MS Windows 8 ' First Look

Windows 8 works in two very different screens; the new Start screen, which is meant to replace the Start button, and the standard Windows desktop. The Start screen is for launching an application, which generally opens in the standard desktop if you're working in a standard application and not a Metro App (see Terminology Tip 2, below). Finding the computer settings in either of these screens isn't intuitive, but we'll cover that.

The good news is, when you are working in most of your legal applications, it will be in the standard Desktop window. Thus, all of your normal keyboard and mouse functionality within that application will be the same.

Keyboard Tip 1: Use the CTRL + ESC keys to toggle between the two screens, or use the Windows key on your keyboard to toggle. ALT + TAB will still cycle you through the running applications. Using the mouse, point to the very upper left corner of the screen to see the pane of running applications and click the one you need to switch to.

Tiles

Terminology Tip 1: In the Start screen, the term icon has been replaced with tile.

Terminology Tip 2: Dynamic or “Live Tiles” continually update links to information, as opposed to static desktop tiles. Think weather, news, stocks, stores and more.

Let's start with the tiles at the Start screen. Each application is shown as a square or rectangular tile. Don't single click a tile unless you want to launch the application. Doing so takes you to the standard desktop or into the Metro applications window.

Right-click a tile and you'll select it for action (note the checkmark in the tile). Those specific actions show in the Application bar at the bottom of the screen. Each application has its own unique actions. Use this to Pin frequently used tiles to your Start screen. Right click the tile again to remove the checkmark.

Right-click anywhere in the Start window desktop to show the All Apps button in the Application bar. This allows you to see all of those special items you used to find in the classic Start button. By right-clicking one of those items, such as Run or Control Panel, you can now “pin” the item to the standard Windows Taskbar. Or you can you choose to pin the item to Start so the tile is always in the Start window. Metro applications cannot be pinned to the standard Windows taskbar.

Gotcha Tip: If you find yourself in a location you cannot close, such as a Metro application (games, music, Internet Explorer, etc.) close that window by pointing to the very top of the Windows screen until your mouse becomes a “hand.” Drag that hand down to the very bottom of the Windows screen and release.

Control Panel and More

Windows 8 uses the new Charms Bar to access all of the settings that once could be found in the Start button and Control Panel. CTRL + C displays the Charms.

System Requirements

Short of purchasing a new Windows 8 system or a multi-touch monitor, the basic requirements to upgrade are listed by Microsoft. I'd suggest going to its site in case anything has changed:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2.
• RAM: 2 gigabyte (GB).
• Disk space: 20 GB.
• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.

Logging Off (Sign Out)

Back at the Start screen, click on your logon name in the upper right corner of the screen and choose Sign out.

Shut Down

CTRL + C to bring up the Charms Bar. Click Settings and click the Power button, choose Shut Down. You may be on a machine where your system administrator has altered the options in the Power button. ALT + F4 still brings up the Shut Down Windows options.

Conclusion

Before making the switch to Windows 8, take stock of your existing hardware and software to determine if an upgrade is even possible. Next, find some free online tutorials and spend a good amount of time reviewing those. Once you feel comfortable knowing that you'll be working with your basic legal applications in the Standard window, the change couldn't be much easier.

One suggestion for the keyboard shortcuts: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/new-keyboard-shortcuts#1TC=t1.

Sue Hughes is the Lead Integration Specialist for PayneGroup's Metadata Assistant. In this capacity, she serves as subject matter expert on all things metadata and Microsoft Office. A member of this newsletter's Board of Editors, she is a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Instructor (MCASI), and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) for Office 2007.

Let me start by relaying my initial reaction to Microsoft Windows 8: “Wow, this is different ' I really want a touch screen!” Whenever Microsoft comes out with a newly designed Office Suite or Operating System I need to step back, take a deep breath, and remind myself of the perspective I need to take. I look from a technical and training view, but most importantly a legal user's perspective. This is how I'm approaching this column: Not as a gamer, home user, book author, etc. From the sole practitioner to the attorney or legal assistant at a large law firm, I hope to provide some useful points to get you started and keep you out of trouble.

User Interface

Windows 8 is intended to be a “touch screen” operating system. You can still use the mouse, but it is very unintuitive and time consuming in trying to find the hot spots that actually present the feature you're looking for. Once you do however, it's a little easier. To take full advantage of Windows 8, you'll need to upgrade much of your hardware. (I'll list the hardware requirements later in this column.)

Windows 8 works in two very different screens; the new Start screen, which is meant to replace the Start button, and the standard Windows desktop. The Start screen is for launching an application, which generally opens in the standard desktop if you're working in a standard application and not a Metro App (see Terminology Tip 2, below). Finding the computer settings in either of these screens isn't intuitive, but we'll cover that.

The good news is, when you are working in most of your legal applications, it will be in the standard Desktop window. Thus, all of your normal keyboard and mouse functionality within that application will be the same.

Keyboard Tip 1: Use the CTRL + ESC keys to toggle between the two screens, or use the Windows key on your keyboard to toggle. ALT + TAB will still cycle you through the running applications. Using the mouse, point to the very upper left corner of the screen to see the pane of running applications and click the one you need to switch to.

Tiles

Terminology Tip 1: In the Start screen, the term icon has been replaced with tile.

Terminology Tip 2: Dynamic or “Live Tiles” continually update links to information, as opposed to static desktop tiles. Think weather, news, stocks, stores and more.

Let's start with the tiles at the Start screen. Each application is shown as a square or rectangular tile. Don't single click a tile unless you want to launch the application. Doing so takes you to the standard desktop or into the Metro applications window.

Right-click a tile and you'll select it for action (note the checkmark in the tile). Those specific actions show in the Application bar at the bottom of the screen. Each application has its own unique actions. Use this to Pin frequently used tiles to your Start screen. Right click the tile again to remove the checkmark.

Right-click anywhere in the Start window desktop to show the All Apps button in the Application bar. This allows you to see all of those special items you used to find in the classic Start button. By right-clicking one of those items, such as Run or Control Panel, you can now “pin” the item to the standard Windows Taskbar. Or you can you choose to pin the item to Start so the tile is always in the Start window. Metro applications cannot be pinned to the standard Windows taskbar.

Gotcha Tip: If you find yourself in a location you cannot close, such as a Metro application (games, music, Internet Explorer, etc.) close that window by pointing to the very top of the Windows screen until your mouse becomes a “hand.” Drag that hand down to the very bottom of the Windows screen and release.

Control Panel and More

Windows 8 uses the new Charms Bar to access all of the settings that once could be found in the Start button and Control Panel. CTRL + C displays the Charms.

System Requirements

Short of purchasing a new Windows 8 system or a multi-touch monitor, the basic requirements to upgrade are listed by Microsoft. I'd suggest going to its site in case anything has changed:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2.
• RAM: 2 gigabyte (GB).
• Disk space: 20 GB.
• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.

Logging Off (Sign Out)

Back at the Start screen, click on your logon name in the upper right corner of the screen and choose Sign out.

Shut Down

CTRL + C to bring up the Charms Bar. Click Settings and click the Power button, choose Shut Down. You may be on a machine where your system administrator has altered the options in the Power button. ALT + F4 still brings up the Shut Down Windows options.

Conclusion

Before making the switch to Windows 8, take stock of your existing hardware and software to determine if an upgrade is even possible. Next, find some free online tutorials and spend a good amount of time reviewing those. Once you feel comfortable knowing that you'll be working with your basic legal applications in the Standard window, the change couldn't be much easier.

One suggestion for the keyboard shortcuts: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/new-keyboard-shortcuts#1TC=t1.

Sue Hughes is the Lead Integration Specialist for PayneGroup's Metadata Assistant. In this capacity, she serves as subject matter expert on all things metadata and Microsoft Office. A member of this newsletter's Board of Editors, she is a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Instructor (MCASI), and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) for Office 2007.