Microsoft Windows 8

Preparing its epochal October outing with the new Windows 8 operating system and the industry-shaking Surface tablet, the big team that is Microsoft made another awesome, powerful move this week. It has changed and refreshed its logos in preparation for the marking of a new territory, and the endless choir of eager blogger onlookers, distracters and supporters both are looking over and analyzing this move with a gleeful energy.

What does all this mean for your business? The more the Microsoft behemoth makes its careful moves and shakes out its wings, the better, one would hope, are the results. Since the Preview editions of Windows 8 have been released, over 100,000 changes have been made to the new dual operating system.

One commentator indicated that the change in the logos to a style that is a plain and unadorned repeat of the company name with a simple rendering of the mainstay four blocks of colors tell us two things.  Microsoft intends to remain steady at the helm and it plans to stay. This means the company will do whatever it can to insure that businesses continue without interruption the familiar use of its platform.

Distracters

It’s the new uses of the platform that has torn into the distracters. This is the Mobil UI that is intended for touchscreen use. The distracters are having a field day. It’s as if they cannot get over the basic fact that the company has decided to make a fitful and studied move into mobile territory. In a recent critique on Windows 8 from Laptop Magazine, several points stand out:

• The new OS prioritizes content over creation

• Reaching the desktop underneath the Mobil UI overlay is difficult

• The Start Screen is missing.

• Menus are hidden and must be hovered over to appear

• The left and right corner menus may interfere with scrolling arrows

The comments to this critique are important in that they tell us there are workarounds to all these “problems.” Most importantly, the supportive comments simply say Microsoft now demands a new way of looking at it. Answering some of the criticisms explain how the Windows 8 package with the Mobile UI can help your business.

Advantages

• The desktop screen is always available and only one click away.

• Windows 8 desktop is a more improved and responsive rendition of Windows 7.

• It will take less than an hour to learn the new OS.

• Businesses will be able to easily standardize communication with mobile field employees.

The Start Screen is always available with a click in the lower left corner. Apps that are open are shown in mini-windows with a click to the upper left. There is a Windows Explorer tile that takes you to the classic Windows 8 desktop view. The traditional Control Panels are accessible by going to the Computer Screen in the Explorer Desktop window.

From the Mobile UI, clicking or dragging from the right edge brings up the Charms bar that integrates the functionality of all the apps. It has Search, Start, Share, Devices and Settings icons. The Charms bar is also available on the Desktop screen. Businesses will be able to share new information with field apps by clicking the Share icon and sending the information whether it’s a new form, Excel sheet or real estate photo.

We will highlight and explain more of the new advantages of Microsoft Windows 8 as we get closer to the October 26 launch date. Opinions are gradually beginning to turn out positive on the new operating system. CNET has recently described it as, “…stunningly fast, it presents apps in a new way that avoids the repetitiveness of Android and iOS, and it feels connected to your life and the Internet.”