Paul Thurrott - Windows 8 Secrets

Здесь есть возможность читать онлайн «Paul Thurrott - Windows 8 Secrets» — ознакомительный отрывок электронной книги совершенно бесплатно, а после прочтения отрывка купить полную версию. В некоторых случаях можно слушать аудио, скачать через торрент в формате fb2 и присутствует краткое содержание. Город: Indianapolis, IN, Год выпуска: 2012, ISBN: 2012, Издательство: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Жанр: Программы, на английском языке. Описание произведения, (предисловие) а так же отзывы посетителей доступны на портале библиотеки ЛибКат.

Windows 8 Secrets: краткое содержание, описание и аннотация

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Tips, tricks, treats, and secrets revealed on Windows 8
Amazon.com Review
Q & A with the authors of From the Back Cover Microsoft is introducing a major new release of its Windows operating system, Windows 8, and what better way for you to learn all the ins and outs than from two internationally recognized Windows experts and Microsoft insiders, authors Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera? They cut through the hype to get at useful information you’ll not find anywhere else, including what role this new OS plays in a mobile and tablet world.
Regardless of your level of knowledge, you’ll discover little-known facts about how things work, what’s new and different, and how you can modify Windows 8 to meet what you need.
Windows 8 Secrets
•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  Windows 8 Secrets Should consumers adopt Windows 8 or Windows RT? Windows RT offers both advantages and disadvantages compared to Windows 8, and which you choose will depend on your needs. The biggest issue with Windows RT, of course, is the lack of desktop application compatibility: Though it comes with most Windows 8 desktop utilities and a version of Microsoft Office, Windows RT is not compatible with any third party or Microsoft desktop Windows applications that are already included. That said, Windows RT should offer much better battery life and amazingly thin and light form factors when compared to similar PCs and devices designed around a traditional PC microprocessor.
What’s best way to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8? Upgrade or clean install? Is an upgrade safe? Generally speaking, you will actually see better results with an upgrade with this version of Windows, which is different than our experience with previous versions. To be safe, backup everything first, perform the upgrade, and if it doesn’t go well, you can always do a clean install afterwards.
One thing to watch during an upgrade, however, is Internet Explorer: If you have configured a different browser as your default browser in Windows 7 and then upgrade to Windows 8, you will actually lose the ability to run the Metro-style version of Internet Explorer 10. You can fix this by configuring IE as your default browser after the fact.
Does Windows 8 really run faster and better than Windows 7 on the same hardware? Yes. But in real world usage, you won’t notice much of a difference in usage. That said, Windows 8 boots, resumes from sleep, and performs other power management functions much, much faster than does Windows 7. You can also use Push Button Reset to refresh or reset a Windows 8 PC in just minutes.
Will all of my Windows 7 apps and drivers work with Windows 8? For the most part, yes. Microsoft claims that if it works with Windows 7, it should work with Windows 8. And in our experience, that has definitely been the case. Even the now-ancient game “Halo: Combat Evolved,” from 2003 installs and runs just fine. That said, you may need to uninstall some applications if you’re upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8, and then reinstall them after the fact. And of course there will always be some exceptions.
What are the most important keyboard combinations we should memorize? If you remember just one keyboard shortcut, it should be WINKEY + C, which enables the Charms and access to several key system functions, including Search, Share, Start, Devices, and Settings. Some other useful keyboard shortcuts include WINKEY + D (to navigate directly to the desktop), WINKEY + I (for Settings), and WINKEY + L for lock. And let’s not forget our favorite keyboard combination: WINKEY + X, which displays a power user menu of sorts containing lots of useful shortcuts.
In their introduction, the authors of this book say that “with Windows 8, suddenly, everything is different.” And they are right—with a completely new interface presenting users with a completely new experience, Windows 8 and its device-based cousin Windows RT are arguably the biggest change in Windows ever. But bestselling authors Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera have you covered with Windows 8 Secrets, a completely new, written-from-scratch guide to the ins and outs of this new Windows experience. Covering topics both large and small, ranging from how the new immersive experiences and familiar Windows desktop interface coexist to the subtle differences in interacting with Windows 8 via touch, keyboard, or mouse, this book digs in to reveal helpful and advanced insight in all major Windows areas: application management, data backup and security, networking, and much more.
The Insider’s Guide to:
•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  The Secrets series reveals:
•  •  •  •  •  [Contain tables. Best viewed with CoolReader.]

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• Turn sharing on or off:This option displays the same interface described previously, letting you choose between enabling and disabling PC sharing and device connections.

• View connection properties:Choosing this option displays an old-school desktop-type configuration window like the one shown in Figure 13-7. This interface lets you configure advanced settings for obscure, non-typical wireless networks and isn’t generally needed.

Connecting to Cellular Data Networks

Over the years, the support in Windows for different network types and networking technologies has of course evolved. And in Windows 8, finally, Microsoft is explicitly supporting the 3G and 4G/LTE cellular data networks that are now becoming ubiquitous.

Figure 13-7:Back to the Stone Age

Understanding Cellular Data Networks 3Grefers to the thirdgeneration cellular - фото 420
Understanding Cellular Data Networks

3Grefers to the third-generation cellular data networks that are now considered the baseline—that is, the slowest—for such networks.

4G, confusingly, refers broadly to a range of cellular network types, including pseudo-4G data networks such as HSPA (high-speed packet access) and HSPA+ that are really based on the older 3G standard.

LTE, or long-term evolution, is, for now at least, the “true” standard for 4G cellular data connectivity and offers the best performance of these network types.

Prior to this release, you could connect to such networks using third-party software, which was generally acquired from the wireless carrier or device maker that provided the connectivity, perhaps through a USB-based add-on peripheral or internal SIM card interface in a laptop or other device.

NOTE

A SIM (subscriber identity module) card is a small integrated circuit on a plastic card that is used to authenticate your device, and thus you, the wireless subscriber, to the cellular data network. These cards are used in smartphones, tablets, and modern PCs, and while they come in various sizes, they are functionally identical.

But now, in Windows 8, this capability is just built-in. And that integration into the OS isn’t just a convenience. In addition to providing the functionality that used to require third-party software installation, the built-in cellular data connectivity that’s available in Windows 8 is also more intelligent. It will use your Wi-Fi or other network connectivity whenever possible, switching off of cellular as frequently as possible in order to save you money. That’s because cellular data is notoriously expensive and almost always metered, with a set monthly or per-use allotment of data.

Put simply, Windows 8 treats cellular data just like your smartphone does, neatly bridging the connectivity gap between those small and highly portable devices and the monolithic PCs of the past.

Choosing a Cellular Data Connection

To use a cellular data connection with the integrated Windows 8 capabilities, or what Microsoft calls mobile broadband, you must have a Windows PC or device that includes a built-in SIM port. If you don’t have such a thing, you utilize external methods for connecting to the Internet via a cellular data connection. Some of the more obvious choices include the following:

• Portable wireless router:Many wireless carriers sell tiny wireless routers that access their data networks and then broadcast a Wi-Fi network that you can use with multiple devices and PCs. From the perspective of Windows 8, connecting to such a device is no different from connecting to any Wi-Fi wireless network. A typical device, such as the Novatel MiFi, is resold by a number of wireless carriers and shown in Figure 13-8

• Smartphone or tablet Internet sharing:Smartphones and tablets are generally available with built-in SIM cards and cellular data connectivity of their own, and some can share that connection over Wi-Fi with other devices and PCs, much like a wireless router. This process is sometimes called Internet tethering, because sharing a smartphone’s Internet connection in particular can lead to a quick loss of battery life. So it’s advisable to connect, or tether, the phone to your PC via a USB cable to keep it charged. Windows 8 interacts with these networks as it does with any Wi-Fi type wireless network.

Figure 13-8:A portable wireless router can connect multiple PCs and devices to a cellular data network.

USB dongleMany wireless carriers also provide small USB devices that plug - фото 421

• USB dongle:Many wireless carriers also provide small USB devices that plug into a PC (or Windows-based device with a USB port), providing cellular connectivity directly to that PC. These devices typically come with their own software stack, so that they work with all modern versions of Windows, and if you use such a device, it’s likely that you’ll need to install this software before you can get online. In such cases, usage will vary, since the provided utilities will vary from device to device. A typical cellular data dongle is shown in Figure 13-9.

Figure 13-9:You can add cellular data connectivity to any PC using an external USB dongle.

If youve purchased a modern Windows 8 PC or device especially a portable - фото 422

If you’ve purchased a modern Windows 8 PC or device, especially a portable computer such as a laptop, Ultrabook, tablet, or hybrid PC, chances are good that it came with at least a SIM module, which would allow you to later add a SIM card and associated data plan from your wireless carrier of choice and use that connectivity to access the Internet on the go.

The placement and accessibility of this SIM port will vary from machine to machine. They’re generally well-hidden, hard to access, and only need to be fiddled with once (if at all): when you install the SIM card the first time.

Availability and cost of cellular data will also vary by wireless carrier, so you’ll want to consider your needs—that is, whether you’ll typically use the connectivity from the same basic location (home, work, the local coffee shop) or while traveling. That’s because cellular data coverage varies from place to place, and while certain carriers offer great coverage in one area, they may offer terrible coverage elsewhere, if at all.

You’ll also need to consider your data needs, planning, and shopping accordingly. Some wireless carriers offer pay-as-you-go plans, while others require you to sign up for 2 years and pay a standard monthly fee for a set amount of data (with additional payments made for overages). We happen to use AT&T Wireless in the United States at the time of this writing, and this company offers the following pay-as-you-go data plans for Windows-based PCs and tablets with a built-in LTE-based SIM card.

Prepaid plans with an auto-renew option and anytime termination:

250 MB monthly pass $15

3 GB monthly pass $30

5 GB monthly pass $50

These plans expire when you have used all the data in your plan or your time expires, whichever occurs first. Any “leftover” never carries forward to the next time period, sorry. But AT&T also happens to offer international data add-ons for world travelers, another option to consider. However, this is just an example; you’ll want to shop around.

Determining how much data you need can be difficult. Fortunately, with a pay-as-you-go plan, you can adjust over time until you settle on the plan that makes the most sense for you.

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