Windows 8.1, A Breath Of Fresh Air
Thursday 17th October 2013 is the date that i had penned in my phone. The day when Windows 8 was finally receiving an update! For the past year I had to suffer enduring the abysmal usage of Windows 8 and its tedious attempt at being an Operating System. However today was the day that it could all change.
I went to the Windows Store with a giant notification telling me Windows 8.1 had arrived (Y).
Straight away i proceeded to click 'DOWNLOAD'.
After having to wait almost an hour the wait was finally over. Windows 8 had arrived... And it was good!
Hey, what's that Icon you say?!
START MENU WAS BACK! Although it wasn't the same. When clicked it doesn't give you the list of programs like many of you are used to but now just redirects you back to the tile interface.
50:50 APP FUNCTIONALITY. This is a big coup as I used to hate having to have an 80:20 ratio between to apps and often found myself having to close one app altogether.
IMPROVED IE11. IE11 metro was pretty crap in Windows 8. However an update from the team means that IE11 is blisteringly quick with websites opening quicker than ever.
BOOT TO DESKTOP. Remember when you would login and be directed to your desktop just like in Windows 7? WELL ITS BACK! If like me your sick of logging into a tiled interface you don't even use then here's how to boot to desktop mode.
2. Right-click any open area in the taskbar, then click Properties.
3. Click the Navigation tab, then check the box next to Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in.
4. Click OK, then reboot. Windows should plunk you right into Desktop.
WINDOWS STORE REFRESHED! Remember my last rant about how the store sucked and had no apps which were useful to the common PC user, well that's changed... sort of. Now people can find access to over 50,000 apps to choose from and Facebook aswell as Twitter have released their own apps! OH JOY!
Overall, Windows hasn't dissapointed with this fresh update which was long overdue and has delivered some crucial updates to an OS which was barely standing on its own two feet. Only time will tell if Microsoft can turn it around with its sales in the ever growing tablet market.
