Windows 8

Windows 8

Having had Windows 8 on my main work machine for a couple of weeks now I have to say it continues to grow on me day by day.  At the start it seemed to have just been a superficial attempt to placate the market with something that was modern and orientated towards the "touch generation".  Digging deeper it reveals a clever and thoughtful approach to some of the frustrating navigation concepts that previous versions of Windows had been based upon.

The first thing to grasp is that everything is not that different in terms of the bigger concepts that Windows has traditionally been about.  Folders, files in folders, double click, right click etc.  All those basic concepts are still there.  I kind of expected Microsoft to have tried to reform the operating system completely, but its not like that.

The thing that does come through once your used to it is the new concept of short-cuts and the almost macro-based approach to common or regular tasks and actions.  The top graphical level that has replaced the Start button has also brought forward the notion of the collection of functions into a single button click.  Funky when you first see it - almost awkward the first time you try and use it - long term it becomes time saving and almost fun to use.

The second and other fundamental change to the Windows mentality is that of connecting to the web.  Every aspect of the new Windows 8 has some connection to the internet, either directly through a Microsoft-based service (Hotmail, xBox Live etc.) or through a 3rd part such as Facebook, Twitter etc.  Traditionally Microsoft has limited its connectivity (no apparent reason) but is now in the fold of apps, live services, downloads and connectivity between systems.

Overall I like it - I never really have been a Microsoft hater although they have frustrated the f**k out of me at times.  I think for the main stream home user its a winner.  The purists, the Linux brigade, the uber-users will have issues with it I'm sure.  Microsoft needed to get themselves back in the game within the new generation of touch-based devices, Windows 8 does exactly that.