Test Drive Windows 8

Computer Care: Taking Windows 8 for a test drive By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com UPDATED: September 8, 2012 1:00 a.m. It’s that time again; time to roll down your windows and roll up your sleeves. There’s a new operating system in town and it’s waiting for you to give it a test drive. Windows 8 is here and Microsoft is letting you take it for a spin for a few months. It will be for sale in late October, but you will have until the end of the year to try it for free. Before we kick the tires, pop the hood and discuss its merits, I first offer you two ways to install it to your computer without giving up the installation that you are currently using. Windows 8 Release Preview is available for download here. You will need to burn the file to a disc and then install it in either of two ways. You can set up a dual configuration so you have a choice of which version of Windows to boot into or you can create what is known as a virtual environment. I chose the latter and it was relatively easy. Whichever method you choose, you will need the key provided, so make a copy of that number. I found dozens of sites that walk you through setting up a dual boot configuration. Just Google “dual boot Windows 8” and choose one that is easy for you to understand. With a virtual environment, you will create Windows within Windows and it will be temporary. When you shut it down, you will return to business as usual with your existing version of Windows. For my test drive, I used Virtual Player. Go here where the process is explained thoroughly. Scroll to the bottom of that page for a link to the download and follow the instructions there. If you choose all the default options when offered any during the installation, the process should go very smoothly. There are no decisions to make other than the initial choice of 32- or 64-bit. I spent a half hour installing Virtual Player and another full hour getting Win 8 up and running. After running it through its paces and exploring the new features, I rebooted my system and it was gone. It could easily be called up again in a new virtual environment, should the desire to explore be ongoing. Win 8 doesn’t require a super processor with multiple cores or more RAM than most of us have on our computers today. It should install fine on any system that is no older than about five years. Speaking of new features, this new incarnation of an old operating system has many changes. To begin, its boot time has been drastically slashed and for the time in decades, there is no start button. It has been replaced with what Microsoft calls its Metro Screen. This new start feature incorporates various interactive tiles that will allow you to navigate your system more efficiently, so they claim. It looks like it will take some getting used to and may have a higher learning curve. These tiles allow quick views of incoming email, notify you of audio files being played and offer access to newly installed apps as well as websites you’ve visited. It seems there is the possibility of crowding there, although hopefully there is a way to tame the process. Personally, I liked the old start button. To gain access to anything you can also simply type the app or file in a search box. Like the way the Control Panel now operates, it will yield a list of anything similar to what you are looking for. A ribbon like the one we use in Office will now be incorporated into Windows Explorer, making it easier to complete repetitive tasks. Since this version of Windows is aimed at touch screen/tablet users, there are many features for that crowd. It can however, be used by anyone with a mouse and keyboard. It has a choice of virtual keyboards and offers handwriting recognition for those who use a scribe to compute. Microsoft’s Sky Drive is incorporated in Win 8. It is a virtual storage option. Rather than connect an external storage drive to your computer, you can upload your files to a secure place in Microsoft’s cloud for storage. A store not unlike what your smartphone has, will also be in the new Windows. It will be easier to get apps for your computer, but the offerings will be from the gang in Redmond only. A free antivirus is included in Win 8, but it will be as effective as any free utility. Its scope will be limited. You will be able to click on photos instead of typing a password — why, I’m not sure. I’m also not sure I will like Windows 8 and the confines of this column don’t allow for me to elaborate. I subscribe to the old saying that if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. I like Win 7 just fine and I don’t have a touch screen anyway. But it was a nice drive checking it out. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.