Windows 8 Desktop

Windows 8 Review

So unto the start screen and surrounding technologies.  Created for touch but just as useable with a keyboard and mouse.  Your computer will start in the start screen, but to access it and other features using a mouse it is all about sliding your mouse off screen and into the corners.  Bottom left is start screen.  Top left is your previous Windows 8 app, and sliding down reveals a list of previous apps.  The right hand side is the charm bar.  Either corner will do, just slide down to access the control you wish.  Obviously touch will be rewarding.  And you will see touch and touch related peripherals comes to both laptops and desktops (such as an updated Microsoft Touch Mouse).

Windows 8 App Switcher

The start screen is pretty self-explanatory and works extremely smooth.  Each tile is an App.  Either a Windows 8 App or a traditional desktop app.  You can tell the difference between the icon in a tile for desktop apps and new Windows 8 Apps using the whole tile.  The new apps can also control the tile to provide update information.  For example the weather app tile will inform you of the current temperature without you having to start the app.

Windows 8 Start Screen

You can choose to live in either environment of do a mixture of both.  I find myself, even on my desktop computer, drawn to the simplicity of the new experience.  Limiting myself to advance apps and file management thru the desktop mode.

The charm bar is for Windows 8 apps, and lets each app have a central start for search and settings.  Share is unique feature that allows you to share content between apps.  It also allows access to central touch friendly settings for Windows 8.  While the control panel exists for most settings and all advanced settings, the Windows 8 Settings App must be used to create new Windows accounts.

Windows 8 Charm Bar

Also unique to Windows is multitasking, not only on the desktop mode but also on the new experience.  You can have a primary app and a secondary app.  This a huge plus in my books.

Side by side apps in Windows 8

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