The Start menu. Look closely at the photo, because you may not see it for days
We continue our look at things we've learnt from using Windows 8 with an assesment of the impact of the Windows Store.
6. Windows Store may not be all that important... to you (yet)
The Windows Store is one of the obvious benefits of upgrading to Windows 8. A secure and simple place to find and install applications you can trust. It's key to Microsoft's strategy with Windows 8: get people buying native Windows software and not only do you generate a nice line in additional income, but you also guarantee customer loyalty. No-one wants to ditch their iPhone if it means having to buy all their apps in a different platform.
But right now, for the average PC user the Windows Store may be something of an irrelevance. You can continue to buy and install software in exactly the same way you always have and in the Windows Store - to be frank - there's not a great deal you'd want to buy... yet. In time a market that allows software makers to sell direct to Windows users with all kinds of devices is bound to attract great software. And the convenience of buying direct from your PC with no fear of being ripped off or scammed will be compelling for users. But it needn't be a big deal to you today.
Windows Store: mostly harmless
7. Charms are useful, but not crucial
Much has been made by Microsoft of the 'contract' it has made with all Windows users: in the same part of every screen in every application, you will be able to access the Charms bar. The Charms bar in turn offers access to all the controls you need for both application and PC.
Which is, you know, great. But as I've outlined above Windows 8 is not so tough to get to know that the Charms bar is required as a safety net. There are at least three other ways to get to Settings, for instance, and in time as you grow used to shortcuts and Windows 8 in general, the Charms become useful but not critical.
8. You could save on security software
Now, this is not my official advice but it is an option for the cost-conscious user. Windows 8 comes with antivirus installed as standard, as well as the usual firewall and so on. So although you may get better protection by installing a separate internet security suite, you will have adequate protection with Windows 8 alone. I'm just saying.
What is interesting, and what I am intrigued to test, is the claim made to me by a representative of a well-known security software company that paid-for security software may speed up Windows 8. His argument was that Microsoft's own security software slows down Windows 8.
Perhaps. I can't tell on my work PC because we have corporate antivirus, but I will be going without when I install Windows 8 at home. Considering the current cost of internet security software I think it is a risk worth taking.
9. You don't need to upgrade, but it won't hurt if you do
I've covered this already, but it is worth making as a separate point. For current users of Windows 7 PCs and laptops, who don't want to use touch, Windows 8 isn't a must-have upgrade. But at £25 it is a relatively pain-free transition. And having made the jump I wouldn't go back.
10. We can't wait to try this on new devices
More importantly, I can't wait to get stuck in to Windows 8 running on Arm-powered tablets and Intel tablets, laptops, all-in-ones and hybrid devices - devices that comprise any, some or all of the above. Hardware manufacturers have been offered a challenge by Microsoft: build interesting, desirable and useful personal computing devices that can utilise Windows 8's more radical new features. And whether Windows 8 becomes a triumph or a disaster will largely be decided by the hardware. It will be fun finding out.
In the meantime, Windows 8 on a desktop PC is an interesting diversion, but far from the radical upgrade Microsoft is pushing for.
Microsoft's Surface tablet. This is where it gets really interesting
Comments
Matt Egan said: Bitter denial Wow Poetic I can assure you every point is genuine Windows 8 is a marginal improvement on Windows 7 and is priced as such Its also not quite the radical departure Microsoft would have us believe But Im not bitter Or in denial I just wrote a thing
Ross said: Ill be honest This review screams out bitter denial to me None of the points seem to be genuineIts either Its not THAT bad or Which makes it just as good as Windows 7No Screw off This is an improvement in only one sense Its more money Microsoft can charge in a desperate bid for flash over basic functionality
Matt Egan said: Well obviously I disagree And for the record Windows 8 does of course support multitasking Are you perhaps confusing Windows 8 Pro ie the x86 desktop and laptop software with Windows RT
Rafal said: This Win8 is total disaster for desktop computers There is no Multitasking people often changing tasks they forget what they need to do and as a result takes them more time to complete tasksWindows 8 for work on PC Total FailureTablets maybe it will work
Umberto Giacobbi said: I hated the start screen since the first time I see it on a tablet ok but on a desktop adds only complexityI happily use Bringback from Revel software since Windows 8 Preview the nice thing is that it has a true metro UI not a clone of Windows 7 start menuAnd I can shut down the system with two clickshttpwwwrevel-softwareitb
Agamemnon said: Start 8 and the currnet crop of hacks DONT WORK on the RTM
Agamemnon said: Qutie frankly Windows 8 is an exercise in pointlessness If you have a well configured Windows 7 system there is little point in the Im loathed to call it an upgrade crossgradeWindows 8 is yet another Microsoft attempt at selling consumers a one size doesnt quite fit anyone OS In the past MS have attempted to squeeze the Windows desktop into low-functionality media consumption devices such as touchpad type devices only to find that the interface is too dificult to manipulate Now they have taken a clumsy interfacedesigned for touch sensitive media consumption devices and attempted to expand it to make up for the features that they have crippled in the new OS And they think this is a good ideaThe Fisher Price styling of the no-longer metro UI has turned something functional into a toy I dont use my computer to simply consume media I use it to produce content and forwork Touch sensitive displays are impractical when you need a display thats at least 46 in size even more so when you need that display free of smudges so you can work with fine detail Hell were getting 84 displays in here in order to work with 4K video tell me again how touch sensitivity on a 84 display makes life easier Endlessly swiping from one corner to the next dammit Ill need a bigger office just so I have enough room to walk around Also if someone can please explain to me how exactly an on-screen keyboard represents a major functionality leap when it has to be used at an uncomfortable angle feel free to do so And to the simplefolks who say pin your applications to your taskbar since simple is all they seem to understand That becomes impractical when you rely on 30-40 or more applications that serve different but needed functions I can have a taskbar that serves its function as a taskbar or a start menu that does not look like a reject from an LSDinduced fisher price brain storming sessionThe simple facts are this Microsoft is bending over backwards to appease potential owners of one class of device and it is sacfricing functionality for all their other users in order to do it Too bad for them that 9999 of their users are desktop and laptop ownersAnd way to function on the wrong functionality too Facebook integration is really important when Im working not My ability to purchase music or videos from microsoft is important when Im working not The integration into X-Box live is really important when Im working not Im buying an Operating system not a shop front for Microsoft and its crappy media services Is there anything thats actually practical and beneficial to thisOS beyond it looks simple for simple people and has touch functionality
Matt Egan said: Yes they want your email address reasonable for a free program Id say Stardock is a legitimate software firm however so I suspect this may be a false positive Obviously it pays not to take risks
Rob said: Liked the idea of a start menu searched for Start8 and took me to the Stardock website httpwwwstardockcomproduc download needed to input me email address so they sent me a link is this a ploy to gain users email addressesDownloaded from emailed link and Norton flashed up in RED with this below DID NOT INSTALLhttpsecurityresponsesymant
Angel Colon said: I like the way metro looks but I do agree that it does look a little blandsimple Im sure their will be ways to customize it alot more in time
Angel Colon said: Understandable if its not your cup of tea aesthetically because if i didnt like the way it looked I would probably have a hard time wanting to use it too It really is alot faster for me over Windows 7 I installed a start menu button when i first installed Windows 8 to make it easier for me to use and within a couple of days ended up uninstalling it because i simply didnt need it anymore I think people going into it with optimism and a little patience will still find it to be familiar and refreshing
Cube1701 said: Thats how the search works in Windows 7 Just press the windows button youll still need to do this in Win 8 to go to the Metro homescreen start typing and hit enterI just personally really dislike having to use the full screen metro search by doing it that way Some options wouldnt hurt
Angel Colon said: Strange that after being shown how much fasterefficient it is to navigate people still come to the conclusion that it is the opposite My opinion is that for the most part people are stubborn and reluctant to change no matter how much easier it is to use and that is a shame How can simply typing not even the full name of an app or file then hitting enter not universally be seen as betterfaster is beyond me like i said that justsounds stubborn
Cube1701 said: Perhaps its just the way I use computers Im useless at explaining stuff to other computer users as I justdo it Im so used to the current shortcuts that its a shock to the system Its like trying to write with your other handIt also doesnt help that Im not a fan of the Metro interface style I just hate the look It looks fine on the Xbox 360 but Windows Phone on Windows 8 I just find it looks a bit too bland
Matt Egan said: You can also pin programs to the bottom of the Desktop should you wish to
Matt Egan said: Ha Clearly I disagree Strange that we could have such different experiences but it is all about opinion and its not me that Microsoft has to convince For the record the search page looks like Metro but it doesnt take you to the start menu I was going to put in a point about search being great I find it speedy and useful so again well have to agree to disagree
jack said: If your not happy with the start screen install start8 or classic shell to get your start menu back
tIoM said: Also using the Release Candidate I just pin my desktop programs to the start screen and launch them from there It really is the new start menu I like it alot now that Im used to it
himynameiswill said: Couldnt disagree anymore You need to use it for longer The Metro UI effectively IS the start menu now But saying that I still never use it Im on the desktop 90 of my time and I dabble in Metro UI because as Matt said its pretty looking and I like to see itYou complain about not pinning programs to the start menu and yet when you hit the Windows key you go to the Metro UI Why arent you pinning your most used programs at the front of that EXACTLY as was done in W7
Cube1701 said: From using the release candidate I have to say- The Metro UI is constantly in your face You cant simply not use it Search which is used a lot takes place in the Metro UI instead of within the star menu which was much more useful Which leads on to- The lack of start menu is a pain Everything that was there is now harder to do Plus pinning programs to the start menu something I did a lot as I didnt want too many on the taskbar simply does not exist any more Having programs on the start menu was much much more convenient than on the desktop as you didnt need to minimise everythingWindows 8 does not belong on any PC or laptop