New to Windows 8

I have a new laptop arriving with W8. Is there a guide of Do's and Dont's?

After reviewing some of the posts it appears I can revert to W7.

Currently I am using XP and am in for a large learning curve with W8.

any guidance would be appreciated.

 

Video: Learn Windows 8 in 3 minutes (OK, it's really 4)

 

Thank you. I will check it out.

 

You're welcome.

 

I viewed that Video Doc and wondered what drug the presenter was on.
There was also an option to view a slower version of the video - takes 25 minutes apparently.
I personally find W8 confusing with all the "Bling" Apps and Tiles. I daresay that gamers and young people will grasp it OK.
I don't like MS wanting you to open "accounts" for everything.

I bought a laptop/notebook to use for computing and email and watch videos of my choice when travelling in aircraft and some times on BBS.

I do not want to play Xbox and the other web games. It's been hard enough just getting Solitaire/Freecell/Spider to work without "signing in ".
My rant for today.

Go Team Emirates NZ - only two more wins needed. Cheers Neil.

 

Is that program better than Classic Shell (which can be had for free)?

 

Agreed.

Many of the apps on Windows 8 requires an account to be opened. My advice is to delete most of the apps unless one strikes your fancy.

 

Yes James I installed Classic Shell and feel more at home with a Start button and Programs and Apps with familiarity of click on what you want.

I will probably Delete the Apps I don't use/want as I get more accustomed to the Notebook. I've only had it less than 3 weeks and today HP updated the BIOS along with some added software updates! Neil.

 

James, I use classic shell but I haven't used start8 before so I can't really say whether it is better but I can say this. I can't imagine any start menu program being better than Classic Shell. It lets me create my own start buttons and design my own start menu. It lets me use a XP-style start menu instead of Windows 7's. Its also absolutely free. Its the next best thing to running windows XP.

So if start8 is better than classic shell then it is one heck of a program.

 

Is Start8 or any program like it going to work with 8.1, or does anyone really know??

I use Start8 and I do like it.

 

Good question.

I would assume that Start8 (and Classic Shell) would integrate with Windows 8.1.

Classic Shell works with Windows 7, and W7 already has a start menu, so I foresee no problems with W8.1, but I am sure the writers of these third party programs will be on top of the situation with updates - if needed.

 

Hasn't 8.1 had the Start Button restored to it? Neil.

 

Yes it has. Haven't downloaded it yet. I use a Start program made by Iobit and like it. Others use different ones by other sources. I guess that when 8 is upgraded to 8.1 it will probably install it's own start. I may uninstall mine before I install 8.1.

I got a free upgrade to 8 Media Center and hoping that it won't interfere with the Media Center when I upgrade to 8.1.

Just found this but no info so far on updating the 8 Media Center.


Windows 8.1 Start menu

There has been a lot of speculation over whether Windows 8.1 will actually introduce a Start Button and on May 30 we saw a preview of what the brand new button will look like, thanks to Paul Thurrott at Windows SuperSite.

However, we'd like to point out a big caveat with this screenshot - the new button shown by Thurrott looks awfully like Stardock's Start button replacement tool Start8. Will we actually get a Start button in Windows 8.1?

This from another site.

Media Centre from W8 to W8.1 (preview) does not migrate over, but you can re-install Media Centre again from W8.1 (preview) using the previous Media Centre key. I would suggest that this will probably be true with W8.1 RTM.

 

Yes, but clicking it while in the Desktop view simply takes you back to the Start screen (Metro).