My ratings: 4/4


New gadgets, new releases, new technologies, new updates and upgrades attract me so I immediately installed Windows 8 Pro once it was launched. I didn’t wait for reviews or feedbacks because I want to remain updated anyhow. It’s more than a week I am using the latest version of Windows. I would share only key points that would help you decide that whether you need this upgrade or not and how to use it more effectively.

Brief description

The new windows has two versions of screens- one is the old ‘desktop screen’ and other is tiled ‘metro screen’ . There is a hidden shortcut bar (shortcut to search, share, start, devices and settings) on left edge (named as ‘ Charms Bar ’) that is visible when mouse is pointed on top right corner. The ‘ settings’ option in charm bar can be used to control Wi-Fi, Volume, Power on/off, brightness, notifications and online keyboard . You will also find ‘Change PC Settings’ at the bottom in settings pane to control general settings. When you press the Start shortcut on this bar, you will be transferred to a totally new screen having live tiles that can be scrolled from left to right.

The best part of this new OS is these tiles which differentiates itself from all the previous versions of Windows. The metro style apps run in full screen and can’t be minimized or re-sized like the previous windows. When you start your system, it automatically booted to new Metro screen. There is a ‘desktop’ link on that screen to get the old desktop screen.

Windows 8 requires 1GB RAM and 20GB of disk space, 1GHz processor , 1,366 x 768 resolution and DirectX 9 graphics. You can upgrade if you are running Windows XP SP3 or higher and you need to reinstall your apps if you’re upgrading from XP or Vista.

How & where to download

Just go through the link http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8 and it will guide you for each and every detail needed by you.

Why you need to upgrade?

1. I will start with the most basic reason that if you have a habit of updating software’s on regular basis irrespective of the advantages then you should go for Windows 8 as it is an update of previous versions.
2. While upgrading you will be given three options: fresh update, retaining files & retaining files and settings . So you don’t need to worry about your files and settings.
3. It is different and will definitely give a fresh feel and look to decades old desktop style screen.
4. Microsoft has tried dynamic changes in the UI (user interface) and got successful to an extent. It has followed the tile style icons that are previously used in Windows Mobiles.
5. It is the right time to download Windows 8 as you are getting it at promotional prices of just Rs.1999 or Rs.699 if you’ve purchased new PC with Windows 7 between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013. This is dirt cheap and you cannot imagine a proper OS at this price (except the Linux). Microsoft is going to hike the price to Rs.8k (approx.) after 31st Jan’13.
6. If you are hooked to your old desktop, you can still use it without any hitch. The only thing you will miss is the ‘Start’ button.
7. Now you can use a whole new world of full-screen, touch-friendly, Web-connected apps to explore. Though there are very limited apps there as of now but these will increase with time.
8. It has comparatively faster boot up and shut down time . Overall it is faster than its predecessor.
9. The metro style UI lets you feel the full screen features of every app. There is no annoying status bar, toolbar or task bar. It will take some time to get used to these new developments but once you are done it’s just awesome.  
10. You will get a new copy feature with an all new ‘copy progress dialog box’. There is no multi windows for multi copying. Now everything is integrated in one window with lot many features such as transfer rate and pause option.
11. There is in-built anti-virus software named ‘Windows Defender’. It will take time to know that whether it is capable to upgrade itself with all the new threats multiplying every day.
12. This Windows comes with a new feature of ‘File History’ that keeps backup of all the files and can be restored to any version of a file at any point.
13. When you login in your PC with Windows id, the settings will follow you whenever you sign with that account in any computer. It’s all because your Microsoft account is linked to SkyDrive storage available online.
14. Windows 8 has introduced "Snap multitasking" to run two apps simultaneously that can even be resized. But you cannot view all your running apps on single screen.
15. There are many preinstalled apps : Mail, People (can link Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Google accounts), Messaging (can only link Windows live & Facebook), Photos, Music, Video, Calendar etc.

Tips: Solutions to problems faced by me
 
1. I use BSNL broadband and it took almost 14hrs to download this new version of Windows so be patient. The time taken may vary depending on the internet speed. You can do normal work on PC while downloading.
2. You need to use Windows account to login your PC to utilize complete features and functionality.
3. You can shut down your system using simple: press Ctrl+Alt+Del in metro screen and Alt+F4 in desktop screen.
4. If you really miss your ‘Start’ button on desktop, you can create a desktop shortcuts by this link- ‘C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\’. Similarly you can create shortcut for Shutdown (C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00), Restart (C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -r -t 00) and logoff (C:\Windows\System32\logoff.exe).
5. There is no ‘x’ button for closing any screen in Metro UI and I got surprised for the first time. You may use ‘Alt+F4’ for closing windows or use ‘drag down’ option (dragging widows downwards while pressing mouse button).
6. There is no volume up/down option on Metro screen of ‘Music’ and ‘Video’ . So either you have to set volume through settings option in ‘Charm Bar’ or press the hardware key for volume up/down that will direct you to a small hanging screen for control.
7. The best part in Metro UI is its searching feature . Just start typing without selecting any option and it automatically redirects you to search page.  If you are on desktop screen, press ‘Windows’ key +F and it will take you to search page. Quite an easy shortcut. The search results are categorized into Apps, Files & Settings.
8. If you want to use Metro style Internet Explorer, you have to make IE as your default browser else it will open in desktop style only.
9. The new version will occupy around 20GB of your C drive so be prepared for that and beforehand make the space available. You can use EaseUs partition manager to repartition the drives.
10. When you are in Metro screen, be aware that it works with single click only.

Finally I would like to say that Windows 8 is designed for touch enabled devices so the full features can be explored on that only. The experience is worth even if you are using normal PCs. It’s new and better, it’s different, it’s charming, it’s cheap, it’s fast and these reasons are enough to go for upgrade. If you don’t like the tiled Metro Screen, you can always use the old desktop screen and there are many apps that can bring back the old ‘start’ menu or you can use shortcuts as mentioned above. So go for better till 31st Jan 2013 or you may regret later.