Windows 8 Review

 Okay short break from my regular post so I can publish the review for Windows 8 that I wrote for work, I spent a bit of time on it and wouldn't mind some feedback.  Also all screen shots were done by myself except for the first one.

 
About three and a quarter years have passed since I first started using Windows 7 and it has definitely a refreshing change from XP and a correction of errors that many found Vista to be. So now that Windows 8 has been released what can I possible conclude about Microsoft’s latest operating system? Needed. The answer is quite clear, the world of technology is an ever changing set of solutions and if one is to continue repeating the same then it will be unsurprisingly left behind. Windows 7 turned out to be a quite stable OS and a clear revision of the operating systems before it.

Windows 3.11

With the release of Windows 8 it is clear that this time around Microsoft is looking to make a change. One try with the new system and you quickly realize that it really is the biggest change since August 1995 when Windows 95 was released. The Windows as we know it has been the same basic thought process since 95 passed from 3.11. I have used each OS since 3.1 (besides ME of course) and the change to 8 is drastic. So the question is why? Simple, Apple and Google. Competition creates change and every facet of Windows 8 shows this. Windows 8 was created for the clear purpose to tie the personal computer and the tablet. The OS is for sure benefited with the use of touch but that is not what I had tested.


In my case I decided to upgrade from a self-made PC from years before, using the standard mouse and keyboard. In this review I’m not going to throw out a bunch of technical mumbo jumbo because honestly the average person does not care. So the basics, my computer has a Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor (so a couple generations behind the current), 4 GB memory, and an integrated dated video card. At one time it was a quite decent computer but time has passed and my computer is no longer anything to write home about.

Windows 8 DVD package

So let’s get this started, first the installation. Simple, it was clearly simple. I went with the DVD option but that was simply before I had a $30 credit from Amazon. The easiest and cheapest route is downloading directly from Microsoft for $40, if you have recently bought a computer then the upgrade is only $15. So coming from Windows 7 you can keep all installed programs, settings and files, I chose to do a clean install instead, be sure to backup prior though. Now the process of the actual installation will vary of course, but at least for me I found it simple, extremely simple. I began the install and zipped by in no time, the install plus setting up an account and picking custom settings took all but less than 30 minutes. In this process you will setup a Microsoft account, this will be needed to be able to get apps through the Microsoft Store and use SkyDrive (more on these in a bit).


Once you are all setup you will be thrown into something new, a redesign and re-imagined Start. No longer is there a start menu but instead a Modern user interface or sometimes referred to as Metro. It is a screen full of scrolling tiles, and even without touch they react well and I found clicking on them to be quite enjoyable. The animation of the sprites just seems smooth and as for the tiles themselves they seem to come alive as you use them as they are updated with content and flash with what lies behind. At first I was confused and did not understand how you could have Windows without a Start menu. As I made my way through and became more comfortable it became quite clear that the idea of Start has not actually been lost and is instead the core belief of the redesign. The old Start screen was just a series of multiple clicks, then with Windows 7 you could pin the most used programs to the taskbar. With Windows 8 it combines both of these ideas, but with a smooth colorful interface that seems intuitive.


Now to be honest it took me a bit to get used to this and after 17 years of one thought processes it is not easy to change. To be honest, I am more worried about others. I love new technology and the ever changing innovation it brings. However, people tend to find change uncomforting. I feel that once you work around a bit it’ll seem quite fluid. Windows 8 can seem like it is from two worlds, there is the Modern UI Start screen where the Window 8 Store apps run and then the classic desktop where legacy programs run. The switch can throw you off at first and is probably one of the biggest drawbacks, but I wouldn’t say it was a reason to not use it. As for the legacy programs or those built to run on the classic Desktop they still work. At least I haven’t run into any issues.

Newly designed Start screen

One huge change that you will notice right away is that when you are in the new full-screen apps there is no close, minimize or resize buttons, so how do you close. Well simple drag the mouse from the top and throw it to the bottom, also the old Alt+F4 still works wonders. Also by hovering to the left side of the screen you will see little previews of what’s running. Another issue that I have with the new operating system would be that when in the apps they are full-screen which is great except you can’t see the clock and this is annoying. Actually the only way to see the time is to go to the classic desktop or when in the Start screen move the mouse to the upper right or lower right to bring up the Charms options. Another concept that must be seen to fully understand. Keyboards shortcuts come in use as well. By simply using the Windows key you will switch between the Start screen and the most recent used App that is opened. To quick bring
up Charms use Windows + C, and my favorite because using OneNote Windows + S for cropping a screenshot live.


As mentioned before the Start screen is made up of live tiles that pull from apps from the Windows 8 Store. In general I found the store pleasing, until actually looking at the apps available, it seems more like a list that can get confusing fast. Luckily Windows 8 has great search built in, again more on that later. Selecting apps is simple, for ones that have a price you typically can try them, and easily see reviews and what changes have recently occurred for the app, basically what you would expect using a cell phone or tablet. Now after installing a bunch of apps if you decide that you no longer want it, just right click on it a remove it, poof it’s gone.

List of Apps and programs installed along with Search

Back to the search, as easy as it was in Windows 7 but better and more defined, each app that is downloaded also can use it to benefit. Just click the Windows key and start typing the app that you want to run. If you are in an app like say Netflix, begin typing and easily find the movie you were looking for. In the Windows 8 Store it makes the mess I was speaking of before more usable, although stills needs to be improved quite a bit. Going to the search right from the Start screen allows you to pick the app in which to search from or search in general as well as show you everything install, be in from the Modern apps to those built for classic Windows. This is where you can easily bring up those legacy programs that date back years before like Paint, Notepad, and Windows Media Player; although they seem less important by the majority of the simple apps that have replaced them. Then again I find Xbox Music completely horrendous compared to the Zune software that it replaced, Xbox Video seems to be quite simple and easy to use however. The one benefit of Xbox Music that is kind of cool is the ability to stream music for free, much like Pandora or Spotify.


Since I mentioned a few apps I will mention a few more. SkyDrive, once mentioned earlier, is Microsoft’s cloud service and is highly integrated in the OS and you can save settings and documents here so when you log into another location you can access them, even when you are not at a Windows 8 computer your files can be accessed. For the SkyDrive you get about 7GB free with the ability to expand. Another app that Microsoft is pushing is Games, it can tie your Xbox account into Windows and keeps tracks of scores and gain achievements, allows you to download a long list of games and as time passes expect to see more game distribution through it (the main reason why Valve and Blizzard are bad-mouthing Windows 8, not because it is bad for gaming but their distribution profits). Honestly when it comes to games on the PC my first question is how has Solitaire changed, Windows 7 actually brought some nice refreshing changes, and Windows 8 actually brings some interesting things to the table (trivial maybe, but I keep tabs on solitaire).

Netflix and Cookbook apps running side-by-side

People is another app that is quite craftily built to tie in your Microsoft, Google, Skype, Facebook, Twitter as well as a few others to bring your life, friends and family front and center. I enjoy using it briefly for easily communicating using different services, but for Facebook in particular would be nice to have a dedicated app. However, just pinned the address to my start and can’t really tell the difference. Now one app that really was a surprise, Internet Explorer 10, I think I  have used it more for personal use in the last few days than I have used IE in the past few years. It is simple, gorgeous and fast, yeah I’m talking about Internet Explorer and I have been a die-hard Firefox to Chrome user for a good 6 years or so. Really the true power of the apps come from those that you pick and choose. So far my top apps would be Netflix, Cocktail Flow, Cookbook and OneNote, but I have so much more exploring to do.


This review or opinion piece is far from complete, much has not been discussed here and some that was probably did not have to be. There is much to learn and to explore about Windows 8 and I find it intriguing. Really no matter what I say it doesn’t matter and neither do the numerous other reviews. If you are interested, go try it out for yourself and create your own opinions. In fact if you have any opinions start the discussion below.

Full Circle

People always talk full circle and always sounds great and cheery, I believe in my case it actually is quite an exciting thing.  Even though there has been many changes in my life there are some things that have oddly looped back, more to my amusement then anything.  Four years ago to the date I was writing a very similar post preparing for the very same event.

It was October 10th, 2008, I was President of Fabiano/Emmons/Woldt Hall Council, working 20 hours at the front desk and 20 hours at Target at night, that and a full load of classes.  All of this basically equals the 50ish hours a week I am working in this busy tax season, well minus the lack of fun and thrill of the rush.  The main reason for this post was that I saw four years ago I was preparing for my very first 5k.  Now I am preparing for my sixth or seventh race, but all of them lead back to that first race.

Beginning of March 2008, embarrassing 

The race of course was for the CMU Homecoming with benefits going to the Special Olympics.  Much like then and not surprisingly I was not quite prepared, could have given myself more time for preparation.  But it was for charity and much as every time it was for myself, to show that I am still alive and can force myself to push on.  Back in 2008 I really made a push to better my personal being, mostly through exercise and what I was eating.  My urge to really start wanting to run a 5k was Spring of 2008, February of that year i weighed an ungodly 240 pounds, I know hard to believe.  I cut back fast food, watched what I at, and by the end of the Spring semester I began to run.  If anyone knew me back then can attest, I despise running, which dates back to middle school, ha ha ha ask a few people from back then.  I made the decision to run because I hated it so much and it is because of this I knew it was good.  By the summer of '08 I was running every day, sometimes over 6 miles (I wish I could get back to that again).  I kept at it, but then school began again during the Fall and I got busy lost focus, but still I stuck to my goal of running my first 5k race.  Looking back at some blog posts to refresh my memory on some of the details, I saw that it took dedication, a dedication i hope to get back.  Not all was lost though, I still value my healthy lifestyle, still try to workout and eat healthy.  By the middle of that summer dipped below 200 pounds and before the race I weighted about 183 pounds.  I am proud to say I have seen 200 since, let alone the disgusting 240.  At times I reached 193 but mostly I've stuck in the 185 range, last I checked a few weeks ago I was just barely under 180.

Homecoming - October 10th, 2008

So Homecoming 2012 will be a great celebration not just to see some old friends, but to bring me back to a point when I had a vision and I saw it through.  Life had been rough up until then but it got better.  Since then I had run into quite a few hurdles, but I fought past them and learned from my mistakes.  i am now in a place in my life that I am happy and successful.  If failures come my way I know I only have myself to blame and troubles are only temporary and with a bit of determination will be a joke to my future self.  2008 Brian it was great to know you, but 2012 Brian is way better for the troubles you had.