Microsoft is only a few months away from launching Windows 8 and you're probably wondering whether you should upgrade.
Microsoft is nearing the full launch and here's why you should get on-board
We've put together eight reasons why you should upgrade to Windows 8 ahead of the launch which is expected to come along later this year. Windows 8 is a major redesign of the operating system (OS) so you'll want to consider carefully before taking the plunge.
See also: Microsoft Windows 8 review and Windows 8: The complete Guide
Windows 8: Touchscreen support
Windows 8 supports devices with a touchscreen and is fundamentally designed for them. The Metro style user interface is meant to be controlled with touch. This makes it an appealing upgrade for those with an existing touchscreen device such as an all-in-one PC.
If you don't have a touchscreen device then you might want to get one specifically for Windows 8 even though it means a hardware purchase on top of the OS. However, Windows 8 does support the traditional keyboard and mouse input.
Windows 8: Metro user interface
The Metro-style interface which we mentioned earlier is the basis of Windows 8 and represents a somewhat radical redesign for the OS. It looks very similar to Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 interface and instead of the normal desktop with icons there are live tiles.
These will launch an application like an icon but also have the ability to show live information such as new emails and up-to-date weather.
Overall the interface is really easy and intuitive to use, especially with a touchscreen. Different gestures, either with touch or a mouse, will do clever things like close apps, open your last used app, access menus and more.
Windows 8: Apps
Windows 8 has a more mobile OS approach when it comes to app with its own Store. This is where you can browse, download and install apps designed for the Metro user interface and likely a touch input.
The selection of apps is currently limited but it is expected that the number will be significantly higher when Windows 8 gets its full launch. A lot of apps will display in full-screen with one example being Maps. This app uses Microsoft's Bing Maps service to provide locational search and directions on a global scale. Windows 8 comes pre-loaded with a number of Metro apps including People, Calendar, Photos, Music, Messaging and Video.
Windows 8: Cloud services
Windows 8 has a cloud focus to it which might be a tempting feature. Microsoft stores all your settings and customisations in the cloud so whenever you log on to a Windows 8 machine you will have it looking and working your way.
Other elements of the cloud system include pulling your email from Gmail, for example, and viewing all your photos from Facebook.
Comments
mike said: i was ready to give away my promo code until i saw the backwards compatibility good move microsoft good move
Deekshith Allamaneni said: Its better to upgrade to Linux than to Windows 8 Ubuntu on Desktop and Android on mobile are better than Windows at-least for me
Matt Egan said: There isnt but perhaps well do one next week
Simon Pole said: Not in its current form and Metro screen and no desktop start button I dont have a touch screen PC and dont want one though do love my touch phone but for an entirely different reason maximises screen size in a small device But my desktop isnt a small device and I dont need or want it to beMetro type interface works wonderfully on the likes of a Windows Phone 7 but please not for desktopsI have used Windows 7 since the public beta and almost exclusivity since RC1 dropping XP and moving everything over to 7 and upgraded via pre-orde I fell for Windows 7 almost immediately though I skipped Vista luckily it would seem I also think MS may have some problems convincing people to drop Windows 7 in favour of 8 time will tell I guessOn the plus side Windows 8 does seem to boot faster and is a little more responsive also you can workaround the lack of start button IF you dont run that many programs by removing all the stuff you dont want and pinning all your programs into groups on the Metro screen however for some this may not be possible or practicable though ok for me as I use very few programsOf course there is the start button hack but why have to do that if it would be so easy for MS to just put it backMetro strange name has some nice features weather app etc nit the browser lacks support for some web based features however most in the know will probably bin it in favour of Chrome or FFThere may be 8 reasons to upgrade but there is one reason not to its called Windows 7Is there a poll where we can vote for not upgrading
Marty Smith said: Sorry about the sponsor comment Matt which is what I said and meant I did not mean that there was some sort of corruption afoot You have put me straight on thatLike many others I downloaded it and it just didnt work for me Touch screen works on tablets factory machines and hospitals for appointment logins but the desktopHold your arm out and touch your monitor for 5mins If you can disable Metro there is not that much to offer over Win7 and you can install software to do the things that Win8 desktop does anyway Metro should be an application like Win Media Center
Matt Egan said: With respect Marty Im interested in your points up until the point you accuse us of corruption At that point you look like a child and I am forced to point out that we would never take payment for a feature unless it was clearly marked as sponsor content Wind it in eh
PhilipCohen said: Theres no way Im upgrading from Windows 7 until I know that they have fixed the WinWord going Read-Only problem
Marty Smith said: I have a 27 monitor I have to spend over 1000 to upgrade my monitor to Vista 2 touch screen so that I can touch an icon to launch Paint Shop Pro then go back to the keyboard and mouse to use the program just like I do with Windows 7Eight reasons not to upgrade to Vista 21 You have a PC not a tablet2 You have Windows 73 You have a 24 non touch monitor4 No Start button5 Two interfaces Desktop is there but not primary6 Programs you use do not need touch screen7 Do not need Windows shop8 How many versions which can be full upgrade then 3264 bitAt least release as 64bit onlyMakes me think PC-Adviser is paid to write that dont force it on use like its some sort of Holy Grail
Decadre Solydius said: I keep posting my experiences that I have showing windows 8 WIN8 TOGO stick to the common person and yesterday was a hoot and a hollerShowed it to about 20 people at an office location as we rolled out new PCs to our users Not a one liked it and most comments included expletivesThen Ihumorouslyhad the opportunity to do so in the middle of a Best Buys on a laptop that a friend was picking up Dont ask but it involved a sale and a interest free time period payoff on a credit card so I let him dance with the devil Again other than the some members of the Geek squad showing interest the reception was far from goodWho knows I may have perhaps even forced some sales as people realized that they need to upgrade now before WIN8 drops
Condom said: Well I certainly wont be in the queue on day 1 like I was with Win7 I have a large 27 sceen which is at least 2 away from me and there is no way on this earth that I could operate this using my fingers without my arms feeling like they were brokenAlso I hate anything on my screen apart from the bottom ribbon which I love in Win7 Im not sure if Win 8 has anything for me but lets wait and see if they listen to what is being saidI do like the Win8 phones but this is a different ballgame to a PC
Johnyboy said: What is the Start shown in the upper left hand corner of the screenshot above for
Mike said: None of these give me anything I want for a desktoplaptopmedia non-touchscreen computer but theyve taken away the Start button just to make it more difficult to use Ill be waiting to see some real benefits before trying it out
Stever said: Its also not exactly compatible with lower resolution netbook screens anything below the minimum and all the wonderful apps refuse to even start up
Mike Rotch said: None of these 8 reasons warrant 500 and a day spent upgrading
moogleboi said: I second thisAs a user of the developer and consumer previews I have to say I wont be switching to Windows 8 Im hoping it gets the same stick as Vista did - because if this is the future of Windows then Im off to Linux OS X or something elseIve seen a lot of users with similar sentiments and Microsoft dont seem to get the message theyre keen to continue with their marketing naivety like they did with VistaIn reality all it would take is turn features on or off at install because then desktop users wouldnt have a load of panels thrown in their face when try to open a should-be small menu Its also really essential if theyre seriously putting this OS on tablets 15GB of OS crapware on a 32GB flash chip I dont think so
nilst2011 said: As long as MetroUI stays on desktop computers Windows 8 is a huge NO WAY