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Issue #282 : December 16, 2012

Q: I’ve been contemplating upgrading my old dual cored computer that’s maxed out at 2 gigs memory and running XP for a spell now, but after reading reviews, blogs, etc. on Windows 8, I’m on the fence. Being presumptuous, it’ll be interesting to hear your take on this latest “Thanks, Bill!”.

Robert T.
Shalimar, Florida

A: Anyone who is in the market for a new computer for Christmas, has read any holiday sales flyers, or has caught a recent commercial on TV must surely know by now that Microsoft has released a new version of its venerable Windows operating system, designated as Windows 8.  What you may not know is that this version represents the biggest change in the operating system since Windows 95 revolutionized the PC industry with its multimedia interface and ability to run multiple programs simultaneously.  This new version was specifically designed as a unifying force among different hardware platforms.  It’s just as comfortable running on your PC or laptop as it is on a tablet or a smartphone.  In catering to the very different needs of these hardware platforms, some significant changes were made to the old Windows interface that you’re used to.

First of all, the Start menu has been done away with.  Oddly, I’ve heard a lot of complaints about this, which strike me as funny considering that the Start menu has often been a target of ridicule.  In its place is a new scrollable screen full of colored tiles that you use to launch your programs.  It’ll take a bit of getting used to, but Microsoft promises you’ll grow to love it.  The desktop, taskbar, folders and icons you’re used to are all still there.

The new operating system is more than a simple Start menu makeover.  Microsoft went back to the roots of the operating system and fundamentally changed the way the it behaves in many ways, most of which are designed to protect you from the problems inherent with prior versions (malware, badly behaved programs, etc).  One example is the new Windows Defender and Windows Smart Screen, which virtually eliminate the need for third-party anti-virus software – something needed for a long time now.  The operating system also no longer allows direct access to your disks, which is a common vector that malware uses to infect files and damage your machine.  You’ll also notice that boot-up times have been shortened, even over Win7.

There has also been a significant move toward the so-called “Cloud” in Win8.  A feature called SkyDrive allows you to stash your files both on your hard drive and in the cloud, for easier access on multiple PCs.  Microsoft has taken a page from the playbook of one of their biggest competitors, Apple, and opened a new online store for Windows apps.  Software available through this channel is scrutinized in great detail before being allowed out to the public, so this should give people a greater sense of security that programs they’re downloading aren’t taking over their machine behind the scene.  There’s also a new Xbox music application that is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iTunes store for music and other media.

Due to space limitations, I can’t go into details of all the changes, but Microsoft has put a pretty comprehensive webpage up to help you understand all the new features.  You’ll find it at tinyurl.com/bsxws6c.  For those of you like Robert, who are contemplating upgrading your existing computer to this new Windows, the answer is that Win8 will indeed run on older hardware, and you may actually get a performance boost.  However, I don’t recommend running it on anything with less than 4 gigs of RAM (sorry, Robert), and certainly not on very old machines, such as those originally designed for versions of Windows prior to WinXP.  It might very well work, but you’ll tax your hardware to the point that you’ll be frustrated, and I don’t want you incorrectly blaming Win8 for the problems.  Of course, in upgrading older machines, there’s always the chance that required drivers for your hardware won’t be available.  I recommend doing your homework prior to pulling the trigger if that’s a concern for you.


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