WINDOWS 8 -- Hints / Tips???

Jill · Jun 25, 2013

Are any of you using Windows 8? If so, can you share some tips???

The Netbook I bought at the end of last year feels SOOOOOOOOOOOO slow, so I "replaced" it with a new netbook / ultrabook... but this one has Windows 8.'

I think I knew it had that, but I surely didn't realize how different it feels that any kind of Windows that I've used before.

Never in the past, at least not in a decade and a half, have I looked forward to setting up a new computer. My new one arrived last Friday, and while I want the faster processor and the greatly increased memory, I did NOT look forward to setting it up.

So, I put it off all weekend, and tried it on Monday. OMG! In about 2hrs, I was blinking back tears.

Seriously, I do not "get" Windows 8. It looks SO different than what I've used before (ALL prior versions of Windows, iPhone and Android). b

I am wanting to reach out in case any of you all can give me some tips? I will dive into it tomorrow morning early, and probably wake up more than a few times to ponder it. Sure it's good, but just, OMG, I do not GET it at all so far...But feeling I must, because we are a "windows" office so this IS what we use.

One of my assistants has a husband who IS an IT guy, but I'm just so picky when I set up a computer for myself, and it's a big part of my knowing how to USE it (which is the whole idea!) that I do not want to hire this out.

ANYONE else here already using Windows 8, and if so....................... Can you give me some hints?

romewhip · Jun 25, 2013

I had Win8, then downgraded back to Win7. I 'get' Win8, but I don't like it for business use.

First tip is make the first page look like your old start menu. I got rid of all the tiles that come on the landing page, and put the things I use on there instead like MS Word, Excel, Outlook, my photo editing, etc. Then I can just use them directly.

Here's a free tutorial that has some linked tips and demos: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windows8/

Jill · Jun 26, 2013

Thank you! I do want it to look like the traditional start menu for sure. I had geared myself up to get on it this morning, but I may wait until my husband's home tonight. He is NOT a tech person, at all, but at least he can help calm me down usually. I did bring home the software I use for my work, assuming it will run on this new computer.

I was completely not prepared for the interface to look so different, but relieved to see there's a way to make it look more like what I'm used to. It's really true -- the older you get, the harder this stuff becomes!!! I used to be pretty good with computers, but that's in a time gone by at this point!!!

romewhip · Jun 26, 2013

I'm in IT, so get to be the guinea pig tester for lots of stuff. If you have any specific questions ask, I might be able to help and I can go figure it out on another machine since I took it off mine.

Jill · Jun 26, 2013

Thank you! I haven't dove in yet but soon. Really procrastinating on it

Jill · Nov 16, 2013

It's long past time for me to update, but I only JUST starting using my "new" laptop as my main computer a week or so ago. After I saw a commercial about being able to make it look like the regular "Windows 7" type of a desktop, I thought maybe I could "learn" it after all (basically learn how to make it work like I'm used to working!). Now, I love it!!! I have set up the laptop I bought probably nearly a year ago, and it's running great. I do like the flexibility to switch to an Android sort of touch interphase, and am used to that from my tablets and smart phones, but for a "computer" I just want to have the "office" experience. It's really neat with Windows 8, you can do both. The nerd in me is super impressed that Microsoft has found a way for people to have both kinds of an interaction in one device

And I'm happy I was able to install all my MSOffice programs, email, etc. in the interface I'm used to when it comes to getting work done!

chandab · Nov 16, 2013

Glad its working out for you. My MIL got a desktop with Windows 8 and so far, she hates it. [she doesn't have the touch screen feature, as she didn't order a new monitor with the new tower.] She's only ever worked on a desktop or laptop, so the tablet type set-up is causing her much frustration.