Windows 8 will be a hybrid operating system which you will be seeing soon on both tablets and portable computers. The design of Windows 8 welcome screen borrows heavily from the Metro UI which you can find on Windows Phone devices. On your start up screen, you will see a bundle of preloaded apps which include the common time, weather, and finance apps. Other utilities include messaging apps, camera apps, and a slew of computer clean up tools. Any favorites on your Internet Explorer web browser will also appear as a pin on your startup screen. Very cool indeed!
Windows 8 Developer Preview
Accessing your Windows desktop is as easy as clicking, or tapping, on it! Once selecting the Windows desktop you will be sent to a very familiar sight, a desktop which looks much like Windows 7 with one noticeable difference… There’s no start button! Me, as a tech I can always find ways around circumstances such as there… but at first glance the typical user will have absolutely no clue navigating Windows. What is nice however, is how tablet friendly Windows 8 is. A built in keyboard and swiping keyboard are available. These keyboard windows are not resizable which a bummer is.
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In lieu of the start menu button, there is a side swipe bar which is meant to be the replacement for the start button. The start menu does perform a cameo, when you bring up the side swipe menu the search magnifying glass does take the place of your traditional start menu. Disappointingly it does appear that this OS is much more geared to favor tablets than previously imagined. You can switch between multiple open windows by swiping and with a proper system it does work quite snappily. The Microsoft Touch mouse is fully compatible with the operating system, and by performing swipe movements on the mouse surface you are able to perform commands as if you were on a tablet. It is going t o be harder doing everything I’ve just mentioned with just a mouse but hopefully Microsoft recognizes this and offers a solution for all users.
The Microsoft Store makes its debut on an PC operating system, and it is a blast. Much like the XBOX 360 store, or even the Windows Phone app store, you are able to go in and download apps both paid and free. The store does support all the motion controls that you should be accustomed to by now. Your lock screen also is now reflects the apps you linked it with. For example, if you receive an email you will see a notification on your log in screen. And if you’re using the weather app, your computer will display the current weather conditions.
When it comes to cloud, you can expect the return of SkyDrive for all your online storage needs. Hopefully previous synching bugs have been ironed out for this release, but I expect Microsoft to properly tune and test everything prior to the official release.
Big question is the upgrade to Windows 8 worth it… and for now I’m still on the fence about it. However I really don’t have the need to access more online stores and more ways for me to spend my money, but it’s obvious where Microsoft is trying to get us to do. Its buy more apps! They are looking to tap into the store market and corner it much like Apple has, but Apple is winning and it’s because of its hardware. Windows 8 for the time being is just to schizophrenic for me atom, and it just seems as if its having quite the identity crisis. But who knows what time will bring, I for one will be holding on to Windows 7 as long as I can.
