon starting a Windows 8 device, users will be greeted with a welcome screen that displays the time and a pretty picture. With a touch-screen device, swiping upwards from the bottom edge of the screen will get past this screen. With a keyboard, any key will do.
A mosaic of Live Tiles will then take the place of that welcome screen, with each tile representing an application. Programs written specifically for Windows 8 will run in this new environment, also known (unofficially) as Metro. When running an application, the respective app will fill the screen. Meanwhile, apps written for older versions of the OS will open up in an environment similar to the old Windows Desktop. Microsoft wants consumers to eventually use only the Metro version, but for now users can switch back and forth between Metro and the new Desktop.
Finding The 'Start' Icon
One thing worth noting is that the Desktop screen does not have a Start button. Microsoft wants users to learn how to start programs or access settings from the Metro tiles, even if many programs, including some Windows utilities, will open up in Desktop as well. With a mouse or touchpad, users can get back to the tiled Start screen by moving the cursor to the top right corner of the screen, then swiping it down to the "Start" icon that appears. With a touch screen, swiping in from the right edge of the screen will reveal the Start icon.
Checking The Taskbar
In the Desktop environment, users can take a look at the Taskbar to see which Desktop programs are running. With a mouse or touchpad, the trick is to move the cursor into the top left corner of the screen, then drag it down along the left edge. With a touch screen, swipe in from the left edge, and quickly swipe back in.
Jumping Between Applications
Neither environment, however, will show programs running in the other environment. To jump between open applications, touch screen users can swipe in from the left side of the screen. Keyboard users can do the same thing by using the "Alt-Tab" key combination.
Internet Explorer
When it comes to Internet Explorer, there is a version for each environment. This means that opening a Web page in one environment will not display the same page in the other environment as well. To find their way back to a page, users will have to use the same browser.
Closing A Program
To close a program when using Metro on a touch screen, swipe down to the bottom edge of the screen to first shrink the window, then swipe down to the bottom edge of the screen. Note that straying to the left or right edges of the screen will "dock" the app in a column along that edge. With a mouse cursor, click and drag from the top edge of the screen to close a program. With a keyboard, the "Alt-F4" combination will do the trick.
Open Tabs In Metro
Note that while in the Desktop version of Internet Explorer each open page will appear in a "tab," in Metro each Web page fills the screen and leaves no room for tabs. To see other open pages on a touch screen device, swiping down from the top of the screen will reveal thumbnails of the other windows. Keep in mind that swiping too far will shrink the window instead. With a mouse, right-clicking anywhere on the screen will reveal the tabs. At the same time, this means that right-clicking will no longer do any of the things it did in previous versions of Windows.
Shutting Down
With Windows 8, the procedure for shutting down the computer no longer begins with the "Start" button, which is now missing. With a mouse or touchpad, moving the cursor into the top right corner of the screen will pop out a menu. Click the "Settings" button that appears, select "Power," then "Shut Down." On a touch screen, swiping in from the left edge of the screen will reveal the menu.
