Windows 8: inside what and how

Seminar Report
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Windows 8 Consumer Preview:
Frequently asked questions
Windows 8: Inside What and How
Harsh Kishore Mishra, B.Tech. IT
International Institute of Management Engineering and Technology, Jaipur

2Windows 8: Inside What and How Harsh Kishore Mishra, B.Tech.-IT
1.Introduction
Microsoft Windows 8, the latest “Next generation” operating system from Microsoft Corp..
Windows 8 has been the most buzzing word in computing since Oct,09, the time when
Microsoft Corporation launched its operating system Windows 7. Due to huge success,
stability and reliability of Windows 7, there was a talk started about what’s next?
Windows 8 was just one of possible names for the succesor of 7. Microsoft also confirmed
that Windows 8 would be its next operating System. On 29th
02 2012, a big day for the Windows
team. At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain a few moments ago, they unveiled the
Windows 8 Consumer Preview to partners and press.
Microsoft Windows 8 has been reimagined to focus on your life. The
beautiful, fast, and fluid design is perfect for a range of hardware: from compact, touch-
enabled slates and lightweight laptops, to large, powerful all-in-ones with high-definition
screens. It’s smooth, intuitive, and gives you instant access to your people, apps, and stuff, so
you spend less time searching and more time doing. You’ll love browsing through the
Windows Store and downloading apps to help you work more efficiently, or install the latest
games and compete with friends. Apps can work together, too, so you can share photos,
maps, contacts, links, and whatever else you want faster and easier.
No matter what task you want to complete, Windows 8 helps you get
it done quickly. It’s fast—whether you’re completing a project or playing a game. Windows 8
starts quickly and uses less memory so there’s more room for your apps and data. Windows 8
is cloud connected so you can access your photos, documents, and settings from wherever
you are, on any Windows 8 PC. Windows 8 has the flexibility you need.

The first version of Microsoft Windows,
degree of functionality, achieved little popularity and was to compete with Apple's own
operating system. The first version of Microsoft Windows included a simple graphi
painting program called Windows Paint
appointment "calendar"; a "cardfiler"; a "
terminal"; "Clipboard"; and RAM
called Reversi.Windows 1.0 is not a complete operating system; rather, it extends
Microsoft Windows version 2.0
popular than its predecessor. Windows 2.03 (release date January 1988) had changed the OS
from tiled windows to overlapping windows. The result of this change led to Apple Co
filing a suit against Microsoft alleging infringement on Apple's copyrights.
Microsoft Windows version 3.0
to achieve broad commercial success, selling 2 million copies in the first six months. It
featured improvements to the user interface and to multitasking capabilities. It received a
facelift in Windows 3.1, made generally available on
ended on December 31, 2001.
Windows 8: Inside What and How Harsh Kishore Mishra, B.Tech.
2.History of Windows
The first version of Microsoft Windows, version 1.0, released in November 1985, lacked a
The first version of Microsoft Windows included a simple graphi
Windows Paint; Windows Write, a simple word processor
appointment "calendar"; a "cardfiler"; a "notepad"; a "clock"; a "control panel
RAM driver. It also included the MS-DOS Executive
Windows 1.0 is not a complete operating system; rather, it extends
version 2.0 was released in November 1987 and was slightly more
from tiled windows to overlapping windows. The result of this change led to Apple Co
filing a suit against Microsoft alleging infringement on Apple's copyrights.
Fig:The Windows family tree.
version 3.0, released in 1990, was the first Microsoft Windows version
facelift in Windows 3.1, made generally available on March 1, 1992. Windows 3.1 support
3Harsh Kishore Mishra, B.Tech.-IT
, released in November 1985, lacked a
The first version of Microsoft Windows included a simple graphics
word processor; an
control panel"; a "computer
DOS Executive and a game
Windows 1.0 is not a complete operating system; rather, it extends MS-DOS.
was released in November 1987 and was slightly more
from tiled windows to overlapping windows. The result of this change led to Apple Computer
filing a suit against Microsoft alleging infringement on Apple's copyrights..
osoft Windows version
March 1, 1992. Windows 3.1 support

In July 1993, Microsoft released Windows NT based on a new kernel. Windows NT 3.1 was
the first release of Windows NT. NT was considered to be the professional OS and was the
first Windows version to utilize pre-emptive multitasking. Windows NT would later be
retooled to also function as a home operating system, with Windows XP.
On August 24, 1995, Microsoft released Windows 95, a new, and major, consumer version
that made further changes to the user interface, and also used pre-emptive multitasking.
Windows 95 was designed to replace not only Windows 3.1, but also Windows for
Workgroups, and MS-DOS. It was also the first Windows operating system to use Plug and
Play capabilities. The changes Windows 95 brought to the desktop were revolutionary, as
opposed to evolutionary, such as those in Windows 98 and Windows Me. Mainstream
support for Windows 95 ended on December 31, 2000 and extended support for Windows 95
Next in the consumer line was Microsoft Windows 98 released on June 25, 1998. It was
followed with the release of Windows 98 Second Edition (Windows 98 SE) in 1999. Second
Edition was also much easier to use and much smoother than the first edition of Windows 98.
Hardware support through device drivers was increased. Many minor problems present in the
original Windows 98 were found and fixed which make it, according to many, the most stable
release of Windows 9x family—to the extent that commentators used to say that Windows
98's beta version was more stable than Windows 95's final (gamma) version. Mainstream
support for Windows 98 ended on June 30, 2002 and extended support for Windows 98
ended on July 11, 2006.
As part of its "professional" line, Microsoft released Windows 2000 in February 2000.
During 2004 part of the Source Code for Windows 2000 was leaked onto the Internet. This
was bad for Microsoft as the same kernel used in Windows 2000 was used in Windows XP.
The consumer version following Windows 98 was Windows Me (Windows Millennium
Edition). Released in September 2000, Windows Me implemented a number of new
technologies for Microsoft: most notably publicized was "Universal Plug and Play".
Windows Me was heavily criticized due to slowness, freezes and hardware problems.
In October 2001, Microsoft released Windows XP, a version built on the Windows NT
kernel that also retained the consumer-oriented usability of Windows 95 and its successors.

This new version was widely praised in computer magazines. It shipped in two distinct
editions, "Home" and "Professional", the former lacking many of the superior security and
networking features of the Professional edition. Windows XP SP1 was released in September
2002, SP2 came out in August 2004 and SP3 came out in April 2008. Service Pack 2
provided significant improvements and encouraged widespread adoption of XP among both
home and business users. Windows XP lasted longer as Microsoft's flagship operating system
than any other version of Windows, from 25 October 2001 to 30 January 2007 when it was
succeeded by Windows Vista. Additionally, the first "Media Center" edition was released in
Fig: Windows XP
2002, with an emphasis on support for DVD and TV functionality including program
recording and a remote control. Mainstream support for Windows XP ended on April 14,
2009. Extended support will continue until April 8, 2014.
In April 2003, Windows Server 2003 was introduced, replacing the Windows 2000 line of
server products with a number of new features and a strong focus on security; this was
followed in December 2005 by Windows Server 2003 R2.
On January 30, 2007, Microsoft released Windows Vista. It contains a number of new
features, from a redesigned shell and user interface to significant technical changes, with a
particular focus on security features. It is available in a number of different editions, and has
been subject to some criticism.

On October 22, 2009, Microsoft released
which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 was intended to be a more
focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, wi
applications and hardware which Windows Vista was not at the time. Windows 7 has
touch support, a redesigned Windows shell
home networking system called HomeGroup, and performance improvements.
Windows 8 has been the most buzzing word in computing since Oct,09, the time whe
Microsoft Corporation launched it’s operating system Windows 7. Windows 8 was just one
of possible names for the succesor of 7. Microsoft also confirmed that Wind
it’s next operating System. On 29
World Congress in Barcelona, Spain a
Consumer Preview to partners and press.
Fig: Windows 7 Logo
On October 22, 2009, Microsoft released Windows 7. Unlike its predecessor, Windows Vista,
focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being compatible with
applications and hardware which Windows Vista was not at the time. Windows 7 has
Windows shell with a new taskbar, referred to as the
Fig: Windows 7 taskbar
Windows 8 has been the most buzzing word in computing since Oct,09, the time whe
of possible names for the succesor of 7. Microsoft also confirmed that Wind
it’s next operating System. On 29th
02 2012, a big day for the Windows team. At Mobile
World Congress in Barcelona, Spain a few moments ago, they unveiled
Consumer Preview to partners and press.
Fig: Windows 8 Logo
. Unlike its predecessor, Windows Vista,
th the goal of being compatible with
applications and hardware which Windows Vista was not at the time. Windows 7 has multi-
, referred to as the Superbar, a
Windows 8 has been the most buzzing word in computing since Oct,09, the time when
of possible names for the succesor of 7. Microsoft also confirmed that Windows 8 would be
02 2012, a big day for the Windows team. At Mobile
few moments ago, they unveiled the Windows 8
Windows 8 Logo

3.Windows 8 Pre-Releases
Windows 8 is available in pre-release versions till now. Two pre-releases are available.
Windows 8 Consumer Preview is a prerelease version of Windows 8 that focuses on people
and apps and gives you powerful new ways to use social technologies to connect with the
people who are important to you. It's Windows reimagined. Windows 8 Consumer Preview is
built on the rock-solid foundation of Windows 7 and has the security and reliability features
you expect from Windows, but we’ve made it even better. It’s fast, and it’s made to work on
a variety of form factors—especially the new generation of touch devices. Before Microsoft
Windows 8 Consumer Preview (further referenced as “Windows 8”), Windows 8 Developers
Preview was launched in September, 2011.
1. Windows 8 Developers Preview
Microsoft unveiled new Windows 8 features and improvements on September 13,
2011, day one of the BUILD developer conference. Microsoft also released a
developer preview (build 8102) of Windows 8 for the developer community to
download and start working with. This developer preview includes tools for building
"metro style apps", such as Microsoft Windows SDK for Metro style applications,
Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows 8 Developer Preview and Microsoft
Expression Blend 5 developer preview. According to Microsoft, there were more than
500,000 downloads of the developer preview within the first 12 hours of its release.
The Developer Preview introduced the Start screen. The Start button opens the Start
screen instead of the Start menu in this build. Microsoft has released the Windows 8
Developer Preview or pre-beta version of its next Operating System. Windows 8
Developer Preview or pre-beta version can be downloaded directly from Microsoft
servers by anyone who wants to try it. In this blog post we will be talking about some
of the features which come with this new operating system compared to previous
versions.
On 16 February 2012, Microsoft postponed the expiration date of the
developer preview. Originally set to expire on 11 March 2012, this release is now set
to expire on 15 January 2013.

2. Windows 8 Consumer Preview
At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft unveiled the Windows 8
Consumer Preview to partners and press. Based on a broad range of feedback,
claimed over 100,000 code changes and the Consumer Preview represents a refined
product ready for broad and daily usage by those of you willing to test a pre-release
OS. Key among the changes and additions are new navigation features, completely
revamped Metro apps and the addition of "charms," which are tools that bring a
variety of features such as Search within easy reach. Whether you have a logo PC or
you’ve built your own PC, the recommendations for the Consumer Preview include:
• 1 GHz or faster processor
• 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
This setup gets you going with Windows 8 such that it is functionally equivalent to
Windows 7, and as we have talked about previously, you should see measureable
improvements in performance in a number of dimensions with a system at this level.
With so much to dive into, let’s talk about what is different in the Consumer Preview
at a high level:
Fig:Windows 8 Start Screen

• Broad range of product changes and improvements: Since the Developer Preview
in September, designed to preview the programming platform, Windows 8 has
progressed across every dimension. From completing the user experience for touch,
keyboard, and mouse, to refining the development platform, to improving
performance, quality, and reliability across all subsystems as well as new features, the
Consumer Preview represents a complete view of the capabilities of Windows 8.
• Windows Store with an “App Preview” of new apps: The Windows 8 Consumer
Preview marks the opening of the Windows Store for testing. You’ll see a variety of
new Metro style apps from both third-party developers and Microsoft. During the
Consumer Preview, these apps are available to try and experience at no cost to users.
Please note, these apps and the set of preinstalled apps are at an early stage of
development and are available as an early App Preview, and will be updated via the
Windows Store. In addition, the Store will offer personalized recommendations, and
Windows 8 gives users the ability to take their apps and settings with them across
multiple PCs, making it easy to discover and try new apps while offering developers
the greatest opportunity of any platform
• Connecting to the cloud across Windows PCs and Windows Phones: You’ll
experience seamless integration with the content across your web services. Optionally
signing in with a Microsoft account provides access to features including the ability to
roam all settings, use cloud storage, communicate with email, calendar, and contacts,
and connect to a broad range of services. Your connection to the cloud works across
your Windows PCs and your Windows Phones. You’ll also experience early previews
of the Metro style apps for Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, and SkyDrive.
• Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5: With IE10, we reimagined the browser to
create a new experience designed specifically for Windows 8 devices. It provides an
edge to edge interface that is all about less browser, and more web. Fast and fluid, IE
is hardware-accelerated to enable web performance. The same rendering engine and
high-performance script engine is available on the Windows desktop as well.

4.Windows 8 Features
Windows 8 is a reimagined windows with a new user interface and designed especially for
new touch screen devices. Of course, Windows 8 offers much more with it’s feature rich
design. Windows 7, only better
Behind the bold, new look of Windows 8, is the rock-solid foundation you’ve
come to expect from Windows® 7. Immerse yourself in the exciting features of a new
generation of PCs while enjoying the full power of Windows. In addition to the sleek, new
look of the Start screen, Windows 8 incorporates the desktop that you’re already familiar
with. In the desktop, you’ll see that the settings, devices, and features you used in Windows 7
are still there. You can run older apps, too. And just like Windows 7, security and reliability
is built into Windows 8. Everything that was great about Windows 7, we made even better.
Beautiful design Windows 8 has a bold new style that’s sleek and modern, and
it’s been beautifully designed. From the clean look of the words on your screen to the way
apps animate, the experience is new and the way it works is intuitive, so you can get started
right away.

Major Features at a Glance
Metro interface
New App model
New Start Screen
Charms
Reset and Refresh feature
Old Windows Desktop
New Ribbon interface
Multiple monitor support
Windows To Go.
No activation
Skydrive and Windows Live integration
Social integration with Facebook & Twitter
Faster Boot times
USB 3.0 support.
Internet Explorer 10: the web by Touch
Built-in Metro apps
Tools for power users.
Navigating & Mousing around
Touch or Keyboard or Mouse: your Choice

Metro Interface
The major difference between Windows 8 and any other previous ones is the Metro
Interface which basically somewhat similar to how the interface of popular tablets look
like. Instead of Normal desktop Layout, you will find a fluid layout which flows quite
smoothly. If you want your old Windows 7 kind of Desktop layout, you can get that by
using the Desktop Metro app which means that the old Explorer interface is just now
another Metro app in Windows 8. Metro, which is patterned after the Windows Phone 7
interface, made its appearance in the Developer Preview, and it's seen considerable
improvements, including the newfound ability to place apps into customized groups.
Windows 8 boots directly into the Windows 8 Metro Start screen. Rather than seeing the
traditional Windows Desktop, you're greeted by a group of large colorful tiles, each of
which is a separate app. (To show how Microsoft has relegated the Desktop to the
sidelines, the Desktop is merely one app among many on the Start screen. It's also the
only app that isn't written for Metro.)
Metro apps are "live" -- that is, they can grab information from elsewhere, such as from
social networking services or other Internet locations, and use it and display it right in the
tile itself. So the weather app, for example, displays the current weather, a stock app
displays current stock prices, a calendar displays current meetings, and a social
networking app (called People) can display the latest updates from social networking
services. In this way, you don't have to open many of the apps to reap their benefits; all
you need to do is glance at them on-screen. You can, of course, click on any app to
launch it in order to get more information and interact with it.
Metro is very clearly designed for tablets, because the tiles are all quite large, even those
that don't display changing information. There are so many tiles that they scroll off to the
right of the screen. On a tablet, you use the swipe gesture to see them. On a traditional
computer, you need to scroll to the right, which is a lot more awkward. Although the
Metro start screen is aesthetically pleasing, I found myself longing for the Desktop's more
efficient use of real estate; there, I could see all my apps on a single screen.

New App Model
Apps work together: Windows 8 makes it easier for
you to do the things you love because it allows apps to
work together so you can share information between
them. In the Photos app, select a picture from an album
and email it to your one of your contacts using the Mail
app. Even better, Windows 8 enables any app—if you
so choose—to have the power to consume your content
in Microsoft SkyDrive®, lets you share with any of
your contacts in the People app, and makes it easy to
send mail to anyone you know.
Fig: Apps in Windows 8
The more apps you have, the more you can do. For example, without any apps, searching in
Windows 8 will search only files and settings. With your personal set of apps installed, the
search will include the content in your apps, so you can find books on Amazon, movies on
Netflix, information on Bing, and more. You can watch, buy, or explore in ways that work
for you. So go ahead and add a lot of apps. The more you add, the better they work together.

The New Start screen
The new Start screen has all of the information you care about in one place, such as your
contacts, the weather, and the next appointment on your calendar. Windows 8 is truly yours:
websites, playlists, photo albums, contacts, and your favorite apps are front and center.
Because you decide how to organize and group things on the screen, viewing and interacting
with content is faster than ever.
Fig: Start Screen with Apps Options
The tiles on your Start screen are brimming with content, and they change and update in real
time so you can see what’s going on and stay on top of things. You can share and connect
with other people in a couple of clicks, and get real-time updates about things like news,
sports, and what your friends are up to. Check your schedule or get the latest weather
forecast—all without searching for information. Tiles are a quick way to see it all. Launch
apps, switch between tasks, and check notifications without digging for information. It’s all
right here on the Start screen.
Windows 8 also incorporates the PC desktop that you’re already familiar with. In the desktop,
you’ll see that the settings and features you used in Windows 7 are still there.

Charms
One new interface feature that takes some getting used to is what Microsoft calls "charms" --
icons that let you perform an action, such as searching or changing options. When you move
your cursor to the upper-right corner or lower-right corner of the screen, five of these charms
appear: Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings. Some are quite useful, while others appear
to serve no purpose.
Fig:"Charms"
Search, as its name indicates, lets you search through local apps, through local files or via the
Web -- it's quite customizable.
Share is designed to let you share with others from within your current app, but I was unable
to find a way to use it. When I clicked it in the Mail app, for example, I got the message
"Mail can't share." I received the same message when I attempted to use it in every app I
tried, even in the People social networking app, whose primary purpose is sharing. Perhaps it
will work better in future versions of Windows 8.
The Devices charm is also somewhat baffling. By its name, one would expect that it would
help with configuring and managing devices. However, the only device setting that was

visible was for using two monitors with Windows 8 -- I found none for tasks such as setting
up a printer. And when I attached an external USB hard drive to my test system, that wasn't
listed.
One would expect that clicking the Start charm would always bring you back to the Metro
Start screen, but that's not what it does. Instead, it switches you to whatever you were just
doing -- the same thing that happens when you press the Windows key or click in the lower
left portion of the screen.
The Settings charm, as the name indicates, allows you to change systems and/or settings,
depending on the context. In Metro and Metro apps, the Settings charm is context-sensitive
and will change the settings related to the app you're currently in. Inside Desktop apps,
however, you can only change the overall Desktop settings, not those for the program you're
running.
Reset and Refresh Feature
Windows 8 Developer Preview comes with a new Reset and Refresh Feature. Its like system
restore feature of Windows 7 redefined. No one likes to have computer problems, but
sometimes things go wrong. With new options to refresh your PC, Windows 8 makes it
simple to go back to a fresh installation of Windows without losing your personal files or
settings, or any apps you’ve installed from the Windows Store. You don’t have to get out an
installation disc or burn DVDs to back up your photos, videos, or music. Just start the
process, and Windows will do all the work and get you back in action.
Reset feature of Windows 8 deletes all data on the system and returns your computer to its out
of box state i.e. just like when it was shipped to you or you can call it as Factory reset. All
this process takes 15-20 minutes. ( In my HP laptop with Windows 7, Factory reset for me
takes 3 hours to complete).
Refresh feature of Windows 8 preserves user data like pictures, Music, Documents etc.
(including Metro Apps) and deletes everything else. This feature is useful when you don’t
want a Factory reset kind of restore and want to keep your data intact.

Old Desktop Interface
When you click the Desktop tile on the Metro Start screen, you're sent to what is essentially
the old Windows Desktop, including the taskbar at the bottom, icons for launching programs,
and so on. It looks and works like the Desktop you've grown used to over the years, with a
few minor changes.
The biggest change, and possibly the
worst one, is that the Desktop no longer
has the Start button -- which seems to
me like a step back. In Windows 7 and
Windows Vista, the Start button was a
paragon of simplicity, packing many
useful features into a small amount of
real estate. You could click it to launch recently-run and commonly-run programs, to search
your computer and the Internet, to open documents you'd recently used, to run the Control
Panel, and to see a menu of all the programs on your computer, among other tasks. Taking
away the Start button makes the Desktop less useful than it was in Windows Vista and
Windows 7.
Fig: Windows Old Desktop

The Quick Launch bar has also been eliminated. In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, that bar
made it easy to quickly launch the applications you most commonly use. In Windows 8, you
can no longer do that, because the bar is gone.
Because the Start button has been killed, its search box has been too, and that's a loss. To do a
search, you now have to move your mouse to the upper right or lower right portion of the
screen, and select the Search charm.
And the search you can perform simply isn't as good as the older version. In Windows Vista
and Windows 7, the search displayed multiple results in a small, easy-to-scan list, and it let
you quickly switch between searching your computer and the Internet. Not so with the Search
charm -- it drops you into a Metro interface in which each result takes up more real estate.
The new Search charm does let you more easily narrow your search -- still, Microsoft should
have kept the old Desktop search, to give you a choice of different search methods.
The Desktop also isn't integrated well with Metro. Inside Metro apps, for example, the
Settings charm is context-sensitive -- those settings are specific to the app you're running. But
inside the Desktop, the charm isn't, and doesn't relate to the app itself. Rather, it relates to the
Desktop.
On the plus side, the Desktop seems to run Desktop-based Windows applications with no
problems. I ran SugarSync, Microsoft Office and Libre Office with no trouble.
Skydrive and Windows Live integration
It comes with Skydrive and Windows Live integration. This developer preview though
doesn’t have Skydrive integration. Finally, SkyDrive, which is Microsoft’s own cloud
service, is a part of Windows 8. The SkyDrive Metro application makes it easier to sync files
to your SkyDrive account. Gone are the days when you have to be downloading third party
softwares to get a mediocre SkyDrive experience sync experience on the desktop. Now
everything works as expected with room for improvement. Windows live integration lets you
create a user account on your system with having to create a local user account and you can
sign in into your system using your Windows live account.

New Ribbon Interface
New ribbon interface is being used everywhere in Windows 8 which includes windows
explorer too. Instead of the old menu, you will find the new ribbon interface in all the user
interface. Of course, we all remember that we were first introduced to the Ribbon toolbar in
Office 2007. And, when Windows 7 was released, we found the Ribbon in WordPad and
Paint, two applets whose UIs had remained virtually unchanged for 14 years. The Ribbon
then appeared in Windows Live applets, such as Movie Maker and Photo Gallery. So I guess
that it was inevitable that we would see more of the Ribbon in Windows 8. Another benefit of
using a Ribbon for Windows Explorer is that it lends itself well to a touch interface.
Microsoft also promised that this new version of Windows Explorer would provide a level of
customization like we had in the Windows XP’s version with the Customize Toolbar feature.
The Windows Explorer Ribbon contains the File menu and three Core tabs titled Home,
Share, and View that always appear in the Ribbon, as shown in Figure A. There are also a set
of colored Contextual tabs that appear based on the type of object that you have selected,
such as a location, a folder, or a file, and provide a set of related commands.
For example, when you open the Pictures folder or select a JPG file, the Picture Tools tab
appears; when you select a drive in Computer, the Disk Tools tab appears. This system of
Core and Contextual tabs is designed to expose close to 200 different file management
commands in Windows Explorer without having them buried in numerous nested menus,
pop-ups, dialog boxes, or right-click/context menus.
Figure A
Windows Explorer’s base Ribbon contains the File menu and three Core tabs titled Home,
Share, and View.

Well, it appears that Microsoft felt our pain at the demise of the Up button in Vista and 7 and
now it is back in Windows 8. It’s right between the Address box and the Back and Forward
buttons, as shown in Figure B
Figure B
The Up button is back in Windows Explorer.
As I mentioned, the Contextual tabs are colored so that they stand out and get im
noticed. In the Consumer Preview, Microsoft has tweaked the colors in an attempt to make
them more appealing. For example the Picture Tools tab is now a light orange rather than a
light purple, the Disk Tools tab is now light purple rather than l
Tools tab is now light orange rather than light green, shown in
like a big deal, but I bet there is a lot of usability study that went into these changes.
Figure C
Microsoft changed the color of m
It comes with multi monitor support letting you span your single desktop background across
multiple monitors. You will also find a slider kind of interface in Metro App when Wind
is started and you need to slide it to get access to different metro apps.
Figure B.
The Up button is back in Windows Explorer.
As I mentioned, the Contextual tabs are colored so that they stand out and get im
light purple, the Disk Tools tab is now light purple rather than light yellow, and the Library
Tools tab is now light orange rather than light green, shown in Figure C. This may not sound
Microsoft changed the color of most of the Contextual tabs in the Consumer Preview.
multiple monitors. You will also find a slider kind of interface in Metro App when Wind
is started and you need to slide it to get access to different metro apps.
As I mentioned, the Contextual tabs are colored so that they stand out and get immediately
ight yellow, and the Library
. This may not sound
ost of the Contextual tabs in the Consumer Preview.
multiple monitors. You will also find a slider kind of interface in Metro App when Windows

Windows To Go
A feature first seen on Linux is now making its way to Windows 8. Basically, with Windows
To Go, you can carry Windows 8 on a thumb drive and boot it in any machine. Exciting? You
bet it is. By making a copy of Windows 8 on a thumb drive, you can walk with your OS and
your files for use on any machine that supports Windows 7 or Windows 8. Windows To Go is
an enterprise feature of Windows® 8 Consumer Preview that enables users to boot Windows
from a USB-connected external drive. Windows To Go drives can use the same image
enterprises use for their desktops and laptops and can be managed the same way. Windows
To Go is not intended to replace desktops, laptops or supplant other mobility offerings.
Rather, it provides support for efficient use of resources for alternative workplace scenarios.
Windows To Go operates just like any other installation of Windows with a few exceptions.
These exceptions are:
• Hibernate and sleep are disabled by default. To help prevent Windows To Go from
accidental data corruption during roaming hibernate and sleep are disabled. They can
be re-enabled by using Group Policy settings.
• Internal disks are offline. To ensure data isn’t accidentally disclosed, internal hard
disks on the host computer are offline by default when booted into a Windows To Go.
Similarly if a Windows To Go drive is inserted into a running system the Windows
To Go drive will not be listed in Windows Explorer.
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) isn’t used. When using BitLocker Drive
Encryption a pre-operating system boot password will be used for security rather than
the TPM since the TPM is tied to a specific computer and Windows To Go drives will
move between computers.
• Windows Recovery Environment isn’t available. In the rare case that you need to
recover your Windows To Go drive, you should re-image it with a fresh image of
Windows.
• Push Button Reset isn’t available. Resetting to the manufacturer’s standard for the
computer doesn’t really apply when running Windows To Go, so the feature was
disabled.
Windows To Go drives can be booted on multiple computers. During the first boot on a
computer Windows To Go will detect all hardware on the computer and install drivers. When

returning to that computer Windows To Go will identify the computer and load the correct
drivers automatically. Users can do this on multiple computers with the same Windows To
Go drive enabling the ability to roam between them.
The applications that you want to use from the Windows To Go workspace should be tested
to make sure they also support roaming. Some applications bind to the computer hardware
which will cause difficulties if the workspace is being used with multiple host computers.
No Activation
It also comes without any kind of restrictions on who can test it. You don’t need a key to
activate it or rearm after you are finished with installing Windows 8 on your System. This
small step will help Microsoft in gaining loads of beta testers for its Windows 8 which can
help in building a excellent product when its launched finally. Keep in mind, No Activation
is applicable only for this build and hopefully when final version of Windows 8 comes out,
it will come with some kind of Activation Mechanism.
Social integration with Facebook & Twitter
It comes with two metro apps which integrates your twitter and Facebook account directly on
your Windows 8 Desktop. Even though these apps are far from perfect, still Microsoft have
long time to fix bugs before the final version of Windows 8 comes out.
Faster Boot times
Windows 8 boosts of faster boot times in the range of 5-10 seconds. Keep in mind, this faster
boot times wont be achieved on older systems with spinning hard disk. You will need solid
state drives, new hardware to achieve almost switch ON OFF kind of booting. Normal
systems which we have will still see some great improvements in booting times compared to
previous versions of Windows.
USB 3.0 support It comes with support for USB 3.0 which means ultra fast copy
and transfer of data between two compatible devices.
Internet Explorer 10: the web by Touch

With Internet Explorer 10 Consumer Preview, we’ve reimagined what a great web
experience can look like. Internet Explorer is designed to dedicate your entire screen,
edge to edge, to your websites. Websites extend over your whole screen, and tabs and
navigation controls appear only when you need them and then quietly get out of the
way when you don’t. Browsing is as easy as using the rest of Windows.. Everything you
want to do on the web is a swipe or tap away, and it uses
protection,hardware acceleration, modern browser standards like HTML5, and the
quick core of Windows to make browsing fast and fluid.
Internet Explorer is a leader in protection against malware and phishing, and it will help
keep you more secure when browsing the web. SmartScreen Filter identifies scams and
sites that are known to be malicious and warns you when your security might be
threatened. Metro style Internet Explorer 10
browsing experience that’s all a
app-like. The address bar is at bottom and not visible always.
interface of Internet explorer
Internet explorer from there and you w
Built-in Metro apps
gation controls appear only when you need them and then quietly get out of the
want to do on the web is a swipe or tap away, and it uses
re acceleration, modern browser standards like HTML5, and the
quick core of Windows to make browsing fast and fluid.
Fig: Metro Style IE 10
hen browsing the web. SmartScreen Filter identifies scams and
Metro style Internet Explorer 10 provides a fast and fluid touch
browsing experience that’s all about your sites, making them feel increasingly more
like. The address bar is at bottom and not visible always. If you want your
interface of Internet explorer, that too you can have under desktop App. Just run
Internet explorer from there and you will have the older interface with tabs etc..
in Metro apps
gation controls appear only when you need them and then quietly get out of the
want to do on the web is a swipe or tap away, and it uses better security
re acceleration, modern browser standards like HTML5, and the
hen browsing the web. SmartScreen Filter identifies scams and
provides a fast and fluid touch-first
bout your sites, making them feel increasingly more
If you want your old
, that too you can have under desktop App. Just run
ill have the older interface with tabs etc..

The Developer Preview shipped with a small number of Metro apps, which were a bit rough
around the edges. But the Consumer Preview comes with a full suite of them, including
email, calendaring, maps, SkyDrive, messaging, Xbox and social networking, among others.
As expected, they appear to have been designed more for tablets than traditional computers,
with simple, colorful bold interfaces. The results are often striking; take, for example, the
visually compelling Weather app.
However, in the pursuit of simplicity and tablet friendliness, Metro apps often sacrifice power
and functionality.
Fig: Apps in Windows 8
Mail allows you to see all of your mail in one place, whether it’s Hotmail, Gmail or your
company’s Exchange mail. Just like the Mail app, Calendar combines your information into
a single view and enables you to have one view of the day, week or month, by pulling
together your multiple calendars. With Microsoft SkyDrive® you never need to worry about
being able to access your documents and photos because when they’re in your SkyDrive, you
can access them seamlessly from any device. Photos puts your pictures at your fingertips.
Your albums from Facebook, Flickr, and Microsoft SkyDrive®, and of course your PC, are
there when you connect your Microsoft account to these services.

The People app is your most complete address book. You can include contacts from Hotmail,
Messenger, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Gmail, and others. Quickly see what’s new, share
an update, comment, or initiate a conversation. Messaging makes it easy to chat with all your
friends on Messenger and Facebook. The best example of this is the Mail app. On the plus
side, it's simple, colorful and makes it very easy to add and read mail from multiple mail
accounts. On the downside, it offers very few tools that you expect in a modern email
program, such as creating rules to automatically route mail to specific folders. In smartphone
and tablet-based email software, these limitations aren't unusual, because those devices
typically aren't someone's primary computing device. But you expect more in a desktop or
laptop app. The Mail app simply won't be up to the task for users of desktops and laptops.
The Metro-based Mail app Where the Metro apps generally shine is in their ability to grab
information from elsewhere and display or use it in some way. For example, the Calendar
app automatically grabs the birthdays of your Facebook friends and displays them on the
proper day. And if you've created a Google account, it will also automatically populate and
sync the Calendar with your Google Calendar information.
Metro apps do take some getting
used to. They don't have menus, and so it's not clear at first how to access certain features.
But right-click anywhere on the screen, and a series of icons appear for that app, such as
adding locations in the Weather app, or viewing all of your accounts in the Mail app. There is
one very simple and useful navigational tool missing, though: There's no minimize button.
That's because you don't minimize Metro apps -- you just switch away from them.
Tools for Power Users
It comes with tools for power users including a better task manager. The new Task Manager
is your easy-to-use, all-in-one dashboard for monitoring and controlling your PC with colour-
coded tiles, real-time summary graphs and detailed information on processes, applications,
and history. You can also see the services associated with each process on one screen.
File management. Windows Explorer is enhanced to make file management and navigation
straightforward. The ribbon organizes Windows Explorer and reveals features that used to be
hidden. We’ve brought back a long-lost favorite: the Up button. It’s easier to view and
manage all of your file operations in one place.

Navigation and Mousing around
Although the large tiles practically cry out to be touched rather than clicked upon, Metro is
still navigable using a mouse. If you're like me, at first you'll find it takes some getting used
to. But after a full day, I found myself comfortable with it, so much so that when I went back
to my Windows Vista and Windows 7 machines, I occasionally found myself using the
Windows 8 mouse movements (to no avail, of course).
Apps themselves are launched with single clicks rather than double-clicks. Although the
navigation inside Metro apps varies on an app-by-app basis, generally you'll find yourself
using scroll bars. (On a tablet, you'd be swiping to your heart's content.) Windows 8 employs
global navigation, usable when you're in Metro, the Desktop, a Metro app or a Desktop app.
in other words, no matter where you are. To switch between your current app and the last
app you used, either press the Windows key on your keyboard or move your mouse to the
lower left corner of the screen and click. If you want to see a thumbnail of the last app you
used, hover your mouse over that lower left corner. If you hover the cursor over the upper left
corner of the screen, you'll also see a thumbnail of your last app -- but if you then move your
cursor down, you'll display the thumbnails of your other open apps.
There are keyboard shortcuts as well. You can press the Windows key and Tab key
simultaneously to open thumbnails of your open apps, and then move to any you want to run.
And the old Alt-Tab standby still works.
Fig: Intracting with Windows

At first, there doesn't seem to be a way to actually close a Metro app. I finally discovered that
it's possible by moving the cursor to the top of the screen and dragging it down towards the
bottom of the screen. The app first shrinks from full-screen size to a window, and when you
drag it off the bottom of the screen, the app closes.
Touch or keyboard and mouse: your choice
Windows 8 is hands-on. On touch-enabled PCs, the things you used to do with a mouse and
keyboard are now easy to do with touch. You can switch between apps, organize your Start
screen, and pan and zoom. With the innovative touch keyboard, you can navigate, type, and
interact on the go. The touch keyboard has two modes designed to suit the way you work. It’s
a full-sized touch keyboard with large buttons that converts to a unique thumb keyboard so
it’s easy to use when you want to take it with you. This flexibility makes it more comfortable.
Typing feels natural whether you’re sitting down or walking around. The touch keyboard in
Windows 8 helps you speed up your typing and makes it more accurate. The keyboard
technology is designed to increase efficiency and reduce mistakes.
Fig: Type naturally with the touch keyboard
If you mistype a word, Windows will suggest words as you type so you can get it right with a
single tap. Type naturally with the touch keyboard.The innovative thumb keyboard makes
typing on portable devices easier The Windows 8 keyboard speaks your language. On touch-
enabled PCs, the keyboard layout automatically adjusts to the language you choose for
Windows. Your language settings apply to the whole PC rather than just certain apps, so you

can communicate effectively right from the start. Windows 8 is equally at home with a mouse
and keyboard. You can choose how to interact with your PC. Plug in a keyboard and mouse
and you have familiar methods of getting to your apps. People work in different ways and
Windows 8 adapts to your needs. So whether you want to type and click, or swipe and tap,
you can navigate easily with Windows 8. The choice is yours.
Rotate to turn
Rotating two or more fingers turns an object. You can turn the
whole screen by 90 degrees when you rotate your device.
Mouse equivalent: Support for rotating an object depends on
whether the specific app supports it.
Swipe from the bottom or top edge for app commands
App commands are revealed by swiping from the bottom or top
edge. Swiping from the top to the bottom of the screen lets you
dock or close the current app.
Mouse equivalent: Right-click on the app to see the apps
commands.
Swipe from the right or left edge for system commands
Swiping from the right side of the screen reveals the charms with
system commands. Swiping from the left brings up previously
used apps.
Mouse equivalent: Place the mouse pointer in the lower-right
corner of the screen
Press and hold to learn
You can see detailed information without having to commit to an
action. In some cases, pressing and holding opens a menu with
more options.
Mouse equivalent: Hover over an item to see more options.
Tap to perform an action
Tapping something causes an action, such as launching an app,
following a link, or performing a command.
Mouse equivalent: Left-click on an item to perform an action.

FAQs
Windows 8 Consumer Preview:
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about Windows 8 Consumer Preview. We'll
update this list with more questions and answers, so check back later.
Is Windows 8 Consumer Preview ready for everyone to try?
We strongly recommend that only experienced PC users download Windows 8 Consumer
Preview. Before you download the preview, you should weigh the pros and cons of installing
software that's still in development. If you install the preview release, you'll get to try out the
many new features, but you might also encounter errors that you wouldn't encounter using a
released version of Windows.
You should consider downloading the Windows 8 Consumer Preview only if all of the
following apply to you:
• You like to use the latest software and enjoy experimenting with new technology.
• You're comfortable backing up a PC, formatting a hard drive, and installing an
operating system from scratch.
• You feel comfortable troubleshooting PC problems yourself.
• You don't mind updating software frequently.
• You have the installation or recovery media and the knowledge to restore your
previous operating system after you're done testing Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
Are there risks to installing Windows 8 Consumer Preview?
Yes. Windows 8 Consumer Preview is stable and has been thoroughly tested, but it’s not the
finished product. Your PC could crash and you could lose important files. You should back
up your data and you shouldn't test Windows 8 Consumer Preview on your primary home or
business PC. You might also encounter problems like:
• Software that doesn’t install or work correctly, including antivirus or security
programs.
• Printers, video cards, or other hardware that doesn’t work.
• Difficulty accessing corporate or home networks.
• Files that might become corrupted.
You should carefully balance the risks and rewards of trying out the Windows 8 Consumer
Preview before you install it.

Downloading and installing
What are the system requirements for Windows 8 Consumer Preview?
Windows 8 Consumer Preview works great on the same hardware that powers Windows 7:
• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
• RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
• Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher
Additional requirements to use certain features:
• To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
• To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active
Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
• To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.
What happens when I download Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup?
When you download Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup, the following happens:
1. Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup checks your PC to see if it can run the consumer
preview, and provides a compatibility report that you can save or print (make sure
your devices are connected to your PC and turned on before you run the Setup
program). The Setup program then selects the optimized version of the download (up
to 25% smaller) that is right for your PC (32-bit or 64-bit).
2. The built-in download manager lets you start, stop, and resume the download at any
time.
3. Once Windows 8 Consumer Preview is downloaded, you choose how and when to
install it. You can install on the current drive or you can make an ISO or bootable
flash drive for installing Windows 8 Consumer Preview on another partition, virtual
machine, or another PC (requires Windows Vista or Windows 7).
Is there an alternative to using Setup? Can I just download an ISO image?
Yes. As an alternative to using Setup, Windows 8 Consumer Preview is also available to
download as an ISO image.
Can I upgrade from previous versions of Windows to Windows 8 Consumer Preview?
Yes, you can upgrade to Windows 8 Consumer Preview from Windows Developer Preview,
Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, but you might not be able to keep all of your
files, programs, and settings. The following table shows what you can keep during an
upgrade depending on the current version of Windows running on your PC:

Current operating system What you can keep
Windows Developer Preview
• User accounts and files
Windows 7
• Programs
• Windows settings
Windows Vista
• Windows settings
Windows XP
If you create installation media, start your PC from the media, and then install Windows 8
Consumer Preview, you won't be able to keep your files, programs, or settings. You must
install Windows 8 Consumer Preview using the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup
program to move files and settings over to Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
How large are the Windows 8 Consumer Preview download files?
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup program will check to see if your PC can run
Windows 8 Consumer Preview before downloading either the 32-bit (x86) or the 64-bit (x64)
version and will select the architecture that’s currently installed on your PC. If you prefer to
choose a different architecture, you can download an ISO image. The table below shows the
sizes of the download packages when using Setup.
Download Download package size (approximate)
Setup 5.0 MB
32-bit (x86) Windows 8 Consumer Preview 1.5 GB
64-bit (x64) Windows 8 Consumer Preview 1.9 GB
Will my devices and programs work with Windows 8 Consumer Preview?
Windows 8 Consumer Preview should work with the same devices and programs that work
with Windows 7. In some cases, the device or program might require an update or you might
need to uninstall some programs, and then reinstall them after installing Windows 8
Consumer Preview. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup program will scan your PC to
determine what's compatible and provide a report that you can save or print. Make sure your
devices are connected to your PC and turned on before you run the Setup program. If you
want compatibility info for a specific device or program, see the Windows 8 Consumer
Preview Compatibility Center.

How do l install Windows 8 Consumer Preview?
The easiest method is to start downloading from the Download Windows 8 Consumer
Preview page. Once the download has completed, you have a couple of options:
• Run the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup program from the PC where you want
to install the preview. (Setup checks to see if your PC is running a 32-bit or 64-bit
version of Windows and provides you with the correct download.)
• Run the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup program and use the built-in tools for
converting an ISO image into installation media, such as a DVD or USB bootable
flash drive (requires Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows Developer Preview).
You can then use this media to install the preview on another partition, virtual
machine, or another PC.
If you don't want to use the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup program, you can
download an ISO image and use it to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive to install
Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
Do I need a product key to install Windows 8 Consumer Preview?
If you install Windows 8 Consumer Preview using the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup
program, you won't need to enter a product key—the setup program automatically provides
the product key. If you create installation media, start your PC from the media, and then
install Windows 8 Consumer Preview. You'll need to enter this product key: DNJXJ-
7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J.
What is a Microsoft account and do I need one to use Windows 8 Consumer Preview?
A Microsoft account is an email address and password that you use to sign in to Windows.
You can use any email address, but it's best if you choose the one you already use to
communicate with friends and sign in to your favorite websites. You don't need a Microsoft
account to use Windows 8 Consumer Preview, but we highly recommend that you use one.
When you sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account, you’ll connect your PC to the people,
files, and devices you care about. (If you need an email address, we can give you one for
free.)
When you sign in with a Microsoft account, your PC is connected to the cloud and:
• Your friends’ contact info and status automatically stay up to date from places like
Hotmail, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as soon as you connect those services to
your Microsoft account.
• You can get to and share your photos, docs, and other files from places like SkyDrive,
Facebook, and Flickr.
• Your personal settings are synced to any PC running Windows 8 Consumer Preview
that you sign in to, including your themes, language preferences, browser favorites,
and apps.
• You can get apps in the Windows Store and use them on any PC running Windows 8
Consumer Preview that you sign in to.

If you've already installed Windows 8 Consumer Preview and didn't sign in with a Microsoft
account or you don't have a Microsoft account and want to get one, follow these steps:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click
Settings.)
2. Tap or click More PC settings.
3. Tap or click Users.
4. Tap or click Switch to a Microsoft account.
Apps and the Windows Store
Do I need a Microsoft account to use the Windows Store?
Yes. With a Microsoft account, you can see all of the apps you bought from the Store and you
can install any of those apps on up to five PCs.
To sign up for a Microsoft account
1. Open Windows Store, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap
Settings.
Settings.)
2. Tap or click Accounts and preferences, tap or click Sign in, and then tap or click
Don't have a Microsoft account?
I got an app from the Store but can't find it on my PC. Where is it?
After apps are installed, a tile for the app appears on the Start screen. If you don't see the tile
for an app, you can try searching for the app on your PC:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
Search.)
2. Make sure the search is set to Search Apps, and then enter the name of the app.
If an app doesn't appear in the search results, you can reinstall it on your PC:
Settings.
Settings.)
2. Tap or click Accounts and preferences, tap or click View your apps, and then choose
the app you want to reinstall.
How do I use my apps on other PCs?
You can install any of the apps you bought from the Store on up to five PCs. To install one of
your apps on another PC:

Settings.
Settings.)
2. Tap or click Accounts and preferences, tap or click View your apps, and then choose
the app you want to reinstall.
Internet Explorer 10 Consumer Preview
Why don’t toolbars and add-ons work?
Internet Explorer 10 provides an “add-on free” experience. It supports HTML 5 for video
content, but you can't install toolbars and add-ons in Internet Explorer 10.
If you are viewing a webpage that requires an add-on or uses Flash, you can view the content
by opening the website in Internet Explorer for the desktop. To do this, swipe in from the
right edge of the screen (if you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the
screen), tap or click Settings, and then tap or click Use the desktop.
Where do I find my favorites?
Internet Explorer 10 doesn't use the traditional Favorites from previous versions. Instead, you
can pin websites to the Start screen or open a list of pinned sites and frequently visited sites
using New tab. If you open Internet Explorer for the desktop, you can use the traditional
Favorites, but you can’t access the pinned sites from the Start screen.
I can't find the Internet Explorer 10 tile on the Start screen. How do I get it back?
Internet Explorer 10 might have accidentally become unpinned. To pin it back to your Start
screen, follow these steps:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
Search.)
2. Enter Internet Explorer, and then tap or click Apps.
3. In the search results, swipe down on the Internet Explorer icon, and then tap Pin to
Start.
(If you're using a mouse, right-click Internet Explorer, and then click Pin to Start.)

Conclusion
If you haven't downloaded Windows 8 Consumer Preview yet, and want to try it, the setup
can be downloaded from Microsoft's website, while the .iso images can be found here.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso The new version of Windows
breaks with its past -- and for tablet owners, that will be a good thing. The new Metro
interface is ideally suited for tablets and touch. But desktop and laptop owners will likely see
it as a mixed success. Metro apps are more visually compelling than Desktop-based ones, and
they do an excellent job of integrating information piped in from the Internet. But the
Desktop is underpowered compared to previous Windows versions, and overall the operating
system feels more natural to touch-based interaction than it does to mouse- and keyboard-
based use.
I certainly look forward to using Windows 8 on a tablet, because it offers useful and
innovative features, such as displaying changing information directly on tiles. I can't say that
I'm as enthusiastic about using it on a traditional computer, though. Switching between Metro
and the Desktop feels awkward, and I never shook the sense that I was using two different
operating systems. While I appreciate Metro's new features, I think Microsoft should have
worked on adding new features to the Desktop as well, and done a better job of integrating
the separate interfaces.
Given that the software that many people use on a daily basis -- Microsoft Office -- works
only on the Desktop, and that the next version of Office will be a Desktop app as well, many
people will spend a good deal of their time on Windows 8 desktops and laptops using the
Desktop. I certainly will. So while I'm looking forward to taking advantage of Metro's new
features, I'm not at all pleased to know that for most of the time.
So should Windows 8 be downloaded? We say yes. The OS is great and feature rich, and
because you need to learn a bit about how to use it, it is best that you do it now rather than
wait until the full version is released some time in Q4 2012.

References
www.microsoft.com
www.techrepublic.com
www.redmondpie.com
www.computerworld.com

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