• What you need to know

• Which is right for you

• How to make 8.1 work for you

JB BurkeProfessional PowerPoint Presentation PresenterPrescott Computer SocietyMarch 22, 2014

Today’s Windows Survey

�Who here has …

�XP?

�Vista?

�Windows 7?

�Windows 8?

�Other?

Overview …

If you have Windows XP now …� And your computer is old (4+ years?)…

� Stick with XP or

� Buy a New Computer (Windows 7 or 8)

� If your computer is not so old (2-3 years?) …� Run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

○ IF results are good, � Stick with Windows XP or

� Buy Windows 7 or 8 and upgrade

○ If results are bad, � Stick with Windows XP or

� Buy a New Computer (Windows 7 or 8)

Other alternatives …

� Buy a Mac

� Install Linux on your XP computer� OS is free

� Many applications are free

� Switch to a Chromebook� Do everything in the Cloud (Google)

� Quit computing� Get an Android Tablet or an iPad

� Provides Web browsing, email, etc.

About Windows XP

� Security & Compliance Risks: Unsupported and unpatched environments are vulnerable to security risks.

� Lack of Independent Software Vendor (ISV) & Hardware Manufacturers support

� Avast Warns of Widespread Security Issues Once Microsoft Abandons XP

Microsoft on Windows XP

� Microsoft: Windows XP anti-malware support to last into 2015� http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57617293-

75/microsoft-windows-xp-anti-malware-support-to-last-into-2015/

� Microsoft will continue to provide updates to our anti-malware signatures and engine for Windows XP users through July 14, 2015.

� "Our research shows that the effectiveness of anti-malware solutions on out-of-support operating systems is limited," Microsoft wrote.

Comparing XP to Windows 7

� Security Is Better in Windows 7

� You Can Make Windows 7 Look Like XP

� Windows 7 Is Quick

� The Applets Are Better� E.g. Wordpad, Paint, Notepad, Calculator)

� You’re Going to Need New Drivers

� Networking Is Better Even if You Don’t Need IPv6� IPv4 = 4.3 billion unique addresses

� IPv6 = 340 undecillion (that's 340 trillion trillion trillion) unique addresses

○ Or … 79 octillion (billion billion billion) times as many as IPv4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CXUKzsG0bM

Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between

Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7• 1. No e-mail Client� Outlook Express (OE) gone

� Purchase an e-mail client such as Outlook,

� Use a free service such as Gmail, Yahoo mail or Windows Live Mail, or

� Download an open source e-mail client such as Thunderbird.

• 2. 32-bit vs. 64-bit

� Decide whether you want the 32-bit version (x86) or the 64-bit version (x64). Depends on your computer’s hardware and the availability of drivers and other software to make everything work in your PC.

• 3. Aero Desktop

� A collection of window and desktop behaviors that make Windows 7 the prettiest version of the operating system to date. Features such as Aero Snap let you quickly organize open windows and transparency makes it easy to see what’s underneath other windows. With Windows XP think opaque, with Windows 7, think translucent.

Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between

Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7• 4. Documents and Settings

• The Documents and Settings folder, the location for all protected personal files and folders, has been replaced with a simple Users folders.

• 5. Start Menu

• The Start menu in Windows 7 has been completely reworked and has been met with several criticisms. No longer does the Start menu use fly-outs and scroll-outs to show you what shortcuts to programs and folders you have on your computer.

Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between

Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7� 6. Ribbon

� Introduced in Office 2007

� Microsoft will continue to push the Ribbon interface over the more familiar drop-down menu and toolbar approach to using programs

� 7. Libraries� Windows 7 Libraries are collections of files that are similar. Similar content

that is located in multiple areas of your computer are brought together into the Library system to make finding files easier.

� You can choose to use or not use Libraries.

� If you store a lot of music or video Libraries may be for you.

� 8. DirectX 11� Windows XP will not support DirectX versions beyond 9.0c

� If your games require a higher version such as 10 or 11, you have no choice but to move a more recent version of Windows.

Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between Top 10 Differences between

Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7Windows XP and Windows 7� 9. HomeGroup

� HomeGroup is a major shift in home networking simplicity that makes older paradigms seem archaic.

� Marrying simplicity, easy setup, and stable connections, HomeGroup takes the guesswork and troubleshooting out of home networking on any scale.

� 10. Touch Support

� Windows 7 is the first operating system from Microsoft to natively support touch as a computer interface.

How to get Windows 7� How to Survive the Windows XPiration Date

� Microsoft urges users of its aging software to move to Windows 8.1, but other paths might be easier

� Wall Street Journal March 18, 2014 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304747404579445800901503252

� Buy a Windows 7 laptop or desktop from select manufacturer websites, including Acer, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo.

� Go digging in the business-products sections of the companies' sites and you'll find them. Microsoft and the PC makers still provide support, too.

� Dell's Latitude 3330 and Acer's Aspire V3 are both good choices under $700.

� Microsoft doesn't sell box copies of Windows 7 anymore. And if you buy the $99.99 version sold by online computer suppliers like Newegg, you don't get Microsoft support. You will get security updates until 2020, however.

http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/download-the-ultimate-windows-7-guide

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20

How to Run the Windows 7 Upgrade How to Run the Windows 7 Upgrade How to Run the Windows 7 Upgrade How to Run the Windows 7 Upgrade AdvisorAdvisorAdvisorAdvisor

� Just a quick overview to get you started� http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-run-the-windows-7-

upgrade-advisor.html

� The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will perform a detailed scan of your entire system, checking hardware, programs, and peripheral devices. Once the scan is complete, the Upgrade Advisor will display a report telling you whether your system meets the hardware requirements and identifying any known compatibility issues with your programs and devices. If it finds problems, the Upgrade Advisor will provide suggestions you can use to better analyze your upgrade options to Windows 7.

Windows 8.0� Not well received thus far

Windows 8 Upgrade AssistantWindows 8 Upgrade AssistantWindows 8 Upgrade AssistantWindows 8 Upgrade Assistant

Update to WindowsUpdate to WindowsUpdate to WindowsUpdate to Windows 8.1: 8.1: 8.1: 8.1: FAQFAQFAQFAQ

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8

Three Windows Shortcuts Three Windows Shortcuts Three Windows Shortcuts Three Windows Shortcuts

Everyone Should KnowEveryone Should KnowEveryone Should KnowEveryone Should Know� The Windows Key + Typing

� Windows key: just press it, and start typing the name of the program you want to launch. It'll pop up in seconds, after which you can press Enter to launch it. It's a lot faster than all that clicking and scrolling! This works in both Windows 7 and Windows 8.

� Ctrl+Shift+Escape

� Takes you directly to the Task Manager so you can manage your running apps.

� Alt (or F10)

� Some programs—like Firefox, Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, and others—have done away with the traditional "File, Edit, View, etc." menus

� Press the Alt key (or F10). It'll temporarily bring back that traditional menu bar with File, Edit, and other buttons so you can find what you're looking for.

http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/getting-started-your-guide-to-windows-8

Some thoughts on Windows 8

� Windows 8: Design over Usability

� http://www.technologyreview.com/review/511116/windows-8-design-over-usability/

� Windows 8 is a computer science masterpiece trapped inside a user interface kerfuffle.

� Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

� http://www.nngroup.com/articles/windows-8-disappointing-usability/

� Summary: Hidden features, reduced discoverability, cognitive overhead from dual environments, and reduced power from a single-window UI and low information density. Too bad.

Some Windows 8 Resources� Windows 8 Quick Reference Card

� http://library.delmar.edu/library/Quick%20Reference%20Guides/New/windows-8-quick-reference.pdf

� Windows 8 Cheat Sheet

� http://cheat-sheets.s3.amazonaws.com/for-mobile/windows-8-keyboard-shortcuts.pdf

� The Windows 8 Guide

� http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/getting-started-your-guide-to-windows-8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82MMx8HmWIM

And so came Windows 8.1

� Windows 8.1: Microsoft’s Most Bipolar Operating System Ever

� http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/windows-8-1-microsoft-most-bipolar-operating-system-130038612.html

� Windows 8.1: A Fresh Coat Of Paint Over Still-Shaky Walls

� http://readwrite.com/2013/10/17/windows-81-a-fresh-coat-of-paint-over-still-shaky-walls#awesm=~okQLGPlMkbYLdP

One way to help Windows 8.1 …

• Right click the Menu Bar

• Click on Properties

• Click on Navigation tab

• These are the defaults

One way to fix Windows 8.1 …

• Make these new settings.

• This will make a difference!

• Let’s take a look.

But there are better ways …

� 5 Windows 8.1 Start Menu Apps

� http://blog.laptopmag.com/5-windows-8-1-start-menu-apps

� Stardock Start8

� Classic Shell

� Pokki

� Power8

� Revel BringBack

I’ve installed and

used these two!

What are your considerations?

• It is not easy to convert from Windows XP to either Windows 7 or 8

• Computers with Windows 8 (or 8.1) are easier to buy than Windows 7 PC’s

• Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade from Windows 8 (and it helps)

• Windows 7 can be made to look and act like Windows XP

• Windows 8 can be made to look/ and act like Windows 7

� Stardock Start8 ($5)

� Classic Shell (Free)

• In either case you need to consider:

• Hardware issues (drivers, processor, memory, disk space)

• Software (need to re-install, does it work with Windows 7 or 8?, etc.)

• How to transfer files (Cloud or External Hard Drive)

• Professional level assistance is available from some members of the Prescott Computer Society for modest fees.

My personal recommendations …

� Bite the bullet – go to Windows 8 (and then to 8.1 if not preinstalled)� Gives you the longest OS lifetime before another major shift is

necessary� Probably requires some or all new hardware� If your computer is really old it may be due for a failure anyway� Costco.com has 16 laptops for under $500.00. (Non-touch screen)� If your computer is pretty new (under 2 years?) it may upgrade just

fine� You may need some new software

� Kingsoft Office (free) instead of MS Office 2013 or Office 365?� Mozilla Thunderbird is a good email program

� Ask around for techie friends to help or check with Prescott Computer Society for recommended local geeks

� Install Start8 to make the new system feel like an old friend