Microsoft has finally released its game-changing operating system, Windows 8. This is the biggest change to the Windows OS since the launch of Windows 95. We've already spent a lot of time using Windows 8, so keep reading to find out what we think of Microsoft's latest operating system in this Windows 8 review - it's the only Windows 8 review you need.
Windows 8 launched on the 26th October and, as usual with Microsoft operating systems - apart from a few exceptions - will be the operating system on all new PCs and laptops. It's also available on tablets, starting with Microsoft's own Surface and, Windows Phone 8 is now available smartphones. In this Windows 8 review we cover everything except Windows Phone 8, which isn't yet available to test.
Windows 8: All change please
You're probably familiar with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 since you use at least one or more of them on a daily basis. Although improvements have been made over the years, they're fundamentally the same as Windows 95. It doesn't take too much effort to switch between any of these versions, even though options have moved around a little.
With Windows 8, things change radically. The desktop, as you know it, is relegated to the side-lines to make way for the new so-called Modern UI (User Interface). This interface is designed to be used with touchscreens as well as with a mouse and keyboard, and requires programs to be written specially for it.
These Windows apps are downloaded via the new Windows Store, or from app developers' websites. The Windows Store is similar to Apple's App Store and Google's Play store. As of the October 26 launch date, there will be relatively few apps there, but the number will grow quickly as more and more people begin using Windows 8. Currently, many are free, and a small number cost a couple of pounds. Again, this is likely to change, so don't expect programs which cost, say £100 now, to be any cheaper when the Windows 8 app is released. See also: Best Windows apps: Windows 8 app group test.
You can still run programs written for older versions of Windows, but this is possible only on PCs and laptops: Windows 8 tablets (at least those which have ARM processors and run Windows 8 RT) won't have the traditional Windows desktop at all.
Windows 8: Upgrading
You don't have a buy a new laptop or PC to get Windows 8, of course. Windows XP, Vista and 7 can be upgraded to Windows 8, although there's a limit to how much you can bring with you.
If your computer runs XP with Service Pack 3, you can transfer your files. Vista users can bring files and settings, while Windows 7 owners can keep programs, settings and files. Any incompatible programs have to be uninstalled before the upgrade, but Windows 8's installer will tell you what action needs to be taken. For a step-by-step guide to the upgrade process, including how to register for the Windows 8 Upgrade Offer, see: How to upgrade to Windows 8.
Windows 8 vs Windows RT
Windows RT, in case you're confused (and we'd understand if you are), is the version of Windows which runs on tablets. It looks the same, and uses the same gestures, but there are some subtle differences.
One is that you can't buy Windows 8 RT, in the same way you can't buy Apple's iOS operating system for the iPad. It comes with the tablet when you buy it.
Windows 8 RT will run apps downloaded via the Windows Store, just like Windows 8. However, RT comes with Microsoft Office pre-installed; Windows 8 doesn't.
Windows RT doesn't have the traditional Windows desktop, and can't run legacy programs, but Windows 8 can. RT also lacks some of the other features of Windows 8 Pro: there's no Windows Media Player, or BitLocker encryption, no domain support and, although there's Remote Desktop, it works only as a client, so you can't remotely connect to a Windows 8 RT tablet. The basic version of Windows 8 also lacks these features: for more see Which version should I choose? later on.
What you will find is the same Internet Explorer 10, Office 2013, Mail, Calendar, Maps, Photos, Music, Videos, Weather, People, News, Travel, Finance and SkyDrive apps. There's also Windows Defender, Exchange ActiveSync and VPN support.
Microsoft has confirmed that IE10 on Windows 8 RT will support Flash, which is used on many websites and for a lot of internet video. Flash is also supported, as you'd expect, in the desktop version of Windows 8.
Windows 8: Modern UI Interface
Windows 8 Lock screen
In Windows 8 your computer boots straight to the lock screen, the same screen you'll see on a Windows 8 RT tablet. You swipe upwards, or click or press a key on your keyboard, to remove it and see the user accounts, as you'd see in previous versions of Windows.
The Lock screen shows the time, date and can also show more detailed information from an app of your choosing, such as Weather or Mail. Many other apps, such as Twitter clients can also show information on the Lock screen.
Windows 8 Start screen
When you've entered your password (there's also the option of a picture password), you're taken to the new Start screen, which Microsoft is now calling the Modern UI (formerly, but no longer, Metro). This is best thought of as a full-screen Start menu, since there's no longer any such menu, even on the traditional desktop.
It's at this point which many people will feel lost, but as with any new interface, it takes only a few minutes to gain your bearings and figure out where things are and how to accomplish tasks.
In fact, the Start screen is well designed and conveys much more information that it first appears. Some of the 'tiles' display live information, so you can see the current weather, for example, without launching the Weather app. Similarly, you can see the latest news headlines, emails and share prices and much more without as much as a single tap or click.
If you'd like things to be arranged differently, just tap (or click) on a tile and drag it to a new position. Everything else will rearrange around it, and some tiles can be shrunk or enlarged, making it easier to find the apps you use most.
As you install apps, new tiles are created, and you can also add tiles as shortcuts to programs already installed, including those that run on the traditional desktop. When there are too many to display on screen, you have to scroll right to see more. Alternatively, you can pinch to zoom out, then scroll and zoom in when you see the tile you want.
Those without a touchscreen can hold Ctrl and roll their mouse wheel to zoom in and out, while laptop owners without a scroll area or gesture support can use the keyboard shortcut, Ctrl, + or Ctrl, -. It's well worth learning the keyboard shortcuts for getting around Windows 8 as this is the only way to be as fast as if you had a touchscreen.
In the zoomed-out view, you can click on a group of tiles to select it and move it to a new position. Right-clicking on it (or dragging down on a touchscreen) gives the option to name it - the name then appears above the group. In the zoomed-in view, you can drag a tile between groups to create a new group.
When using the interface with a standard scroll mouse, the scroll wheel will default to horizontal scrolling until you click on a vertical pane of information, such as a list of emails or on a web page. Then it switches to scrolling vertically. It means you can get around the Modern UI without too much hassle, and without needing to buy any new hardware such as Microsoft's Touch Mouse.
There's no getting away from the fact that, as Microsoft freely admits, touch is a first-class citizen in Windows 8 and it's not as quick or pleasant to use it with a basic mouse and keyboard. Keyboard shortcuts, as we've said, are the next best thing.
Keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8
Windows key + Q: Search. This opens the search charm, set to whichever app you're currently using. You can quickly switch to a files search with Windows+F, or settings with Windows+W.
Windows+C: Open the Charms bar
Windows+H: Share charm
Windows+I: Settings charm
Windows+Z: Displays the app bar. This gives contextual options in each app.
Windows+X: opens the admin menu, which appears where the Start menu used to be.
Windows+D: Shows the traditional desktop. Press again to minimise all desktop windows.
Windows+L: Locks your computer and displays the Lock screen.
Alt+F4: Close current app. Also, you can use your mouse to click at the top of an app and drag it to the bottom of the screen.
Windows 8: Charms bar
The Charms bar is another brand new feature. It appears when you swipe your finger in from the right-hand edge of the screen. Those with a mouse can point the cursor to the top- or bottom-right corner of the screen (these are two of the new 'hot' corners in Windows 8).
From the top, you have Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings. Search is a replacement for the search box in Windows 7 and Vista, but a more capable version. The Share charm allows you to share things with people, but the options will change depending on which app is running. Extra sharing options will appear when you install apps that can share content, such as Twitter clients.
Start takes you back to the Start screen if you're in another app, or switches to the most recent app if you're on the Start screen.
Click or tap the Devices icon to show relevant connected devices. Printers, speakers, screens and network devices will be shown in a list. You can click on one to change its settings, or use any of its capabilities.
Finally, Settings gives quick access to Wi-Fi settings, volume, screen brightness and notifications options. It also provides a link to the new, streamlined control panel, simply named Settings. Clicking on the Settings charm will also show settings specific to the current app, so you might see common Help and About links for most apps, but an extra Accounts option for Mail, say.
Windows 8: Searching
For a list of all installed apps, swipe up from the bottom, or right-click, to bring up the bottom options bar, then choose All apps. A neat shortcut, if you know what you're looking for, is simply to start typing on the Start screen. This opens the search box, and you can filter results by type: Apps, Settings or Files. You can also apply that search to a particular app (Internet Explorer, for example) by clicking or tapping on it in the search box.
Multiple windows, Modern UI-style
When you tap or click on an app it opens in full-screen mode. Most apps are designed to work this way, but you can drag down from the top, then drag either left or right to resize the app to occupy a small column at either side. Three-quarters of the screen is then left for a second app (or the desktop, if you like). You can flip apps between these two positions by grabbing the black bar which separates the apps and dragging it left or right.
This 'multitasking' feels a lot more limiting than the traditional desktop where you can have many windows open at once, in whichever positions you like. However, it feels like a revelation on a Windows 8 tablet as it's the first time you can see two apps at once.
It's useful in many situations as you can put an app such as Tweetro or Mail in the small column to the left or right and use the rest of the screen for the app you're actually using. This way you can see new tweets or emails appear. The new Windows 8 notifications can also do this job, but they're shown for only a moment.
There are various ways of switching between apps in the Modern UI. The easiest is to use the Windows, Tab shortcut to bring up the new, vertical apps list. This includes the desktop, but to choose a particular app that's running on the desktop, use Alt, Tab instead, then use the cursor keys to pick the app you want.
On a touchscreen, you drag in from the left, then back to bring up the vertical list of apps, just as you get on an Android tablet. With a mouse, you point the cursor at the top or bottom corner at the left side of the screen (the other two 'hot' corners), then drag down or up to see the list.
NEXT PAGE: Windows 8 apps, IE 10 and Windows 8 performance >>
Comments
mustdisquss said: yepsome still believe the entire desktop has been replaced by tiles lol Use classic shell I actually hated 7 more than 8 initially When I moved on from vista to 7 the libraries feature added very little and was awkward when browsing and the location removal or change of show desktop along with having too large or too small icons in the taskbar did it for me very annoying and far worse than a new start menu with tiled gadget apps but almost everything can be fixed after a google D
mustdisquss said: I always browse in desktop mode using firefox Not every company has an app equivalent of their software but I dont think ms made 8 to attempt to replace the entire desktop with a tiled interfacethey just replaced 7s gadgets with them I havent had any apps hang in 8 yet but I use very few Some hanging may be down to issues with firewalls as well as early apps needing bug fixing I wonder with gestures if its easiness may come down to the model or brand of touch screen thats being used I found out quickly that a mouse with a scroll wheel was absolutely essential on my laptop to use 8 The scrollwheel and space with a real mouse to move made it all far easier than the laptops touchpad I have found that some touchpads work better than others with 8
mustdisquss said: Ive used windows 8 and you can run all your programs as normal-all folders and files use explorer and it still feels like Im using 7 since 8 is essentially the same platform with a differing start interface There are no full screen only programs but there are full screen apps Full screen apps of your choice are only on the main start screen I think of them as a slight upgrade from vista and 7s gadgets Some of them useful to some eg yahoo mail and tunein radio etc but no one has to use them The traditional start menu content can be accessed from the start screen in full on a second page They dont use large tiles Personally I feel windows 8 is the very basics of whats to come MS have essentially admitted that already by stating that there will be far more updates of windows in future with 81 or 9 in the works I think the key is that people want more customisation and theres little of that in 8 right now unless you do it unofficially I believe the new start screen is fine especially if aimed at the home market Nothing major has been taken away from 7 otherwise Some like the new interface some like the old the general press and most that havent tried it absolutely hate it lol Hopefully ms will listen to its customers and give the menu back as a second option to please everyone At the moment Classic shell works great on 8 to have the old startmenu xpvista or 7 styles included
Azza_V said: Absolutely agree Nelson I have got to admit to being a bit of a PC die-hard I use it as my center piece for my entertainment system plugged into a plasma with hifi guarantees me a spot-on blu ray movie music and gaming experienceahhh PC gaming - the best but i also own a laptop for Uni work and a tablet for browsing my emails internet etc its so versatile I can take it with me anywhere Many people have bought PCs in the past as a means of accessing their emailsinternet as you said and I agree most people will get by with a tabletsmartphone There does not seem to be a computer that can do it all Xbox One - give me a breakI will always use a different computing device depending on what I am doing
Azza_V said: Hi Charity Yes PCs and laptops do come with 8 installed these days Win 7 is an excellent OS and was created to work specifically with a mouse and keyboard 8 really was created for touch screen I use a tablet too and know how different an OS for touch screen can be compared to a desktop PC It seems Win 8 is not pre-installed on PCs because it is a superior OS - it is Microsofts new OS and they want to sell it obviously and not because its superior to 7 There seem to be more positive views about 8 these days - how are you finding it
oliver stieber said: until you work with streams and you find out they have borken the object orientation rules by closing streams that are not owned by the readingwriting objects that use them
oliver stieber said: I think that has more to do with the historical lack of processing power and screen resolution poor browsers and lack of stock web components such as flash and java on tablets and phones than anything else cus you know even the latest tablets are still pretty rubbish esp in terms of apps when compared to possibly even windows 95
AlanM said: I like to feel in charge of my PC I started some thirty years ago with Windows 31 progressed through 95 and 98 to XP and Win7 skipping Windows Millennium and Vista I tried Win8 on a new laptop but couldnt get my head around it despite months of perseverance and finally decided to downgrade back to Win7I feel that Microsoft is only interested in capitalising on new OS and taking us for a bunch of mugs There is little wrong with Win7 that has been corrected in Win 8 If it aint broke dont try and fix itFor me Win8 is another Vista The sooner that it is replaced the better
Akmal Apai said: i think windows 8 is the new windows generationfor me win 8 is really goodcause many thing win 7 cant do it can dobtw i have try win 8 just try but i really impresing cause it is very fast no lackhang n it use 50-70 ram and my processor on win 8 really stableso ithink this is the best win ever make
Sam Dovah Wynn said: I apologise for the large amount of swearing and debauched metaphors if you dont like them dont read this thankee A little advice if anyones thinking of upgrading to Windows 8 dontEven if someone pays you Or gives you an Xbox One or a blowjob whatever Just dont do it Im not certain but Im pretty sure it was made as a mobile OS first and has been forcibly adapted for PCs making it a pile of shit And even if it was made for PC first its still a pile of shit Theyve made so many unnecessary additions Like the Start Button Its a whole fucking screen like they wanna replace the traditional desktop which is fine Oh but what is this The original desktop is still running in the background and can be switched to rather easily meaning whoever made this start screen bullshit an utter wankerNext the USE YOUR WINDOWS LIVE EMAIL ADDRESS AND PASSWORD TO LOG IN What the fuck is this shit HI WHATTHEFUCKLIVECOM I AM WINDOWS 8 and trying to tie it in with Xbox Live smartglass shit Oh you used a different email address for live than for your professional purposes Better create a new account switch to that and wait for that to setup tooOh Im sorry did I forget to mention the Account Setup I was sat here for five minutes as it started to go through some shitty tutorial on how to use the new windows bullshit screen Im sorry but if your OS homescreen is not basic and easy enough for pretty much anyone to pick up you have a major fault right there Im sure Bill Gates came up with the name Microsoft to describe his dick in a strip clubYou shouldnt need to start personalizing all your browsers and background shitand where you want the weather apps home to be that should all happen almost unnoticed in the background as you go along meaning less waiting times and more time USING YOUR FUCKING COMPUTERThis short rant might be over but my new Vendetta against Windows 8 has only just begun
thalweg said: My old dell ran Vista plus so i bought a new laptop with Windows 8 i struggled with it for 3 days took it back and bought an Apple This was as dumb as Coke changing the formula
Matt Egan said: Im curious - have you used Windows 8 I ask because like so many people you seem to be labouring under the misapprehension that Windows 8 is somehow cut down in comparison to Windows 7 In fact the Modern UI aspect is in addition to a Desktop Windows 8 that is merely a quicker stable Windows 7 Microsoft has a really perception problem on this score
Are you serious? said: uh if Windows wanted to do one OS for phones and tablets everyone would have been fine with that and gone yeah that makes senseBut those two devices are about portability speed of using a single app at a time usually a limited number of apps all together with frequent use of a core few and simplicityYou cant work on them Not like you can with a PC or laptop These are two entirely different lines of technology designed for different purposesDo you work in an office Do you do any kind of intensive research Do you ever need multiple programs running at once and to view and research information next to a Word document why this favouritism for full screen on Windows8 Because theyre thinking about the person holding a tiny portable device who needs to see what theyre doing Theyre not thinking about people working on these devices at home or at the office or even on the road Because if not and you use your computer like you use the apps on a cellphone then okay I see where youre coming from and you dont use your computer for much You could replace it with a tablet or your phone and its all the same to you Thats not how it is for most other people And its not how it is for Microsofts core base consumerLets give mention to the base consumer Apple was incredibly popular and winning great acclaim left and right with computer and laptop sales going through the roof so why did they never get near overtaking the popularity of just general Windows sales Because youve got offices for corporations governments and small businesses buying up tens of millions of computers every year We need them to work And while Microsoft appeals to businesses because of its broad usability Apple saw that the market for casualfun use computerlaptop customers wasnt being catered to People who dont use computers for much other than surfing the internet pictures music videos checking email talking to people and writing something once in a while So Apple made that experience as smooth and well put together as possible for them but at the cost of limiting the abilities of the system in part to protect the user from the fact that they probably arent computer savvy enough to do anything beyond surf the web upload pictures and consume media That does not cater to the needs of businessesThis is going to really screw a lot of departments who rely on all kinds of financial and bookeeping software that will probably have issues with Windows 8 being so app focusedThis is just a ridiculously dumb move In hopes of trying to cut into the tablet and phone market share and I mean could they be coming anymore late to the party theyve created something thats going to annoy if not anger their solid customer base Theyre leaving the guaranteed customers out in the cold and risk alienating them just so they can try and win over some of the customers already comfortable with other companies and theyre trying to do it with a first at bat not as good software system thats largely untestedYou have to start somewhere and so that would be fine if it was just for the mobile devices but to force it upon people using computers is just idiotic and insulting
areyouserious? said: Not people with office jobs or people who do research and work at home or people who need to do a lot of typing or people who like to do gaming NOT in app formI could NEVER get my work done on a tablet and the usability of Windows 8 is a far cry from that of Windows 7 when youre someone who knows how to use a computer and does lots of different stuff at once and wants to switch between them quickly and constantly If I had to run Word as full screen I would have trouble with researching This is ridiculous Im so glad I got my laptop just before Windows 8 came out If Id had it Id have returned the laptop if unable to downgrade to Windows 7A PC and laptop are NOT a phone or tablet If that was the type of functionality I needed then Id have just gotten the phone or tablet which are cheaper But it isnt I need full capabilitiesWindows 8 is designed for casual users who dont do much with their system This was my biggest complaint about my Macbook Pro that I got some years ago I switched back to PC laptops once it died yes I maintain a desktop AND a laptop Again work to be done The system worked great but only for the things that Apple wanted me to do The system deliberately limits your capabilities Now a lot of stuff with it was handy and when I was mostly just using it for casual use and note taking in class it was fine But heavier full computer usage was a pain especially getting it to function with some non-Mac systems Windows 8 has taken that to a whole new level I cant even use that system for casual work I tried it Its garbageThere is a difference in what people want for a PC or Laptop vs what they want for a phone or tablet The former emphasizes abilities power and extreme usefulness for work while the latter is about portability simplicity and fast use of of frequently used appsI cant believe they released this thing Its an even bigger disappointment than Vista and that piece of junk had me missing XP which was several years behind it
Naveed said: Microsoft is stuck betweek two worldsTouch and non touch As touch devicestablets are gaining groundWhat they could have done is to set a function where the user control which ui to useSay if someone want to use his device as laptop he should select desktop mode and when want to use it as tablet without keyboard he should have option to select touch ui only or if he flip his laptop keyboard it should auto change to touch uiMicrosoft has mixed the twoI keep geeting into desktop mode when i want to use the metro or vice versa
RUPU said: I agree with MortemMWhat you guys fail to see is that Windows 8 is essentially just a Windows 7 hybrid Windows 8 does exactly the same as Windows 7 the only difference is the start menu For Goodness sake if you dont like the apps just ignore them What could the start menu for Windows 7 do It just simply has a list of all the programs and features installed on windows How is the Windows 8 start menu any different it does exactly that and even faster I just push the start button on my keyboard type in the name of the program I want to launch and push enter Its as easy as that Im sorry for those people who are struggling to find the start button just live with it As humans we fear change and get comfortable with our surroundings which is why progress is slower than it actually could be Stop throwing your toys out the cot and take some time to get to know Windows 8 It will surprise the socks off of you once you know all the ins and outsI can take my windows anywhere All I do is log in with my live account and all my mails and settings are set up as the computer on which it was originally installed Say my computer crashes All I do then is just let Windows restore to factory settings with all my programs on it NO DISC NEEDED I dont need to pay an IT guy a shit load of money to bring his windows disc and fix the problem IT guys fear it because Windows 8 makes them less neededIf an application does not want to launch windows tunes me Hey dude you need this to launch this program want me to go fetch it for youI can use the same account for my PC for my Windows phone No need to set up any email accounts or settings I can run my PC directly from my phone You guys fail to see the benefits in this system Microsoft said Hey we are trying something new because we know what is best And I think they really do know And now I dont have to make a cup of coffee every time I start Windows up Sure navigating the start menu is complicated but for fucks sake doing the simple tasks that the Windows 7 start menu could do is stuff a toddler can do You are complaining about stuff thats not even in Windows 7 So tell me what exactly is the downside And tell me this if you have actually taken the time to get to know Windows 8
mike said: good god this looks ugly what about us with non touchscreen systems thinking of building a new system primarily for gaming on a budget windows 8 seem better for this anyone
Graham Coulby said: LOOK Ive used a mac for 7 years The same mac for 7 years and its still capable of 3d rendering pcs last at best 6 month because the software is not designed for all hardware theres too many third parties This forces necessary upgrades to force old computer users out of the water There is also the security issue Above all else I would move to windows on my next computer for the cost reasons youve mentioned if only they were secure ive never used an antivirus with my mac You run a pc for 5 minutes without protection and its the same as sticking it to a 10 hooker with no rubber However I do agree a mac will out perform in most cases a pc for anything creative they lack the necessary office functionalities to make them worldwide enough to bring them down in price not that they will ever bring macs down in price because they are money hungryAs for windows 8 I am intrigued by it as its different Windows needed a redesign We all know the bill gates ripped off a bunch of code from 31 which contained a bunch of ripped off code from his and steve jobs project pre mac an windows days This code never changed for example copying files the UI may have got shinier but it was still the same old clunky code moving the file at snails pace Every new windows just felt like a cop out to me Same sht different box and less security A revamp is needed but I have to admit this one is extreme OSX has done the same just not as extreme I must admit I will be checking this version of windows out plus you can make it look and feel like OSX which brings me to my final point My main problem with windows is the explorer Mac finder is so much better because of one function Columns I get lost in sub folders on windows but on a mac each subfolder opens in a new column and pushes the old column to the left Wanna go back just click on a previous column If theres a hack I may be there
Unhappy said: I think windows 8 is the worst operating system Ive ever seen Even though I just bought this laptop im going to buy a new computer that doesnt have Microsoft already installed
Douglas Gillette said: IMO windows 8 stinks Getting the task bar on the right to show up on my laptop takes 25 attempts sometimes ugh