Windows 8 leads with tiles, apps, sync -- and a learning curve, too Video

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Windows 8 leads with tiles, apps, sync -- and a learning curve, too
Created: 08/14/2012
Video description: Hold on to your hats, Windows fans: there's a new operating system in town. Windows 8 lives way out on the frontier of touch screens and apps, and it hasn't forgotten how to interact with legacy software. But there's some trickiness to figuring out how it all fits together. We show you what's what in this First Look at Microsoft's future-forward Windows 8.

Windows 8 leads with tiles, apps, sync -- and a learning curve, too Video Transcript

This is windows -- this is also when -- This is windows eight to. And -- its its windows they'd even though it looks a heck of a lot like windows -- -- and Seth Rosenblatt -- And today we're taking a first look at windows eight release to manufacturing. This is the big -- It's the biggest change to windows ever. It's a key sort of a new direction for Microsoft -- places huge value on mobility and -- touch and speed and for the most. Hard it actually works. There -- four big changes. Screen edges are active when you're on a touch screen a mouse pad. Or even a good -- -- there's a lot of activity both in the start screen and an apps this is good for maximizing screen space for the app. But it's also likely to confuse and possibly -- knowing you until you get used to it. The charms bar is a big part of that. It interacts with both the start screen and apps it's where you search documents and apps where you share -- control devices. And tweak apps settings. The default apps are robust and interactive. They don't always have the best layout but they're definitely deep in content. It's hard to know what features are hidden under an edge in what are in app notifications. So that -- can be a little bit confusing. Live tiles do make it easy to see updates and they can be turned off if you find it too chaotic. Microsoft didn't give us a lot of time to test this RTM but -- appears to work well with apps and some non Microsoft accounts. Using a Microsoft brings over settings including password photo log in and apps. Festival looks a lot like Windows 7 but without the translucent aero border. It's very touch responsive even when touching specific words it's a place for your legacy apps and where you can access more traditional robust windows controls. Many apps would go straight from metro. Into desktop. Windows -- answers more questions about the future of windows and it -- by the wayside but there are still a few important unknowns out there. We'll see below for all your settings and asked -- files accessible through sky drive. But even more importantly. There's a learning curve here this is a big risk for Microsoft and I think it works. But it definitely will not suit everybody. Like it or not the future of windows comfortable single. And piled with. Here. First look at windows eight -- suffers.

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Microsoft Windows 8 Review

The good: Windows 8 embraces the future wholeheartedly. Log-in and boot times are fast, the apps look gorgeous, and the Sync feature brings seamless transition between devices.

The bad: The learning curve is steep and in-app navigation isn't obvious. There are just too many known unknowns here.

The bottom line: Microsoft makes an aggressive, forward-thinking, and bold statement for the future of PCs with Windows 8, and vast security and speed improvements more than justify the $40 upgrade price.

Read full review

Microsoft Windows 8 Specs

Manufacturer: Microsoft
Part number: 3UR-00001

Product Specifications
  • Product Specifications

  • Product Basic Spec

Read full specs