Windows 8 should i wait

Once Windows 11 becomes available for you, you'll download it the same way you would any new version of Windows. If available, you'll see Feature update to Windows Click Download and install. Here's more information on how to download Windows If you haven't yet upgraded to Windows 10, you may still be able to download Windows 10 free, too -- here's how.

Windows 11 gets a new visual design and several new features that aim to make navigating your computer easier, whether for personal use, work or both. Here are some of the biggest changes in Windows We broke down all of the biggest differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 here. We've also got a guide to all of the best new Windows 11 features and how you'll use them.

For more details, check out every feature we wanted in Windows 11 but didn't get and how to use Android apps on Windows 10 right now. Reaction to Windows 8 has been mixed, in large part because Microsoft eliminated the classic Start button and Program file menus from both desktops in the beta version.

At the time of this writing, it appeared unlikely that Microsoft would restore the Start button to the final version of Windows 8, but a number of third-party providers have announced plans to supply a utility that restores the Start button.

Click here to access an expanded list of Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts and touchscreen swipe commands. Applications that worked on Windows 7, most notably Microsoft Office, should continue to work on Windows 8-powered desktops and laptops. Before upgrading to Windows 8, remember that an operating system installation is much more involved than, say, moving from Office to Office Consider the following:.

To encourage Windows users to make the leap to Windows 8, Microsoft is offering special, low pricing for upgrades through Jan. The decision to upgrade a computer to Windows 8 should be heavily influenced by which version of Windows you currently use.

Windows 8 might prove to be a giant step forward for Microsoft, but CPAs running Windows 7 might be better off holding back on any upgrades until the new system proves reliable in widespread use. Microsoft clearly is emphasizing cloud and mobile in its strategy and not just with Windows 8. Office , rumored to be released within days or weeks of Windows 8, has been redesigned to run on the revamped operating system, with a similar look and feel, including a new Start screen and cloud, touchscreen, and device-centric capabilities.

Microsoft also is steering customers toward a cloud-accessed version under the Office brand. Given the reliance on Windows-powered computers and applications in the accounting profession, CPAs and their organizations have little choice but to look into Windows 8. More important, CPAs need to determine how they plan to use mobile and cloud-based technologies. With so many factors to consider, a wait-and-see approach may be the best option for most CPAs, especially Windows 7 users.

As Windows 8 use grows more prevalent and Office becomes widely available, both as a traditional download and through the cloud-based Office subscription service, CPAs will have a better understanding of how the operating system and its key applications perform. At that point, the data should be in place to determine whether a jump to Windows 8 is justified. Led by the iPad, tablets have proved to be great devices for consuming content but not for creating it, at least not in heavy amounts.

With the Surface, which features an integrated kickstand and a pressure-sensitive cover that doubles as a keyboard and trackpad, Microsoft is attempting to integrate the content-creation capacity of laptops with the convenience of tablets.

The kickstand allows users to work on the Surface without having to hold it in one hand or work on a flat surface. The term Ultrabook was coined by Intel, which provides the chips for all products bearing the Ultrabook name.

Apple has a similar product called the MacBook Air, but that device is not touchscreen-enabled. With the release of Windows 8, at least 40 new touch-enabled Ultrabooks are due to hit the market by the end of the year. In addition to the new touchscreen user interface, Microsoft has added some noteworthy features to Windows 8; 15 of them are summarized below.

Faster boot-up. Windows 8 boots up in about 5 to 15 seconds, depending on the performance of your computer. Tap and Do. With Tap and Do functionality, Windows 8 allows you to tap two devices together to create a connection between them. Using Near Field Communication NFC , Tap and Do creates a device partnership automatically, so you no longer need to enter PINs or undertake complicated discovery and setup procedures to connect devices.

Microsoft further says PC makers including Dell, HP, Lenovo and others are planning "hundreds of new Windows 11 designs" for the holiday season. In some operating system overhauls, that can mean interesting new hardware with valuable new features.

Windows 8 was a great example of that. That OS launched alongside a dizzying array of inventive or just plain weird new hybrid laptops designed to take advantage of the new touch features built into Windows 8. One of the weird and occasionally wonderful new laptop designs that launched alongside Windows 8 in I don't expect anything as revolutionary this time around. For Windows 11, with the promise of new built-for-Windows systems, there may be new design ideas and new hardware features we haven't seen yet.

But aside from potentially haptic feedback for pens, I haven't heard anything that would make me think I'll miss out by buying a new laptop now. Based on what we know right now, if you're already about to pull the trigger on a Windows laptop purchase, I think you can move forward without worrying about it.

If any new information causes my opinion to change, I'll let you know. Stay current on the latest Microsoft news, plus reviews and advice on Windows PCs. Windows will save a backup copy of your PC settings to OneDrive. If something ever happens to your PC and you need to replace it, your settings are saved in the cloud and you can transfer them to a new PC instantly.

You can change any of these settings later in PC settings. If you'd prefer to turn off all of these settings now, select Turn off these OneDrive settings not recommended. Windows checks for these critical updates when you finish setting up Windows 8. Downloading and installing these updates might take a few minutes, depending on the updates you need.

Your PC might also need to restart one or more times to complete the updates. Your desktop apps come with you when you update to Windows 8. You can see all of the Windows Store apps you own in the Your apps section of the Store. From here, you can choose the ones you want to install on your updated PC and install them all at once.

Select Account , and then select My apps. Note: You don't need to wait for the apps to finish installing. They'll keep installing in the background while you do other things.

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