Introducing Windows 8

Windows 8 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, launched three years after the successful Windows 7. Unlike recent versions, Windows 8 brings many important changes to the world of Windows operating systems.

If Windows 7 was made to run on more traditional computers such as laptops, desktops,  or netbooks, Windows 8 was made to run on a wider variety of devices. It can also be used successfully on tablets, computers with touch screens, and hybrids that combine the versa- tility of a laptop with the mobility of a tablet.

If Windows 7 was an incremental update to Windows Vista, Windows 8 is a re-imagination of the Windows experience. It brings to the table many new features and improvements and, most of all, a new user interface inspired by the work Microsoft did on the Windows Phone platform. The new interface is designed with touch-compatible devices in mind, but it also runs perfectly on computers with traditional mouse and keyboard input.

Windows 8 also adds support for ARM processors, used in today’s smartphones and tablets. It is the first time Windows can be used on processors other than those made by Intel or AMD (x86 architecture).

If you have read about Windows 8 or you have seen it in action, you know that there are many new things to learn, even if you are familiar with Windows 7. In this book, you’ll learn not only which are the most important changes Windows 8 introduces but also how to use the most important tools and features so that you are productive and feel at ease as soon as possible.