Enjay
Well-Known Fanatic
my creaky old laptop finally died and I wound up "upgrading" to windows 8. It's taking a bit of getting used to. Anyone got any tips?
Windows 8
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kg4kpg
Well-Known Fanatic
My understanding is Windows 8 is just Windows 7 with apps all on the screen that work best with a touchscreen computer. I'll keep my 7 until I no longer have a choice or someone gives me a touchscreen computer. I think our traditional laptops are quickly becoming dinosaurs.
rotarymike
Well-Known Fanatic
spend some time on google, there are various ways to make Win8 look and act like Win7. It is the same underneath, just a different UI. IMHO the Win8 UI is better suited for touch-only interface. I type for a living, so I use a keyboard and mouse like folks used to, and the Win7 setup is pretty efficient for that.
crystalphoto
Well-Known Fanatic
If you miss the start menu, you can try this:
http://www.pcworld.com/product/1250172/start8.html
It is an aftermarket start menu very similar to the one in Win 7. It has a trial period, and final cost if you like it, is five bucks.
There is another, though I haven?t tried it, that is free, and it is here: http://www.pcworld.com/product/1252525/ ... enu-8.html
It appears to be worth a try.
There are other quirks, and so called ?enhancements? to Win 8, though most are really cosmetic, and very tolerable.
Here is a list of some shortcuts (C/P from another site, not my list):
1. Windows Key + C: Displays Charms menu.
2. Windows Key + X: Brings up a menu of advanced system options, including Windows Control Panel, Command Prompt, Task Manager and File Explorer.
3. Windows Key + I: Displays the Settings menu for the current app. For example, if you?re in Internet Explorer 10, this key shows Internet options. If you?re on the Start menu, it shows general OS settings.
4. Windows Key + Q: Brings up the apps search menu that allows you to search your list of installed programs.
5. Windows Key + D: Activates desktop mode.
6. Windows Key + Tab: Brings up the Task Switcher and toggles between Windows 8-style apps.
7. Windows Key + H: Brings up Share menu for the current app. For example, hitting Windows Key + H in Bing Maps, lets you email or share map information on social networks.
8. Windows Key + M: Opens desktop mode and minimizes all windows.
9. Windows Key + W: Opens universal search menu and sets it to search settings.
10. Windows Key + F: Opens universal search menu and sets it to search files.
11. Windows Key + R: Opens Run menu where you can launch programs by typing in their executable file names.
12. Windows Key + E: Opens File Explorer to the ?My Computer? view which shows all your drives.
13. Windows Key +Number Key (1-9): Switch to desktop mode and make the Nth application on the task bar active where N is the number key you hit and 1 is the furthest taskbar icon to the left.
14. Windows Key + . (period key): Docks the current Windows 8-style application to the right or left, depending on how many times you hit it.
15. Windows Key + Z: Brings up app menu, which shows contextual options for the active app.
Hope this helps.
http://www.pcworld.com/product/1250172/start8.html
It is an aftermarket start menu very similar to the one in Win 7. It has a trial period, and final cost if you like it, is five bucks.
There is another, though I haven?t tried it, that is free, and it is here: http://www.pcworld.com/product/1252525/ ... enu-8.html
It appears to be worth a try.
There are other quirks, and so called ?enhancements? to Win 8, though most are really cosmetic, and very tolerable.
Here is a list of some shortcuts (C/P from another site, not my list):
1. Windows Key + C: Displays Charms menu.
2. Windows Key + X: Brings up a menu of advanced system options, including Windows Control Panel, Command Prompt, Task Manager and File Explorer.
3. Windows Key + I: Displays the Settings menu for the current app. For example, if you?re in Internet Explorer 10, this key shows Internet options. If you?re on the Start menu, it shows general OS settings.
4. Windows Key + Q: Brings up the apps search menu that allows you to search your list of installed programs.
5. Windows Key + D: Activates desktop mode.
6. Windows Key + Tab: Brings up the Task Switcher and toggles between Windows 8-style apps.
7. Windows Key + H: Brings up Share menu for the current app. For example, hitting Windows Key + H in Bing Maps, lets you email or share map information on social networks.
8. Windows Key + M: Opens desktop mode and minimizes all windows.
9. Windows Key + W: Opens universal search menu and sets it to search settings.
10. Windows Key + F: Opens universal search menu and sets it to search files.
11. Windows Key + R: Opens Run menu where you can launch programs by typing in their executable file names.
12. Windows Key + E: Opens File Explorer to the ?My Computer? view which shows all your drives.
13. Windows Key +Number Key (1-9): Switch to desktop mode and make the Nth application on the task bar active where N is the number key you hit and 1 is the furthest taskbar icon to the left.
14. Windows Key + . (period key): Docks the current Windows 8-style application to the right or left, depending on how many times you hit it.
15. Windows Key + Z: Brings up app menu, which shows contextual options for the active app.
Hope this helps.
