In this post I am not attempting to tell you how to use it but discussing reaction to the change and ways of dealing with it.
Why the change?
My feeling is that, much as it is an inconvenience and learning overhead for millions of people, Microsoft did have to do this.
As more and more people use touch screen on smart phones and tablets in everyday life, the traditional Start button driven Windows Desktop interface would soon stand out as dated. The constant advance of technology means that touch screen is ever more present and, though there is a place for the traditional keyboard and mouse driven PC, it is being sidelined. Any new PC operating system needs to be able to deal with both types of input.
Other operating systems on Smart phones and tablets, e.g. Android and Apple's IOS, keep programs or 'Apps' open full screen all the time and you swipe from one to another. They also occupy the full screen with information rather than cluttering with controls in the form of menus and toolbars and the Windows 8 Tiled Start screen with its Metro style Apps follows this line.
How will you deal with it?
If you get a new PC, it will be loaded with Windows 8. People fall into several types when it comes to dealing with this. It is a hump in the road but it is negotiable and things will settle once you are the other side.
- Rejection - "I'm not changing."
"I give up." Some people will simply accept defeat and abandon computing altogether which is a tragedy. Others will probably do one of the following:
"I'm getting old Windows put back." These people will downgrade and have Windows 8 removed and Windows 7 installed on their new PC. Some may even try to get an older version of Windows such as XP installed which is not a good idea as XP goes out of support this year and will receive no further security patches.
"I'll make it look like old Windows." A Desktop interface which looks familiar to previous versions is available only one click from the tiled Start screen but it has no Start button. There are several programs available which put a Start button back onto this Windows 8 Desktop.
(There is a lot of gossip around that Windows 8.1 will restore a Start button but gossip it remains. Windows 8.1 will be a free upgrade delivered via Windows Update)
- Acceptance - "I'll work with it but look for the familiar."
As I said previously, there is a Desktop interface available only one click from the tiled Start screen though it has no Start button. Using this Desktop allows you to run programs which look familiar rather than the 'Metro' style Apps which run from the tiled Start screen.
Desktop icons work in the same way as they always did and the absence of the Start button is easily overcome by use of Search in the Charms menu. The Charms appear when you take your mouse pointer to top or bottom right corner of the screen. Select the magnifying glass and you will see all the programs displayed as icons, if you see what you want click it, if not, start typing the name of the program you want, e.g. "Word" or "Internet Explorer" and you will see matching programs appear. As soon as you see the one you want, click it with your mouse.
I feel this is probably the best way to transition for most people. One student recently had found Windows 8 for Dummies useful and a quick look that I had impressed me.
- Adventurous - "I'll embrace the change."
Go for it! Do your best to use the new functionality and enjoy learning. You may decide to learn blind by experimentation or watch videos on YouTube.
- New to Windows - "I've known nothing else."
I'm new to Windows anyway is an odd one. The world is full of earlier versions of Windows and will be for some considerable time and learning Windows 8 Metro interface only won't give you the skills to use older versions.
If you are expecting to only ever use your own laptop then Windows 8 Metro interface and Apps would appear the obvious choice but you may need help from friends and relations who only know the earlier versions. If the PC is purely for web browsing then the Internet Explorer App selected from the Tile on the Start screen is an excellent option.
If you are reliant on help then I think I'd recommend the Desktop approach under Acceptance above.Happy Tiling!
