Windows 8 Consumer Preview Demonstration and Commentary

Mike — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:52:35 GMT

Do you have cold feet about going it alone with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview? You don't have to. Join me in a rational exploration of Windows 8 Consumer Preview. About 45 minutes in length, the video gives you a first hand look at the aesthetics and readily apparent features of Windows 8 CP. As we move closer to the release date, and aggregate even more information, I will take my demonstrations and reviews into the more in-depth features later on, but for now, take a sight seeing journey into what we see and what we can use readily thus far. I look forward to your comments, and hopefully your contributions. I am ready to give my subjective opinion, and hopefully, a bit of objective analysis. As I begin to explore the inner workings of this new system publicly, I hope that you will join me, either in celebration, condemnation, or a mixture of both!

Synopsis: Mike Fara over at http://windows8forums.com takes an interactive approach towards the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. By exploring, explaining, and discussing some common frustrations with the Consumer Preview, while also looking forward to what could be revolutionary changes for Microsoft Windows, we attempt to cover quite a bit in this nearly one hour demonstration. Included are some insights and opinions that may or may not be agreed upon by everyone. But one thing seems certain: Windows 8 is poised to turn heads on RTM. Will it look anything like the system that has currently been released for consumers to both test and, perhaps more importantly, react to? That is something that truly remains to be seen. This video is instructional in nature, at least to some degree, and contains an overview of what most Windows 8 Consumer Preview members will experience upon a first time install. The demonstration is filled with colorful commentary, and nothing is held back. Mike is a Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional, and also holds certifications as a MCSA, MCTS, CompTIA Network+ and A+ Remote Support Technician. He was awarded the Microsoft MVP award in April 2011, under Windows Consumer - Expert, and attended the Microsoft MVP Global Summit in February.

While the Windows 8 Consumer Preview certainly contains some interesting concepts and clearly in-development system improvements, there are also some nags that have lurked CP testers for awhile. What's behind all of this and how does Windows 8 CP shape up in comparison to other Microsoft Windows releases? Is such a comparison even fair? Even after an hour, Mike only manages to hit the tip of the iceburg.

Prepare to make some popcorn and take a look at some promising - or reviling - new features; all depending on how you may look at it. One thing is certain, Windows 8 Consumer Preview is an attempt at, quite literally, "a new start" for Microsoft Windows.

Nav Tips & Keyboard Shortcuts for Win8

Drew — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:25:34 GMT

I was going to go find these when another Forum Member beat me to it, LOL. Thanks for that!! Anyway, being the big, handy help that they are, I feel they should be a Sticky, though, not just sure in what section of our W8 Forum. Nor can I find or recall where his entry was or in what thread. So anyway, here they are & I humbly take no credit although I added some:

Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 8:
[WIN KEY] Open Metro Start Screen
Arrow (Direction) Keys will scroll through Start tiles
[WN KEY] >Desktop, (Can need tapping depending on location)
[Esc Key] (Once or twice) > Desktop
[WIN KEY] + C Open Charms bar
[WIN KEY] + I Desktop settings, quick access to power/shutdown/restart
[WIN KEY] + <-- or --> Snaps
grab an open window or an app, @ the top, take it left or right to Snap (split the screen).
[WIN KEY] + Up Arrow gives Full screen
[WN KEY] + Down Arrow back to original window state
[WIN KEY] + W Search Settings
[WIN KEY] + F Search Files
[WIN KEY] + D Go to Desktop anytime, from anywhere
[WIN KEY] + . Snap current app to right side
[WIN KEY] + Shift + . Snap current app to left side
[WIN KEY] + , Peek at the Windows desktop
[WIN KEY] + Q Search Apps (from Desktop)
[WIN KEY] + Z (from Start) Display app bar & ALL APPS icon > All Apps display
Rt Clk, when on Start, also, gives app bar w/ All Apps icon
[WIN KEY] + Enter Narrator
[WIN KEY] + K Devices
[WIN KEY] + L Lock Screen
[WIN KEY] + H Share options
[WIN KEY] + P Projector/Display options
[WIN KEY] + R Run a command
[WIN KEY] + U Ease of Access Center
[WIN KEY] + X Quick access to a variety of system functions
[WIN KEY] + PageUp/PageDown multiple monitors, swap which 1 the Start screen is on
[WIN KEY] + PrtScreen Save .png screenshot of desktop in Pictures library
[WIN KEY] + = Magnifier Larger
[WIN KEY] + - Magnifier Smaller
[WIN KEY] + Tab Gives LF Side Panel scroll through open windows (nicer than Alt + Tab)
Alt + Tab Scrolls through open windows
You can just hit Ctrl at the lock screen instead of dragging with the mouse.
Ctrl-Alt-Del Access to lock, switch user, sign out, Task Manager, power, accessibility

Mouse Tips for Windows 8:
� Move mouse to upper or lower right-hand of screen will open the Charms bar, slide mouse up or down to access.
� In Desktop app, click far right of taskbar to show desktop(minimize all apps), just like Windows 7
� Move mouse to upper-left, then slide cursor down to reveal running app thumbnails
� Move mouse to lower-left, then slide cursor up to reveal running app thumbnails
� Move mouse to upper-left and click mouse repeatedly to cycle through apps
� When in the "app thumbnail bar" (upper-left) right-click thumbnails for options to snap left/right or close app.
* Pull an open App to the bottom of the screen & it will close.
� Move mouse to lower-left and click for Metro Start menu (you can right-click it for a handy menu)
� Move mouse to top edge of screen in a Metro app and the cursor will change to a hand, drag
� down to the bottom of the screen to close the app.
� In Metro Start screen click button in lower-right to activate semantic zoom. You can right-click a group of tiles to name them. Click anywhere to exit semantic zoom. Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel zooms the Start Menu in and out too.
� Drag tiles anywhere to arrange them. Drag between two groups of tiles and a vertical thick white bar will appear,
dropping a tile on that bar will create a new group.

The menu one gets by Rt Clk @ the bottom-left... not only can you get that when @ Desktop but, also, when @ Start or any other screen, even an App screen.

Whilst @ Desktop, Start is @ bottom-left & Apps @ top-left
But, @ Start, Desktop is @ bottom-left, Apps @ top-left
And when @ an App, Desktop is @ top-left & Start is @ bottom-left

You can, also, Search by beginning to type anywhere on the Start screen

Start can be moved laterally by the mouse & w/out using the scroll bar.

Update 22-03-2012

This can only be done from open Desktop space but, that takes nothing away from its coolness!!
Alt+F4 gives

NB: Credit to Dave for this. Thank you.

Cheers,
Drew

Windows 8 Forums - Windows 8 Tutorials and Training

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Demonstration and Commentary

Nav Tips & Keyboard Shortcuts for Win8