The new version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 8, only recently hit the market. And the tech press have already combed through the software. That’s great news for you: the editors at computing publications across the Internet have already given Windows 8 a test drive and these editors are now publishing their findings online. It’s a good way for new users to learn the ins and outs of this new operating system. For instance, InfoWorld writer J. Peter Bruzzese recently wrote about a number of nifty things about Windows 8. Here’s a quick look at some of what Bruzzese found:
The charms bar
The charms bar is basically a shortcuts bar that exists on the right side of the screen in Windows 8. An example of a shortcut available to users is that by clicking “settings” then clicking “power” they can put their computer to sleep. The charms bar has numerous settings for searching, switching to the Windows 7 desktop, if you liked that better, and for sharing.
Retrieving lost files
One of the worst things that can occur during the workday is losing a file. But one of the greatest things about Windows 8 is that it has a couple of new ways of saving copies of your files so you can retrieve previous versions. It works much the same as the OS X’s Time Machine utility if you are experienced with that.
Windows on the go
Here’s a particularly nifty feature: With the Enterprise Edition of Windows 8, users can put their entire Windows environment on a USB drive and then take it with them. They are able to then pull it up on any PC that is compatible with Windows 7 or 8.