Understanding Windows 8
It’s been about two years since Windows 8 officially hit the market, and this operating system definitely was a big change for consumers following Windows 7. For many people, it has been difficult to adjust to this new operating system. Here are a few tips and tricks that can make using Windows 8 an easier experience.
Windows is a curious beast, but PC users were used to it and all of its many quirks. For instance, we learned to live with the notion that if you want to turn off your computer, you have to go under the Start button. With Windows 8, there is no Start button, rather the whole screen is filled with colorful icons for each of your applications. Still, if you want to find a program quickly, what do you do without the Start button? Well, it’s very simple, you just type the name of the App you need. If you need Firefox, type Firefox and it will appear. If you need Microsoft Word, type Word or Microsoft and the icon will appear.
If you need to find something other than an application, such as an actual Word document, a notepad or an Excel document, you might be hoping to find that handy old Windows Explorer. Start typing the word file and an icon for “File Explorer” appears. Click on it and you will see the familiar search box you remember from the earlier versions of Windows. Then you can search your entire computer for specific files by name just as you did before the advent of Windows 8.
One very cool feature of Windows 8 is the Settings area. Just type the letter a (or any letter) and when the search menu appears on the left, click on the Settings tab. This opens up a huge list of different options for your computer. From this Settings area, you can change your password, adjust the screen brightness, change your family safety settings, change your desktop picture and much more. You also can access Settings by pressing the Windows icon key and the letter I.
While the tips above can help you get started with Windows 8, experience will be your best teacher. It takes time to learn to use a new operating system, and while you might have really loved Windows 7, Windows 8 is still a good operating system and far superior to some of Microsoft’s previous offerings, such as Vista, which we would all like to forget.
If you have a new computer and are a bit uncertain about how to set it all up, connect it to a printer wirelessly, set up wireless internet and add a printer, rather than spend hours trying to figure it out call on the staff at GeeksAKnockin’. They can set up a single computer for home use or set up a network of computers at your office or home. They also will ensure that you have the best protection from viruses and spyware and can help those who need computer repair in Portland, computer repair in Gresham or perhaps in Beaverton, Hillsboro or anywhere in the Portland metro area.
Filed under: Computers & Technology