Windows 8.1: improvement or step back? (part 3)
Smart Search
Windows 8.1 has improved and changed the interface for this functionality. Now, when you open Search from any position on your computer, the new pane shows as default option "Everywhere", but, by clicking the down arrow you can pick other search options (Settings, Files, Web images and Web
videos). A great improvement of Windows 8.1 is the integration of Bing and SkyDrive in the Search interface, allowing the user to search on the web, too. The way Smart Search works can be customized by the user going to PC Settings/Search and Apps/Search. For more details I will refer you to this article.
The end of an age
Windows 8.1 marks an historic change, because Windows users are finally free to decide which default browser to utilize, other than Internet Explorer, and to pick the default apps for other functionalities (photo, music, video, etc.). For all the Windows users who aren't particularly big on Microsoft's web browser, that's music for their ears.
Should you upgrade?
The answer to this depends on what operating system you have on your computer and your preferences. You could decide to go for Windows 8.1 right away to stay current, or because you like having the last updates and the last technology gadgets and you already use mobile apps on your new Windows phone, tablet or laptop. If so, the upgrade is surely advised, especially if you already have Windows 8, because you're already used to the new structure of the current Windows operating system. If you have Windows 7 and you're not much into mobile phones you can hold off on it until you purchase a new PC, because a new operating system implies higher hardware requirements and you could find yourself with a new operating system that performs poorly. For more details I suggest you to visit this page.
Wrap up and final considerations
My final wrap-up about Windows 8.1 can pick up on my final considerations about MacOsX 10.9 Mavericks: a missed opportunity. In fact, it leaves unfulfilled the expectations of both the users who wanted a radical revamping of Windows 8, and the users who want a return to Windows 7 because they are confused by the tile interface. With Windows 8 Microsoft had tried to make a decisive step forward away from the traditional structure of windows and folders so familiar to most of us. Even though this can be considered a brave strategy, it presented two problems: a) most users, who've been used to the old structure for decades, are confused by the new tile interace, and one expects an upgrade to make the user's experience easier; b) the tile interface isn't so intuitive if you're not used to a Windows phone, and it's ridiculously hard to handle without a touchscreen. In fact, depending on the way you click on certain angles, windows are shown or not and sometimes, using a mouse, it's definitely hard to open the desired applications or tiles because some of them aren't present on screen but pop up only when you click in a specific way (Settings, for example).
Windows 8.1 tried to address these two problems, but the result is much ado about nothing. The final impression is Microsoft found itself in a dilemma without going for either of the two alternative solutions, and without fully satisfying either of the conflicting demands.
In fact, though some new features are useful (like the new Search functionality, the new App Store, etc.), lots of bugs and inconveniences have not been solved. So setting up a search provider different from the default Bing remains a puzzle, battery life continues to be unsatisfying, and you can't have two different web browsers open at the same time, just to mention some of the most important glitches. All this is a turnoff for some users and might induce them to reconsider the role of alternative operating systems, like Linux, MacOsX or ChromeOS, the last one being a very interesting and affordable alternative to the new desktops or to Surface 2.
Back to part 2
Back to part 1
Windows 8.1 has improved and changed the interface for this functionality. Now, when you open Search from any position on your computer, the new pane shows as default option "Everywhere", but, by clicking the down arrow you can pick other search options (Settings, Files, Web images and Web
videos). A great improvement of Windows 8.1 is the integration of Bing and SkyDrive in the Search interface, allowing the user to search on the web, too. The way Smart Search works can be customized by the user going to PC Settings/Search and Apps/Search. For more details I will refer you to this article. 
The end of an ageWindows 8.1 marks an historic change, because Windows users are finally free to decide which default browser to utilize, other than Internet Explorer, and to pick the default apps for other functionalities (photo, music, video, etc.). For all the Windows users who aren't particularly big on Microsoft's web browser, that's music for their ears.
Should you upgrade?
The answer to this depends on what operating system you have on your computer and your preferences. You could decide to go for Windows 8.1 right away to stay current, or because you like having the last updates and the last technology gadgets and you already use mobile apps on your new Windows phone, tablet or laptop. If so, the upgrade is surely advised, especially if you already have Windows 8, because you're already used to the new structure of the current Windows operating system. If you have Windows 7 and you're not much into mobile phones you can hold off on it until you purchase a new PC, because a new operating system implies higher hardware requirements and you could find yourself with a new operating system that performs poorly. For more details I suggest you to visit this page.
Wrap up and final considerations
My final wrap-up about Windows 8.1 can pick up on my final considerations about MacOsX 10.9 Mavericks: a missed opportunity. In fact, it leaves unfulfilled the expectations of both the users who wanted a radical revamping of Windows 8, and the users who want a return to Windows 7 because they are confused by the tile interface. With Windows 8 Microsoft had tried to make a decisive step forward away from the traditional structure of windows and folders so familiar to most of us. Even though this can be considered a brave strategy, it presented two problems: a) most users, who've been used to the old structure for decades, are confused by the new tile interace, and one expects an upgrade to make the user's experience easier; b) the tile interface isn't so intuitive if you're not used to a Windows phone, and it's ridiculously hard to handle without a touchscreen. In fact, depending on the way you click on certain angles, windows are shown or not and sometimes, using a mouse, it's definitely hard to open the desired applications or tiles because some of them aren't present on screen but pop up only when you click in a specific way (Settings, for example).
Windows 8.1 tried to address these two problems, but the result is much ado about nothing. The final impression is Microsoft found itself in a dilemma without going for either of the two alternative solutions, and without fully satisfying either of the conflicting demands.
In fact, though some new features are useful (like the new Search functionality, the new App Store, etc.), lots of bugs and inconveniences have not been solved. So setting up a search provider different from the default Bing remains a puzzle, battery life continues to be unsatisfying, and you can't have two different web browsers open at the same time, just to mention some of the most important glitches. All this is a turnoff for some users and might induce them to reconsider the role of alternative operating systems, like Linux, MacOsX or ChromeOS, the last one being a very interesting and affordable alternative to the new desktops or to Surface 2.
Back to part 2
Back to part 1
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