Why Windows 8 Is Better Than Windows 7

Is Microsoft's latest operating system really that bad?  NO!
8 reasons to stop worrying and love Windows 8


It's leaner and faster
Windows 8 is significantly faster to start up than Windows 7. Exactly how much faster will depend on your hardware, but we ran a like-for-like comparison on a four-year-old test system and found that a clean installation of Windows 8 booted 56 seconds faster than a clean install of Windows 7 - that's almost a whole minute every time you boot up. Not only that. but Windows 8's new graphical interface dispenses with Windows 7's Aero effects, meaning that it uses less system memory and runs more smoothly. We've also found that Windows 8 is faster at copying files, and offers useful extra features in the Copy Files dialogue box, such as a speed graph and a pause function.

It's safer than Windows 7
Windows 7 is about as secure as a leaky tug-boat compared to Windows 8's battleship-level protection. The newer OS uses a secure-boot system that prevents unauthorised programs, such as rootkits and other malicious software, from running on start-up, so your PC is shielded from security threats as soon as you press the power button. However, this benefit is only available if you have a newer PC using a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) instead of traditional BIOS. In any case. Windows 8 is still safer than Windows 7 because it comes with Windows Defender, which provides built-in protection protection against viruses and other malware. This is an improved version of Microsoft Security Essentials (windows.microsoft.com/mse) that blocks a wider variety of threats. There's also a SmartScreen filter for guarding against phishing scams.

It looks fresher and cleaner
Whether you're a fan of Windows 8's new look is largely a matter of taste, but there's no denying that Microsoft's design team came up with an elegant, colourful and clean-looking interface to seamlessly combine function and form. Some parts of the OS take more getting used to than others - for example, the use of apes in favour of programs and, most notoriously, the replacement of the Start menu with the tile-based Start screen (although the Start button is set to return in Windows 8.1). But the pared-back simplicity of the Windows 8 Desktop compares favourably against the bloated graphical flourishes of its predecessor.
Windows 7 doesn't feel quite as crude as Windows XP now does, but it certainly looks old-fashioned when compared side-by-side with the more modern OS.

It's better at protecting your files
Microsoft has remained oddly modest about the improved back-up tool in Windows 8. Called File History, it works automatically in the background, and makes real-time back-up copies of your personal files and folders to, for example, an external or network hard drive. It's a simple, effective way to keep your data safe and works much better than Windows 7's equivalent. To set up File History, press the Windows key, type 'backup', turn on File History and select the 'Save backup Copies with File History' option from the Settings list. You can still use Windows 7's back-up tools, including its handy System Image option, by clicking the 'Windows 7 File Recovery' option in the bottom left-hand corner of the main File History window.

It has its own store
The Windows Store isn't yet bursting at the seams with goodies like its Apple and Google equivalents, but it has lots of potential. The future of tablet and PC software points toward smaller, more focused tools rather than huge. expensive software suites, and there are already hundreds of apps and games available on the Windows Store, many of which are free. We've even added a new section to our Best Free Software pages (see page 31) to highlight the latest additions to the store. Granted, it's possible for Windows 7 users to download many of the same tools (or at least similar ones) individually, but it's not as safe or Convenient, and Windows 7's lack Of a unified, vetted source of useful tools is fast becoming one of its biggest weaknesses.

It's easier to fix
When something goes wrong in Windows 7. it's not always obvious what's to blame, although you're given the option to send an error report to Microsoft. In contrast. Windows 8's new Task Manager provides a wealth of tools to help diagnose problems. Right-click the taskbar, select Task Manager and click the 'More details' arrow. You'll see a tabbed window that displays any programs, apps and processes running, along with information showing which consumes the most system resources and which are set to run when Windows starts up.
The Performance tab displays real-time graphical information about memory. CPU usage, network traffic and disk use. If you're really in trouble, then Windows 8's Refresh and Restore options (listed under General in 'PC settings') provide the ultimate fix without you having to reinstall your OS from scratch, as you would with Windows 7.

It syncs your settings
It's easy to underestimate the usefulness of Windows 8's sync feature, but if you use more than one PC or Windows device, it's a godsend. In Windows 7, user accounts are locked to single PCs. so you have to set up all your settings. preferences and programs manually on each individual device. With Windows 8, however, you can use a Microsoft account to sync all your user settings in the cloud. The result is that whichever PC you log into, all your important data, personalisations, app settings and more will automatically be kept the same across all your devices.
To customise precisely what gets synced, type Sync at the Start screen, click Settings, select 'Sync your settings' and choose what to sync.

It's not as different as you think
Despite some of the bold changes on the surface, deep down Windows 8 is just a faster, safer, smarter-looking version of Windows 7. Once you get your head around the fact that the Start screen is really a big, colourful version Of the Start menu, then the whole thing quickly starts to make more sense, and you'll soon discover that pretty much everything you know and love about Windows 7 is still there underneath. If you really hate the Start screen, then it's possible to banish it altogether and restore Windows 7's Start menu using a free tool such as Classic Shell. This will make your Windows 8 PC look almost exactly the same as a Windows 7 one, except it will be faster and safer, and offer more useful features.

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1 comments:

Window Surface Pro 4 battery bloat problem
this the cause

19 December 2017 at 09:04 comment-delete

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