Is the new Windows 8 right for you? - Seacoastonline.com

Windows 8 began selling on Friday, Oct. 26. Now that the latest version of Windows is on the market, is it time for you to upgrade?

Have you decided if you will upgrade yet, or are you interested in a new Windows 8 PC or tablet? Microsoft has been preparing the marketplace with advertising and TV commercials. Now that it's here, the advertising is likely to increase heavily. Here are some important things you should be clear about before making a purchase.

First and foremost, Windows 8 is a dramatic departure from previous versions of Windows. Some may view this as a good thing and some may not. The look and feel of your computer has become a very personal thing, and technology enthusiasts are likely to embrace the challenge of a completely redesigned operating environment. Those who do not like change may wind up loathing the new interface. Only time will tell. Because the user experience has changed so significantly, I'm beginning to develop an impression that Windows 8 will be far more of a consumer product than a business product, but as I just said, only time will tell.

So why do I say this? Let's first look at the current landscape. Windows 7 has become a familiar desktop operating environment that both businesses and consumers have come to rely on.

We all know how to navigate our Windows Desktop and the Start Menu to find our files and programs.

Windows 8 introduces a new desktop environment called the Metro Interface, which is a tiled interface characterized by numerous square tiles across what has been the traditional Windows Desktop.

The Desktop still exists, but it is accessed from a tile and once there, the Start Menu is no more â€" the tiled interface is your new start menu, if you will.

This fundamental change is likely to cause some anxiety among those who are quite comfortable with the traditional Windows Desktop.

The other significant change is that there are now two very different versions of Windows 8. Windows 8 RT is a somewhat limited version of Windows 8 that will run on Microsoft's new Surface tablets.

You are likely seeing a lot of advertising for these new Surface tablets this weekend, as this will be the first major Windows 8 hardware and software device to hit the market.

While the Surface tablets run Windows 8, it's very important that you understand they are running Windows 8 RT, which is not the same as Windows 8. Windows 8 RT will not run traditional Windows applications.

You will not be able to install Microsoft Office or QuickBooks on Windows 8 RT, as an example. All apps for Windows 8 RT will have to be purchased from the new Windows Store, no differently than how iPad applications have to be purchased from the iTunes store.

However, just because an app is in the Windows Store, does not necessarily mean it will run on a Windows 8 RT Surface tablet.

You will have to make absolutely certain that the app will run on Windows 8 RT. There will be a version of Microsoft Office for Windows 8 RT, however, it will not be ready for a few more months.

Surface tablets will initially come with preview versions of the software.

There will be a Windows 8 version of the Surface, called the Surface Pro Tablet, which will run Windows 8 and any Windows application, so if you intend to get a Surface tablet to run Microsoft Office and QuickBooks, you will have to wait until January when the Surface Pro is set to release.

The Surface tablets available with Windows 8 RT today will not do what you want.

This is where things are not as clear as I would have liked to see, especially for business customers.

Windows 8 presents such a dramatic change that I don't see many businesses wanting to adopt the new operating system until sufficient time passes to allow the manufacturers of critical business systems software to test their applications on the new operating system and resolve any issues that may exist.

Fortunately, when it comes to things like printers and other peripherals, all the devices that work with Windows 7 are supposed to seamlessly work with Windows 8, as the drivers are all compatible.

This has been a major hassle in prior introductions of new operating systems, as the software drivers that control the interaction with the hardware had to be completely re-written and there were lots of compatibility issues.

We should not have to confront that issue this time, however, on the pure software side, the new Metro user interface will require software companies to redevelop their software to support this new operating environment.

Windows 8 is likely to be a success, but the adoption in the business world will almost certainly trail that of the consumer space. The focus on touch technology, at this point, is not as widely used in the workplace as it is at home. If you're thinking about new computers that may come with Windows 8, a new Surface tablet or an upgrade to your existing computer, be sure you do your research or consult with an expert to help you make informed decisions that you will be pleased with.

MJ Shoer is president and virtual chief technology officer of Jenaly Technology Group, Your Technology Concierge based in Portsmouth. You may read more about small and mid-size business IT at his blog at http://mjsblog.jenaly.com and you may reach him at mshoer@jenaly.com.

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